The small note that said, ‘happy anniversary’ laid upon Ellen’s packed bag. She lifted it, read it, and smiled. But still a hint of sadness was on her face.
“The irony,” Dean said, standing in her open bedroom doorway.
“What?” Ellen turned around. She held up the note. “Thanks.”
“That note is what I mean. The irony. It’s our anniversary and today is the day we leave quarantine and you go back to Frank.” Dean walked into the bedroom.
“I know.” Ellen nodded slowly. “And I won’t forget about you. We have this new problem to conquer. I’ll be there every step of the way. We’ll get ahead of it. We already are. We didn’t know about the blindness in the future. Now, we can look for signs and symptoms of it coming.”
“And I can start teaching you,” Dean said, “just in case I still lose my sight. But explain to me something. How are you going to do this? Work with me on the virus. Learn from me. Help me with the newest problem. All of that means time spent with me.”
“And we’ll be able to have that. I promise you,” Ellen said with sincerity.
“How’s that?” Dean asked. “Isn’t part of Rev. Bob’s plan for you to cut me out?”
“Yes. And I spoke to Frank already. We . . . we worked something out.”
“You told him?”
“No.” Ellen shook her head. “I didn’t and I won’t tell anyone. Rev. Bob’s plan to cut you out was only to cut out the threat of us. Frank isn’t threatened. He’ll be O.K. with our time together.”
“Frank O.K. with our time? What did he agree to do, share you with me?” Dean snickered. “Oh, I don’t believe that. You’re lying. You’re gonna sneak the time in with me.”
“No, Dean. He’ll know. And in a sense he is sharing.” Ellen blinked rapidly as her eyes drifted away. “Not physically, but emotionally. That’s why he’s not threatened.”
Dean laughed even harder. “Even if it’s nonphysical, Frank wouldn’t have an emotional understanding with me.”
“No,” Henry’s voice seeped into the room, “maybe not with you.”
The moment Dean saw Ellen’s head lower, his heart sunk and he slowly looked behind him to Henry. “No.” He looked back to Ellen. “No. Tell me Frank is not having an understanding with Henry.” When Dean’s eyes connected with Ellen’s, his insides gnawed. “When?”
“Last night Frank and Henry decided . . .”
“Whoa!” Dean halted her. “You weren’t even part of this decision? What the hell? Now he can pimp you out?”
“Dean,” Ellen gasped.
“No, Dean,” Henry interjected. “He’s not pimping her out. This isn’t about sex. I’m not after sex. I don’t want the physical part. I want the emotional. And If I can help fill the gap that Frank can’t then . . .”
“There’s no room for me,” Dean stated in shock. “And I bet, Henry, you just fed this right into his mind,” Dean grumbled loudly in almost a scream,. “This is bullshit! He can’t share you El. He can’t. It’s bad enough I have to face you being with Frank, but with Henry too.”
“I won’t be sleeping with Henry,” Ellen defended and dropped her voice to a whisper. “And you and I need the time together. This is the only way Frank will trust us.”
“If Henry’s always around?” Dean laughed emotionally when Ellen nodded. “And Frank trusts Henry? You know what? I refuse to take this seriously. Refuse.”
“Dean,” Henry spoke up, “it’s a reality you are going to have to face.”
“Right,” Dean scoffed then turned his head to the sound of a buzzer. “The only thing I have to face right now is the virus. Excuse me.” In a harsh brushing manner, Dean moved by Henry and out of the bedroom.
Ellen let out the nervous breath she was holding and looked up to Henry. “Well,” She sighed again, “he took that much better than I thought.”
“Me too. El, you know, if you don’t want to do this with me . . .”
“I do.” Ellen forced a closed mouth smile. “We get along great. It’s the best way.” One more time, Ellen looked back to the door.
^^^^
“What do you suppose Dean wants you to stay for?” Robbie asked Frank as they neared the mobile lab.
“I know exactly what he wants. Henry probably told him, him and me are having an understanding.”
Robbie stopped cold. “You what!” A turn of his body and toss of his hand showed Robbie’s disapproval. “Why in the world would you, you of all people have an understanding? And with Henry!”
“Shut up Robbie. Every other man who has a woman shares her. I hear about it all the time. I don’t want her running to Dean. I don’t. But she has to work with him. If she’s too busy with Henry, then she won’t have time to do her Dean-thing. Plus, Henry is the only man I trust with this. It’s not about sex. He’s not allowed to touch her. I’m just giving him time with her.”
“I can do the same thing Frank. I would like to have El in my life to talk to. Hang with.”
“Yeah, but you’d try to sleep with her.”
“So will Henry,” Robbie said, “only I’m honest enough to admit it.” With a shake of his head in disgust, Robbie started to walk again. “I can’t believe you’re giving an understanding to Henry. Henry sucks, Frank. He’s an asshole.” With a snap of his finger as they approached the mobile, Robbie slowed down. “Oh, yeah. Before I forget, Ellen has that bet over Blake to pay up. While you’re with Dean, can I snatch her up?”
“Yeah sure. Go ahead take her.” Frank stood before the window.
Again, Robbie grinned. “Thanks, Frank. You’re a cool big brother.”
“I am,” Frank said proudly, then peered through the window of the lab anxiously, waiting for Ellen’s release.
Ellen looked at her watch then shrugged. She walked from the window to Dean.. “Sometime today, Dean. You said ten minutes. It’s been thirty.”
“El.” Dean clicked on the keyboard. “Just . . . be patient. My result should be done soon.”
Henry entered the lab setting down the bags. He stopped, folded his arms and whined when he looked out the window. “Great. Just great. Why is Robbie here?”
Ellen turned her head and waved to them. “Any minute Henry. Just ignore him.”
“I hate him, El. Look he’s giving me the finger.”
Ellen looked again and Robbie was waving to Henry.
“Asshole,” Henry shouted at the window.
Frank knocked on the glass, then spoke through his headset. “I would like to see my wife. Henry, what is taking so long?”
It was the wrong thing to ask Henry. “How should I know, Frank,” He snapped. “You think we’re staying in here on purpose? You think we want to be in there? There are dead rabbits all over the place. And it stinks, Frank. Really stinks. El says it doesn’t. And now Robbie’s out there. Why is Robbie out there? Does he need to be . . .”
Frank nodded his head slightly.
Robbie nudged him. “I didn’t bring my radio, Frank. What’s he saying?”
Frank still nodding looked to Robbie. “I haven’t a clue. After his first few words I shut off mine.”
Dean tapped his fingers on the counter. He smiled, turned slowly to Ellen and Henry and spoke. “Done. Let’s get out of here.”
Before he could even finish what he was saying, Ellen and Henry, fought like kids to see who was getting to the door first. Ellen prevailed, rushing out, and taking a second to breathe in the fresh air. “Henry, we’re free.” She threw her arms up. “I’m free . . .” Her long trailed out word ended in an ‘ugh’ when she felt the thump to her stomach and her body lifted up and tossed over a shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Mind spinning, she thought Frank was sweeping her off her feet literally, until she saw Frank. Ellen screamed. “Help!”
“Robbie!” Frank yelled out to his running brother.
“Sorry Frank.” Robbie backed up, and smacked Ellen’s backside to silence her. “A deal is a deal. A bet is a bet. You’ll get her back.”
“But . . .” Before Frank knew it, Robbie had tossed Ellen into a jeep and sped off.
“Frank!” Henry hit Frank with a back hand to his gut, causing a grunt. “What is wrong with you? You’re letting her pay off that bet?”
“He’s my brother Henry. I don’t want my wife to welsh.”
“Asshole.” Henry stormed off.
“What!” Frank threw his hands up. Disgusted, he stomped then turned around to the tiny annoying tapping on his shoulder.
“Let’s go.” Dean curled his finger and walked back to the mobile.
“O.K.” Frank followed with attitude. “But I must warn you, Dean. I don’t want to hear whining from you about my understanding with Henry.
Dean paused before stepping into the mobile. “Not whining at all, Frank,” Dean smiled. “I plan on being very civil to you. Actually I think the understanding is a smart move. Henry’s a good choice. Ellen likes him . . . a lot.” Continuing, Dean walked in. “More than you realize.”
“Right. And you can’t play mind games. My mind is too strong.” Frank pointed to his own temple. “I know what you’re doing. And, despite that, I too will be civil.” He stopped before walking through the door. “Is it safe in here?”
“Um yeah, sure, absolutely. So . . . How were the kids?” Dean asked in idle conversation as he moved to a small fridge.
Apprehensively, Frank moved into the lab. “Good. I didn’t kill them if that’s where you’re getting at.”
“No.” Dean chuckled and carried a syringe over to the counter. “Did you at least read to them?”
“Why?”
“It’s important Frank. Those kids need to be literary. Even . . . um.”
Frank grinned. “Bobby.”
“Yeah. Thanks. Bobby.” Dean snapped his finger. “No, that’s not his name. Joey. Asshole.”
“For a scientist, you aren’t bright. And for your information, you don’t need to read to be literary.”
Dean only looked up. “Only people who aren’t literary can make a statement like that.”
“Hey, now, I’m the literary guy,” Frank gasped dramatically at Dean’s scoff. “You don’t think? Bet me. Bet me I can be literary.”
“In whose eyes?” Dean laughed with sarcasm.
“The whole community.”
“Oh, this is too beautiful. Fine, you’re on. I’ll bet you. What do you want to bet?”
“If the community says I’m literary by the end of the year, you Dean, have to type up my security rosters for a whole month.”
“Fine. But if by the year’s end the community doesn’t acknowledge the literary you, you have to stop the understanding with Henry.”
“Ha! I knew it bothered you! Fine.” Frank shook Dean’s hand. “I have to go. This was worth coming up here for this. See ya.” He turned and walked to the door.
“Frank! That’s not why you’re here.” Dean hid his laugh when Frank stopped. “Sit.” Dean pointed to a stool. “And take off your jacket and shirt.”
“Dean, I am not that type of guy. But . . . just to give you the thrill.” Frank tossed off his leather jacket then lifted his sweatshirt over his head. “Yep.” He rubbed his hairy chest and sat down. “Take a look. A real man’s chest.”
“There is something mentally unbalanced about you.” Dean uncapped a syringe.
Frank’s eyes shifted with some horror. “You’re giving me the virus.”
“No. Close.” Dean said. “I’m . . . I’m giving you the antiserum.”
With such shock, Frank looked up. “Me? Why? No. If there’s extra, give it to the kids Dean. Give it to them. Not me.”
“We need certain people Frank through this whole ordeal. Because of your strength and the threat of the society invasion while we deal with the virus, we, hating to say this, will need you. So you get the antiserum.” Dean pushed up the sleeve on Frank’s tee shirt.
“This couldn’t wait until tomorrow?”
“Absolutely not,” Dean answered as he injected Frank. “Done. Now . . . You may experience some side effects. But they subside in a day or two.”
“No problem.” Frank placed on his jacket. “Dean, explain to me this. Why? Why would you give me the antiserum? I’m pretty tough. I’ll beat this thing. It won’t get me down if it happens. You should have . . .” Frank saw Dean turn away. “I don’t beat this thing? How do you know?”
“Let’s just say, I know.”
“How do you . . .” The slow zippering of Frank’s jacket coincided with the realization of what Dean meant. “Shit. Does Ellen know this?”
With a closed mouth, Dean looked up at him. “And more. Don’t mention any of this to her please.” Dean began his clean up. “Whatever you do, do not remind her of what we saw.”
Frank swallowed, he swallowed hard. The truth sometimes was too hard to take. And aside from the antidote Dean just delivered to Frank, a painful truth of a future that very well may still happen.
^^^^
Bowman, North Dakota
Elliott could have sworn it was a scene from a movie he had seen in the past, standing by the fence watching the Captain on horseback trot his way. The speed of the horse was steady, the stride was gentle. The Captain looked happy as he rode. Elliott would have thought the scene was cast with a misty fog, but he knew that inability to focus was more so from his blackened and swollen eye then any imaginary special effect he gave the vision.
It was ornery. It was arrogant. It was so much the Captain. “Elliott.” He grinned, then suavely dismounted the horse and grabbed the reigns. “She’s ready for you.”
Elliott chuckled. “No.”
“Frightened?”
“Um, yeah,” Elliott said. “Not to mention totally beat up. No. Seven horses. Seven times bucked, tossed, and dragged. No.”
“But this is the one.”
“You said that last time. And why are you so insistent we ride horses.”
“Um . . .” Cocky, the Captain scratched his head. “Seeing how we have to move about once in a while. I don’t know. Transportation?”
Ellen let out one fake ‘ha’ of a laugh. “You’re funny. What about motorcycles. They use little fuel.”
“Motorcycles? It’s been done.”
“What do you mean it’s been done? By who?” Elliott asked.
“Ever see Mad Max?”
“That doesn’t count.” Elliott had a snap to him. “It was a movie.”
“Still.” The Captain extended the reign to Elliott. “Take her. Get on. She’s yours.”
“I can barely see.”
“She will be your eyes. She’ll take you.” The Captain ignored Elliott’s laughter. “The others didn’t mix with your chemistry. You need one who mixes. Feels you.” The Captain spoke with passion. “One who can understand you. That’s the way it works. And . . . I strongly believe your distaste for animal life is being conveyed in a negative energy to the creatures, therefore triggering the defense mechanisms of these animals to strike out against you as a foe.”
Elliott’s mouth dropped open. “You are so full of shit. This has nothing to do with negative energy or chemistry. They’re wild.”
“Did I just ride her in?” The Captain asked. “Yes. I did. Perfectly. Gentle she is. This Elliott is your horse.” The Captain leaned into Elliott. “Do you trust me?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Then do this.” The Captain smiled when Elliott grabbed the reigns. “You’ll ride like a champ.”
Preparing to get on the horse, Elliott snickered and shook his head. “If this horse throws me.”
“She won’t.” The Captain winked and stepped back. “I know.”
Grinning, the Captain watched as Elliott awkwardly mounted the animal. Then the realization hit him that perhaps he really didn’t know. The Captain cringed when he watched the animal buck up, toss a yelling Elliott, and drag him a good twenty feet before Elliott was released.
^^^^
Beginnings, Montana
Henry wasn’t in the b
est of moods. And things hadn’t gotten any better. He thought he would have felt a million more times at ease after leaving quarantine. But then again, he had to spend an hour chasing Robbie around. To Henry, Robbie wasn’t funny and he of all people added to Henry’s hideous mood. Every time he felt that bad mood start to leave him, something else would happen to set him off again. He still had work to do at mechanics and taking time to stop for Joe’s meeting was irritating him also. And he felt that irritation grow when he saw Joe working outside the bakery building. “Joe? The meeting Joe.” Henry told him as he stopped behind him.
“Oh, Henry sorry.” Joe switched the tool he was using on the outside breaker box. “I’ll only be a few minutes. Josh and Denny were throwing a football in the street and knocked the cover loose. Could you inform everyone?”
“Yeah Joe, I’ll tell them.” He said less than enthusiastic then stopped walking. “Why are you doing mechanical work? We have a division. Joe, your son won’t stop being lazy until we stop doing things for him.”
Joe stared seriously at Henry. “You done? Good. Go tell everyone I’ll be a few minutes late. “Thanks.” Joe returned to the box.
Huffing, Henry shook his head and turned. When he did he saw Dean and Ellen just standing there looking at him “What!”
Dean with a snicker held up his hands. “Easy.” He took hold of Ellen’s arms and moved toward the social hall. “Let’s go, El.”
“Dean.” Sharp toned, Henry raced up. “I hope she isn’t coming to the meeting. She’s not allowed. Joe said she only interrupts. It’s a brief meeting, Dean I want . . .”
“Henry.” Dean stopped him. “What is your problem? You’re out of containment. No longer cooped up and . . . and mind you, you’ve done the impossible. You’ve proceeded to convince the most selfish man in Beginnings to share. Quit complaining Henry. Life us pretty good to you.” Again, Dean took Ellen’s arm.
“You would think,” Henry griped. “You’re not chasing Robbie Slagel around and Dean, you keep interfering as well.” Henry grew even more frustrated when Dean just slipped into the social hall with Ellen.
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 205