Stranded at Romson's Lodge

by J. L. Callison

  Dan popped into her mind as she drove out the driveway. For some reason, going home to an empty apartment was very lonely. She had to be sure to call James Romson with Dan’s information first thing in the morning.

  CHAPTER 66

  It was a long, long, hot day. Jed rubbed his forehead wearily with the back of his hand. After dragging the bear’s carcass the last mile, most of it uphill, Jed skinned it carefully, then built a fire in both the cookstove and the fireplace, plus in the fireplace outside. Explaining to Lizzie the need to cook the meat thoroughly to prevent trichinosis, he showed her the pages in the cookbook explaining the preservation process of precooking the meat and covering it in melted grease. The grease prevented contact with air, thus preventing contamination or spoilage. It was not the best way to preserve meat, but it was the best they had available. It would prevent them from getting sick, and the meat would go a long way to provide for them through the winter.

  Lizzie wore one of her well-worn T-shirts and a pair of shorts instead of her buckskins, but even so her face was sweat-streaked, and tendrils of hair pulled from her ponytail were hanging around her ears. She had the large cast iron pot hanging from the crane over the fire in the fireplace and was stirring the meat and broth with a long-handled spoon.

  Jed looked in the door and thought she looked wonderful. He wanted to put his arms around her and tell her how much he loved her but knew now was not the time. He would wait until they were rescued, and he could talk with her father. It was going to be difficult enough for people to believe they had not been immoral when they returned. He must be careful for it to remain true.

  Tommy lifted his head and watched as Jed stuck his head in the doorway, alert for any danger to Lizzie. Jed smiled at the sight of the dog curled up in the corner of the kitchen, out of the way but close to her. Tommy had really taken to her, and he looked as if he had never been away from home, other than being so skinny. Lizzie dished a small chunk of bear fat from the pot and blew on it until cool before tossing it to Tommy, whose tail beat a tattoo on the floor. Tommy wasn’t going to stay skinny long. Jed shook his head and walked back out to where he had the bear hide tacked to the wall. He grasped a scraper and began scraping the last of the fat and meat remnants from the skin.

  CHAPTER 67

  Charles rose from the table and slid Sue’s chair back as she stood. “Come on, Jim. I want you to see something and meet some people before we leave tonight.”

  Charles put an arm around Jimmy and squeezed his shoulder as he took Sue’s arm. He led the way from the dining room and down a hallway under an arch with a military crest and a sign stating “Company Hdqts. Members Only.”

  He pushed open a door and stepped aside for Sue to precede him. Several men seated on couches and overstuffed chairs stood to their feet and looked inquiringly at her until Charles and Jimmy followed her in.

  “As you were,” said Charles. “I want you all to meet Sue Jenson, the chief surgical nurse and anesthesiologist from Tokyo General when they put both me and James Romson back together. This is her son, Jim, who I want to meet some of you yahoos—although, for the life of me, I don’t know why!” The men laughed as they all moved forward to introduce themselves to both Sue and Jimmy.

  “I know it is not normal procedure, but I would like to nominate Sue Jenson as an honorary member of the Company. I brought it up to JC, who thought it a good idea.” Charles turned to Sue. “This room is the club I told you this place belongs to. JC is our commandant for this year. Several men in the outfit were from the area, so when we got back from Vietnam, we started the club.

  “It is open to all who served in our battalion but is primarily for Fox Company. All here tonight served in or with Fox Company during the Tet Offensive. No one is allowed in here other than members, except on family occasions. It is our place to escape to when memories or pressures are too great. Rooms are available for men from out-of-town, and you would be surprised how often they are in use. We look out for each other.”

  Jim looked at the men and around the room in wide-eyed astonishment.

  “You see, when we returned home, no one wanted us. Even the VFW and the American Legion wouldn’t accept Vietnam veterans, so we had no place to go, nowhere to belong. Most are in the Marine Corps League, but we wanted something a little more informal. We loosely patterned the club on the League, but very loosely. All club officers are elected each year, and rank has no bearing. Officers and enlisted men are equal in this room.

  “We do accept some from other branches of the service, but for the most part all served in the Corps, as did all who are present tonight, except for Tran, here. He was a major in the ARVN, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, and escaped after the fall of Saigon. James sponsored him when he immigrated and brought his family to the States.”

  More than one eye needed wiping before all the men introduced themselves to Sue and thanked her for her part in saving Charles and James. They represented a wide variety of backgrounds and careers, but all of them had fought together on a cut-off hilltop during one of the most ferocious battles of the war. To meet one of the medical people responsible for saving two of their number meant a lot to them.

  “Jim, there is one other exemption to allow nonmembers into the room. The club is available to members’ sons so they will have opportunity to learn from other members. You are not my son, but I requested a waiver to allow you to come in under my auspices, if you are interested.” Sue looked at Jimmy out of the corner of her eye but said nothing.

  Jimmy looked up at Charles, wide-eyed, and just nodded.

  “Our purpose, Jim, is not to make Marines of our children but to educate them on what really happened over there, to develop in them a love of country, and to demonstrate the camaraderie we have developed.”

  “Coffee, Charles?” one of the men asked. “Sue? Would you like something, Jim?” Charles nodded and cups were brought over.

  Jim spoke up for the first time. “Could I have coffee, too, please?” He glanced over at his mother, who, with a knowing look on her face, gave him a small smile and nodded.

  “Certainly. Wouldn’t want to leave you out. What are you in school this year? Freshman, sophomore?”

  “I’m a freshman, sir.”

  “Hey, there, young man, we’re all grunts here. ‘Sir’ is just for the brass. I’m just plain Smitty.”

  “Thank you, sir, but no. Mr. Charles has taught me respect. As far as I’m concerned ‘sir’ fits you. Maybe not in a military sense but for who you are and my relationship to you.”

  “Well, I’ll be! Who would have thought the staff sergeant would have had so much sense to teach a kid! Son, you’ll do all right. You keep listening to Charles, you hear me? As far as I’m concerned, you have my vote and proud to have you in the Company.”

  A number of the other men in the room agreed.

  Sue looked at her son as if he were a stranger. She could not have been prouder of him. He was really growing up under Charles’s influence.

  Later, JC and Timmy entered together and went directly to Charles, Sue, and Jimmy. “Sue, I may call you Sue, mayn’t I?” At her nod, JC went on. “I hope you enjoyed your dinner this evening. Charles likes to remember the old times once in a while. He said he especially wanted Jim to experience some of it and to meet up with some of the men from the Company. Normally, we don’t bring in outsiders, but it’s our intent to accept you both as family. Knowing your contributions to Charles and James, you are more than just a guest. We wish to make you, Sue, with the approval of the club, an honorary member of the Outriders Company. If you will come with me—you, too, young man—we will invest you into our organization.”

  With that, JC took Sue by the arm and led her to a small dais at the head of the room where they stood between the flag of the United States and the Marine Corps flag. Timmy followed along behind, walking with Jimmy.

  “I call the Company to order,” called JC. Instantly, all the men popped to attention. Anywhere else, middle-aged
men in suits and ties standing at attention would be odd, but here, somehow, it seemed appropriate.

  “We have a quorum,” reported Tran.

  “Salute to the colors,” called JC, and as one the men turned and faced the flag and together said the pledge of allegiance.

  “Chaplain, take your place.”

  A slight, balding man stepped to the dais and, turning to the altar behind the flags, opened a large, well-used Bible and then faced the group. “Let us pray.” He led them in prayer and stepped down from the dais.

  “At ease, take your seats,” said JC solemnly. With a slight rustle, the assembled men relaxed their postures and then sat down.

  “Thank you all for making yourselves available for this unscheduled meeting. We are convened for a very special purpose. As I just told Sue, it is our intention to invest Sue Jenson as an honorary member of the Outriders Company. Are there any comments?” He paused momentarily. “Very well. I call the question. All in favor say ‘Aye.’”

  A chorus of “Ayes” sounded.

  “Any opposed say ‘Nay.’”

  There was no response.

  “Very good.” JC gave Sue a quick smile and then faced the audience. He held out a hand, and Tran Nguyen, sergeant at arms, stepped onto the dais and extended a rolled parchment. JC unrolled the parchment, which was embossed with the company crest, and said solemnly, “Attention to orders: For services rendered, the Outriders Company hereby extends honorary inclusion in the Company to Captain Sue M. Jenson, RN, USNR Retired.” JC then read the honorary membership proclamation with the accompanying citation describing her actions in caring for Charles and James. He turned to Sue and extended the rerolled parchment to her and shook her hand. “Little Timmy” Wright pinned a lapel pin with the company crest on her collar. Sue noted it was the same as the one on Charles’s lapel and on the lapel of each of the men in the room.

  JC then turned to Jim and said, “We are also extending, by special request, a ‘Son’ membership to James R. Thompson, under the auspices of Staff Sergeant Charles Sitton, USMC Retired. Jim, you qualify as the son of Captain Jenson, but Charles has requested for you a special ‘Son’ status, which we allow for young men without fathers in the home. Do you accept?”

  Jim stood up as straight and tall as he was able and whispered, “Oh yes, sir! Thank you, sir.”

  JC shook his hand. “Welcome aboard.” Tran extended another rolled parchment to JC, which he in turn gave to Jim, then JC shook his hand again. Little Timmy pinned a lapel pin to Jim’s collar and shook his hand.

  “Company, Atten-hut!” JC called, and the men again snapped to attention. “Dismiss.” All the men took a step backward and resumed conversing among themselves. Several men gathered around Sue and Charles, among them Tran.

  “Thanks for driving down for this, Tran. I appreciate it,” said Charles.

  “I would not have missed this for anything, Charles. Sue, I welcome you to the Outriders. Jim,” he had caught Charles’s change in address of Jimmy, “I’m glad to have you here, also. You will learn a lot from these men if you pay attention.”

  “Yes, sir, I will. That was awesome!”

  “We like to remember our service and remind ourselves of why we served,” Tran said. “It is very easy for those who have never had their freedoms threatened or have not served and paid the price to take their freedom lightly. I never do, nor will I, for I know what freedom costs. For me, to have become an American citizen after the war made it that much more special.

  “Now, if you will please excuse me. I hate to run off, but, unlike one whose name won’t be mentioned, some of us have to be at work tomorrow.” He laughed as he clapped Charles on the shoulder, winked at Jim, and shook Sue’s hand. Charles, a wry grin on his face, just shook his head.

  JC and Timmy walked over to Jimmy. “Jim, I’m glad you are here. I know Charles thinks a lot of you and your mom. He talks about you all the time. Right, JC?”

  “You got that straight! Jim, we want you to see some things while you’re here. You will find we don’t talk much about what went on over there. For some of us, the memories are just too painful, and we do all we can to forget. We will sometimes tell stories among ourselves, and you are welcome to listen in if you hear us talking, but asking questions is not considered polite—unless someone offers, that is. Understand?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Each one of these men—and I hope you get acquainted with each of them—has seen combat and knows what it is to be absolutely terrified but to go on and do his job anyway. Many times in your life you will be scared. There is no shame in being scared. Any man who does not get frightened is either a fool or insane. You don’t want to be around those. True bravery is not being unafraid but being afraid and doing the job anyway.”

  Before the evening ended, each of those men from the Outriders Company took the time to introduce himself to Jimmy and to tell a little bit about his connection with the Company. It was a somber-eyed and thoughtful young man who walked from the club room.

  Sue, in turn, was overwhelmed by the reception she received. Smitty called out to her as they left, “Sue, you be sure and come back, now! You don’t have to bring the staff sergeant if you don’t want!” which generated laughter in the room. Sue grabbed Charles’s hand tightly and waved it back at Smitty with a smile on her face.

  Sue kissed Charles’s cheek as he opened the car door for her.

  “Thank you. This has been a wonderful evening.” She recognized Charles had opened a door into his life that had been closed to her, and almost everyone else, before now. She knew their relationship had deepened.

  “The food was wonderful, and your friends are amazing. They are closer to each other than brothers!”

  “Indeed. Henry V’s line gets overused all the time, but it is true. For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother. . . .”

  Sue squeezed Jimmy’s hand. “Jimmy, I can’t believe how much you have grown up in the last few months! Or shall I call you Jim?” She glanced at Charles before looking back at Jimmy again.

  “I like the sound of Jim. It sounds more grownup. Thank you, Mr. Charles. I learned a lot tonight. Can we come back again?”

  “Even if you have to wear a suit?”

  Jim grinned and nodded.

  “You can count on it, Jim. You can count on it.”

  CHAPTER 68

  Detective Summers walked into the police department with a spring in her step that had been lacking for some time. She felt like she had a breakthrough in the Romson case, and she couldn’t wait to discuss it with Chief Washington to determine where to go from here. She also looked forward to calling the Romsons and Charles Sitton to give them the news and discuss the possibilities with them. She knew they certainly deserved some hope.

  After bringing the chief up to speed on her discoveries and calling the local FBI special agent with whom she had been working, she finally had the time she had been looking forward to, to call the parents. The day, which began with such promise, turned disappointing when she called both homes and then Romson Industries. The Romsons were out of town and would not return until the following week, and Charles Sitton was taking a few days off.

  CHAPTER 69

  The first of December did not bode well for Jed and Lizzie. The fall had been mild, which Jed appreciated very much since it allowed him time to gather nuts, do more hunting and fishing, and cut firewood for the ravenous fireplace, cookstove, and pot-bellied stove. The mild weather had ended two days before as a powerful nor’easter pummeled them with freezing rain. Over six inches of snow followed, blown and drifted by high winds howling through the trees and around the eaves of the lodge. The temperature hovered around ten degrees Fahrenheit, but with the wind chill factor it was about minus-forty. There was no way he wanted to go outside! He had carried in several days’ worth of wood, but it was disappearing quickly, for no warmer than the lodge felt.

  When Jed had come in with the last armload of wood, Lizzie had m
et him with a cup of acorn “coffee” and a warm smile.

  “It’s brutal out there! That wind will freeze your face off if you aren’t careful, and the snow on the ice is slick.” Jed shrugged off his parka and peeled off his fleece face mask. Ice had formed where his breath froze on the mask, leaving icicles hanging from his chin.

  “Thanks for getting the wood, Jed.”

  He shrugged. “No problem.” A shiver wracked his body. “Sure is a difference from last week, though. We had an easy fall, but it’s going to be like this now for several months. Better get used to it.”

  Lizzie went back to grinding acorns to make a sort of flour. Jed had soaked the acorns thoroughly several times to blanch out the tannic acid, making them safe to eat. The water he saved to tan hides, which was much simpler than trying to keep water in a leaky, hollow oak stump.

  Tommy, curled up at Lizzie’s feet next to the cookstove, was warm and content.

  Jed sipped on the acorn coffee, which was not the same as real coffee but wasn’t bad. He had a pile of hickory nuts in front of him and a pail half full of empty shells on the floor. Hickory nuts were not easy to shell, but he thought they were quite good; plus they had a lot of nutritive value.

  Overall, Jed was pleased with the amount of food stocked up for the winter. The mild fall had been very helpful; plus the bear added almost two hundred pounds to their larder. Getting some fresh meat now and then would be good for variety. The lake should be frozen sufficiently to start ice fishing within a few days. The cold weather also would now allow them to freeze their food, so drying and smoking would not be needed until the spring thaws. He knew they were very fortunate in having enough laid by.

  “Once this nor’easter lets up I’ll go out and see if I can scare up another deer. It’d be nice to get some fresh meat for a bit instead of just the dried stuff or that bear.” Enforced idleness inside chafed at Jed, but Lizzie hoped it stayed cold for a few days. She enjoyed his presence in the lodge.