Duty Bound (1995)

by Leonard B Scott

  The dog hopped out and ran for the open door of the apartment. Eli smiled. "You sure know what 'treat' means.

  Okay, I'm comin', I'm comin'."

  Holding the folder with his request for retirement, Eli left the pickup and walked back toward his apartment. Reaching the doorway, he was about to enter when he felt something hard press against the small of his back. A voice said, "Don't move."

  Eli slowly raised his hands. "What do you want?"

  "Christ'a' mighty, get your hands down."

  Eli turned and gasped.

  Ted smiled and lowered his crutch. "No, it ain't no ghost.

  It's me, your old teammate. How you doin'?"

  "Jesus, Ted. I I. . . I thought you were--"

  "Naw, almost, though . . . nearly lost my left kidney. The worst is over now. All of us made it. Damnedest thing, that dog of yours looks just like--"

  "It's him, Ted."

  Ted eyes widened. "It can't be . . . I saw him layin' on the cabin floor when me and the guys searched for Bonita."

  "It's him, Ted. I took him from the cabin before the boat sank. I would have thought Bonita told you."

  Ted's eyes narrowed. "What the hell you talkin' about?

  You sick or somethin'? You know Bo is gone to her maker."

  "No, Ted, she's alive. She went to Kansas just like you told her."

  Ted was staggered. "A-Alive . . . she's alive? It can't be . . . I searched the cruiser for--"

  Baby came out the door wagging his tail and jumped up on Ted. Eli smiled. "Come in, Ted, come inside and let me tell ya how she escaped. You'll be proud of her; she used your scuba gear and--"

  Ted shook his head and began hobbling backward. "Bullshit, 'Come inside.' I'm goin' to Kansas."

  Eli stepped out and caught Baby's collar. "Take him with you."

  Ted looked at the dog, then at Eli. "You saved him, Tanner--a life for a life, remember? I saw and heard you talkin' to him. Everybody needs somebody, and I can see you got that somebody right there. I gotta go, Tanner. I got me a somebody in Kansas. Oh, and Tanner--the reason I came was to thank ya. We were a team, Tanner . . . a real team. I won't forget you."

  Eli nodded. "Yeah, Ted, we were a helluva team. Go on; go find her."

  Minutes later Eli sat on his couch with Baby beside him.

  He stared at the phone in his hand and finally started pushing keys. Putting the phone to his ear, he waited a few moments while he heard the rings. "Come on, be there .. . please be Hey, Sutton, it's Tanner; whatcha doin'? .. .

  Nothing? Good. Why don't you come over here and let's cook some steaks on the grill, then how about us takin' in a flick . . . I know I haven't asked before but somethin' just happened, Sutton. The day just became brighter and I feel great. Come on over and let me tell ya all about it. I . . . I don't want the feeling to end. . . . Will ya come over? I want to share this wonderful day with you . . . No, I'm not sick, damnit! I . . . I'm trying to tell ya I'd like you to come over because . . . because . . . ah, hell, Sutton, never mind. You will? Great! Me and Babe will be waitin'-hey, could you pick up some steaks on the way and some dog bones, you know the Milk-Bone kind that . . ."

  Monday, Orlando, Florida Ted held a beer as he stepped out on the balcony that overlooked Lake Sweetwater. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as he looked at the distant castle on the far shore. Wearing a robe, Bonita stepped out on the balcony and joined him. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. "Isn't it beautiful?"

  Ted put his arm around her and motioned toward the lake.

  "There's the canoes . . . tonight we'll be able to see the fireworks. The guy downstairs said they shoot up behind Sleeping Beauty's castle over there across the lake."

  "It's Cinderella's castle, Ted. Come on back inside .. . let's start some fireworks of our own."

  "Christ'a'mighty, Bo, we just got here."

  Bonita let her robe fall from her shoulders. "Teddy."

  Ted quickly set his beer on the rail. "Christ'a'mighty, Bo . . . hell, yeah, let's get them fireworks started."

  Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii On the private beach of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Virgil handed Ramon a towel. "You best keep that bandage covered so sand don't get in it. You shoulda waited longer, ya know? We coulda come next month when you was healed better."

  "And miss this, man--you loco? This is what I need. Sun, sand, and ladies. Man, check them two over there . . . they hangin' out all over, man. Oh wow, they checkin' us out. Be cool now. Lift your arm like you waving off a fly and show off that new gold Rolex . . . yeah, that got their attention.

  Fishin', man . . . we sophisticated dudes doin' some lady fishin' now."

  "Hey, Ray, the sunburned one is making eyes at me."

  "No, man, she's makin"em at me. The dark-headed one is lookin' at you."

  "Ray, the sunburned one is lookin' at me."

  "Virg, forget them, man, check out the two at our three o'clock. Now that is some serious bad la-dies."

  Virgil smiled as he flicked away another imaginary fly.

  "Hey, Ray, it's been some ride, huh?"

  "Yeah, Virg, it's been some ride, man."

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