Page 40 of N8
“We haven’t checked the plumbing yet,” P8 informed them. “We don’t know if the washers and dryers still work. We may have to wash our clothes by hand.”
“Where?” F8 asked.
“Why not down at the lake?” N8 grinned. “Same place we’ll take a bath.”
“It may be a while before we can hire an electrician and a plumber to come check out everything,” Cydney admitted. “There’s no money to pay for either. We won’t be able to turn on the lights until then. We’ll also have to resort to using the bathroom outdoors.”
“Lights won’t be a problem,” K8 admitted, smiling. “There’s a bunch of candles and matches in a box in the back storage room in the main building. I’m guessing they were put there in case a storm knocked the power out.”
T8 spoke up, “Are there any candles in the cabins?”
“Wouldn’t hurt to look,” P8 stated. “I didn’t check any of the drawers in the cabins.”
“If we’re frugal, we should have enough to last us until we can get the electrician here,” K8 remarked. She looked around the area and sighed. “It’s so beautiful here. I hope this works out.” They all voiced their agreement with her statement.
G8 got up to help himself to seconds. “If you guys don’t have a problem with it, after I’m done here, I’m thinking of hauling all the crap that’s no longer any good out of the cabins, and piling it at the edge of the property. At some point it’ll need to be taken to the town dump, or wherever they take their garbage, but there’s no sense in letting it sit inside those cabins and continue to draw bugs, and mold, and heaven knows what else.”
P8 rose to also help himself to more. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’d like to have my own cabin after we get things settled and situated.” He eyed T8 and G8. “No offense. I love you guys like brothers, but I’d like not having to sleep in the same room with you two.”
“Are you insinuating that we keep you awake at night?” G8 lightly teased.
“Well, if it wasn’t for all that log rolling you do, I wouldn’t mind,” P8 shot back.
T8 snorted. “I second that. I’m looking forward to us clearing out a few more cabins so I can have my own place, too. And a nicequietnight’s rest.”
F8 leaned over to place a hand on K8’s arm. “We’re okay sharing until you boys get your things in order.”
“Mighty generous of you,” G8 grumbled. “Thanks.”
“Sooo, what’s our next step?” N8 quizzed. “Ideas? Suggestions?”
“I think it’s too late to go job hunting today. We might be better off starting fresh tomorrow morning. That’ll give us the rest of this afternoon to get some more work done around here,” T8 pointed out. “We can go skinny dipping in the lake and do the laundry when we’re done.”
Cydney straightened. “Skinny dipping?” She threw N8 a wide-eyed look, and he snorted.
“I’ll make a deal with you.” He leaned over to whisper in her ear, “If you wash my back, I’ll wash yours.” She gasped, but the expression on her face told him she wasn’t objecting to the idea. “Tomorrow, we’ll go looking for employment, and I have faith we’ll find it. No more worries, Cydney. We’ll get through this. You’ll see. We’re going to make it, thanks to you.”
Before she could respond or correct him, he bent closer and kissed her, not caring that the others were watching.
21Viol8
Sheriff Biggs heardhis cell phone go off in his pocket. Recognizing the ringtone, he placed it directly to his ear without looking at the screen.
“Yes?”
“Are you still at the store?” his wife inquired.
“Just getting ready to check out. Why? Did you forget something?”
“Yes. I forgot to put laundry detergent on the list.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll go get some. Is that all? How are we for eggs?”
“We’re fine.”
“Listen, I need to run by the post office and stick a few things in the box before I come home,” he informed her.
“How much longer do you think you’ll be? I just put the meatloaf in the oven.”
