Читать книгу The Dryline - Jack Grubbs - Страница 30

Nineteen

Friday, March 19

San Antonio, Texas

Nancy Gardner finished packing and placed her suitcase on the kitchen floor. Her daughter Sally waited patiently in front of the television. Granddaughter Erin roughhoused with the family dog. Ludovic was a strong mixed breed, capable of taking one’s hand off if he wasn’t happy. So far, he was always happy.

“All right ladies, we’re off to downtown Dacus. Sally, help me load the trunk.”

Sally leaned forward in her couch cushion, staring at the television. “Mom, come here first. Check this out.” Sally, an air controller from San Antonio, was a meteorology buff. She turned the sound up. On the screen, Ian Willingham was a few seconds into a weather update.

“You’re right, Beth, we have potential problems brewing for tomorrow across much of the state.” On a map of the United States a red, cucumber-shaped outline bisected the country. His effervescent smile was replaced by a slightly serious stare. He pointed to the northern-most edge of red. Sweeping his arm downward from the top of the map, he spoke of trouble. “We’re looking at a large mass of unseasonably cold Canadian air pushing through the Northern Plains. Unfortunately, it has already spawned numerous tornadoes, one causing three fatalities near Langdon, North Dakota.” He pointed to a spot near the US–Canada border. Then, looking directly into the camera, he added, “Much of Texas will have problems along this boundary of dry air out of Mexico and the extremely moist air from the Gulf. Our best models are showing a dryline extending south to north across Texas, through Oklahoma and into the lower Midwest. The models show extremely severe weather throughout the eastern half of Texas throughout tomorrow. We don’t need to jump to conclusions, but I strongly recommend that everyone know what to do in case of severe weather and possible tornadoes.” He smiled for the first time. “I’ll be back in a few minutes with specific weather and information for taking proper precautions.”

“Sure glad we’re going to Tom’s today.” Sally clicked off the television. Sally’s gut tightened at the prospect of violent weather churning their way.

Erin grabbed Ludovic in a game-saving tackle. Cristen Jane, Erin’s older sister, watched in amusement as she carried more suitcases through the kitchen.

“I just hope the bad weather doesn’t hit the ranch until after the party. Susie’s put too much effort in it.” She opened the door leading from the kitchen to the garage. “You ladies first.”

Erin called Ludovic and ran outside to the car. Ludovic jumped into the back seat, his tail wagging in anticipation of a ride to wherever humans want to go. He licked both of his adopted sisters in canine euphoria. They were off to the Broken Wing Ranch.

“Welcome back, hon. Don’t sweat on the carpet,” Susie called to Tom at the sound of the door chime announcing his return from a five-mile jog through the dirt road leading from the back end of their property line toward the east. Sure enough, sweat poured from every pore in his body.

“Damn muggy out there. I mean, it’s worse than a blanket. Bear and Catfish turned back before I got to the end of the runway. Wimps.” He grabbed a towel resting on the clothes dryer and started drying from head to toe.

Susie smiled and added, “TV’s talking about some severe weather headed our way. Hope it doesn’t mess up the party.”

“It won’t. Nothing messes with a Seiler party.”

Outside Bear and Catfish slurped away at their bowl of water. The bowl had a float device attached to a stiff wire. When the water level lowered to a specific level, the wire activated a switch that opened a valve to allow water to refill the bowl. Tom was, indeed, the best mechanical engineer in the state. His specialty was nuts and bolts.

As for his prediction about the coming weather, he would prove to be a lousy meteorologist.