The re-weddings took place on the second Saturday in June. Just before the first ceremony began, Todd tapped Mary on the shoulder and pointed out the muzzles of the AR-15s and HK91s peeking over the tops of the church pews.
He whispered, “I’ve heard of a shotgun wedding before, but this is the first battle rifle wedding that I’ve ever attended.” Mary gave him a scolding frown and pinched Todd’s side.
Lots were drawn to see whom the unlucky two people were who had to stay behind at the retreat to provide security during the wedding ceremonies.
Mike and Kevin drew the short dowels. Although they missed the wedding ceremony itself, they were at least able to be at the reception, which was held back at the Grays’ house. The only guests from outside the Northwest Militia who attended the wedding were Roger and Teresa Dunlap and five families from Bovill that they had met through the church.
There was a guard change scheduled for the middle of the reception. As Kevin walked into the back of the LP/OP to relieve Mike, he quipped, “Well Mikey, I never thought I’d ever pull a guard shift in a suit and tie.” After Mike started back down the hill to the house, Kevin plopped down on the chair behind the M60. He quoted to himself, “‘Things just get curiouser and curiouser.’”
Just for the occasion, the steel shutters over the windows were opened for the first time since the onset of the Crunch. After so many years of dim light, the full afternoon light streaming through the windows seemed brilliant. All sorts of sweets were made for the reception. Margie had made apple cider from the last of the past year’s storage apples, and Della made cakes and candies. Todd also broke out two bottles of sparkling apple cider that he had squirreled away in one of the basement wall lockers. They played Rose’s favorite John Michael Talbot and Enya CDs.
Toward the end of the reception, Rose got a wistful look in her eye, and then began to cry. Terry asked, “Are those happy tears, or sad tears?”
“B-both. I’m so very happy to be married again publicly, and this is a wonderful reception, but, but I just wish that my parents were here. I don’t know whether they made it through it all.”
Hugging Rose tightly, and with tears now welling in her own eyes, Terry moaned, “You’re not alone, you’re not alone. Most of us have family that we haven’t heard from, either. All that we can do is trust in God for their safety.
Hey, maybe there’ll be a postal service getting started up soon, and you’ll be able to write back to Aurora.”
Before she left the reception, one of the ladies from church, who was wearing a taffeta dress and a Bianchi pistol belt, approached Mary. She praised,
“I just love the way you have your house decorated, and those heavy shutters look just dandy. I’ll bet you sleep well at night with those between you and the bad men.” Mary just smiled and thanked the woman for her compliment. She didn’t bother to mention the fact that the shutters were only the last line of the house’s defense. She later remarked to Todd, “There are some aspects of our security precautions that the locals will probably never hear about. Wouldn’t want to start any rumors, now would we?”
“That’s true,” Todd replied. “A defensive feature that becomes known is far less effective than one that’s a surprise.”
In July, shortly after one of the militia’s security patrols visited the town of Potlatch, some twenty-five miles to the northwest, Dan Fong asked Todd if he could meet with him privately. Todd immediately answered, “Sure, let’s go take a stroll.” The two picked up their HKs from the “ready rack” by the front door, and walked side by side toward the wood lot. After walking for a while in silence, Todd asked, “What’s on your mind, Dan?”
“After we went through Potlatch on our last patrol, I got to thinking. That town has been hit three times by brigands, and hit pretty hard. I was thinking that I might offer my services as a consultant to develop a real security set-up for the town, not just the on-again-off-again roadblock that they’ve been running. They’ve got the manpower for 360-degree round-the-clock security, but they’ve never really done anything about it. What they need is someone like me—someone with the proper tactical skills to get them squared away.”
“All of those young widows we saw up in Potlatch don’t have anything to do with your idea, do they?”
“Well, the thought of finding a wife did cross my mind. I’ve heard that five or six ladies up there might need a man around. You know, someone to ‘console them in their time of need.’” Both men laughed.
Todd began twiddling his thumbs as they walked. “I suppose that with that many to choose from, you can find yourself a real cute gal.”
“Physical attractiveness is not anywhere near the top of my criteria list, Boss.
I’ll be looking for a God-fearing Christian woman that can cook and sew and shoot straight. I don’t want one of those frail ‘Oh I can’t lift it—it’s toooo heavy’ type women. I want to find a good sturdy and hard-working gal with some brains, and faith, and some common sense.”
Todd chuckled and said, “Ah yes.‘Idaho:Where the men are men, and the women are too.’”
“I’m serious, Todd. It’s time that I found a wife. I’m pushing forty years old.
Besides, it’s starting to feel a bit crowded here, especially with the baby starting to toddle around, and probably more on the way.”
Todd stopped and looked Dan squarely in the face and said, “‘Each man has to have the wisdom to find his own way.’ If you feel that it is truly time to move on, you’ll go with my blessing. I agree, things are getting too cozy here. And I suppose that now that there’s less brigand activity, we won’t need as many people that are combat ready here at the retreat.”
Dan and Kevin took a horseback trip to Potlatch later that same week.
They returned three days later. Todd soon called for a group meeting to hear about their trip.
Dan was visibly elated as he gave his report. “My mission was a complete success. The Potlatch ‘Committee of Vigilance’ as they call it, has agreed to hire me on at the rate of twenty dollars in silver coin per month. I’ll also be given full allodial title to a vacant brick house on Main Street, if I agree to stay on for five years. I also got the freeholders to agree to supply me with all the firewood I need, as part of my compensation. They’re giving me the title of ‘sheriff.’ I can select whomever I want for deputies. I’ll have one full-time deputy on the payroll, and as many unpaid volunteers as I see fit. This is a real primo opportunity for me.”
“Won’t it be dangerous?” Rose asked.
“Sure, it’ll be a little dangerous. But so was living in Chicago before the Crunch. And back then, a man couldn’t carry a gun to defend himself without fear of getting arrested. Things are different now. I’ll be the law in Potlatch.”
Just then, Mike Nelson whistled the main theme to the film The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. It was followed by a chorus of “Wah-Wah-Waaah,” by nearly everyone in the room.
“Oh maaan,” Dan complained, “I can’t get any respect. I’ve just been named a town sheriff, and you guys still razz me.”
Mike retorted with, “You’re just so razzable, Fong.”
Todd threw out, “All teasing aside, we want to wish you good luck. I’m sure that you’ll be very successful. You’ll be in our daily prayers.”
Kevin nudged Dan in the ribs and said, “I’ll bet he’ll be married inside of a month. The Fong man here was practically drooling over all those lovelies up there in Potlatch.” The room was filled with howls of laughter and catcalls.
After the ruckus died down, Dan said, “Hey, I noticed that your eyes were pretty well locked on the ladies most of the time we were up there too, so lay off.”With that, Kevin’s face turned red and he sat down. The room was once again filled with laughter.