Blackberry Wine by Blackberry Wine

Author:Blackberry Wine [MF] (epub)
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2001-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Those men can feed themselves, sit around and laugh about how they chased me off, and wallow in the fact nobody is washing their clothes because I'm moving into the cellar. And if the aliens return to exterminate the rat's nest, so be it. I'll be safe inside my cubby hole with wine, cheese, vegetables, and cured meat. Seeds! There's even enough seeds to grow the garden from scratch next year. I carefully cradled another four bottles of wine in my arms and headed downstairs to the floor-to-ceiling shelves encircling the cellar.

It's not so bad camping out down here. Alone. Boxes with everything a few people need to survive filled the shelves on one wall. And food stores filled the others. We even put together a box of activities to tie us over in case something drove us underground. You just never know how long you could be living in a retreat. Thomas' main reason to stock up the cellar was to have a place to hide if the homestead was overrun. This same cellar had a concealed doorway in his still too. Thomas' thinking was that we could duck inside either opening, depending upon which building we were working inside when trouble developed. My entry of choice has always been in the barn. I could carry anything into the barn and never look suspicious. People would wonder about certain things going into the still if observing our activities though. I spotted a high empty shelf, laid the dark green wine bottles on their sides on the flat wood, and searched through the surrounding boxes' labels.

My personal box held two changes of clothing and extra socks. You could never have enough socks out here. Another box listed soaps, brushes, and combs. A first aid box sat next to that one. And finally, the activities collection. Yes. I'll be fine out here. There's even cold-weather gear in case I never return to that den of snakes.

Snakes. That's exactly what men are.

"Raven?" Ebony called.

Thomas probably sent her. "Yes?" I turned to the stairs.

Her black leather-clad thin form slowly stepped down the stone steps.

Something tells me I need to get rid of her.

"What are you doing? Can I help?" Ebony asked.

Quite genuinely. But I'm no fool. "I just found what I was searching for. I need to get back to processing the vegetables. So, it's back to the garden. Thanks for asking though." I plowed right for her, hoping I'd steer her back around and out of my little private place.

She halted halfway down the steps and watched me, her mouth gaping like she intended to say something.

Well, she needs to vacate my space. "You can help in the garden." Even if I have to deal with someone else meddling in my affairs.

"Alright," Ebony chimed and pivoted to face the doorway, back the way she'd come.

Oh well. Another pair of hands working to store food for the winter is a good thing. I led her back out into the sunlight and pointed toward the garden where Colt had been collecting the squash.

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