by H. L. Wegley
Craig let the crowd cheer for the next few minutes until the noise subsided.
“The states will decide which amendments are prudent, but they will likely include a state's power to override any abusive, unconstitutional executive orders, federal regulations, and unconstitutional Supreme Court decisions.”
Cheering started again, shorter this time.
“If our nation ever ended up in freefall, this was the safety chute provided by our founders in Article 5 of the Constitution. And, my fellow Americans, it's time to pull the ripcord. If we don't, eventually another Hannan will team up with the judiciary and invite us to Uncle Sam's funeral.”
Media people with video cameras on their shoulders had worked their way through the crowd. How long had he been on national TV? Craig should not remain in the limelight. It was time for Ben to speak to the people.
“Now, here's your president with some welcome news.” Craig turned to Ben Tucker and saw a new look of confidence.
Ben was ready. He stepped to the microphone. “Adding to what Captain Craig said about the Convention of States—contact your state legislatures and tell them we need the protections Captain Craig mentioned as well as the others outlined in Brock Daniels’s post two weeks ago—including term limits and requirements for balancing the budget.” Ben Tucker waited until the cheering stopped.
“About the election—”
The roar cut off Tucker.
News reporters swung their cameras around, scanning the cheering crowd.
Craig gave the crowd thumbs up as hope, joy, and patriotic pride swelled in his heart.
America was becoming America, again.
Chapter 45
Julia sat in the small rear seat of the SUV as Jeff turned in at her driveway, where they had left less than six hours ago. The afternoon seemed like it had lasted for days and the events it contained were surreal. The man sitting by her side was real enough, but so was the pain she had inflicted on him, intentionally.
Six months ago, if someone would have told her she was about to fall in love with a Ranger, a weapons sergeant who specialized in guns and explosives, she would have laughed at them, or insulted their intelligence with her sharp words.
Brock draped an arm around KC’s shoulders. “Thanks, Kace, for getting the Israeli laptop to connect. I can’t wait to see what my blog post stirred up.”
When Jeff braked to a stop, Julia leaned forward and pulled herself to her feet, carefully stepping over the three M4s and enough ammunition to conduct a small war—things Steve insisted they take from the cave, just in case. “Let me slide by you, KC, so I can unlock the door. Then everybody to the great room and we’ll turn on the widescreen TV and watch history being made.”
Julia unlocked the door.
Everyone rushed into the great room and took a seat.
When the big flat panel screen lit, the new president spoke from a balcony at the White House.
“This evening I will give the order to all military deployed to enforce martial law to return to their original duty posts. Local police will resume their duties to protect and serve, unhindered by the military. And as of this moment, by the authority vested in me, all martial-law curfews are ended.”
Brock stuck out a thumb at the TV. “From the size of the crowd in DC, I’m guessing my post went viral within minutes.”
“Be quiet, Brock. I want to hear our president.” KC poked him in the ribs.
“For the past two weeks, I have heard rumors that an effort was being made to organize a third party before the next election. At the time, we didn’t know if there would ever be another election. I will do everything possible to allow this party to nominate its candidate. We owe our citizens an alternative to what they’ve had in the past … and we never want a repeat of what we’ve had for the past seven years.”
Cheering grew loud and President Tucker waited for it to subside.
Brock sat beside KC in the great room holding the laptop. “I just hit two social media sites. Rumors are flying around saying two-thirds of the Republicans and a fourth of the Democrats are going to bail for the new Constitutional Party being organized by Senator Carr from Texas. Did you hear about Carr’s plan to clean house in the military? From general to private, top to bottom, including the Pentagon bureaucrats.”
“Shut up, Brock. The president is getting ready to talk again.” KC looked at Brock, but her eyes weren’t saying shut up. She scanned everyone in the room and evidently realized five people were staring at her. “It’s okay, everybody. Brock knows that my shut up means I love you, sweetheart, but I really wish you’d stop talking. Right, Brock?”
“Yeah, and stop talking before I slap you silly. You forgot that part, Kace.”
“Then shut up, because Tucker is talking.”
“It has been brought to my attention, that Israel helped save the lives of six of our citizens when Abid Hannan attempted to murder them with a black operation conducted by his hand-picked Special Forces. I thank our good ally, and look forward to rectifying the terrible wrongs Hannan has forced on a nation that fights daily for its survival amid hostile nations and continuous terrorist attacks.
“Regarding other foreign relations, I’ll personally tend to the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with our allies and other friends abroad, since our former Secretary of State is in custody in a local hospital, awaiting trial. I’ve already contacted leaders in the House and the Senate to prepare for an expedited formation of a cabinet for my temporary administration which will only serve until the new president is elected and sworn in.”
* * *
President Tucker concluded his speech and Julia turned the volume down on the TV, knowing that lively discussion in the great room would follow.
Brock shot Steve a glance. “You know, I’m really glad I don’t work at the Pentagon, right now.”
Steve chuckled. “You might be going to prison if you were a Hannan appointment. Regardless, it’s going to be chaos at the Pentagon, trying to redeploy the regular troops, release the federalized National Guard troops, and clean house of Hannan’s traitors and wusses in the military. We need our fighting force back. When Julia can sneak up on two of Hannan’s choice Rangers and take them out, well it …”
Julia crossed her arms and studied his eyes. “Yes, Sergeant Bancroft.”
“It proves that she’s a Ranger, a good one.” Benjamin had rescued Steve.
“The best,” Steve said. “She saved my life too many times to count over the last few days.”
She unfolded her arms and continued studying Steve’s face.
“I hope Tucker, the states, and the next elected president all keep their word,” Jeff said. “If not, fifty years from now, we could be in this fix again.”
“I hope they keep their word so I don't have to maintain this doggone blog. I have a novel to finish, a novel that was rudely interrupted by Hannan and a freckle-faced girl.”
“Is your novel a romance?” KC took Brock’s hand.
“You can count on it. A romantic thriller.”
KC smiled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, Mr. Daniels.”
Julia glanced at KC and Brock. “I’ve heard Brock’s and KC’s story. And I think we just got the nutshell version, again.” She turned toward Allie. “But you’ve never told me how you and Jeff got together.”
“It’s a long story, Julia. I’ll tell it to you when we have more time. Let’s just say, it all happened while I was chasing freedom.”
Julia sighed. “Chasing freedom … aren’t we all. Well, Craig strongly recommended that we all stay here under Steve’s protection until the nation stabilizes.” Julia shook her head. “I can’t bear to think about us splitting up after all we’ve gone through together. And, I mean this … you’re all welcome to stay here, indefinitely.”
“After the firefight at our house, Allie and I will have some remodeling to do before we move back in.”
“Yes we’d love to take you up on your offer, Julia,” All
ie said.
Jeff pointed a thumb toward the golf course on the plateau below. “Maybe I’ll have to take up golf.”
“Just don’t swear when you hit a bad drive, Jeff.” KC grinned at him. “Golf balls belonging to foul-mouthed golfers have been known to disappear on hole number five. Sometimes they end up in the canyon, 600 feet below.”
“I’ll keep that in mind if there are any little redheaded girls running around.”
Brock stared at KC until she returned his gaze. “Kace, the lot about a quarter mile down the road has been for sale, forever. I’ve got enough saved up to buy it and start building a house.”
“Mr. Daniels, if Hannan didn’t confiscate it, I’ve got enough savings to buy some building materials, too.”
“Then it’s settled,” Julia said. “You two will be staying here until you finish building your house.”
“And finish my novel.”
“No, Brock,” Julia said. “There’s one other thing you have to do.” She looked at KC, who was grinning at Julia.
KC nodded and then turned her attention to Brock.
Brock eyes darted, focusing on KC, then Julia—back and forth. “I sense a conspiracy here.”
Julia laughed. “You always sense a conspiracy. That’s the first thing you told me about, down in Guatemala, when I mentioned your blog. But I guess you can look at it that way. Here’s the deal … you can’t stay with me unless you do something that KC, Allie, and I decided you have to do, Brock.”
“A blank check for my rent? This must be the high-rent district.” He gave Julia a squinty-eyed glance. “Let’s hear it.”
“I have a phone number right here in my hand, one that KC looked up on the Internet. You need to call it, make an appointment, and put the date on your calendar.”
“Look, I’m not going to see a shrink, no matter what you three women say. No way.”
“Sweetheart, you are a bit paranoid, but not schizophrenic. We’re not asking you to see a shrink. You just have to call this number and schedule yourself for the next Mariner’s baseball tryout.”
“Kace, that’s water under the bridge. I—”
“Don’t you try telling me that dream isn’t still alive deep inside of you. How come, every time you get a chance, I see you throwing rocks at things, throwing really hard. And, when you try out, you’d better really try, buster. I want to see high heat with at least one pitch clocked at 105 miles-per-hour. Do you understand?”
“Alright, alright, I’ll go. But, Kace, it’s still just a dream. I’ll probably never even—”
“Don’t say it, Brock. After they clock your pitches, after you bruise the catcher’s hand, and after you strike out every batter you face, they’ll shove a contract in front of you so fast your head will spin.”
“I’ll go, otherwise KC will—well, ever since she was a kid she’s had ways of evening the score. She’s good at cruel and unusual punishment.”
“Brock, when I turned you in to the Golf Marshall, it was only a joke. You weren’t really guilty of indecent exposure.”
“But, Kace, you waited an hour before you told him the truth.”
“That’s because you—”
“Moving right along. If you go, Brock, your rent is paid for as long as I own this house. It’s got two master bedrooms, with private baths, that you married couples will want to use, because …” Julia stopped. Her cheeks grew warm, probably pink. If she just hadn’t added that “because” part.
“Because married men think they’re the masters.” Allie rescued her.
Steve stood and stretched. “My enlistment is up in three months. I’m getting out as soon as the chaos ends and the army can issue discharge papers, again. I’ll probably be here most of that time, if Craig has his way. He’s afraid that there might be some disgruntled Hannan supporters around.”
Julia stood and took Steve’s hand. “Now that that’s all settled, would you like to take a walk with me? The sun will be setting over the Cascades in a few minutes.”
Steve stood and she led him across the room.
When they reached the outside door to the great room, KC’s voice came from behind them. “Good luck, Julia.”
“Yeah. Good luck, Steve.” Brock’s voice.
* * *
Julia led him to the edge of the bluff, overlooking Crooked River Ranch and, beyond it, the canyon. Steve turned and scanned the western horizon. Somewhere in the vicinity, a small wildfire had produced enough smoke to turn the sun a reddish yellow as it hung low over the Cascade Mountains beside the snow-capped peak of Mount Washington. To the southwest, the Three Sisters jutted up above the horizon.
When God made things, true beauty could be seen by all. And God had outdone Himself when He made the woman standing beside Steve.
He looked down at Julia—her full lips parted to speak, the waves of her light brown hair dancing in the breeze, her brown eyes full of life. It was time for their talk.
“My grandparents raised me from age fourteen, after my parents were killed in Africa. After my grandparents died and left me this house, I felt guilty taking it. So, I locked it up, hired a boy to mow the grass and pull weeds, and just let it sit here for about six months. Then came the mission trip to Guatemala and, well, you know the rest.” Julia stopped and waved a hand across the panorama in front of her and Steve. “I could never get tired of this view.”
“I can see what you mean. A miniature Grand Canyon with a green oasis, the golf course. Would you like to fly over it? Bob Daggett promised me a free ride if you’d come with me.”
“Who’s Bob Daggett?”
“The pilot who flew me from Madras to the Skylight Cave so I could bail out and get myself killed by a company of Rangers.”
“Steve, you took too big of a risk.”
“Yeah, like you didn’t? Singing God Bless America to 200 troops with their M4s trained on you.”
Her head swung around from the vista in front of them to his face. “Steve, I—”
“You don’t have to do that, Julia—take risks, sacrifice yourself. You are the strongest, bravest, most selfless woman I’ve ever known and …” The words Steve sought eluded him …
“You were on a roll. You didn’t have to stop.” Julia’s coy smile tweaked one corner of her mouth.
“Okay, the most stubborn person I’ve ever known, bent on self-destruction—”
“You can stop anytime.” Her smile faded.
“Most beautiful, most caring person—Julia, you don’t have anything to prove. You’ve done it all. I love you just the way you are.”
“And I love you. Can we … maybe … let Steph just enjoy where she is while you and I spend our lives together here on earth … until we go to be with her?”
“Yeah, but aren’t I the one who’s supposed to do the proposing.”
“Yeah? Is that all you can say? Steve, you’ve been living with guilt that wasn’t yours. Like you told me, we live in a fallen world where bad things happen—things like people wanting to shoot you with thermal bears, tornados killing people, people we love. It’s not all your fault. It’s not all my fault. We can only do what we can do. But we must do what we can, even if it means shooting an evil person to protect the innocent.”
“You’re beginning to sound like Brock, Jules.”
“Maybe. But I sounded like a cruel liar when I thought you weren’t going to go help Craig after he begged you to go to DC. I hurt you because I—no, there’s no way to justify what I did.” Tears welled in Julia’s eyes.
“I forgive you. It’s done… over. We have our nation back, a place we can live in liberty, a place where our children and grandchildren can enjoy that freedom.”
She wiped her eyes and smiled. “Children? I believe that’s called jumping the gun. Don’t you have something you want to ask me, first?”
“Yeah, I do. Would you like to fly over the ranch in Daggett’s Cessna?”
“Steve, that’s not what—”
“Well, would you?”
/> “Of course, but—”
“There’s one condition. We don’t land in the Cessna … we jump out of it.”
“I can’t … I couldn’t … I—”
“Julia, I’ll hold you until just before the chutes open. It’s a lot safer than having thermal bears shot at you.”
“But I didn’t choose to have thermal—”
“But you did. You ran out from the trees and became a target to protect me.”
She put her arms around Steve and buried her face into his chest. “I’ll jump, if you hold me.” Her words came out in a hoarse whisper.
She would jump with him, even though she was afraid. He had earned her trust, the kind of trust that ran deep. Maybe he didn’t deserve her trust, but he would die to keep it.
After events at the cave, only a few words had been needed and their issues were now all dealt with. Only one thing remained to be done. “Julia … I … I don’t know if I should be doing this right now.”
She pulled her head from his chest and peered deeply, warmly into his eyes.
“Julia, I don't have a house. And, when I’m discharged, I won’t even have a job. But, Julia Weiss, will—”
“Yes. I don't care if we have to live in the Skylight Cave. It's still yes.” She cupped his cheek. “But, Steve, the dream we shared may not require a house in the US.”
“That’s right. We could be living in a shack in the Dominican Republic or a hut in Guatemala. But anywhere you are, Julia …” Steve lifted her chin, stepped close, and—
“Can I ask you something, Steve.”
“That depends.” The moment had been perfect. Impossible to replicate. Her timing stank. “Can I kiss you when you’re finished asking me?”
“Yes. But I really need to know something. Am … am I a good … I mean, am I doing it right? Because I’ve never kissed anyone before, except you, and I don’t really know what—”
“Julia, for someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing, you did a pretty doggone good job the last two times, so let’s just—”
Her soft, full lips did a pretty doggone good job of muting his words. This woman who had no idea how good, how strong, and how beautiful she was had just given herself to him in a kiss that was perfect. At least it was perfect for Steve Bancroft.