The next morning, Jillian woke me up and I entered the kitchen. I poured a cup of coffee and Jillian warmed the peach cobbler for me. It was around 9:30 am and everyone was already packed up for our baseball game.

  During the 6th inning a light rain shower appeared and we played through. It was the first week of December, I think. Catalina Lightening won; 15 to 11. We all ate a quick lunch and decided to depart with growing concern because the weather appeared more severe inland.

  The water was rough but manageable as we hooked into a couple of yellow tail. When we secured Wolf Pack II to the dock, the weather turned very bad, very quickly. High winds and stinging rain and a drop of temperature to the low fifties. We reported the conditions to Susan as Paul and Reese were securing the villa as high winds could be heard over Elaine’s crying.

  The wolf pack followed Ginger and Pete as they headed immediately to the restaurant. We followed carrying the coolers and personal gear. The building was sound and only a few small roof leaks. We watched a couple of boats sink and some pulled from their moorings in the marina as they bobbed and swayed in the rough water. The wolf pack managed to catch a couple rats as they patrolled the huge restaurant. Ginger and Pete were under the table.

  We all went over the maps and plotted our course home around the areas prone to washing out. The storm ended a little after four p.m. This gave us only about forty-five minutes before sunset. Helen and Scotty insisted on us following them to our house in Jillian’s new Escalade.

  Roads were in very poor condition, we drove slow through low-lying and unfamiliar areas then through a very small town; I can’t remember the name, then up a long slow gradual climb.

  An elderly man, with an old Jack Russel smiled and waved to us as we approached the top of the hill from his mailbox. We stopped as the Jack Russel issued labored barks and not really able to focus through cloudy eyes.

  “Praise Jesus!” The man said still smiling as the dog continued to bark. We all exited our vehicles and the old dog was highly agitated being able to sense us, the dogs and no doubt the wolf pack.

  “The lord moves in mysterious ways!” The man said loudly trying to calm his dog. The man’s eyesight was not much better as his eyes were magnified by his glasses.

  “Praise Jesus indeed!” Helen said loudly approaching the man with a big smile.

  “Are you the folks moving into the Johnson place?” He asked loudly as Rosie, Becky and Jeff disappeared. The pups stayed in the truck, noses sweeping the open window. Ginger and Pete stayed behind Jillian and I as we approached.

  “Easy Jackie. Easy.” The man said to his dog; who was scared taking in a lot of new information, none of which she could see. The man held out his hand to Helen.

  “You are the prettiest thing I have seen in a long while!’ The man said trying to focus on Helen as she blushed and introduced herself and Scotty.

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  “I’m Henry. May the lord be with you.” Henry said as Jillian introduced herself and I with the same response to both of us and Scotty.

  “Which house is yours?” Helen asked Henry.

  “I’m set back quite a-ways, got twenty-two acres, three of which are useful. Them dogs friendly?” Henry asked looking toward Ginger and Pete with tails wagging.

  “Is it okay if I give Jackie a dog cookie?” Helen asked politely.

  “She hasn’t had a treat in a long while. Brother-in-law used to come every week, to visit and drop off goods… God bless his soul. Jackie, sit.” Henry said to Jackie. Helen placed the dog cookie under her nose and lowered it to the ground. Jackie found it and Helen was her new best friend.

  “Henry, this is Ginger and this is Pete.” Jillian said as Henry approached slowly and presented his hands.

  “Cold noses and warm hearts.” Henry said as Ginger and Pete inspected Henry with intermittent licks.

  “Lot of the lower roads are washed out.” Scotty said.

  “The Lord blessed us with some much-needed rain.” Henry said petting Ginger and Pete and they inspected Jackie.

  “Henry, we would love to stay and talk, but we need to get home while we still have some light.” Helen said as she gently petted Jackie.

  “Can’t remember the last time the power was off this long. Streets are pretty dark I suppose.” Henry said standing up straight.

  “Say… would you folks be interested in buying some eggs?” Henry asked. We all exchanged looks.

  “SURE!” Jillian said more excited than necessary. “But we really don’t have any, money.” Jillian said.

  “Hm, tell ya what, I’ll trade you four dozen eggs for some fish.” Henry said with a smile.

  “My eyesight isn’t too good but my nose works just fine!” Henry said pointing to his nose.

  “You know your way around a yellow tail?” Scotty asked Henry walking to the back of his truck.

  “Mother Mary and Joseph!” Henry exclaimed looking at the yellow tail. “I’ll manage!” Henry said with a big smile. We drove up the long driveway and Henry went into the house.

  “Do you smell that?” Helen asked us as we all smelled the air standing in the driveway.

  “That’s a whole bunch of chickens!” Helen said as Rosie, Becky and Jeff rounded the corner and Scotty put them in the truck.

  Henry handed me six dozen eggs. “We agreed on four dozen.” I said to Henry. “That’s a big fish and there are six of you.” Henry said.

  “Henry, we really need to get going, thank you for everything and may Peace be with you.” Helen said clasping his hand.

  “Next time you’re in the neighborhood, we can all go to Church together. I just hate singing alone.” Henry said as we all said our goodbyes and drove down the long driveway to the street. Two small paths were visible in the dirt from Henry’s driveway; man, and dog, about a quarter mile to an old church with a cemetery next to it.

  “EGGS! Holy Shit! I mean…wow!” Jillian said into the radio.

  “Divine intervention!” Helen said.

  “That’s why Rosie, Becky and Jeff disappeared! Any of them have feathers and satisfied grins?” I asked.

  “No. Henry must have them locked up pretty good.” Helen said as we refocused on the maps and each of us voicing their favorite egg related recipes. We informed the Catalina folks on the details and they all contributed to the conversation.