Author's Note: I'm sure most of you gave up on me during this long hiatus, but I am still here. Living the off-grid life, being snowed in, etc. I had grand plans of completing the story before we moved back to the mountains, but it didn't work that way. So, instead, you get this chapter now, and an epilogue whenever I am able to finish it (and then get to town to get it posted!) I already have a couple of stray story lines bouncing around in my mind from this universe, so there might be a few of those down the road, too. And, I would be willing to entertain requests, if you have an outstanding question (that doesn't involve a great deal of the war…)

Chapter XVII: "Oh Little Town of Jericho…"

December 24-25 (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)

Bombs + 14 weeks

Other communities. The thought had continued to rattle around in Johnston's head as the days raced toward Christmas. He wanted to be able to speak in a coherent manner about his thoughts, but he was not there yet. Finally, by the time the family was at the house for Sunday dinner the week before Christmas, he pulled Heather into his den for a chat, outlining his thoughts. She thought she could be of help.

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Midmorning on Thursday, Heather had come into Johnston's office in Town Hall, asking if he had a few minutes. He followed her into the large conference room and his eyes grew large. She had taken apart a driving atlas and taped it together with packing tape to form an enormous map of the country, the northern tier of states filling one long wall of the room and the southern the other. She called his attention to the area of Jericho, where a series of push-pins were located.

"Jericho, Cedar Brook, Galloway and Bowling Green," she motioned toward the map of Kentucky, "are green. Good to go; prepared. New Bern is yellow, working to become prepared after the fact. Black is for the cities destroyed by bombs, and the communities made uninhabitable by them," she pointed to Rogue River as well as the 23 major cities.

Johnston regarded the maps and push pins, then took a deep breath, and sat down. He looked deflated.

"I'm sorry; not what you had in mind?" Heather asked, disappointed that he did not seem pleased with all of her hard work.

"No, no, it's wonderful," Johnston assured her with a tired smile. "It just feels like we have accomplished so much here in Jericho, and in New Bern, but it looks like so little when we consider the bigger picture.

At that moment, Oliver Wilson knocked on the door to alert the Mayor that he had completed a little work on the town's HAM radio, and it was in good shape once again.

Fascinated with the maps, Oliver stepped further into the room. "What are you working on here?" he asked with great interest.

Exchanging a glance and receiving permission from Johnston, Heather briefly explained their project, including the part that it didn't seem as impressive as they had hoped.

"Well, you know," Oliver began hesitantly, "I do have some contacts from my own HAM radio use over the years. Why don't you explain the color-coding system to me, and I could add what I know to the board. If you would like, that is."

Johnston and Heather again exchanged glances, and Johnston nodded. Heather explained the color system, and then stood watching Oliver expectantly.

Oliver coughed. "Uh, it might take me a few minutes," he stammered, still not entirely comfortable with public attention. "I could come for you when I'm done."

Johnston, who was just as happy to return to his office and continue his work, excused himself. Heather graciously thanked Oliver and said she had planned to check in on April with lunch and would return in a bit.

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Heather had planned to walk to the Green home to see April and Gail, but was able to catch a ride with the passing Ranger patron both coming and going, so her trip took less time than she had expected. She brought fresh brownies with her and stopped by Johnston's office to deliver them before they went back into the conference room to see how Oliver had fared. As they sat enjoying a quiet moment together, Oliver knocked on the door jam.

"I'm ready when you are," he said to them both, "Although I could use more push pins," he turned to address Heather.

They gave him a surprised look, and stood to follow him into the conference room. Heather gasped and Johnston shook his head in disbelief as they surveyed the map, now covered with dozens of push pins of various colors.

"I added the color red for towns that had been taken over by road gangs or other hostile forces, and pale blue in a few places that have had visits from an outfit calling themselves Jennings and Rall. They say they are government contractors sent from Cheyenne, to help people get back on their feet. I don't see how that is possible, considering that there are six people claiming to be president of the country."

To help them get back on their feet. Where had Johnston heard that term recently? Then it hit him like he had been shot with a bullet; he sat down due to the impact. The Ravenwood contractor has said: You know, pretty soon, things are going to get back to normal. The government will put itself back together, and they'll be looking to help all of you get back on your feet. And you know who they're going to send? Me. You remember that. How had the contractor known, unless he was on the inside? It was too much of a coincidence. Johnston's thoughts raced to Mr. Hawkins words about the bombs being an inside job. The kaleidoscope snapped sharply into focus and Johnston suddenly understood the whole ugly thing.

"Call Jake," he said to Heather. "Get him here; and Eric, also. We need to move faster than I had thought. And call Rob Hawkins, too."

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Within an hour, the group was assembled before the maps in the conference room. Johnston had asked Oliver to remain and share what he knew about Jennings and Rall. He started by repeating what he had told Johnston, and then went into further detail.

"So far, the folks who have reported seeing them are in Wyoming and western Nebraska, with a few in northern Colorado and South Dakota." Oliver stated.

"So, they are based out of Cheyenne," Jake observed, standing at the map and pointing to the radius of pins in Fort Collins and Greely, Colorado; Kimball and Scottsbluff, Nebraska; Edgemont, South Dakota, Laramie, Wheatland and Casper, Wyoming.

"Wouldn't the Colorado towns have been affected by radiation?" Eric asked. "They are closer than Rogue River."

"Prevailing winds are west to east off the mountains," Mr. Hawkins advised, turning the conversation back to Oliver. "So this group is offering assistance?"

"Yes," Oliver nodded. "Apparently they show up spotlessly clean and perky in pale blue golf shirts and offer to provide food and electricity to the people if they will just sign away their liberty. Everyone had some outstanding loan or debt from before the bombs, some ugly secret. This company asks questions until they find out what it is."

Mr. Hawkins nodded, but remained silent as the others discussed this abuse of power.

"I was afraid this was going to happen," Johnston nodded. "I thought it would be some outside party coming to bail us out in exchange for our freedom. Who would have thought it would be home grown talent that actually caused the trouble and then offers relief." Johnston shook his head.

"So, what we need to do," Jake took the line of thinking and followed it along, "is to get in touch with all of the towns we can, via HAM radio, and advise them not to accept help from this company. We need to form a network of our own, helping each other, and strengthening our forces to fight against whatever is coming rather than against each other."

Johnston was nodding. That had been his logic in dealing with New Bern. They continued the discussion, developing a plan, between the HAM radio used by the town and the one used by Oliver personally.

Finally, Oliver excused himself from the meeting and went home. When only the Green family members remained, Rob Hawkins spoke again.

"I believe Jennings and Rall is looking for something else," he stated with a gravity that gave everyone pause. Being careful to avoid eye contact with Jake to prevent implicating him in keeping the secret, he slowly continued. "You all know that I worked for the government. I worked undercover to try and prevent the bombs from being detonated. What I have not told you is that I was tasked with delivering a bomb to Columbus, Ohio."

"But Columbus was spared," Eric interrupted.

"That is because I did not deliver the bomb," Mr. Hawkins replied patiently. "I brought it here with me, instead. It is in my basement."

"WHAT?" Eric shouted, upsetting his chair as he stood up suddenly. Johnston and Heather also appeared shocked with this revelation. Only Jake took the news calmly, belying his prior knowledge.

"It is not armed, and the lead blocks all of the radiation," Hawkins continued, ignoring Eric's reaction. "The point is that the nuclear material itself has a signature that can implicate those responsible for the bombs. We need to figure out who that is, and who it isn't. I'm guessing Tomarchio and the crew in Cheyenne are responsible. In that case, we need to use the bomb to prove to the rest of the groups that they need to unite with us."

The discussion continued, and before long, the other members of the Green family were less shell-shocked about the existence of a bomb within their town. Since Christmas would be the following Monday, they decided to make their plans in the next few days, but not to move the bomb until the following week. This would allow everyone to enjoy Christmas with their families before sparking off a potentially major conflict with Cheyenne. Since Jake was one the few pilots in Jericho, it was decided that he would transport Hawkins and the bomb to the people in San Antonio who were claiming to be in charge of the country. They would take E.J.'s old cropduster that had survived the EMP, and would (hopefully) make the roughly 750 mile trip, San Antonio being the closest of the folks claiming presidency.

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In light of an uncertain future, Jake wanted to make this celebration as memorable as possible for Chip. The girls were still infants, but this might be Chip's last memory of Jake if the trip didn't turn out well. He went by Oliver's workshop the next afternoon while he was in town. He was shopping for inspiration more than something in particular, and he wasn't disappointed. Jake explained his situation to Oliver.

"I may have just the thing," Oliver said thoughtfully. He disappeared into a back room and rummaged around until he found a model train set that had seen better days, but still worked amazingly well. Someone must have used it as part of a village, as there were trees, bits of greenery and a few wooden blocks that vaguely resembled houses in the bottom of the box.

Jake's eyes lit up. He had always wished for such a set when he was a child, but it required the assistance of an adult, and the town of Jericho had always taken priority for Johnston. He thanked Oliver profusely, and took home his prize. He remembered a piece of plywood in the basement which would make a good base, and he might be able to get things set up where Chip could play unpestered by his sisters.

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Heather, too, racked her brain for ways to make this Christmas special. It would be the first for the girls, and the first that Chip might remember. She was discussing the matter with Gail on Friday when Gail and April had come out to the ranch for lunch.

"I have an idea," Gail said, with a far-off look in her eyes as if she were struggling to remember. After lunch, she led Heather and April up to the attic and they looked around the boxes and trunks located there. Finally, Gail cried "Here it is! The family nativity set! Catherine put it up for safekeeping the year Jake was two, and no one ever brought it out again. It was brought from Germany in the 1860's by Thomas Mott and his family, if I remember correctly. Not necessarily worth a great deal, but certainly of great sentimental value. I had totally forgotten about it until you started mentioning Christmas traditions."

"Oh, I don't want them to break on my watch," Heather said warily, thinking about how rambunctious Chip could be, especially if provoked by Jake.

Gail laughed. "I thought we'd had that conversation when we talked about the silverware at Thanksgiving. The end of the world as we knew it has occurred. I think it's OK to use the things we cherish. The kids won't necessarily enjoy having it up this year, but it will become part of their tradition."

Both Heather and April appreciated Gail's pragmatic approach, but Heather made a mental note to display the 150 year old Nativity set up high.

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Christmas notwithstanding, the McCalls held their usual Friday evening gathering. It was a boisterous event with the usual lineup of musicians playing carols and good food being served. Hope and Gilbert were there with their children, as well as the Richmonds and many others. Heather was surprised to see Zack Sommers in attendance, and paying particular attention to Ellen McCall. She was delighted to see that the Sommers were fitting in so well with the community.

Heather and Jake made sure to share a dance before the night ended. They reflected together on the many good times they'd had together at the McCalls' over the years as they prepared mentally for yet another separation.

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Christmas Eve finally arrived. Jake and Heather, Eric and April, Johnston and Gail attended an early pot-luck dinner at the McCalls' with all of the children. The crowd was bigger than ever, but somehow everyone managed to eat and still be ready to leave for church on time. Trundling into town in a caravan of wagons, singing carols along the way, the trip was even more festive than usual.

As the Christmas hymns concluded and the congregation was getting settled in the packed sanctuary, Reverend Young stood at the front to begin his short sermon. There was a rustling at the back, and all heads turned to observe over a dozen road-weary persons enter the building. Remembering the recent onslaught of refugees, the congregation began whispering in concern. Almost immediately, the leader put up his hand to speak.

"It's me, Grant Stevens, with Miranda, and Bob and Sharon Brady with Olivia, and some of the friends we have made on our travels from New York."

Before Grant could continue, Skyler Stevens shrieked from where she had been sitting half-way up the right side of the room. She pushed past the other people in the pew to reach the aisle and ran toward her Father, throwing her arms around him and sobbing. Miranda joined in the family reunion, and there wasn't a dry eye in the place as everyone came to realize the miracle of what was happening before them. The erstwhile sermon was forgotten in favor of welcoming home the folks who had been gone so long, and being introduced to their friends.

The Brady family made their way to where the rest of the Green family was, and a happy reunion took place even if it wasn't quite as dramatic as the one between the Stevens family members. The other members of the incoming group were warmly welcomed by various townspeople, stories of their trek having circulated about town since contact had been made via HAM radio.

Once the shock of the arrival wore off, members of the congregation began peppering the new arrivals with questions. As much as Johnston wanted to hear the answers, he knew the travelers were weary, and everyone should be heading home to enjoy a good night of sleep and a merry Christmas with their families.

"Folks, let's call it a night and let these poor folks get settled in warm beds for the first time in months. We'll have a town hall meeting and get all of your questions answered next week." With that, Johnston started encouraging people toward the rear exit.

Once he reached the place where the rest of the Green family was waiting, he looked at Jake and Heather. "How do you propose to divide up sleeping arrangements? I imaging Sharon, Bob, and Olivia will go back to the Ranch?" He asked.

At that point, Erin Peterson appeared at his elbow. "I don't know what your plans are, Mayor, but we have space for both of the Schmidt families at Scout Ranch. I have been getting to know Kate and Toby a little. I think they will fit right in to Jericho. Their cousins Ray and Barbara can have another room, and the three boys can share a third room." She looked at Johnston expectantly.

"That sounds very good, Erin. What are your plans for Christmas tomorrow," he queried.

"We had planned to go to the Bunk House and spend the day with the family," she responded thoughtfully. "I imagine the Schmidt crew could come along."

By this point, Grant and Miranda Stevens had joined the conversation and heard Erin's plans. Grant indicated they would be going to their own home for the night and taking the girls and Charles with them.

Johnston nodded, pleased with the way plans were coming together. He again looked to Jake and Heather. "What would you think of having the travelers spend Christmas with us at the Ranch House. Then they could tell us about their trip while we enjoy Christmas together. Would it be too much to ask of you, Heather?"

"No problem at all; the more the merrier," Heather responded, her mind already whirring with ideas to make an extra salad and a couple of extra side dishes to make the leftovers from the Bunk House feed 15 more people. They always had plenty, so she didn't know why she was even worrying.

With these matters settled, everyone headed home on the crisp, clear Christmas Eve.

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By 11am Christmas Day, the Ranch House was fairly bursting with activity. While they were missing the group from Nebraska this year, and the group from Cedar Brook, they were thankful for the safe return of the Bradys and the Stevens, and for all of their new friends.

Jake and Heather had gotten up early with Chip to open presents, his new train set being the most exciting. Heather had unpacked the cherished Nativity and displayed on a high shelf, being sure to explain it's significance to Chip and all of the others who came and went from the house.

The residents of the Ranch House were soon joined by Johnston and Gail, Eric and April and the kids, and the rest of the New York contingency. Food was set out buffet-style on the counters of the kitchen, then the adults found places around the large dining room table and other tables that had been borrowed from the Bunk House while the kids sat around the kitchen table.

Once they had eaten a bit, Grant started telling the story of their trip. Of appropriating the Central Park carriages and horses. Of meeting up with the Schmidt family (he left out the details of the failed hold-up attempt, figuring that Toby had more than made up for that momentary lapse in judgement on the trip). Of the battle of the Delta's. Of the prepared homesteads, and the unprepared ones. Of the horses sent from Bowling Green by Cousin Shane Green to complete the horse deal with Jake. Others of the group interjected as they thought of additional details.

"So tell me more about this map you have," Johnston requested once he felt the story had wound down and questions were polite. He was dying to know of any additional towns that had become prepared.

"I thought you might be interested," Grant answered with a chuckle. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a folded stack of papers that were somewhat frayed, having seen a better day. On the pages were lists of towns across the heartland that had become prepared based upon the recommendation of some long-forgotten midwestern town that thought it was a good idea. He then relayed the various conversations they'd had to that effect across the country. "I sure wish E.J. were alive to realize the fruits of his labor," Grant said heartily. "We may never know the number of lives that have been saved by his ideas and forethought."

Everyone at the table nodded in agreement, and Johnston was loathe to break the mood, but he felt that he needed to disperse the new information they had learned and the plans that would begin that week. He told the group of the map Heather had created, of the additional pins placed by Oliver, and the information he had provided. Oliver and the rest of the HAM qualified Rangers had been working each day since then to get the word out, and had added many additional pins. The information provided by the New York contingency would provide even more. Then Johnston detailed the need for prepared communities to ban together and get as many other communities up to speed as quickly as possible before a showdown with Cheyenne began. At this point, he left out the detail of the bomb and the impending trip to Texas.

Grant was astonished at the level of information that had been gathered by the folks in Jericho, and the plans they had put into play since the bombs. He promised to come to Town Hall first thing in the morning to help update the map, and help in any other way he could. The rest of the group was flabergasted that such a place existed at all, profoundly thankful to be here rather than elsewhere.

Later, in the kitchen, Miranda told the story of meeting the girls to Heather, Eleanor, and a few other ladies who were helping with dishes. "I wasn't sure what Skylar would think of us bringing home two more children, but it didn't seem to phase her when we told her of their story last night. She seemed sympathetic, and willing to accept them into the family. I think she has done a lot of growing up while we've been gone. I so appreciate all of you keeping an eye on her."

"If any of you need to talk about what you've experienced, I'm more than willing," Eleanor gently interjected. "I can't even imagine what those little girls went through. And it could have been so much worse, if they hadn't found you." All of the ladies nodded in agreement.

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By 9am Tuesday, Johnston, Jake and Grant were gathered in the conference room at Town Hall. Heather had gathered up additional push pins and sent them with Jake, so they were well stocked to start their endeavor. Some of the towns were already marked on the map, but most of them were new. Marian Frederickson had initiated a card catalog system of sorts for each town, so notes could be made at each contact. She used a manila folder for each town, separated by state and then alphabetized.

Helen McVeigh popped her head in the door to say 'Hello' mid-morning after she dropped off lunch for Ralph, who was in town on Ranger business. Being the school principle, the maps interested her, so she came in and asked what the group was doing. Johnston explained briefly, and got a sheepish look in return from Helen.

"I know all about OPSEC, Ralph having been career military and all, but we have dear friends all over the country. Once E.J. outlined his plan and got it rolling, I mentioned it to various trusted friends. I know quite a few who saw the value in becoming prepared and acted accordingly. Are you interested in speaking to them as well?"

Johnston and Helen had both grown up in Jericho. They had known each other their whole lives; so Johnston felt comfortable ribbing her a bit. He rolled his eyes and placed his palm to his forehead dramatically. "Aw, Helen, what have you done?" he asked. They all chuckled, then she agreed to return with a list, and Johnston considered the value of asking the remainder of the Jericho residents who they may have advised to prepare.

By the end of the week, they had well and truly run out of push pins and had resorted to sewing pins. They had pins in all 48 of the continental United States, with dozens of pins in most states. The HAM operators had worked tirelessly to make contact with the majority of them, noting as much information as they could in the file folders and advising them of the information known by Jericho.

E.J.'s old cropduster had been evaluated and tuned up to the full extent of it's capability. Jake and Hawkins were prepared to set out on their trip the first of the following week. They had made contact with San Antonio via HAM and were expected. They had not fully explained the reason for their visit, but made it clear that it was of great import.

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Jake and Johnston shared a quiet moment in Johnston's office before they went home on Friday evening after a whirlwind week of plans and preparations.

"You certainly have grown into your skin nicely, Son," Johnston said, raising a glass of single malt scotch in a toast to Jake. "You are a credit to your Mother and I, and to this town. Your Grandfather was so proud of you. I know we had some rough years, but I am so thankful for the ones since then. The ones where we got to see you become a husband and Father, and a good man. I imagine this trip will go well, but if it doesn't for some reason, I didn't want those things to have been left unsaid."

Jake, embarrassed by such words from his usually gruff Father, mumbled "Thanks, Dad" and completed the toast. "You've been a pretty good Dad, too. Especially lately. The welfare of Jericho, and maybe the whole country, are depending on you. I'm just glad to have you at the helm." They toasted again, and enjoyed a moment of quiet before heading home to enjoy the weekend with their families and ringing in the New Year and all of the potential problems that might entail.

Additional Author's Note: I am now working on an ancient laptop that is loaded with Linux. It cooperates half-past when it wants to. Any formatting errors can be chalked up to that...