With a little fast talk, I managed to keep my Spencer and my revolvers. There was no question about my bowie knife, I had that when I was conscripted....Like most everybody else, I went home to find that there were no jobs. The few jobs that there had been were snapped up by the guys who were mustered out first, so there was nothing left by the time I got home to Mulberry Run, New Hampshire. I wasn't married, so I didn't have a wife to worry about, and my ma and pa had their general store, so. The paint was a rough dusty red. It was very obvious it was a work truck. The rear extension was in two pieces that allowed the bottles and the lift arm to swing out so the tail gate could be lowered. I climbed, and I do mean climbed the chassis was raised there was a U shaped step to assist in climbing up. Mom and Dads place wasn't all that far as the crow flies but by the road it was at least 2 miles. It was on the NW corner on a 5 acre tract it was bisected by a year round spring fed. Where've you been all week?" Oh, I had to go away on business." Really," she snorted, "and what does Aaron do?" Computer tech, I was at a seminar." And here I thought you were just afraid to be around me." Oh, no. No, no, no," he shook his head vehemently, "I really wanted tosee how you were doing." Well, now you know." Well, you didn't give much of an answer. What does that mean, 'seenbetter days'? Not treating you well? At least you're conscious..." You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Try. Only low class people ate fried biscuit dough."Hell, call 'em what you want, just give me a big platter full. Oh and butter and syrup or sorghum an' more coffee. You all make fine coffee here." Let me have three of them, please, ma'am," Ida Marie asked her and added, "An' one for my daughter."One and two at a time, the café began to fill with the regulars. A gray haired man and woman sat at the table next to theirs. The man kept staring intently at them. Harley caught the stare and stared back.