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could use your help with the renovations, but what I would like is for you and Vicki to manage the general store. Our family will work the bakery.” He spread his arms and gestured toward the two sides of the building that faced major streets. “Eventually, I want stores in all those spaces on the first floor.”
    “I’ve never run a store.”
    “Actually you did.”
    Zach cast him a confused glance. “No, I’m pretty sure I didn’t.”
    “The fish stand at the park was a small store. You’re a very resourceful young man with an innate ability to find food and other things you need.”
    “Vicki and I fished and I hunted, then we sold what we didn’t eat. That wasn’t really a store.”
    “Basically it was. The general store will just have a bigger inventory and there will be a couple more zeros to carry when adding up the balance.”
    Actually I didn’t carry a balance. I ate it.
    “In college I worked in a warehouse and an accounting department.” Kent Hollister patted him on the back. “I’ll teach you what you need to know.”
    “It would be nice to have an inside shop, but how much do you want for it?”
    “Rent you mean?” He shook his head and silently stared at his feet for several moments and then looked Zach in the eye. “I’ve come to a better understanding of a few things this year. You saved my daughter’s life and in this new and crazy world, you are better equipped to provide for and protect DeLynn than either her mother or me. Given the same circumstances, I would have starved—and my family as well. We’ll be building a future together.”
    Zach felt his face flush. “I won’t have a lot of time until I graduate.”
    “I want you to graduate and go on to college. Any future son-in-law of mine should be well educated.”
    “Ah…son-in-law?” Zach’s face burned hot.
    Kent smiled broadly. “You two seem to love each other very much, but I do want you both to wait, mature, and get some education.”
    Finally able to speak, Zach said, “I also want to keep working at the armory.”
    “I would prefer that you not join the military. I don’t want my daughter to be a young widow.”
    “Huh?” Zach was certain he would soon burst into embarrassed flame.
    Kent grinned again and then the two talked of business for several more minutes before Zach jogged on to school. First period was government class and since it was required for graduation he tried to concentrate, but he spent more time smiling at DeLynn, on his left, than at the notes Mr. Hammond wrote on the board.
    DeLynn cast him a disapproving glance and nodded toward the board.
    He reluctantly turned his attention to the front of the class only to be surprised by big red letters, ‘Test on Friday.’
    Zach sighed.
    “Mr. Brennon,” the teacher asked, “am I boring you?”
    Why did Mr. Hammond always address students so formally. “Ah…no…well, how useful is this class when the government is falling apart?”
    “How can you understand what you’ve lost, if you never knew what you had?”
    Another student asked, “Why do you always answer questions with questions?”
    “I don’t.” Hammond smiled. “Do I?”
    Laughter dotted the classroom.
    “Will there be a war?” Delynn asked.
    A boy near the front turned back around. “Your boyfriend fought in the first battle. It’s already started.”
    The guy seated behind Zach patted him on the back. A few others chanted his name. Zach stared at the desk in humiliated silence wishing he could forget his cowardly performance as he hid behind a tree and cried that day.
    After school he walked toward the armory with his head hung down, kicking stones as he went. He knew he wasn’t a coward. DeLynn thought he was the bravest man alive. He smiled and kicked another stone. She was brave too, and he liked that about her. Perhaps they had both been brave when they needed to be on that awful day at the cabin.
    With one of his demons tucked away, at least for the moment, Zach