A Change of Major (Chapter Twenty)

Change of Major Chapter 20

Holland stood glaring at the gate as Ernie closed it behind him. The hill people, "his" people had abandoned him and gone back to their homes leaving him exiled and alone.

Holland originally came from the Chicago area and upon completing college, was employed as a librarian one of the city libraries. In the eyes of his coworkers, the profession was noble as it served the community as a way to share literature and combat illiteracy and ignorance.

For Holland, it was nothing more than a dreary job best left to those with lower standards and aspirations. Holland coveted the finer things in life and envied those who them. Expensive European made cars, symphony tickets, fine wines, gourmet foods and vacations to exotic locations. None of that would be accessible on his public employee wages.

Out of anger and frustration, Holland discovered a way to get what he felt he was owed even if the means were illegal and highly unethical. He devised a scam whereby he researched and located grant monies from government programs and non-profit sources designed to help inner city and urban problems and took the for his own.

Since this was long before the internet, Holland used his position at the library and working long hours into the night created a number of false front organizations allegedly charged with combating childhood illiteracy in poor neighborhoods.

Writing carefully crafted proposals and petitions for funds, he applied for small, almost unnoticeable grants and was delighted when the first check arrived at his PO box one night after work.

He reported his efforts with fraudulent accounting records and wrote glowing letters trumpeting the wonders of his so-called programs and applied for more grants from hundreds of sources he located in the library.

All the funds, of course, went into a number of bank accounts he opened using his fake, non-profit status, and which financed the life he felt he deserved. A meal at a fine restaurant was listed as a "meeting with a donor". A trip to Italy was deducted as attending an "international literacy symposium".

In all, over a thirty year period, Holland bilked well intentioned foundations and donors of more than a half a million dollars all which was originally intended to help the needy. Holland could care less about the victims of his activities as the victims were in his eyes, nothing more than vulgar trash beneath his social standing.

While he spent a good deal of the money, he tucked a large amount away and when combined with his generous public employee pension, social security and personal retirement funds, he looked forward to a carefree retirement.

With a streak of paranoia cultivated over the years of larceny and embezzlement, he decided at retirement to sell his Chicago home and use the proceeds to purchase his Class A mobile home. Now he could live on the road beyond the reach of some meddlesome future researcher who might uncover his earlier activies.

Or so he thought.

Now Holland was homeless, penniless and standing on a road in the middle of Hayseed Flyover Country with nothing more than the clothes on his back and one bag of personal possessions. Further, he had no more than a couple of days of food and water and neither the ability or intention to get more through work or purchase.

Surely, in this new world, there must be something a man of his talents could offer to the right employer. Something that would also allow him to get the revenge he so badly wanted.

He started down the road not knowing where he was going or what would happen, but his anger directed him all the same.

--------


Wow. That's all I can say after seeing those two girls. Both were equally attractive and after spending the better part of three weeks with Chuck and Curtis, I really wanted to meet both of them.

Our plans were laid at nines. When our heads resumed their forward position after turning them like an owl in the direction of the house, we were facing a stern faced Celina.

"Good, I am glad we had this happen now than later.

Those two are off limits, not that I have worry about them, they could kick your city butts all day long, but all the same, don't get any ideas."

Your job is to work and nothing more. Now, leave your stuff on the porch but put it out of the way so I don't have to walk around it. You, hippie boy, wait here. Tracy and Brenda will be showing you the barn. I want it mucked out front to back.

You, four eyes. You are with me. You are going to learn what a hoop house is. And you, you are with Delbert. Now, get. I don't have all day"

Celina briskly walked past me and pushed Chuck in front of her to get him moving leaving me with Delbert.

If you have lived in this part of the country any amount of time, you would know a guy like Delbert. If not, here's your description. A big guy, usually stronger than he looks and faster too.

No matter the age, He might have a gut hanging over a western belt buckle holding up a pair of Wrangler jeans. Usually wears Justin work boots or ropers depending upon what he is doing. Western shirt and a hat, straw or felt, again depending upon the season.

Disposition? The attitude of a pent up bull combined with the sense of humor of a five year old boy and the cockiness of a rooster in the ring.

If Delbert is your friend, you have the best back up around if you find yourself in the parking lot of a honky tonk after 2AM and are surrounded by a bunch of drunk ropers who think you had too many dances with their girls.

But you put your life in your hands if you go out with Delbert's little sister and get a little too fresh too fast. Look out.

In this case, Delbert is giving me "The Stare". In his mind, he is trying to find out if i was ten pounds of fertilizer in a five pound bag or if I looked like I could carry my weight.

"You don't need to carry that shotgun with you, go put it on the porch." Delbert says first.

"Fat chance. Where I go, it goes." I say back.

"Hmph. You point it at me, I'll shove it up your back side." he says back.

"Don't give me cause to" I say right back.

"Follow me." he said after a pause.

We start walking in the direction of one of the barns when I ask him, "Are you related to Celina like the other guys?"

"What do you care, ugly? You aren't gonna be here in a few hours so what does it matter? Unless you want to say something? Do ya?" he snaps back.

"I'm not planning on going anywhere. Unless you and Celina want to send me back to WinterHaven right now and consider the pig paid for." I respond.

"You ain't going anywhere until I sez you're done and then I am gonna make you work some more. But you'll quit, I guarantee it."


Delbert and I went into the barn and climbed into the seat of a backhoe parked inside. After he fired up the engine, he yelled down to me,

"Well? What are you waiting for? Get up here!"

I climbed on the side step and hung on while he pulled out of the barn and drove behind the out buildings and into the open field behind.

The field was barren and only a few brown stalks poked out from the broken furrowed soil. The farm was clearly not devoted to a single crop like wheat, but broken into smaller plots and separated crop areas.

We drove around to the back of another barn where there were several large open containers, each measuring about six feet across and four feet deep. Next to each was a stack of dirty hay and another of soil.

"These are compost heaps, big ones. Your job is to put a layer of hay, followed by a layer of soil and finally a layer of cow manure. After you get this one full, you need to climb in the next and fork it around. Questions?" said Delbert.

"Nope."

"Good, I got to roll over to the barn where the hippie kid is working and pick up some more cow paddies for you. Get busy."


I started forking the first bin and was on my third layer of hay/soil/manure when Delbert steamed around the corner and dumped a load of fresh cow and horse manure on the ground and on my boots.

I looked up at him and he gave me a big grin and backed off to get more. I shook my head and went back to scooping and forking.

Three hours later, I was on my third bin. My boots were caked and there was mud/poop up to the knees of my jeans. While I was wearing gloves, I knew I had blisters on my hands. My shoulders and arms were burning.

Delbert sat on the backhoe watching and waiting for me to falter, quit or pass out which was not going to happen. They weren't going to break me.

"Alright, ugly. Come on out of there and bring that fork with you. I got something else for you to work on." Delbert yelled.

I climbed out and stamped my feet and stretched my back and walked over to the backhoe.

"You walk in front of the hoe and everytime you see a cow pattie, I want you to throw it in the shovel. Go on, git."

And so we drove through the area between the barns and one of the paddocks with me stooping and picking patties and tossing them into the shovel attachment up front.

After I could not find any more in the immdiate area, Delbert turned the backhoe around and drove over to the barn leaving me standing in the field alone.

Lined up next to the barn and stretching in multiple rows were dozens of plastic covered half barreled shaped shelters. It was then I realized these were some sort of greenhouse and probably the reason Celina was able to deliver fresh produce to WinterHaven and others.

Delbert shouted at me from the barn to wake up and head up towards the house. It was getting dark and I hoped they would just let me lay down somewhere out of the way and sleep all night.

I hoofed over to the house and found Chuck and Curtis waiting and looking equally miserable and dirty.

"I think they are trying to kill us." said Chuck. "I must have stretched a million feet of plastic over those hoop houses. And then went back and checked each one again and again to make sure I did it right."

"That's nothing. They have two of the biggest barns full of cow poop in the world," said Curtis.

"And don't let them fool you. Those two witches are the meanest girls in the world. I don't think I like Celina anymore, either."


"Oh, really?" said a voice behind us. Swell, Celina had snuck up on us and caught our conversation.

"I am flattered that you liked me in the first place. Serves you right to fall for a pretty face. Not that I can say the same about you three."

"Alright, I want all three of you to grab your stuff and march over to the barn. On the north side, there is a shower stall along with some old towels and soap. Scrub down, dry off and take your dirty clothes into the barn."

In the barn is a hand crank wash tub and clothes line set up next to the wood stove. After you hang your wash, put on clean clothes and come back here. You got thirty minutes so make it count. Git!"

We hustled over to the barn after grabbing our gear and took turns showering. The water started as warm and progressively got colder the longer we took. Chuck theorized there was a solar heating system somewhere, but it was operating off of reduced sunlight so, cold water.

After showering, we rushed into the barn and started washing clothes. One of us would start while the other two got dressed. We then swapped out so we were soon in dry clothing and hanging out the wash.

I picked up my shotgun and we headed back to the house where Celina was standing holding an old fashioned pocket watch. The light was fading from the day and I realized we had not eaten anything since breakfast and I had missed even that meal.

"You got one minute to spare, not bad. Now, wipe your feet and come inside." she said.

We went in and immediately smelled something good cooking. The dining room table was set just off the living room, but we were directed into the kitchen.

There, a smaller table was set against the wall. We stood in the crowded kitchen and before leaving, Celina said,

"You eat in here. Delbert will supervise you and then join us in the dining room. Dig in and don't waste food, it's too valuable".

Delbert stood in the corner, his AR leaned against the wall.

"Alright children. Get a plate, take only what you'll eat, leave the rest. You can have seconds if you eat everything on your plate.

They didn't have to ask me twice or Chuck and Curtis for that matter.

On the counter was fresh spinach salad, some kind of pale yellow cheese, hot corn muffins and wheat bread, real butter, a large omlette studded with mushrooms, fruit salad, and finally a tureen of stew with dark brown gravy.

"Wha did all dis come fwom?" I asked with my mouth full.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, ugly" said Delbert.

"You know where it came from ya moron. Celina grew it. The bread was made from wheat and corn harvested in the fall. She grinds it and stores it and was selling it to restaurants in Austin.

The spinich and mushrooms were harvested today or yesterday from the hoop houses. The eggs came from those things called chickens that walk around outside. The stew you are eating was made with a rabbit. That's an animal with big floppy ears you babies wait for on Easter."

"You always this irritated or only in the presence of intelligence and beauty?" asked Curtis.

"Intelligence? Lesse... I got a roof over my head, I didn't have to do any manual labor today, I drive a running car or truck when I want to go somewhere, I got plenty to eat, I will sleep in a nice comfy bed... warm house.. yep, if that makes me a dummy, what does that make you three homeless bums?"

"As for looks, I wouldn't talk about looks with that mop on your head. I think I'm gonna take the sheep shears to you tonight after you go to bed," Delbert added.

I only half listened to Curtis or Delbert. The only thing I could think of was fresh greens, real bread and butter. Something I had not had in weeks but took for granted for over twenty years. I almost started wondering if there was a place permanently for me around here.

After we wiped our plates from our third serving, we all pushed back from the table and let out some satisfying belches.

"What do you think happens now, girls? Get up and wash your dishes." Delbert said.

We took care of the dishes and cleared the table. Curtis grabbed a broom while Chuck wiped down the counters.

Celina made an appearance then and looked around. Except for the food on the counter, things looked ship shape to us.

"OK,you three, into the living room." she ordered.

We went in and were directed to sit down on three chairs across from the fire place. Celina then sat down on the couch and laid things out for us.

"You guys did an okay job today, better than I thought and you all stuck with it. I will expec the same thing tomorrow and every day afterwards, got it?"

"Yes ma'am," was the unanimous reply.

"We treat our workers fairly here, but we have some rules besides the obvious ones. First, don't steal. Not even a tomato off a vine or a biscuit off the table. Ask first.

Second, if you want to quit, tell me. I don't want you here if you don't want to work. If you do a fair day's labor, I will transport you off the property and send you on your way. If you have settled your debt, I might even give you some traveling food.

Finally, don't plan on bringing trouble here after you leave. We have more folks guarding this place than we let on and we are armed better than any group around outside of Austin. Got it?"


"Austin wasn't hit? What about Dallas?" I asked ignoring all she had said before.

"You didn't know? Well, Delbert can tell you what we know when he feels like it. We aren't running a newspaper here.

"OK, Delbert will show you your quaters. You will not be under guard while you sleep nor will you be locked up. But if you try anything funny, we will kill you." she said.

She wasn't kidding, you should have seen her eyes.

A Change of Major (Chapter Nineteen)

The gate was opened and Celina drover her pickup with trailer into the camp grounds and stopped next to the welcome center. Everyone gathered around including most of the folks from the motor home crowd and a smattering of people from the manufactured housing section I had never seen before.

Hap came out looking as depressed as usual and welcomed Celina with his own version of a happy greeting.

"Good to see ya. I hope you got our stuff cuz we got some extra mouths to feed"

"Always a bright ray of sunshine, aren't you, Hap?" said Celina with her hands on her hips and her head cocked.

"Come on back here. I got potatoes, more corn, the extra eggs you wanted, ground flour and a few other things." Celina said walking to the back of the pickup.

I moved closer to the pickup and got a better look at the passenger in the front seat. He was another big guy, was wearing dark clothes and sunglasses as well and clearly had some sort of rifle butt down in the floor board because I could see the military type barrel pointing upwards.

The other rifleman continued to stand behind the cab and was dressed like the woman(?) in the back of the other truck - heavy black down coat, black baclava, sunglasses but their rifles were now pointed up and being held much more casually.

Besides the corn and potatoes in the back of the truck, there was even more stuff in the trailer including a large metal basket of brown and white eggs and what looked like a good sized pig carcass.

Hap had Hartman and some of the other tent people start unloading crates of corn and potatoes from the truck while he paid Celina with a small handful of old quarters and dimes he carefully removed from ancient paper coin tubes.

"Where Pat?" said Celina shortly afterward while holding a large green glass jug.

Pat, the woman I met just a few minutes ago, came forward, her hair still askew and wearing a coat over some sweats.

"I got your wine you wanted, Pat. Got payment for me?"

Pat pulled her wedding band from her left finger and held it out to Celina.

"I can't take that. Is that all you have?"

Pat nodded.

Celina returned the big jug back to the truck, rummaged around and pulled a smaller fifth sized bottle out.

"Here, hon. Take this one, on the house." Celina said holding out the bottle to Pat. Pat took the bottle, murmered "thanks" and went back up the hill to her motor coach.

Celina watched Pat for a moment and then yelled, "Holland! Where's Holland?"

Holland came forward and in a airy voice said "Ah, the illustrious Celina. I hope your trip was uneventful?"

"Save it Holland. I got what you wanted. A full sized pig and ten gallons of my finest. Got my payment?" Celina said.

"Wonderful, what a party it will be. Just have someone bring it in to the kitchen for Hap to get started on" Holland said eyeing the pig in the trailer.

"Payment first, Holland." barked Celina.

"Goodness, you know I am good for it, Celina. You have enough of my gold as it is haven't you? Just bring it in and we can discuss terms over some coffee up at my motor home." Holland said.

"Terms? I don't do terms Holland. Cash on the barrel head, same as always. Say, are you going to be a pain, Holland? We don't like difficult customers do we guys?" said Celina to nobody particular in her trading party behind her.

Holland started looking flustered. He turned to the group who had come down from the motor homes up on the hill.

"My friends, I wanted this to be a surprise, but due to the lack of sufficient protein in our diets, I have acquired this fine pig as the main dish for a spectacular party. As you can tell, our demanding supplier has required money up front so as embarrassing as this sounds, I am going to have to ask that each of you put forth payment now rather than at the time of serving.

So please bring forth coin, jewelry or barter item of value and let's send this merchant on her way and make ready the festivities."

It was amazing how Holland turned the problem of payment into his friends dilemma, but was more interesting was the reaction. Nothing. None of the hill people came forward, reached into their pockets or went to their home to get some form of payment.

"Oh come now, don't be bashful. We have to pay this incorrigible woman before she makes a scene. I need everyone to reach down deep and invest in this splendid endeavor. Anyone? Evelyn? Cooper? Dawson?" pleaded Holland.

He then turned to the rest of us, "You people, as much as this pains me, you too can partake of this bounty. And I know many of you are hoarding valuables among your meager possessions, well, it's time to pay the piper as they say. I have been subsidizing your sloth for some time and you each owe me for the food in your bellies and those of the children you could ill afford. So hand over what you have and let's get this taken care of."

Everyone looked somewhat shocked except for me and Curtis. We both had smiles on our faces what with Holland cajoling everyone all while trying to stave off his inevitable humiliation.

Holland stepped forward and grabbed Mrs. Hartman's arm, "This simple wedding trinket. Remove it woman and give it to me!"

Mr. Hartman stepped forward and pushed Hartman away. "Don't touch my wife, Holland or I'll rip your arm off!"

Holland drew back shocked with his mouth open, his perfectly coiffed white hair now askew.

"You trailer trash! We should never have let your kind in here. Ingrates! Hap, remove these people immediately. But take their things first, they must forfeit all for their insolence. You know the rules!" Holland shrieked.

Hap who the entire time stood by wordless finally spoke, "It's you Holland who should know the rules. Don't touch other men's wives, that's a no-no."

Holland turned and took a step towards Hap, but suddenly turned to Celina.

"Your men? They are probably in need of company," he said slyly. "Have them take their pick of any of the young women in the camp. Or the children if that's how they are, I am not one to judge. Let's ask them and put this matter behind us."

Celina was the one who looked shocked this time, but only for a moment. "You disgust me, Holland. Guys, we got a problem in here."

The pickup truck door and both doors on the tow truck opened and three men stepped out of their respective vehicles. All were big, all were armed and all did not look like they were someone to be messed with. At the same time, both riflemen (or woman) on the backs of the truck worked the actions on their AK's (for effect, I doubted they were going to spray the crowd over Holland) and leveled their guns in his direction.

Holland stumbled backwards and fell over his own feet onto the wet grass.

"Celina... You have taken all my gold and silver. All the fuel from my home. I have given you enough and now this..? Is this any way to repay a good friend and customer such as me..?" he blubbered.

"You're no friend of mine, Holland. You're trash as far as I am concerned. Guys, go up to Holland's place and turn it over. I want everything of value he's got up there. Take the tires off the thing if you have to, just get my money." Celina ordered.

That was when me and my big mouth stepped up to the plate. Again.

"How much you want for that pig and the other stuff?" I asked.

Celina turned, "Whose this? You gonna bail this scuz bucket out? You a friend of his or something?"

"No, I can't stand him. In fact, I was hoping you were going to work him over so we could all have a good laugh. No, I want to know what you want for that pig. Here, is this enough?"

I reached in my pocket and pulled out the plastic bag with the silver coins in it that I had taken from the dead guy in the coverall. I tossed it to Celina who deftly caught it with one hand.

"Morgans, huh? Nice, but not enough. That's a whole pig and he ain't coming back to life any time soon. What else you got?" she said.

"How about labor? What's my time worth working your place?" I asked.

"You? What do you know about a farm and our line of work? Think it's just bailing hay and watching cows?"

"I know enough. And I am young, in good health and can learn what I don't know. Anyway, it will give you more time to run around making deals. You might even make up for Holland."

Celina eyeballed me for a moment and then said "One month labor. Hard labor. Any complaining, slacking or backtalk and I leave you naked fifty miles from here on the side of the road. Can you handle it?"

"One month, deal." I said holding out my hand.

"Two weeks," said Curtis from behind me, "'Cuz there will be two of us, not one."

"Um, ten days. Oh sorry, ten days and eight hours that is, for three of us. There are thirty one days in this month." said Chuck pushing his glasses up his nose.

"What do we have here, the Three Musketeers? This will be interesting. OK, but I'll decide when you have done enough IF you can handle it. What do you want me to do with the pig? Give it to Holland?" Celina said.

"No, them." I said hooking my thumb at Hartman and the rest of the crowd.

Mr. Hartman stepped forward. "You can't do that. I won't let you be slave labor so we can eat for a few days, it's not right."

"We'll be fine, Mr. Hartman. Besides, you have earned it as well working as much as you have while your kids go hungry. No, you take it, feed Tyler and the rest and don't worry about us." I said.

The three men came back down the hill from Holland's motor home carrying more than a few things with them.

"What you got, Delbert?" said Celina as they walked by.

"A few cans of good coffee, couple of bottles of whiskey, a .357 pistol with some cartridges, a gold ring and some other odds and ends. I think we got enough to hurt him without having to pull parts or tires off his rig." the big man replied.

Holland stood up and clenched his fists, "You can't take those things! They are mine! You are thieves, common thieves!"

Celina and her crew ignored Holland and his rantings as they went about unloading the pig and other food stuffs.

"You!" Holland pointed at me. "You humiliated me for the last time!" he marched forward and tried to grab Ernie's M1 from his hands but Ernie was watching Holland the whole time. Ernie stepped aside, drew back the rifle and planted the butt solidly into Holland's midsection.

Holland let out a loud "Oof!" and went to the ground. Hap walked over and said, "Holland, pack up your stuff and clear out. You have one hour." and then walked back into the welcome center.

I turned to Curtis and Chuck. "I can't get rid of you guys can I?"

"Nope, besides I like that Celina woman. You think she's into younger guys?" said Curtis.

"I have a feeling your next girlfriend is going to look more like that pig in the back of the truck, dude." said Chuck. "Seriously, I wonder if we are making a good decision this time, she looks like a pretty tough boss."

"I think we can handle any amount of work she's got. But what I wonder about is the rest of what she does. There are at least two bullet holes in that truck and one buckshot hit that is fairly recent. We have seen what it's like on the road, now imagine what it's like when you are hauling around food. And look at the security. I hope we get back here in one piece." I remarked.

We went back up to our camp site and started taking it down. We shook out and packed the tent and ground cover and stuffed our gear into our packs and duffles. We shook hands and exchanged hugs with the Hartmans with Curtis promising Tyler he would bring him back something when we returned in the next week and a half.

We went down the gate where Celina and her crew were waiting for us.

"You," she said point at me, "You go in the back of my truck. You, in the tow truck and hippie guy, you go with Jose in the Mustang. Beat it, I want to get back before nightfall"

We took our positions in the vehicle with the rifleman in the back of the pickup staring at me for a moment as I got in before turning back to his work watching the front of the truck. I settled in and pushed my gear to one side and rested my shotgun on my lap and watched the road behind us. I had no allusions that this team would need my firepower if trouble happened, but I wanted to try and not look like a slacker.

We rolled down the road and made several turns down various farm to market roads and even down one dirt road. Many of the farms and homes we saw along the way were buttoned up and under heavy impromptu guard. Some families must be doubling or tripling up as it was not uncommon to see seven or eight adults working outside of one modest sized home.

We drove for about forty five minutes before turning onto a long dirt track which came to an end with a heavy pipe fence and gate. The big guy from the front of the pickup got out and with a set of keys removed a padlock and pushed the gate aside for all to drive through.

We went five minutes and then stopped in a wide space in the road which had three dirt tracks going in a different direction. Curtis got out of the Mustang and came and climbed in the back of the pickup with me. Chuck got out of the tow truck and did the same and then all three vehicles took a separate road away from each other.

"What's the deal?" I asked.

"Jose who drives the Mustang lives down that road. Same property, but different houses. He's Celina's brother in law." said Curtis.

"The guys in the tow truck are her cousins, they live in another house down there." said Chuck.

Celina drove the pickup until the road stopped in front of a large two story house surrounded by multiple out buildings and paddocks. There were numerous large plastic wrapped, mini-structures surrounding the house as well the purpose of which I had no idea.

Celina stuck her head out of the window and told us to get out and wait on the porch. We grabbed our gear and did as we were told.

The pickup and trailer were backed into a barn and Celina, the gun man in the back and the big guy, Delbert, came walking out. Just then, the other rifleman, or I guess woman judging by her voice at the camp ground, who was in the back of the tow truck came around from the back of the house.

She walked over to the rifleman from the pickup and they both removed their sunglasses and baclavas. I was wrong. Both were women, might have been late teens or early twenties and were very attractive. I was speechless as were Chuck and Curtis.

They walked by us and as they were going up the porch steps, the one with darker hairs turned' held up her AK and said,

"Yeah, we're pretty, but we both can use these. Mind your manners." They laughed and walked into the house together.