October 7, 2023 – 9:48 PM
The farmhouse had finally settled into its nightly rhythm.
Richard and General Fang were in the living room, quietly discussing tomorrow's fencing plans over mugs of coffee.
Jake had fallen asleep almost the moment his head touched the pillow.
Helen had already disappeared upstairs with a veterinary journal tucked under one arm.
Only Lin remained in the kitchen.
She rolled up the sleeves of her flannel shirt before filling the sink with hot, soapy water.
The scent of lemon dish soap mixed with the lingering aroma of melted cheese and garlic knots.
She picked up the first plate.
Scrub.
Rinse.
Into the drying rack.
Another plate.
Another glass.
Another fork.
The familiar routine slowed her racing thoughts.
From the living room, Richard's voice drifted in.
"...west fence should be finished by Tuesday."
General Fang answered calmly.
"If weather cooperates."
"Forecast says clear."
Lin smiled to herself.
Even after retirement...
Neither man really knew how to stop working.
She rinsed the last pan and wiped down the countertops until every crumb had disappeared.
Only then did she glance toward the pantry.
Old habit.
She opened the wooden door.
Bright LED lights flickered on.
Floor-to-ceiling shelves lined three walls.
Everything had its place.
Everything had a label.
She slowly walked inside.
Her fingers brushed across neatly printed inventory tags.
Rice
42 bags
She checked.
Correct.
Flour
28 bags
Still correct.
She moved farther down.
Rows of canned vegetables.
Chicken.
Beef stew.
Fruit.
Tomato paste.
Soup.
Every shelf perfectly organized by expiration date.
She crouched beside the lower shelves.
Cooking oil.
Sugar.
Salt.
Powdered milk.
Coffee.
Tea.
Spices.
Nothing looked disturbed.
She opened one of the large food-grade buckets.
White rice.
Vacuum-sealed inside thick mylar bags.
Still intact.
A small oxygen absorber sat exactly where it should.
She sealed it again.
Satisfied.
Her clipboard hung from a hook beside the door.
Lin picked it up.
A sharpened pencil rested in the spiral binding.
She made several quick notes.
Kitchen Pantry
✓ Rice inventory verified
✓ Canned goods organized
✓ Oils stocked
✓ Coffee sufficient
✓ No moisture detected
She turned the page.
Need to Order
• More baking powder
• Vinegar
• Aluminum foil
• Yeast
She tapped the pencil against the clipboard.
Yeast.
Easy to forget.
Hard to replace once stores emptied.
She underlined it twice.
Next...
She opened the chest freezer beside the pantry.
Cold air spilled into the room.
Vacuum-sealed beef.
Chicken.
Pork.
Fish.
Every package labeled with both the date and weight.
She counted several stacks.
Still exactly where they should be.
She closed the lid.
Then opened the refrigerator.
Milk.
Eggs.
Fresh vegetables.
Butter.
Cheese.
Enough for everyday cooking without touching the long-term storage.
Exactly as planned.
She quietly nodded.
One pantry for daily life.
One pantry for emergencies.
Keeping them separate reduced waste.
It also made inventory easier.
She switched off the pantry light before closing the door.
As she reached the kitchen doorway, something caught her eye through the window above the sink.
The security floodlights near the equipment barn had turned on.
A familiar figure crossed the yard carrying a flashlight.
Richard.
Behind him walked General Fang.
Even at this hour...
They were making one final inspection before bed.
Richard shined his flashlight along the newly installed fence.
General Fang checked each camera mounted beneath the barn's eaves.
Satisfied, the older men exchanged a few quiet words before heading back toward the house.
Lin watched them through the window.
October 7, 2023 – 9:56 PM
Lin had just finished checking the pantry when her cellphone vibrated on the kitchen counter.
She glanced at the screen.
Eric Dawson
She blinked.
For a moment she considered letting it ring.
Instead, she answered.
"Hello?"
Eric sounded slightly embarrassed.
"Hey... am I calling too late?"
Lin leaned against the counter.
"No. I was still awake."
"Good."
There was a brief pause.
She could hear the faint hum of a patrol vehicle in the background.
A police radio crackled somewhere nearby.
Eric laughed softly.
"I'm actually parked outside the old mill finishing paperwork."
Lin smiled.
"Exciting night?"
"Paperwork never is."
That earned a quiet laugh from her.
For a few moments they simply talked.
Nothing important.
The weather.
How Maple Creek had calmed down after the robbery.
Whether the pharmacy owner was alright.
Eric finally said,
"Everyone's going to be okay."
Lin nodded even though he couldn't see her.
"That's good."
Another comfortable silence settled between them.
Then Eric cleared his throat.
"So..."
Lin already knew.
She smiled to herself.
"Yes?"
"There's an old movie playing at the community theater this Friday."
He chuckled.
"Nothing fancy."
"Just one of those classic western nights they do every month."
He paused.
"Would you like to go together?"
Lin closed her eyes for a second.
He really was persistent.
Not pushy.
Just hopeful.
She answered gently.
"Eric..."
"I appreciate you asking."
"Really."
He stayed quiet.
Waiting.
"But I'm going to say no."
A small sigh came through the phone.
Not frustrated.
Just disappointed.
"Because you're busy?"
She smiled.
"Very."
She looked toward the stack of notebooks sitting on the kitchen table.
Construction schedules.
Invoices.
Supply lists.
Tomorrow's work plan.
The list never seemed to get shorter.
"I've got contractors coming every day."
"Livestock deliveries."
"Construction inspections."
"Inventory."
"My mom's veterinary work."
She laughed softly.
"Somehow I became everyone's extra pair of hands."
Eric laughed.
"I noticed."
She continued,
"And next week I've got several vehicle deliveries arriving."
"Plus more building materials."
"Honestly..."
She shook her head.
"...I'm barely keeping up."
Eric understood.
"Sounds exhausting."
"Worth it."
"I hope so."
There was another brief silence.
Finally, Eric spoke again.
"Can I ask one question?"
"Sure."
"Are you saying no because you're busy..."
He smiled to himself.
"...or because it's me?"
Lin appreciated the honesty.
She decided he deserved the same.
"Mostly because I'm busy."
She paused.
"But I'm also not looking to date anyone right now."
No mixed signals.
Just the truth.
Eric let out a quiet breath.
"Fair enough."
His tone remained warm.
"I figured I'd regret it if I didn't ask."
Lin laughed.
"Now you know."
"Now I know."
He chuckled.
"Mrs. Porter is going to tell me to keep trying."
Lin groaned.
"Please don't listen to Mrs. Porter."
He laughed.
"Noted."
She smiled.
"Friends?"
"Friends."
"Good."
A dispatcher called over his radio.
Eric glanced toward the dashboard.
"Looks like I've got another call."
"Duty calls?"
"Always."
Lin smiled.
"Drive safe."
"You too."
He laughed.
"I'm hoping you don't drive anywhere tonight."
"Not planning to."
"Goodnight, Lin."
"Goodnight, Eric."
The line clicked off.
Lin set the phone back on the counter.
She stood there for a few seconds before turning off the kitchen light.
Eric really was a good man. Honest.
In another life, maybe she would have accepted.
But not this one.
Right now, every spare hour had already been promised to the future.