by Gordon Ryan
Nicole returned Dan’s kiss, then laid her head against his chest for awhile, the two of them content to stand and watch the sunset gather over the western end of the valley. She’d noticed, the first time he came to the hospital after returning from Washington, that he had removed his wedding band. She had taken it as an admission that he had let go of the past and that he loved her.
“What will you do, Dan?” she said, not lifting her head from his chest.
“Well, for one thing, I’ll continue to write. There are a lot of stories left untold.”
“And?” she said.
“And Governor Dewhirst is not going to run again,” he said, a grin on his face.
At that, Nicole raised her head and looked into his eyes. “So you thought you’d remain in politics?”
“I’ve thought that perhaps I could contribute to the effort. I’m still a bit young to fun for governor, but I might try to keep my legislative seat for a few years.” He smiled. “We still have this secession issue to deal with. It’s not really a done deal yet. In fact I’ve received an invitation to meet with several state and national elected officials from Oregon, Arizona, and even Nevada. They want to discuss some options. That will be in January. I don’t have a handle on what they want, but I intend to listen. Nicole, since being elected, I’ve learned a lot. In many respects, the secession mania has been a diversion, helpful to the current crop of elected officials actually. California is financially destitute. As a state, we have so many resources, so much to offer, but we also have the largest welfare rolls, the most claim on meager resources, the largest share of illegal immigrants. We could do better, but maybe we simply can’t turn the direction of the federal government.”
“Do I hear the beginning of a shift in your thoughts about secession? A positive look at becoming separate?”
Dan hesitated, continuing to look over the western slopes. “I don’t know yet, Nicole. Some of our Founding Fathers came reluctantly to their rebellious position. They were loyalists initially. I need to be more inquisitive, more open. California could work independently. Despite our current financial crisis, we do actually have the total package—far better than many existing countries. I’m not speaking of treason. I’m thinking about political alliance, shifting priorities.”
“And you want to do something about that, right?” Nicole said, softly pressing the issue.
“Only if you’d share it with me, Nicole. That’s the only way it would matter. John Adams could not have accomplished what he did without Abigail. And we helped to build it together, didn’t we? Just like my ancestors. We rightfully earned our place in this valley.”
“I suppose we did,” she responded, raising her eyes across the valley to the far west mountainside where their lives had been in jeopardy. “I suppose we did.”
“Well, then,” Dan said, bracing her shoulders straight so he could face her head on. “Will you help me start one more generation of voices—voices to keep this valley alive?”
Nicole looked slowly around the valley and then returned her gaze to Dan, who stood patiently waiting for her to respond.
“Mr. Rawlings, have I ever told you the story of my first American ancestor, James Bentley, and his trip from London to the colonies?” She smiled.
Dan looked at her for a moment, his smile broadening as her response took root in his heart, her family stories about to be mingled with his ancestors’ stories, her answer to his question couched in family tradition.
“No, you haven’t,” he said, “but I think I’m due.”
Her words came slowly at first as she described her own heritage, anticipating in the telling how these two streams from separate sources would be joined together.
Dan only half heard the words, lost again in the vision of the old man in the orchard with his eyes lifted toward the couple on the hill, smiling and waving at the two of them. They sat there together on the hillside, overlooking the expanse of Rumsey Valley as the sun dropped beneath the western ridge. Stretched before them was a destiny—an old valley in a new state—a home forged in courage by the voices that yet reverberated through the canyons and in their hearts.
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Author’s Note: After many years of traditional publishing, with both hardback and softbound books in print, I have released each of my out of print books and several new stories through the medium of e-books. As a new “Indie” author, I would appreciate your word of mouth support and if time allows, a narrative review on Amazon. Good or bad, one star or five, your comments would be most appreciated.
Gordon Ryan
Christchurch, New Zealand
www.gordonryan.com
Acknowledgements
The Pug Connor series has required technical input from a variety of sources, but none more important than that received from my military colleagues and associates who provide the security for our nation and those of our allies. I am indebted to these people, some of whom are not individually listed below. They know who they are.
William A. Tolbert, Major, USAF (Ret.) a life-long friend with whom I have spent many hours discussing the concept of American governance, states’ rights, and public turmoil.
Kate Ryan, Lieutenant Commander, Royal Australian Navy. Kate’s contribution to scenes in upcoming volumes were indispensable, and her critique of RAN naval terminology is essential to the accuracy of the story. We share the same name, but there is no family connection..
Pete Bartos, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, (Ret.) As a former “Eagle Driver,” an F-15 pilot, and a veteran of Operation Noble Eagle, the domestic air cover operation designed after 9/11, Pete provided first-hand knowledge of the prospective air battle over American cities as we continue to prepare for the next assault.
Tristi Pinkston, who edited the manuscript and provided much needed variation and insight into the story. I express my sincere appreciation for her contribution.
Author Bio:
"Political thrillers are in my blood. They're more real, than fiction."
Gordon Ryan is a writer with a varied history. He has lived and worked in six foreign nations and a dozen or more states, including Alaska. He served in the 1st Recon Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and in the Air Force in Thailand during the Vietnam War. He also served as a member of the American Embassy staff in Dublin, Ireland, during the violent seventies.
Ryan’s first published novel, Dangerous Legacy, was released in 1994 and he has published a dozen more over the intervening years with the Pug Connor novels, State of Rebellion, Uncivil Liberties, and To Faithfully Execute being his newest releases. Book Four, Blood and Treasure is scheduled for release in Fall, 2011.
Ryan never gave up his day job as a city manager and chief executive officer of large homeowners' associations, but once he discovered the joys of fiction, writing has been the driving force. Now writing full-time, Gordon and his wife, Colleen, spend their time between the American northwest and the beautiful South Pacific.
Discover Other Novels By Gordon Ryan
www.gordonryan.com
Triple Diamond
Threads of Honor
Love, Honor & Consequence
Upon the Isles of the Sea
Leashes of Dogwood Hollow
Gordon Ryan Sampler
The Callahans Series
The Callahans: The Complete Series
Destiny: The Callahans Book One
Conflict: The Callahans Book Two
Reunion: The Callahans Book Three
Prelude: The Callahans Book Four
Reprisal: The Callahans Book Five
Pug Connor Novels
Rebellion Trilogy
State of Rebellion
Uncivil Liberties
To Faithfully Execute
Blood & Treasure – (Spring 2012)