“Marcus is searching for camp and farm sites for us. He was heading out that way anyhow. So I thought when they unload him and his Jeep outside of Binghamton, he could stop in for a few days and see how things are going with Frank.” George leaned back in his chair. “I trust Frank and my doctor. Dr. Morris assured me he has complete amnesia but it never hurts to have a little added insurance, does it? At least until I arrive back there in another week. And thinking about my reasons for hanging out there.” George reached for the phone. “I think I’ll call that reason now.”
^^^^
Beginnings, Montana
Henry huddled close to the wall with the phone wedged between his ear and shoulder. Leaning against the file cabinet, whispering, he would occasionally look over his shoulder to an irate Cole. “But Joe . . .”
“Handle it, Henry.”
“But Joe, he’s really . . .”
“Henry. Handle it. Make the decision.”
“Aw.” Henry whined then whined again when he heard Joe hang up.
Cole stood with folded arms, his fingers tapping. “Can’t make a decision on your own, Henry?”
Like he was six, Henry snapped back. “I’m not the real leader yet. So there.”
Cole rolled his eyes. “Can we discuss this?”
“Um . . . yeah. Let me take the leader seat.” Henry walked over to the desk and sat down. “Whoa.” He swiveled the chair. “I’m getting Joe vibes.”
“Henry, I have to . . .”
‘Shh.” Henry smiled. “I feel like Joe. O.K., go on.”
“What is this shit?” Cole slammed down a stack of papers.
“Um . . . looks like reqs.”
“For food.”
“Appears so.” Henry lifted them. “Is there a problem filling them?”
“Yeah.”
“We don’t have enough food to fill them?”
“No. Yes. Do you people even realize the chain of events you are causing with this order?”
Henry turned more serious. “Us people? Since when weren’t you part of us people?”
“Since when did we start feeding people that aren’t ours and people who don’t have to work for it?”
“I can recall last month throwing out a lot of food and dumping some on a savage camp. When did the savages start working for it?”
“You are missing my point.” Angrier, Cole stepped to Henry. “Agriculture doesn’t have the man power to farm what we have as it is. Now we have this order to ship down to Bowman in two days. In two days, I’ll have to pull it from distribution. We have to fill distribution back up, which mean rushing the food from preservation, and rushing more food to them to can. I don’t have the men to do this.”
“In two days, you will. Robbie is returning with about thirty men to start.”
“And I suppose they’ll just waltz right in our gates without going through containment. Without having . . .”
“Cole.” Henry’s voice was firm as he stood up. “About the only problem I want to hear come from your mouth right now is that we don’t have enough in our fields and greenhouses to refurbish preservation and distribution.”
“But what about those divisions? They may not . . .”
“They are not your divisions to worry about, are they?” Henry tilted his head. “Cole, does agriculture have ample growth to refurbish?”
“What about all these men I’ll have under me?”
“Cole!” Henry yelled. “I will ask you one more time. Does Agriculture have ample growth to refurbish?”
“Yes.”
“Then I suggest you prepare for your new men. Those orders for food are for when they arrive to help you collect it.” Henry picked up the requisitions and nearly tossed them at Cole. “Don’t go off on me again about shit you aren’t informed enough to argue about.”
Cole wrinkled the requisitions as he headed to the door. “These thirty new men, they’re bullshit. They get a free walk right through our doors. And I’ll tell you, Henry right now, I won’t treat them like I treat the men of Beginnings.”
“Cole.” Henry called out firmly. “You will treat them like the men of Beginnings because as of five days ago, they became the men of Beginnings. If I hear that you are being any other way to them, I take it as a sign that it’s far too much responsibility for you to handle and I will look for someone else to replace you as head of Agriculture.” Henry stared at Cole who said nothing. A few moments of angry glares exchanged between the two men and then Cole stormed out. On the slam of the door, Henry plopped down in the chair and let out a loud breath of relief. He then smiled and got excited. “Oh. I have to call Joe and tell him.” Giddy, he dialed the phone.
^^^^
In a rare occurrence, Dean was in the clinic lab alone, the blinds drawn, the door locked, and homemade note cards spread about the counter. He mumbled to himself as he read over them and he cursed at the intrusion of his thoughts when his private phone rang. “Damn it.” Dean picked it up. “Yeah.” He reached for his cards.
“Hello Dean.” George sounded cheerful.
Dean fumbled the phone and the cards. “George.”
“Just wanted to congratulate you on today and wish you good luck.”
Dean held tight to the phone. “You said you weren’t calling back until it was time.”
“It’s almost time and I’m almost convinced.”
“I’m not.”
“What?”
“It’s been over a week, George. I think I want proof that Frank’s alive or the deal is off.”
“I have my eye on your children.”
“Yeah and I have my eye on that weapon I made. Right now the only thing that will tip the scales in your favor is the fact that you have Frank. I want proof or I don’t walk from these gates. Understood?”
“Arrogance, Dean.”
“You’re the one who wants it, so deal with it. Proof George.” Dean took slow breaths to hide his nervousness and irritation.
“You’ll get your proof then I want no more threats or demands against me, you hear. Or the deal is off completely and you and I will be heading in to checkmate.” George took on a meaner tone. “A loss hurts a lot more when it hits close to home. Keep in mind no weapon will ever bring back what you can lose.”
The moment Dean heard the click of the line, he leaned to the counter to calm his racing heart. He knew he would have to be careful from now on. Without knowing who the person was working for George, Dean didn’t want to cut it so close that he’d end up cutting his own throat.
^^^^
“Ow El. Come on,” Robbie yelled loudly.
“Quit being such a baby.”
“You’re putting a needle in my skin. How do you want me to be?”
“Quiet. Now come on. It doesn’t hurt.”
“Uh . . . yeah it does. Put more of that numbing stuff on it.”
Ellen shook her head. “You know Frank never . . .”
“I’m not Frank. I don’t feed off of pain. Numb it.”
The door to the examining room opened and Dean walked in. “How’s it going?’
“Dean,” Robbie said his name in relief. “Is she done? Doesn’t she have to get married to you in a couple hours?”
“Yes she does. El, you’d better be going.” Dean walked over to examine Ellen’s work. “I can’t believe Robbie let you practice on him. Good job.”
Ellen looked up and smiled. “Thanks. See I told you I can stitch.”
“Whoa.” Dean peered closer “What happened to your leg, Robbie? How did you cut it?”
Robbie pointed to Ellen.
Dean’s eyes widened. “You cut his leg on purpose?”
“Well I was having trouble getting the real stitch effect.”
Dean looked to Robbie. “And you let her? Why in the world would you let her slice your leg?”
Robbie shrugged. “She promised me a blow job . . . ow.” Robbie jolted when Ellen jabbed him. “Kidding, Dean. I don’t know why. I didn’t think it would hurt thi
s bad, that’s for sure.”
Dean shook his head with a whistle. “I don’t know about you two. El, I’m heading home, O.K.? Be on time for the wedding.”
“I’ll be on time.” She looked up and kissed Dean. “See you there.”
With a ‘hmm’ Dean moved to the door, waved, and left. He stepped in the hall and remembered what he had forgotten to tell them. He turned and walked back in. “Geez, I’m sorry. I knew there was another reason for me coming in here.” Dean closed the door. “George just called me.”
“Ow!” Robbie screamed in pain when Ellen’s hand slipped in surprise.
^^^^
He was communicating with Bowman. The radio broke up a little but Hal figured they would work the bugs out eventually. “So everything is going well?” Hal asked Sgt. Ryder.
“As well as they did yesterday. Getting ready to return?”
“Yes and I’m bringing someone.”
“You didn’t tell me this.”
“It was going to be a surprise. But . . . we have a doctor coming to help Blue set up.”
“Really?” Sgt. Ryder sounded impressed. “With medications and things?”
“Yes.”
“I look forward to meeting him.”
“Her.”
“Excuse me?” Sgt. Ryder asked.
“Her. The doctor is a woman.”
“Shall I alert Grace she will be having a houseguest?”
“No way.” Hal spoke up. “She’s staying with me.”
“With you, Captain?”
“Yeah with me. Seems . . . my father had more than my brother to surprise me with. I’ve known this woman for nearly forever. We were quite close.”
There was a slight snicker of surprise that came from Sgt. Ryder. “You sound as if you like this woman.”
“Oh she’s great. So much different than ours. Elliott, the moment we saw each other, we embraced, a very warm embrace.”
“You’re kidding?”
“No, really I’m not. Wait until you meet her.”
“I . . . I can’t wait.” Sgt. Ryder was stunned. “And wait until I tell the men that the Captain is returning with a woman, one he’s involved with and likes.”
Hal paused in silence before correcting Sgt. Ryder. “Yes, I certainly will be envied, won’t I? Well, I must go. I have a wedding to attend.”
“A wedding.”
“Yes, they have them quite often here, but I’ll tell you all about that when I get home. Keep me posted of anything you hear.”
“I will, sir. See you in a few days.”
“Goodbye, Elliott.” Hal ended the radio call and grinned as he still held on to it. More than the thought of the men being envious of him once they saw that Ellen was nice, he grinned at the thought of Ellen and Grace’s first meeting. And that thought actually made him snicker.
^^^^
It was a summer dress, or at least summer material. It was thin, lose in some places, tight in others. The sleeves were short with just a hint of feminine trim. So old fashioned it looked, so much like the dress Ellen had found at the Anderson Farm, yet Ellen wore it. Jess added the final hem in his bedroom, kneeling at Ellen’s feet, tucking and stitching at the dress that came nearly to Ellen’s ankles. Ellen knew as she stared at her reflection in the mirror, her hair down simply, and the dress looking so nice, that there were two things that told her Trish didn’t make the dress like she claimed to have. One, the general tailoring of the dress and two, the Sears and Roebuck tag in the back.
“I’m too dressed up. Am I too dressed up?” Ellen asked Jess nervously.
“No.” Jess spoke with the needle in his mouth.
“I think I am. You would tell me no just so I won’t talk.”
“Ellen, hold still.”
“I’ll ask Robbie.” Ellen raised her voice. “Robbie!”
“Ellen.” Jess flicked her leg.
“Ow.”
“He’s taking a shower and painfully too. You jabbed him pretty hard today.”
“Well Dean gave me a damn heart attack. He so calmly says George called. You know George said he was calling back when it was time for Dean to leave.”
“So you thought it meant Dean was leaving?” Jess asked.
“Wouldn’t you?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“I’m too dressed up.” Ellen shook her head. “It’s a small ceremony in a field with just my family. Do you think Dean is getting dressed up.”
“He may be.” Jess stitched. “Hold still.”
“He can’t be. Come to think about it, about as dressed up as he gets are those tan pants he has.”
“With a nice shirt and tie, that’s dressed up.”
“You have such a fashion sense. You know your uniform is never wrinkled,” Ellen commented. “I noticed that. I’m too dressed up. I’m putting jeans on . . . ow.” Ellen felt the slight pinch of the needle. “Why did you do that?”
“You are not putting jeans on, damn it. You’re the bride. Now let me finish this hem.”
“O.K., O.K., but I know I’m too dressed up.”
“Ellen. Quiet.”
“All right I . . .” Ellen stopped talking when Robbie walked in the bedroom. He wore a towel around his waist and neck. “Is that how you’re dressing for the wedding?”
Robbie snickered as he rubbed his hair dry. “Better than you. At least I’m not all dressed up.”
^^^^
Binghamton, Alabama
“What the fuck is this shit?” Frank held what looked like a short leather strip. He brought it to his nose and sniffed it, making a curled up face and an outward breath of disgust. He checked the flexibility of the supposedly edible object and it wouldn’t bend. After sniffing it once more, Frank tapped it on the surface of his desk, then he tapped it again. He laughed at the durability of the food and smacked it on the desk as hard as he could. There was a crack and the top piece of the food flew up. Frank lifted the piece he held in his hand then looked down to his desk with a snicker when he saw the small nick in the wood surface. Still laughing in amusement at the damage he did, Frank looked up to the knocking on the door.. “Yeah.”
“Frank, I mean Colonel.” Richie walked in.
“Richie, what the hell is . . .” The food dropped from Frank’s hand when he saw the black man walk in, wearing a grey suit and tie, none-the-less. “Who are you?”
“Marcus Hunter,” he spoke with arrogance as he walked to Frank. “Peace ambassador for the Society. You don’t remember me?”
“Should I? I have amnesia you know.” Frank pointed to his own temple. “What can I do for you Mr. . . .”
“Hunter. I’m told I can rest up here a few days before continuing on my journeys. I’m also going to observe how things are going while I’m here.”
“Observe?” Frank nodded with a closed mouth. “O.K.” He sat down in his chair. He then noticed Marcus staring. “Yes?”
“Are you going to show me to my quarters?”
“Me personally? No. Richie?”
“I’ll take care of it, Colonel.” Richie walked to the door.
“Thanks,” Frank said
“This way, Mr. Hunter.” Richie held the door open for Marcus and followed him out.
Frank rocked back in forth in his chair. He picked the food back up and fiddled with it. “Maybe I should have offered him something to eat.” Frank snickered at his bad joke, rocked in his chair, and went back to amusing himself with that piece of brown food.
^^^^
Beginnings, Montana
“Andrea!” Joe yelled from his cluttered and box filled bedroom. “Where in Christ’s name are my silver cufflinks? I’m flapping like a goddamn bird here with these sleeves!” He flipped open a box and grumbled.
“Blasphemy, Joe. Not in my home.” Andrea scolded as she walked in wearing a bright peach flowered dress and a wide, wide brim sun hat to match.”
“My house and what the hell are you wearing?” Joe stared at her.
“Benjamin fr
om fabrics made this outfit for me.”
“Figures,” Joe grumbled.
“Joe, this is the first opportunity I have had to wear it.” She touched the rim of her hat. “You don’t like?”
“No. Where in the hell are my . . .” Joe saw the saddened look on Andrea’s face. “Christ. You look lovely, Andrea.”
“Thank you.” She smiled.
“Now where in the hell are my cufflinks? Damn wedding. Of all days and my shit is packed.”
“Here.” Andrea pushed him a box. “Dresser stuff. Try there and lose the attitude, mister.” She pointed her finger and walked to the door. “And hurry. We’re waiting. Denny is complaining about his hair. I’m afraid he’ll mess it up.”
Joe only raised his eyes when Andrea walked out. “Probably has the kid’s hair parted like a damn nerd and . . .” Joe moaned again as he rummaged through the box, pulling out a book. “This isn’t dresser stuff. The stupid hat is strangling her brain. Can’t she look inside the box before she writes . . .” Joe stopped when the folded piece of paper fell from the book he held. He wouldn’t have paid any attention to it had it not opened slightly and exposed a name. Looking to the door, then to the tri-folded paper, Joe opened it. It was Beginnings paper, the stuff they started making four years earlier. If possible, Joe’s face became more stern as he read it silently to himself. ‘Andrea, I am not a word person. I never was. I do better when I write what I feel and I just wanted to write you this letter. It’s going to be difficult for me at first to adjust, but know that I will get through as long as we can still remain friends. I commend your commitment to Miguel and wish the both of you all the luck in the world. I wish your decision could have been with me. I will always remember our time together and you will always hold a special place in my heart. Love always . . . George.’
Joe read the letter one more time, closed the flap on the box, folded the letter, placed it in his pocket, and then continued to search out his cufflinks.
^^^^
Binghamton, Alabama
Frank stared with no emotion at the phone that was extended down to him courtesy of Marcus. Frank took it, spun his chair, and allowed for Marcus to only stare at his back. “Yeah.”
The Horse Soldier: Beginnings Series Book 10 Page 21