“Maybe a little.”
“You can always come home.”
“Not yet. I have things to do. But in the end, when I leave this job, I think I will come back here and settle down.”
His father laughed. “You’ll make this your home, but I can see you becoming a politician. The kind we need.”
“Me? Never. Maybe a rancher.” Taylor heard his mother call them. “Let’s go in and have some of Mom’s apple pie and ice cream.”
“You always did have the best hearing and the best eyesight. Especially when it came to food.”
They climbed off the railing and started to slowly make their way back to the house. Hawke looked down at his Dad. He appeared smaller and frail. “I’m a sniper, Dad. And I’m good because of my eyesight and a steady hand.”
“Thanks for telling me. We never talk about your job, but I suspected what kind of work you did. Still, don’t tell your mother exactly what your job entails. She’d worry.”
“I know, and I won’t.”
“We’re proud of you. Not to change the subject, but do you know that girl you had a crush on in high school is back in town?”
“Sissie told me.”
“Maybe you ought to look her up.”
“It was years ago. We’re two different people.”
His dad smiled, patted his back and stepped into the kitchen. “Where’s that pie, sweetheart?”
Hawke shook his head. For forty years, his father always called Mom “sweetheart”.
In a few days, the family would be together with friends in the town’s main park celebrating their marriage. He thought of Sissie’s coming divorce and him not yet settled. His brother seemed to be the only one following in their parents’ footsteps.
His mother kissed his cheek and gestured at the table. “Sit down and eat this pie. You look like you’re in deep thought. Nothing but smiles and happiness this visit.”
“Hmm, many things have changed Mom, but not your apple pie.”
Vi tried not to stiffen when her mother hugged her. “Come in and go into the family room. Your dad’s in there and Bella and Fred with Sharma. She’s such a jewel. I’m teaching her to cook.”
“I haven’t seen her for years.”
“That’s your fault.”
“I know. Mom, you remember my friend, Emma.”
“Yes, how are you?” She glanced at Emma’s ringless left hand. “Still single, I see.”
“I’m waiting for a special man.”
“Better watch out, or you’ll be an old maid,” Vi’s mother said and headed toward the kitchen.
Vi took a deep breath and stared at her mother as she walked off. No questions about how I’m doing. Just a scolding for Emma because there’s no ring on her finger. I thought I’d gotten past her being able to bother me.
“Ignore her,” Emma said and put her arm around Vi. “Just be thankful you’re like your Dad and not her.”
“I am. Let’s see Dad. He always brings my spirits up.”
“There’s my girl!” Her father stood and opened his arms. His warmth and hug brought tears to her eyes. “I’m so glad you’re home. It’s been too long since your last visit. I’ve missed you.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Emma handed her a tissue. Her Dad hugged Emma, too.
Looking around the room, Vi saw most of the guests were Bella and Leroy’s friends. She knew many of them from high school. One of Bella’s women friends that Vi particularly disliked moved closer to her.
“We’re waiting to hear all about your big job,” she said with a sly smile. “Are the men really good-looking and sexy?”
Vi’s Dad frowned and said, “If Vi wants to share anything about her job with you, she will. Otherwise, please leave her alone.”
“It’s perfectly natural for all of us to have questions, Walter,” Vi’s mother said.
Vi hadn’t realized she’d entered the room.
“No, it is not. If anyone else asks another impertinent question, I will leave and take my daughter and her friend out for dinner.”
“Well!” Vi’s mother sniffed and strode out of the room in high dudgeon.
Bella frowned. “You’re only here a few days, Vi, and already you are causing distress between Mom and Dad.”
To Vi’s surprise, her father turned his back on her sister. “Vi, my dear, and Emma, would you care to join me at Franklin’s Steakhouse? I’m certain the meal and the atmosphere will be more pleasant.”
“Dad, it’s okay.”
“No, it isn’t, and too many times I have not stood up for you. Please join me.”
“I’d love to, Dad.”
Emma added, “And I’d be honored, Mr. Seaborn.”
As they went out the door, Vi’s mother followed them out onto the front steps. “What are you doing? We’ll be the gossip of the town. Get right back in here!”
“No. I’ve waited too many years. I hid behind my work. But tonight, I saw what the woman I’d married has become. You asked people who weren’t friends of Vi’s to come to a dinner that ought to have been a family reunion.
“I didn’t like it. I won’t be back. I’ll send someone for my things, and you will get the divorce papers I’ve been considering for a long time.”
Vi stared at her father, feeling as shocked and aghast as her mother’s expression.
“What? No, you can’t divorce me.”
“Watch and see.”
Walter opened the door to his large truck and helped Vi and Emma in. “Sorry, I left my car at the office tonight.”
“It’s fine, but Dad, please don’t divorce Mom over me.”
They all heard the front door slam. Vi’s dad grinned. “I need to apologize to you. For many years, I didn’t speak up as I should have when your mother treated you so differently than Bella. I’d decided a while back I’d never let her harass you again. Now smile for me, and we’ll go get the best steak in town.” He looked at Emma as he helped her up into the seat beside Vi. “You are a better friend than I’ve been a dad.”
The restaurant was full, but they found a table close to the back and to the side. On their walk to the table, a man at another table, stood and greeted them. After a moment, she recognized Taylor’s Dad.
“It’s good to see you, Vivian. My wife and I were happy to hear you’ve come for a visit. You must come to our big party to celebrate forty years of marriage.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bartlett. It’s good to be home, and I’d love to attend your celebration.” She smiled at the others at the table and her eyes landed on Taylor. Even in civilian clothes, his large muscles were apparent. She noted his frown, the vein throbbing at his temple, and he gave her a slight shake of his head.
“I’m glad you made it home for your parents’ anniversary,” she said.
“I wouldn’t have missed it.”
“I hope you all will be at the party,” Mr. Bartlett said, looking at Emma and Vi’s Dad.
“We wouldn’t miss it. Right, Vi and Emma?”
Emma smiled. “Vi and I have talked about how much fun it will be to celebrate such a wonderful marriage.”
Vi breathed a sigh of relief when her Dad excused them from the Bartletts’ table and let the waiter take them on to their own.
After ordering, Vi’s Dad smiled and said, “What a coincidence you and Taylor home at the same time. Didn’t you used to have a crush on him? I know your Mom didn’t approve because he wasn’t from a wealthy family, but I always thought he was a fine young man.”
“It was a high school crush Dad. I married Edwin to get Mom off my back, so of course, it didn’t last long at all.”
“Let’s not talk about your mother. Tell me how you like being a national reporter in San Diego. You looked beautiful on television, and I was so proud of the reports you did.”
Vi found herself enjoying the dinner. Her body relaxed when she saw the Bartlett family leave. Taylor never looked in her direction.
From his expression, I knew he didn’t want m
e to say much. I wonder if his parents know he’s a SEAL. I think he still has bad feelings about me. I don’t know why. I was the one who got stood up. Or did we both get fooled?
After dinner, Vi’s Dad drove them back to Emma’s apartment. Before he let them out, he turned to Emma. “This looks like a nice apartment building, but wouldn’t you like a place of your own?”
“You mean like a house?”
“Or a condominium. There are new houses and condos going up at the edge of town. I’m backing some of them. I’d be pleased to help you get a good price, less than what we’re selling them for, but you’d have to pretend you were paying the same.”
“I don’t want to take advantage of you, Mr. Seaborn. Thank you, though. I’m saving my money. Maybe by the time the houses are built I can afford one at full price.”
“Nonsense. I’ve known you all your life. I’d like to see you in a nice home of your own that you can afford. Think about it.”
Emma blushed. “I will. Thank you for the offer, whether I take it or not.”
Back in the apartment, Emma turned to Vi. “Did you put him up to making that offer?”
“No, I hadn’t heard anything about him going into the home construction business. I’m almost certain he didn’t tell Mom, either.”
“Okay.” Emma chewed on her lip, then blurted, “I’d like to accept. Having a home would mean I could get a dog. With a fenced yard, the dog could run and play, and I’d sit on the porch to watch. It sounds like a dream come true.”
“Do it.”
Emma made a sound of consideration. She tipped her head and gave Vi a small smile. “I saw your shocked face when you realized Taylor was at the table. I’d already noticed him.”
“Did you get the idea from his expression and words that he feared I’d talk about the rescue and him?”
The Captain had asked Vi to keep quiet about what had happened, but she had to tell Emma about it. Even her station had not reported on her rescue.
“You handled it well. I think Taylor was relieved.”
“Probably because we walked to our table shortly afterward.”
“I don’t think he stood you up back in high school.”
“You know he did. I came crying to you. You were my only true friend. I’m sometimes stunned that my mother didn’t try to break up our friendship.”
“Think about the incident between you and Taylor. You were both angry. Well, you were more hurt, but it affected you both. If Taylor stood you up, I’d think he’d have been embarrassed to be around you, not angry.”
“He didn’t like my friends. On our first date, he asked me why I went around with them.”
“What did you say?”
Vi lowered her head in thought — and saved her life. The bullet just missed her head and hit the wall. She and Emma heard the crack of gunfire and dropped to the floor.
“Are you hit?” Emma asked.
Vi stared at her. “No, but I swear I felt it brush my scalp.”
Emma had her phone out and dialed 911.
When the deputy answered, he said he’d already taken a report about a shot. He’d send an officer right out and call the Police Chief.
“Let’s get out of this room,” Vi suggested.
“Good idea.”
They barely made it to the bedroom door when more bullets tore through the front door. Crying out, the women threw themselves inside Emma’s bedroom.
Sprawled flat on the floor, Emma gasped, “Good idea, Vi.”
“Have you got a gun?”
“In my bedside table.”
Vi crawled over and retrieved the revolver. Staying low, she crawled back to the edge of the doorway, cocked the gun and opening the bedroom door shot toward the front door. A return bullet breezed by her head. She ducked and shot again. The bullets stopped, and she heard heavy footsteps rushing downstairs. At almost the same time, sirens filled the air.
“Did you get hit?” Emma asked.
“He almost got me again. My angels must be looking out for me.”
“This is the police!” A man shouted from outside the apartment. “Is anyone hurt?”
Emma called out, “My friend needs to be checked. A bullet grazed her scalp, and I can see some blood.”
Vi put her hand to her head and looked astonished at the blood on her fingers. She put the gun on the floor just before two deputies came through the front door. They made a quick search of the apartment. One man crouched beside the women, inspected Vi’s head and used his radio to call for an ambulance.
“I can go by car,” Vi protested as a third man entered the apartment. She recognized Bruce Bartlett.
“No, you can’t,” the Police Chief said as he looked at the bullet holes in the walls, which had almost been shredded. “Someone wants you dead. My men are searching for the shooter, but I suspect whoever shot up this apartment was long gone once he heard the sirens.”
“How is that possible?” Vi asked the chief.
“It’s obvious he’s a professional. This town’s never had this type of shooting. Starting now, I’m having you put under protection. We’ll find a safer place for you.”
“I want to kill him,” Vi said.
Chief Bartlett grinned. “You aren’t the timid girl I remember.”
“No. Events change you.”
“I was going to ask how you learned to shoot so well,” Emma said.
“What do you mean?” the Chief asked.
“She took my gun and shot back through the door. Whoever the shooter was almost hit her with another bullet.”
“We’d better check for blood. You may have injured the shooter. Maybe we can check the DNA and identify him.”
A woman in plainclothes walked up to them. “I beat you to it, big brother.” She smiled at Vi. “You hit him. The chief and his men came up so quick they missed the spots right outside on the back stoop. I’ll get a sample and send it to Bozeman.”
“Good work.” To Vi and Emma, he said, “You know my sister, Jewel. Since she’s already started getting the evidence, I’ll put her on your case.”
“It’s good to see familiar faces,” Vi said as a pair of EMTs joined the crowd in Emma’s apartment. “I guess I better get on this stretcher they’ve brought upstairs.” She added hopefully, “Or could I walk?”
“I’m afraid not, miss,” one of the EMTs said. “It’s against the rules. If we’re taking you to the hospital, you go on a stretcher.”
“All right. I’ll go in style.”
“What do you mean you didn’t kill her? And she managed to wound you?”
A gruff voice on the other end of the phone said, “Don’t worry, I’ll kill her. No one makes a fool of me. I’m going to do it whether you pay me or not. If this gets out, it’ll hurt my business.”
“Then get it done. My informant says I’m going to have cops at my door any moment now. Vivian Webley is the only person who can say she saw my face on that USB. The guy who had it either didn’t look or doesn’t remember.
“I will be getting messages even in jail. If this guy’s memory comes back, you can kill him, too.”
“Why not do it anyway?”
“No. We don’t want to muddy the waters too much against me.”
“I’ll be in touch.” The sniper hung up the throw-away phone, wiped his prints off and tossed it in the middle of a fast-moving river.
I’ll wait. I have an idea of how to get the woman. The shooter replaced the pad covering his injury, glad she’d missed his shooting arm. First, I’ll go to Bozeman and have some quack doctor sew me up. Then I’ll come back for you, Vivian.
Back at the station house, Bruce called his cousin.
“Hi, Bruce. What’s up?”
“You were right to warn me, Ty. A hitman just tried to kill Vivian and her friend. He riddled the apartment with bullet holes. Did you know she can shoot?”
“If you mean Vi, yes. I’d heard she helped the villagers hold off the bad guys until we got there.”
“
Did she recognize you?”
“I thought she might have. I wasn’t certain until she came into the restaurant where the family was celebrating my being home.”
“She didn’t tell the family you were one of her rescuers?”
“No.”
“Good girl. Jewel found a spot of the shooter’s blood at the scene and sent it off for DNA. Vi wounded her attacker.”
“Wow, that is good. Let me know as soon as you get the report. And watch the news. You’ll see on television tonight the person arrested for helping the wrong side in the Middle East.”
“You and Vi have brought more excitement to this town since old Henry killed his wife fifty years ago. People still remember.”
Chuckling, Bruce hung up.
Chapter 7
Hawke’s Mom looked worried when he turned to her. “What happened?” she asked him.
“Vi and Emma survived a shooting. The shooter destroyed Emma’s apartment, but they weren’t hurt. Vi is on her way to the hospital. It’s just a precaution to have her checked by a doctor.”
“My goodness,” his mother said. “She’ll have to stay somewhere safe.”
“I thought about bringing her to the ranch. I can keep her safe, but I’d like you and Dad to go stay with Randy until this is over.”
“We’ll be all right here. This person is after her, not us.”
“The apartment was destroyed. The sniper didn’t care who he killed as long he killed Vi.”
“You think you can keep her safer than someone else?” Hawke’s dad asked.
“I think you know why.”
“Yes, but I didn’t want your mother to worry. You’re often overseas, and the first three years in the Navy, you worked at getting stronger. I know you’re a SEAL, son.”
His mother gasped. “A SEAL? What are you two talking about?”
“You must both never tell anyone. But I’m a Navy SEAL. My teammates call me Hawke. We all have nicknames.”
“Navy SEALs like the ones who go on the most dangerous jobs?”
“Yes, Mom.”
She reached up and hugged him. “I’ll worry a bit more, but I’m so proud of you. I’ve heard on television and read in articles about how difficult it is to pass the tests to be a SEAL. What a wonderful man you’ve become, Taylor.”
The SEAL’s Surprise Mission (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Rache) Page 5