The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Paper cuts.” Henry shifted his eyes to an irritated looking Dean then back to Ellen. “I want to know if I can stop by tonight?”

  “Sure.”

  “El,” Dean spoke up.

  “Dean.”

  Dean clenched his jaws. “El, I want to . . .”

  “I won’t stay long,” Henry stated. “I have something for you.”

  “Oh! Surprises. I love surprises. Sure Henry, come by.”

  Henry grinned at Dean. “Thanks, El.” He looked back to Ellen. “It’ll be a while. We have to straighten out the hall and speak to the new Council member.”

  “Which is?” Ellen asked.

  Henry shrugged. “I don’t know. Joe’s not telling me.”

  “Hey El.” Robbie approached. “Dean.” He gave Dean a thumbs up. “Bet me you’re new Council.”

  “I really don’t want to be. I hope Jason wins,” Dean said. “Really.” He turned to Ellen. “El, can we get home? Let’s grab the kids and head home before Frank . . .”

  “What?” Frank stepped into the small circle. “I heard my name.”

  “God!” Dean exclaimed.

  “There it is again.” Frank chuckled as he tugged on his own ear. “Dean, the little man Council guy.”

  “I don’t want to be Council. I just want to go . . .”

  “Dean,” Joe called his name as he walked to them.

  Dean turned around. “Yeah, Joe. I guess you’re finished counting.”

  “I am and I want to talk to you about . . .”

  “Joe.” Dean held up his hand. “Look, being on Council really isn’t what I want to do. I went along, you know, because I was nominated, but I really don’t want it.”

  “Good.” Joe gave a swat to Dean. “That makes my job right now a whole lot easier.” Joe let out a long breath. “Dean, you didn’t win.”

  “What!” Dean was aghast. “What do you mean I didn’t win? I lost to Jason?”

  “Yes.”

  “How can that be? He’s only been here a little over a year. I lost to Jason?”

  “By one vote.”

  “One vote!” Dean was pummeled.

  “One eleven to one twelve,” Joe told him.

  “Uh, Dean.” Henry tapped him on the shoulder. “I thought you didn’t want to be on Council.”

  “Yeah, Dean.” Frank added. “What was the long speech you just gave about not really wanting to do it?”

  “Shut up, Frank,” Dean snapped.

  “Whoa, wait a second. Yell at Henry.” Frank pointed. “He started it. This really shouldn’t shock you. You don’t have any friends.”

  “Neither do you, Frank,” Dean came back.

  “Dean, please,” Frank said sarcastically. “Everyone loves me.”

  Dean ran his hand through his hair and held it up when he reached the crown of the head. “One vote. Joe, just tell me. Did you vote for me?”

  “Yes.” Joe nodded. “How did Rev. Bob put it? Demented family loyalty.”

  “El?” Dean turned to her.

  “Dean, of course.” She laid her hand on his cheek.

  “Hen . . .” Dean waved his hand and faced Robbie. “Robbie?”

  “Dean, I understand where you’re concern lies and I also understand this community’s needs. Understanding that, and understanding how much I like you, understand Dean, of course I voted for you.”

  “What the fuck was that?” Frank asked.

  “Frank?” Dean questioned. “I know this will be a ‘no’ but did you vote for me.”

  “Fuck no.”

  “There it is.” Dean held his hand out to Frank. “My one vote loss.”

  “Dean, I’m kidding. I voted for you.” Frank nodded.

  “No, you didn’t,” Dean said.

  “Yeah he did.” Joe added. “I know. I read the ballots three times for the count. I know Frank’s writing and . . . he spelled your name wrong.”

  “What?” Dean chuckled in disbelief. “What did you do, Frank? Forget the ‘E’ in Hayes.”

  “No,” Frank answered quickly. “I know how to spell Hayes. I didn’t spell your name wrong.”

  “Really?” Joe questioned. “Spell the name ‘Dean’.”

  “D--E--E--N.”

  A unison ‘Uh’ screamed at Frank from all of them.

  “What? Is that wrong?” Frank asked.

  Amidst the high pitch hyena laugh that came from Robbie, an appalled squeal escaped Dean first before he spoke. “Yes! It’s D--E--A--N!”

  “Oh.” Frank nodded. “Well, when did you change it?”

  “Frank . . .” Dean stopped himself and bit his bottom lip. He shifted his eyes to Robbie who couldn’t stop laughing. “Never mind.” Dean turned. “El, walk back to the seats with me.”

  “When?” Frank yelled out. He received a pacifying pat from Ellen who walked off with Dean. Henry and Joe followed. “When?” He looked to Robbie. “How do you spell Dean?”

  Robbie, after wiping a tear from his eye, looked up. “D--E--E--N.”

  “See.” Frank shook his head in disgust. “Fuckin Dean. He’s probably messing with me because I’m temporarily mentally disabled.”

  “Yeah,” Robbie agreed.

  “Yeah. Let’s go sit behind Dean and make fun of him because he lost.”

  “Sounds good.” Robbie shrugged and trailed behind Frank, Dean, and Ellen on their way to their seats.

  Bowman, North Dakota

  “I’ve moved on now to my personal belongings.” Elliott to Hal spoke on the phone in his bedroom. “Your office is pretty much done.” He opened the flap on the box that sat on his bed.

  “Are you packing with care?” Hal asked.

  “Very much so.” Elliott opened his night stand drawer and dumped it in the box.

  “Good to hear. You don’t want to be searching for things when we get to New Bowman.”

  “No, I don’t.” Elliott moved for the stack of books on his night stand and stopped. His hand retracted to the small white name tag that sat there.

  “Speaking of searching for things, Ellen wants to know if you found her name tag,”

  Elliott closed his eyes tightly. His facial expression said ‘damn it’. “Um . . .” His finger ran across the printed name of Dr. Hayes. “Yes. I did. I have it right here.”

  “Don’t lose it.”

  “Never.” Elliott set it back down. “As far as everything else back here . . .” He moved to his window. “It’s fine. A very peaceful night. It’s pretty cold out and . . .” Elliott spread the curtain further.

  “And?”

  “Damn it.” Elliott thought at first it was his imagination but then he saw it again. From his second story window, he could see the mountain in the distance of Bowman, and distinctively, despite the distance of the mountain, Elliott could see four dances of orange light. “Fire.”

  “What?”

  “Captain. Let me call you back. I’ve spotted what looks like campfires on West Mountain.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.” Elliott released the curtain. “There are four. Someone’s out there.”

  “Are you checking with Lookout?”

  “On my way . . .” No sooner did Elliott step from his bedroom than he heard a knock on his front door. “Stay with me, Captain.” He trotted quickly down the stairs to the door and opened it.

  “Sgt. Ryder, sir.” Clark, a sentry guard stood there, out of breath.

  “What is it?” Elliott asked.

  “Look-out wanted me to inform you, sir. We have . . . we have Wildcats on West Mountain. Nighttime is making them hard to count but through the scope we can tell there are at least fifty.”

  Elliott spun away from the door and brought the phone closer to his mouth. “Captain, did you hear.”

  “Unfortunately,” Hal said heavily. “Savages.”

  “Let me get things situated, Captain, and I will call you back.” Not waiting for a good bye from Hal, Elliott hung up the call, grabbed his coat, and immediately left his home
with Clark.

  Beginnings, Montana

  “Dean.” Frank’s hand hit heavily on the dining room table, rattling the chess pieces on the board that separated them. “Some fuckin time today.”

  “I’m concentrating.” Dean’s eyes shifted to the opening between the kitchen and dining area, an opening sealed off with closed shutters. “Why do you suppose Henry and Ellen need the shutters closed?”

  “They’re screwing around. How do I know? It’s girl talk. They’re probably discussing menstrual cycles.”

  “If Ellen still had one,” Dean mumbled. “Now she doesn’t have an excuse.” He reached for a chess piece and stopped.

  “What do you mean? She’s got years of excuses left. Take your turn.”

  “No, she doesn’t, Frank. How could she?”

  “I can’t believe we’re discussing Ellen’s period. O.K., let me explain something to you, Dean.” Frank leaned into the table. “Since Eve slept with Adam, God cursed women. They are cursed until they’re old.” Frank winked. “Ellen’s not quite old enough to stop. Look at Andrea, She still gets hers. I think. Yeah.”

  “How the hell do you know about Andrea’s menstrual cycle?” Dean asked.

  “I’m Frank. I know all.” Frank snickered. “No, my Dad bitches. Now take your turn and quit talking about periods.”

  “You started it because you think it’s possible that . . .” Dean reached for a piece and stopped. “You don’t know.”

  “Know what?”

  Dean’s eyes widened. “Ellen didn’t tell you?”

  “Tell me what? Take your fuckin turn here. I’m gonna need a second dinner break soon.”

  “Tell you . . . tell you . . .”

  “Tell me. Tell me . . . WHAT!” Frank blasted.

  “That I suck at gynecology. I never could get it right when women do and don’t.” Dean shrugged in his rattling. “Thanks for enlightening me, Frank.”

  “You’re welcome. Now, take your turn.”

  “Why are you bitching?”

  Frank huffed.

  “Seriously, Frank, you took forever your last turn.”

  “Yeah, but I have an excuse. I’m allowed to be slow.”

  “Why is that?” Dean was curious.

  “Because I’m temporarily mentally disabled. Speaking of which, when will I not be anymore?”

  “Um . . . probably next Tuesday. I’ll let you know for sure.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Your welcome.” Dean moved a piece.

  “Thank God!” Frank tossed his hands up. “Oh look, they’re kissing.”

  Dean hurried and turned to look behind him. “They are . . .” Dean turned back around. “Give me back your queen.”

  “Shit.” Frank gave it back.

  “Take your turn.” Dean nodded.

  Frank folded his hands, rested his chin on them, and smiled when Dean exhaled loudly while Frank stared at the board.

  ^^^^

  “I really see a clash coming,” Henry said as he sat on the stool across from Ellen in the kitchen

  “Why is that?” Ellen asked while she munched on rice cakes.

  “Well you know Jason. He likes to think about everything. Remember when we convinced him to go back about Brian?” Henry nodded. “It took him a day.”

  “Joe doesn’t like to wait for decisions.”

  “No.” Henry shook his head. “But still, I think it’s for the best that Jason won over Dean.”

  “Henry, that’s terrible. He’s my husband. Why would you say that?”

  “Well, El, you never know what could happen.” Henry shrugged. “How are things with you two?”

  “Good.” Ellen took another bite. “Even with Frank here.”

  “Well, you know if something should happen, or if things don’t work out. You know where to find me.”

  Dean’s gasp alerted them to his presence in the kitchen. “Oh, my God Henry. What a dick thing to say in my own house.”

  “Speaking of dicks.” Henry stood up.

  “Excuse me?” Dean stepped to him.

  “You heard me.”

  Ellen took a bite. “Oh boy.”

  “Henry.” Dean swung out his arm in a point backwards. “Get out of my house.”

  “Oh you would just love to keep me away from Ellen with what I know.” Henry’s voice raised.

  “What do you know.”

  “You know what I know.”

  “I know that you’re an asshole, coming into my house . . .”

  “Dean.” Ellen snapped out. “I can’t . . .”

  “Oh.” Henry’s word held out. “You call me an asshole?”

  “Henry.” Ellen switched her views to him. “Could you please . . .”

  “Where the hell is this attitude coming from.” Dean stepped closer to Henry.

  “Call it protective instincts.” Henry stated.

  “Over who?”

  “Over Ellen.”

  “From who?”

  “From you.” Henry pointed.

  Dean laughed. “I don’t what the hell you’re thinking. But you can’t walk into my house . . . .”

  “My house. My house.” Henry repeated. “This is Ellen’s house too. And I’m here to see Ellen.”

  “My wife.” Dean nodded. “And I’m telling you to go.”

  “And I’m telling you I’m not.”

  “Frank!” Ellen called out.

  At the same time, Henry and Dean looked at her.

  Frank came into the kitchen. “What’s wrong.”

  “They’re fighting.” Ellen indicated to Henry and Dean.

  Henry shook his head. “We aren’t fighting. Not yet.”

  “What is this shit, not yet?” Dean questioned.

  “Gentlemen . . .” Frank’s voice was calm.

  “Not yet.” Henry reiterated moving closer to Dean. “It’s building.”

  “What the hell for! All because I won’t give you an understanding?”

  “It goes way beyond that!” Henry shouted.

  “Where!”

  “Gentlemen . . .” Frank cleared his throat.

  “Where Henry!” Dean stated. “You have no one to blame for things you don’t get. Don’t forget your mistakes!”

  “Don’t preach to me Dean. Not you!” Henry shook his head as he argued. “You of all people . . .”

  “Gentlemen!” Frank shouted. “Knock it the fuck off. You wanna argue, take it outside.”

  Henry with a smug look glared at Dean. “I’m up for it.”

  “Outside?” Dean laughed. “You know what Henry? Don’t tempt me.”

  “Let’s go.” Henry motioned his head.

  “Let’s go.”

  Ellen peered at Frank. “Thank you very much.”

  Frank rolled his eyes and stepped in between them. “All right. Enough. No one is going outside. This is bullshit. I don’t know what you two are arguing about. I don’t care. Henry . . .” Frank turned his head to him. “Go home.”

  “But Frank I . . .”

  “Go home.” Frank stated slowly. “This is Dean’ house. Not yours. You don’t come into a man’s house and give him shit. I heard him to tell you to leave once, now I’m telling you . . . go home.”

  “Fine.” Henry backed up. “El, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Henry started to leave and stopped “You know what Frank, you defend him, go on. How long have we been friends. Trust me when I tell you, soon enough you’ll feel like the fool for defending him when you find out what he did.” He stormed out. The front door slammed loudly thereafter.

  Dean tossed up his hands. “What did I do?”

  “I don’t know. He’s fuckin goofy,” Frank said. “Now we have a chess . . .”

  Nick’s high wail silenced Frank.

  “Fuck.” Frank’s hand cut through the air. “Not only does he come here, fight with you, but he wakes his kid up.” Frank started to leave the kitchen.

  Dean closed his eyes briefly with a smile. “You know what, Frank? I’ll get him.”


  “No,” Ellen interrupted. “I’ll get him. You two go on and finish your game.” She smiled at them both and walked between them to leave the kitchen.

  “Excellent.” Frank held out his hand. “Let’s go. I’m winning.”

  Dean laughed. “How do you figure?” He walked into the dining room. “Frank, you did not capture my queen.”

  “I did too when you were in the kitchen.”

  “You weren’t even in position to . . . you know what?” Dean sat down. “You’re right. You did. Let’s play. I’ll beat your ass anyhow.”

  With a ‘ha’ Frank brought his leg over the chair to sit before the board. “Your move.”

  ^^^^

  “Mom.” Denny, Andrea’s teenage son, bolted to her when the door opened and she and Joe walked in.

  “Hey, little man.” Andrea embraced him and kissed him on the cheek.

  “How was Bowman?” Denny asked.

  Andrea quickly looked to Joe. “Um fine, sweetie. Where’s Katie?”

  “I put her to bed. Want me to wake her?” Denny asked. “She’s, like, sleeping though.”

  “No,” Andrea shook her head. “Let her sleep. I want to sit.” She walked over to the couch and plopped down.

  Joe looked at Denny who stood there. “Denny, can you put some water to make tea for your mother?”

  “Yes.” Denny nodded.

  As Joe started to sit, he noticed Denny still standing there. “Denny, I asked if you can put some water on.”

  “And I answered,” Denny said. “I learned how to do that awhile ago.”

  Joe covered his eyes and slid his hand down his face, thinking of one word, ‘Frank’. “Denny, could you go and do that for us now? Show us your skill.”

  “Oh, yeah. O.K.” Perky, Denny hurried from the living room.

  Andrea looked over her shoulder as Denny slipped into the kitchen. “Joe, I cannot believe I’m out of there.”

  “The community voted to let you out and work until the jury determines things.”

  “I’m grateful. What about Rev. Bob?”

  “He has to stay in holding,” Joe stated. “He’s admitted his guilt. You’re proclaiming innocence. I’m sorry that there are restrictions.”

  “No.” Andrea shook her head. “No apologies. I can live without my personal phone with restricted activities. Just allow me to be at Beginnings Day next week and I’ll be fine.”