The Horse Soldier: Beginnings Series Book 10

by Jacqueline Druga

  Beginnings, Montana

  Sitting with a cigarette in one hand, Joe reached across the bar and lifted a bottle. He poured a drink, set it down, and winked at ‘Sam’ the mannequin. “Thanks Sam. I’ll give you a tip next time.”

  Jason, who was sitting next to Joe, picked up Joe’s glass and pulled it away from him. “You’ve had one too many.”

  “Give me that. Hell, that’s only my second.” Joe’s eyes shifted across the social hall. He could see Johnny shooting pool. Joe shook his head when he also saw Bev. She sat in a chair doing nothing but watching Johnny.

  Jason leaned to Joe. “Looks like the little vixen has her eyes on your grandson?”

  “Christ, if they could be anymore on him, he’d be wearing them.”

  Johnny motioned his head to Cole, then to the ball. “Eight ball off the bank, corner pocket.” Johnny leaned over the pool table, revved back his stick, and took his shot. “My game.”

  “You’re an ass. I refuse to play with you anymore,” Cole told him.

  “Sore loser,” Johnny joked and turned around to see Bev standing before him.

  “Johnny.” She spoke his name softly. “You have a great body.”

  Johnny bit his bottom lip, raised one eyebrow, and handed her his pool stick. “Put this away for me. Thanks.” He sniffed loudly, pulled up the waist of his baggy Levi’s, turned away, and walked toward Joe. A shitty grinned graced his face. “Hey Pap.”

  “Johnny.” Joe sipped his drink. “Don’t look now but your slave is running this way.”

  Johnny smirked and mouthed the words. ‘Watch.’

  Bev slipped up to Johnny. “Hi Johnny. I was wondering if you’re done. If you’d like to . . .”

  “Bev.” Johnny stated her name while pointing to his temple. “I distinctively remember someone . . . snapping at me this morning in distribution? Was that you?”

  “I really apologize for that. Can I make it up to you? Can we have a drink or something?”

  With such arrogance, Johnny shook his head. “Nah.”

  “But . . .”

  “Bev.” Johnny laid his finger on her mouth. “If I want to deal with you, I will. I’m talking to my grandfather now.”

  “But . . .”

  “Bev.” Johnny motioned his head backwards. “Why don’t you sit down. If I join you, you got a deal. If not, oh well.”

  “All right.” Bev smiled at Johnny and walked over to a table. She sat down, crossed her legs, and stared at Johnny.

  Johnny looked quickly at her then Joe. “I’m out of here.”

  “You’re leaving her?” Joe asked with a snicker. “Johnny, you are an asshole.”

  “Yep, but you love me.” Johnny grinned widely, grabbed hold of Joe, and kissed him on the cheek. “Love you. Pap. Night.” He gave a swift pat to Joe’s back, nudged into Jason, and walked out the door.

  Joe watched as Johnny left. He smiled and shook his head then turned serious when he saw Henry and Danny walk in. “Just the guy I wanted to see tonight.”

  Jason looked. “Danny?”

  “Henry.” Joe stood up. Henry didn’t look like he was in his usual mood. “Henry, my boy.”

  “Hey Joe.”

  “What’s wrong?” Joe asked.

  “Just thinking and Danny and I have been working on something for hours. I needed a break.”

  “Good because I needed to talk to you. Got a minute?”

  “Sure.” Henry shrugged.

  “Care to walk outside?”

  “O.K.” Henry saw Danny getting their drinks. “I’ll be right back, Danny. As horrible as this sounds, why don’t you talk to Jason.”

  Jason leaned down into his drink, calmly raised his hand with a shot of the middle finger, and sipped.

  Henry and Joe stepped outside. Both men walked slowly up the street with their hands in their front pockets.

  “Henry,” Joe spoke seriously. “Things have been bad.”

  “What do you mean.”

  “I try to put up this front, but . . . Frank has me down. Really down.”

  “I understand that. Me too.”

  “And there’s a lot to deal with lately. A bunch of runs are going out. This suspect shit. Savage attacks more frequent. The society. Distribution. Too much work and not enough people to distribute it to. I always have Frank on my mind along with a lot of everything else.”

  “Well Joe, just tell me what you want me to do. O.K.? Anything you need for me to take for you, I will. You know that. Just tell me, You don’t even have to ask.”

  “I know.” Joe laid his hand on Henry’s back. “I do want you to take something for me.”

  “What’s that?”

  “The leadership position.”

  Henry stopped walking. “Joe, I can’t.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m no leader, Joe, and you know it.”

  “Henry. You were elected by this community to take the reins. Your fairness is what decided that. You can be level headed when you need to be. I need the break. I need to have a little pressure off of me, even for a little while.”

  “So you’re not retiring fully.”

  “Well from the leadership position, yes. I’m stepping down to your position. If you can’t handle it or if there’s trouble and you need me to take the wheel, I will. But for the time being, I’d rather not have full responsibility. I need some time to pass before I can think of resuming my position.”

  “It’s a rash judgment, Joe, and you know it.”

  “Yep.” Joe nodded. “It is. My oldest son died, Henry. My kid. The same kid that started this whole place with me. I can’t function right with him so on my mind. I’ll help you every step of the way. I will answer any questions you have and I will show you exactly how this place runs. O.K.?”

  Henry reluctantly nodded his head. “You’ll be back. I’m not keeping this position for ever. I’m too young to be old right now and this position will make me old.”

  “You’ll do fine.” Joe laid his hand on Henry’s cheek. “I just want you to be the first to know so you aren’t shocked when I make an announcement at the community meeting tomorrow.”

  “When . . . when will it be official?” Henry asked.

  “Two weeks.” Joe answered. “Now let’s . . .”

  Henry saw Joe’s eyes shift. “What’s wrong?”

  “Robbie and Ellen.”

  Henry turned around to see Robbie and Ellen walking hand in hand toward the living section. “Aw Joe, it seems awful quick for that to be happening.”

  “Yes and I’m gonna to talk to him some more about it, but first, let’s you and me have a drink.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “A silent celebration before your ‘Joe’ training.”

  “Oh boy.”

  Joe laughed as he led Henry into the social hall. “Think of how much you and I will bond over the next couple of days.”

  Danny held up darts when he saw Joe and Henry return. “Henry, wanna play? Maybe it will take our mind off our work.”

  “Yeah. “ Henry poured a drink and joined Danny.

  Danny stopped in his move to the dart board. “Wanna take on the old guys?” He pointed to Joe and Jason who looked like two barflies at the bar.

  “That’s not even a challenge.” Henry stated. “But, sure why not. Hey Joe! You guys wanna play us?”

  Joe looked at Jason twitching his head at Henry and Danny. “Care to take on the challenge of our Asian community?”

  “Joe, come on. That’s not even a challenge.”

  “We’ll take it easy on them.” Joe grabbed his drink and stood up. “Let’s throw the first game then get them to bet something really big and kill them.”

  Jason snickered. He liked that idea. He thoroughly enjoyed the arrogant laughs of Danny and Henry as he totally missed the dart board on his first throw, knowing full well his mind was thinking up things he wanted from the wiry pair.

  ^^^^

  Very seriously, Dean stared in his cup of coffee as i
f answers would somehow float up to the surface of the cream he had added. His hands gripped the cup. Occasionally he would look to Jess who sat with him.

  “Look at your home, Dean. Look.” Jess spoke so seriously. “My God, you have it all. A home, a woman, kids. This is the perfect Ozzie and Harriet set up. Why are you being so dumb about this?”

  “I told you.”

  “O.K.,” Jess said. “You told me your reasons. What makes you so sure that Ellen is going to go through with the annulment after all is said and done?”

  Dean chuckled in ridicule. “Jess, you’re new here. Trust me, it’s the same old cycle. If you realized how many times I have been wrapped up in her and then lost her to Frank, you wouldn’t say that.”

  “But from what I understand, that hasn’t been the case recently. I’m talking before I arrived and before all of this went down.”

  “Why do you care?” Dean asked. “Why are you so concerned with this?”

  “I’m concerned with Robbie. Dean, when everybody else treated me like an alien because I was once a member of the society, Robbie did not. He saw who I was and he befriended me and trusted me. That means a lot. I want to be trusted. You could say I’m indebted to him. He took me in and he shares his home with me. We’re friends. I’m seeing my friend getting involved, no matter if this marriage is real or not.”

  “It doesn’t mean anything when it comes to Frank. Trust me. Ellen chooses Frank.”

  “Oh, does she?” Jess asked with arrogance. “Ever heard of the third party syndrome? Ellen chooses a third party so there are no more pulls between you and Frank. And how do you know, that this so called friendship between Ellen and Robbie can’t blossom? How do you know she just may not have that third party syndrome with Robbie? Or . . . things may just actually work. There’s a chance on that. You know that.”

  “I know that,” Dean said.

  “Is that a chance you’re willing to take? Robbie will treat her like a queen. They never fight, them two. Ever. You may just end up losing a chance you’ve wanted for a very long time.”

  “Yeah, but it’s not time for that chance, nor are the circumstances right.”

  “Make them right. Make it the time. Do something about this. Whether Robbie believes it or not, it will tear him and Frank apart if he marries Ellen. Real or not. Trust me, there is nothing worse than a woman coming between two brothers. I know.”

  “Been there?” Dean asked.

  “You can say that. Robbie loves Frank. It will kill him if he doesn’t have Frank as his brother.. Robbie will go on if he doesn’t have Ellen as his wife.”

  “I think we’re worrying too much.”

  Both of them turned their heads to the window when they heard Ellen and Robbie’s voices nearing. They were laughing and talking.

  Jess looked at Dean. “Worrying too much? Really?”

  ^^^^

  Binghamton, Alabama

  George had to prepare. He wanted to look official when he arrived at the hospital to see Frank. The last thing he wanted Frank to see was a man who just climbed out of bed, half asleep. George combed his hair and even shaved his five o’clock shadow. Fully dressed in a nice shirt and dress slacks, George walked into the hospital. Dr. Morris waited for him at the old nurses’ station.

  “Doctor.”

  “President Hadley.” Dr. Morris looked pleased.

  “He’s awake?” George asked with some excitement.

  “Yes, sir he is. He’s sitting up in bed. He feels fine and . . .” He saw George walk away. “Sir, there’s something you should . . .” George didn’t answer. “ …know.” Dr. Morris dropped his hands, shrugged his shoulders, and hurried to catch up to George.

  George took a deep breath, placed on his smug face, and walked into Frank’s room.

  Frank sat in bed. He looked up to George, raising his dark eyes upon George’s entrance.

  George smiled. “Hello, Frank.” He stepped closer. Something was wrong. Where was that angry Slagel expression . . . that jump from the bed and want to kill George look? George slowly stepped closer.

  “Oh my God,” Frank gasped.

  George grinned. “That’s right.” George looked so smug.

  “You’re the President. Sir, forgive me for not getting out of this bed and saluting. I’m . . . a little without clothing, sir,” Frank spoke, staring at George.

  “What?” George said shocked. “What . . . what did you just say?”

  “I’m without clothing, sir.” Frank lifted his sheet.

  George’s body shuddered in confusion. He blinked, spun around, and saw Dr. Morris behind him. “What’s going on?”

  “Frank, we’ll be right back.” Dr. Morris spoke to Frank.

  “Yes sir,” Frank responded.

  Dr. Morris took George into the hall. “I see you talked to him.”

  “What . . .” George pointed to Frank’s room and scratched his head. “What in the world is going on?”

  “Seems someone is looking out for you. Frank’s doing well. He’s strong. A little confused. And . . . he has amnesia.”

  George gasped in laughter. “He what?” He covered his mouth. “Shit.”

  “Yep. We can’t determine how much he has lost in his memory. We wanted to give him another day before bombarding him with questions, but he definitely knows he was in the United States Army.”

  “How long will he be like this?” George whispered as he looked into Frank’s room.

  “Could be days, weeks, or forever.”

  George clenched his fist with excitement. “This is great. We wanted Frank’s training, Frank’s mind, without Frank attitude.”

  “Looks like you may have it,” Dr. Morris said.

  “Excellent. Excellent. Excellent,” George gloated. “All right. Treat him good. Treat him with respect, but tell him nothing. Let me work on that tonight. Got it?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Good job.” George gave a swift light punch to Dr. Morris’ arm. He chuckled when Dr. Morris rubbed the spot. “See you in the morning.” Grinning, George popped his head in Frank’s room. “Son, I’ll be back in the morning. We’ll talk.”

  Frank nodded. “Thank you, sir.”

  George snickered as he stepped back in the hall and pointed back into the room. “Did you hear that? Ha-ha!” He rubbed his hands together. “See you in the morning, Doctor.” Smiling widely, George moved with a quick pace down the hall, doing skip of excitement as he did so.

  CHAPTER

  FIVE

  September 10

  Beginnings, Montana

  O.K.! Joe thought, What did I do? Joe was a smart man. The slamming of his breakfast plate by Andrea was a less than subtle way to tell him she was upset. He peered through his glasses down to his eggs that scattered across his just tossed plate.

  SLAM! SPLASH! Down went Joe’s coffee. Another slam brought Andrea seated, with her breakfast, at the table.

  Very serious, Joe folded his hands and looked at Andrea. “Something wrong?”

  Andrea spoke so high pitched as she grabbed the salt and frantically salted her eggs. “Well. If you must know.”

  “Yes.”

  “You.”

  “What did I do?” Joe asked.

  Slam! Joe groaned and watched particles of salt spill. “That’s bad luck, Andrea.”

  “So is not telling your wife everything.”

  “Excuse me.”

  “I was not sleeping last night, Joe Slagel. I heard your little conversation with Henry.”

  “So.” Joe started to eat.

  “So? You’re retiring. When were you planning on telling me this?”

  “This is what you’re upset about?” Joe asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Just wanted to know,” Joe continued.

  “Joe Slagel! I am upset.”

  “For no reason. Andrea, I’m retiring. So what? Why are you pissed about this?”

  “This community will fall apart. Fall apart.” Her hands flew about. “If you don
’t run it, Joe, what are we gonna do?”

  “Andrea, I won’t let it fall apart. O.K.? I need a break. Drop it.”

  “Drop it?” Andrea spoke with attitude. “I hope to high heavens you did not just tell me drop it.”

  “I did.”

  “Joe!”

  “Andrea. Drop it!” Joe pointed his fork. “This goes no further than this house until I make my announcement tonight. Got that?” He waited for an answer. “Got it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.” Joe started to eat. “Goddamn it Andrea. all this marital arguing and now my eggs are cold”

  Andrea really could care less if Joe’s eggs were cold. Her ‘so what’ attitude showed as she ate her own breakfast, ignoring the annoyed glances from Joe along with his grumbling.

  ^^^^

  Binghamton, Alabama

  George whistled a happy tune as he walked out of his temporary home, an apartment on the first floor of an old house. It was a great early morning and what made it even greater for George was that he knew what he was going to tell Frank when he saw him. He had it all planned out in his head as he moved down the street toward the hospital. He stopped mid -street when he saw his soldiers escorting the UWA soldier out of one building and taking them to another. Interrogations. George would have to be there at them. But first, Frank. So with a smile on his face and a wave of instigation to the UWA soldiers, George moved on.

  ^^^^

  Bowman, North Dakota

  Rinsing the soap from his face as he took a shower, Hal thought he heard the close call of his name by Sgt. Ryder. He removed his head from the water and heard it again. Faint but there. “Elliott?” Hal called out. “I’m in the shower.”

  “Captain.” Sgt. Ryder’s voice came loudly into the bathroom. “Sir, our South Dakota team is back early.”

  The pipes squeaked loudly as Hal turned off the water. His arm emerged from the shower curtain as he grabbed a towel. “Thanks.” He spoke as he wrapped the towel around his dripping body and flew out of the shower. Leaving a water trail, Hal fled from his apartment, sliding on his steps as he raced down them and out the door into the street.