The tank semi trailers were finally delivered, after a delay due to material shortages. As summer came and the droughts started, Percy hired Andrew Buchanan to take one of the trailers to a town across the state with a load of potable water for the residents when their well gave out. Andy stayed in the area and shuttled water for two weeks until a new well, already under construction, was finished. Andy made it back in time for the Fourth of July ribbon cutting dedication ceremony and open house for the clinic.
With the help of Sara, Jock, and, Melissa, Tom finally convinced Percy to make a short speech at the dedication. It was a very short speech. It surprised a few people, not for its shortness, which was expected, but for its eloquence. The main reason Percy had done what he had wasn’t mentioned at all, preparedness in terms of the global situation. Instead, he spoke of small town cohesiveness, family values, and the pleasantness of small town life.
Good a speech as it was, it probably wouldn’t have been a standing ovation, except everyone was standing outside the entrance to the clinic, anyway. The clinic wasn’t finished, but the building was. Some additional equipment required installation, but that was all for the clinic to be ready. There had been a concerted effort to get the clinic finished in time for the Fourth of July Celebration. A brand new big-city-style shuttle van with a wheelchair lift was parked in front of the clinic.
Percy had been instrumental in getting the grant that paid for it, as well as one that helped finance the clinic. He might still be able to retire in another year or so. The trust could be dissolved in a year.
Susie brought up the team of Clydesdales, hooked to the decked out farm wagon, and Tom, the doctors, Percy, Sara, and a handful of the city council and clinic committee members rode back to town in it, with Susie driving. When they arrived back in town, the wagon led the Fourth of July parade from that side of town to the town’s park.
Percy took the team and wagon back to the estate rather early. He wanted to see the news. A report he’d heard when he was getting ready for the dedication had him worried again. There’d been nothing on the satellite radio news station, but it had sounded serious.
It was. When the wagon and horses were put away, Percy hurried into the house to check the news. It was India and Pakistan again. The skirmishes had not been going well for Pakistan. They had issued an ultimatum for India to withdraw from the border area and resume talks to resolve the issue. So far, India had not responded to the implied threat of the use of nuclear weapons in the conflict.
Mattie, Susie, and Sara showed up a few minutes later. Percy was already back outside, checking the estate’s state of preparation. The city TV station was forecasting severe thunderstorms for that evening and night. This was the first chance of heavy rains since early spring and Percy wanted the gates open on the irrigation canals to collect all the rainwater in the system that he could. The pond was almost empty. They’d used the wells the last time the fields needed irrigation.
“Are you all right?” Sara asked Percy when he came back into the house, her hand going to his upper arm, her eyes searching his face.
He forced a smile. “You know I don’t like giving speeches like that. Come on, let’s cut that watermelon I’ve had on ice for two days. It should be a prizewinner. The crops are doing well this year, despite the drought conditions.”
Sara could tell he wasn’t being completely open with her, but she let it pass. They’d become closer over the past few months. He’d open up to her fully one of these days.
Concerned about the weather, Percy rushed Sara off back to the city early that afternoon. She had to work the next day. As always, now, he topped off the fuel tank of her car. Mattie and Susie drifted over to their cottage a bit earlier than planned when Percy went out to take care of the animals for the night after Sara left.
“He’s worried about something, isn’t he?” Susie asked her mother as they entered the two-bedroom earth sheltered dome home they’d lived in since Susie was a baby.
“Yes. Did you see anyone say anything to him at the dedication or the park?”
Susie shook her head. “He seemed to be having a good time. I was a little surprised he came back as early as he did. He was having a good time giving rides to the kids with the team and wagon. Everybody loves those Clydesdales.”
Mattie had turned the TV on when they entered the house. “Uh-oh,” she said softly. “I think I know what has him upset.” She motioned to the TV and turned up the sound with the remote.
The two watched a similar report to that Percy had seen. They exchanged a look after the report was over. “I’m glad we live here on the estate, Mother,” Susie said. “I feel safe here. I never thought about it much those other times.”
“Yeah,” Mattie said, pulling her daughter in for a hug like they hadn’t shared for a long time. “Me, too.”
Before Percy turned in that evening, he checked the news channels again. Things didn’t look any better. He wracked his brain for additional preparations he could make. He couldn’t think of any. He was as prepared as he knew how, for whatever might come. “Natural or manmade,” he said aloud as he climbed into bed.
CHAPTER TEN
Calvin knew the proposal he’d but together for the bank was a good one. He should know. He looked at similar proposals nearly every day. It was part of his job at the bank where he worked. Of course, to avoid any chance of a conflict of interest, though he had an account at the bank where he worked, he went to the other bank he used for the loan. Knowing the banking system, he always kept two bank accounts. Each bank had to be under completely different ownership.
He definitely knew how to put things in the best light, which he did, while keeping everything very straightforward and above board. It took only three days to get the initial okay from the initial loan officer, but it would have to go up a step, since the amount was large.
Apparently his and Nan’s backgrounds checked out. So did the worth of the equipment. Nan told him that the bank had called and talked to Mr. Anderson for quite some time one day. The loan was approved and the money deposited in the account he kept in that bank. A few more days and the equipment was ordered.
Since they would be using it mostly in town, and the road was marginal to their place, Calvin had it delivered to the Anderson equipment yard. The delivery driver unloaded the Bobcats, and then used the A300 to unload the attachments.
The Unimog was delivered the very next day by another truck. The same procedure was used. The lift arms were already in place on the Unimog. The driver used it to unload the attachments he’d ordered with the truck. The other attachments showed up one at a time over the next few days.
Mr. Anderson tried not to show his wonder at the equipment, but was not entirely successful as Calvin tried everything out the weekend after the major pieces had arrived. Everything worked as advertised. They used the A300 with backhoe to install a septic system for one of Mr. Anderson’s regular customers. The Toolcat was used to do the backfill work. The Unimog pulled the equipment trailer with the two Bobcats and associated equipment without a problem.
The branch of the bank where Calvin worked was closed for the scheduled rolling blackout. Calvin took advantage of the weekday and he, Nan, and Mr. Anderson made some major improvements on the road, particularly the stretch from their house to the section on which the Calhoun’s would provide some maintenance.
Calvin and Nan had talked it over and decided they didn’t want it too easy for people to get to their place. As long as the road was passable, that was all they wanted, at least on the county road end.