Read Renewal 6 - Cold for Free Online

guess we’d better get on that soon, before the wood turns to ice and the nails shatter.”
    “Yeah, this is when I wish I was from Minnesota. I’d probably know all the tricks.” Dad was still struggling to lighten the mood. “We grabbed some corrugated sheet metal in town. That and some square bails would probably contain the heat around the pump.”
    “We also need to do something with the outhouse, David,” Mom added, putting her priorities on the table. “It’s already scary in there. Something important could freeze solid.”
    Dad smiled at her and said, “Well, we could do the same kind of thing. I don’t think we could get away with an open flame, but maybe we can find another stove somewhere, build an outer outhouse, and put the stove inside the outer walls. It’s a lot of work, but it may be necessary.”
    “It is necessary, David. Otherwise, I can think of four ladies who will be peeing in the tent.”
    “Oh, my... Can’t have that.” Dad made a show of writing her request on his palm with his finger, provoking some badly needed laughter.
    “How much sheet metal did you get?” George asked.
    “Enough for the well pump. Not enough for the outhouse. The metal is just for the inside, to reflect the heat and to keep the hay insulation safe. We still need lumber for the structure, especially if we get heavy snow. In Tennessee, we only get snow when it’s warmer, closer to freezing, but the rules have changed. It’s seven degrees outside in September and it looks like it could snow any minute. I’m surprised it hasn’t yet.” Dad said thoughtfully. “We can get more sheet metal. There’s a ton of it at the building supply yard. No one else seems to be building yet. I’m not sure why.”
    “It’s freaking cold,” Arturo answered. “It’s hard on my Mexican blood.”
    “Well, I hope the car heater keeps working, then. We need to make another run to the lumber yard tomorrow, and you’re driving.”
    “Just pry my fingers loose when we get back.”
     
    Chapter 6 – 10
    The bicycle ride gave Dusty time to think about how stupid it was to taunt the Junior Dragon. He could have ordered his men to kill Dusty at any time. Dusty imagined that scene, and how silly he would feel if he got to heaven, and they asked him how he died. “Well, you see, I gave the Junior Dragon a ration of crap, and he had me shot.”
    Dusty was good for his usual leisurely pace on the bike, but this time he was racing to warn Bill. He hammered around the final turn and sprinted down Blanton Chapel Road until he reached the front guard houses. He hopped his bike across the ditch and let it roll across the grass on momentum. The youngest of the Hall boys, Jeremy, met him on the back porch.
    “Hey, Dusty!”
    “Hey, Jeremy. Are you on watch?” Dusty asked, knowing Jeremy was not old enough for solo watch duty.
    “No, I’m on support. Jeffry is upstairs. The watch has been doubled.”
    “Where’s Bill?”
    “In bed, I guess. You knew he got shot in Nashville?” Jeremy asked.
    “No. I thought I’d heard the story, but I missed that part.”
    “He’s ok. He got hit in the leg and the shoulder. He’ll be limping for a while.”
    “I gotta talk to him,” Dusty said, still winded from his ride.
    “Ok. Head on down. I’ll call you in,” Jeremy replied.
    Dusty walked his bike over to the gate, unhooked the chain, and left it open as he rolled across the pasture and down the hill. He knew Jeremy would take care of the gate. He crested the slope overlooking Teeny Town and grunted with relief when he reached the gravel access road. From there, it was a high speed coast into the center of town, one skidding left turn and a bounding dismount onto Bill’s front porch. Dusty knocked on the door one time before Aggie pulled it open.
    “Hello, Mr. Baer.”
    “Hi, Aggie. I just heard about Bill. Is he alright?”
    “He’s fine, other than being grumpy and chomping at the bit.”
    “I need to talk to