Freedom Fight: Beginnings Series Book 9

by Jacqueline Druga

“And?”

  Gary swallowed in hesitation before answering. “No one was there. Not a Society soldier, any of our men, the man, nor a body. There was nothing, absolutely nothing.”

  This struck Hal with the deepest of oddness to the point it left him speechless. Never had The Society taken bodies. Why weren’t they leaving clues? All the patterns that Hal spent time learning while forming his legion meant nothing right now, because the society just showed Hal a new one.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  The song ended and Henry turned off the player. He sat at Ellen’s bedside, near her face. Ellen was still the same way. Dean sat near the foot of the bed. His hands were cupped upon the bed and his chin rested on them. He watched Henry, so upbeat, wishing he could be that way too for Ellen’s sake, but Dean couldn’t. He felt so lost and he swore his heart and soul were breaking as he stared at Ellen.

  “O.K.” Henry chuckled. “Can you believe Josephine had that song? We were just talking about that before you left. I asked her what she was doing with it and she tsked at me, El. Then she says,” Henry snickered, “she says ‘what do you think I am, old’. I couldn’t resist. I said yeah.”

  Dean’s head raised some; he shook it and rested in back down again.

  “She hit me, El. Oh here.” Henry leaned into Ellen and holding the edge of his hair he brushed it across her face. “I had a feeling you were coming home so Danny and I went to Bentley and he cut my hair, not much, just a few inches. Joe said I need about six more cut off. I’d die. You’d die. You’ll probably think it’s too short, but, I didn’t have a bad hair day today. He added a few layers and it lays really nice.” Henry’s hair wasn’t that much different. Instead of reaching to his shoulder blades, it rested just over the shoulder. The layers added took a lot of the ‘long’ look from it. “O.K., so I have a notebook.” Henry lifted it and laid it down. “Since Dean kicked me out this afternoon, I’ve been keeping notes on what I want to talk to you about. Can you believe he kicked me out, El? That wasn’t very nice of him, but he has a point. But don’t think I won’t stop in and say hi. I will.” Henry flipped a page in the notebook. “Look at all these pages. I have eight. We have a lot of catching up to do. Oh before I forget, Dean has a surprise for you . . .”

  “Henry.” Dean said his name. “Don’t.”

  “O.K., I won’t.” Henry smiled. “Check this out, El. Danny started a drive-in again here in Beginnings, only it’s a walk-in. Trish is the movie madam. And guess what? She started porno night. I didn’t go to it but Dean did. He came home early, but I heard the guys had a lot of fun. I could hear them whistling and hooting from the house.” Henry saw Dean standing up through the corner of his eye. “What’s wrong, Dean?”

  “I have to get home with the kids. It’s late. You’ll be here, right?”

  “All night,” Henry said. “I plan on sleeping here.”

  “Thanks Henry. I’ll stop back later.” Dean walked up to Ellen and bent over her. Softly he laid his lips to her face and held them there. He kissed her again. “I love you, El. I love you very much.” Another kiss and Dean slowly and sadly walked from the room.

  Henry waited until he was gone. “So he says he loves you. Wait until you hear what I’m gonna tell you. In fact, I know you’re pretty boggled down with resting and all from getting hurt so I’ll save it.” Henry laid his hands on Ellen’s hands that, due to medication, were no longer ridged and kept at her face. “Just wait . . . boy, if you aren’t out of this thing when I open my mouth, you will come out.”

  ^^^^

  Nothing but quiet came from Dean’s house when he made his approach. He knew it was late and his kids might be sleeping. Though he needed to see them, in a sense he didn’t wanted to deal with anything. He was surprised when he walked in, slowed down his pace, and saw Jenny Matoose pacing the floor with Nick against her chest.

  “Jenny, I’m sorry. Has he been fussy for you?”

  “No not at all. He was just hungry,” Jenny spoke as she walked with the baby. “I guess I kind of got caught up in holding him. Look, Dean, Jenny smiled, “he likes my breasts.”

  Dean chuckled as he ran his hand down Nick’s head. Nick’s little hand was held in a grip onto Jenny’s breast. “He probably doesn’t know what they are.”

  “Pillows, that’s what Caroline called them.” Jenny let out a heavy sigh. “How’s Ellen?”

  “Same. The medication relaxed her body some.”

  “Joe said he needs us all to talk to her. May I stop and see her tomorrow?”

  “Yes, and talk to her Jenny. Talk to her very normally.”

  “I will. And . . . I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty to finish packing your knickknacks. The kids were asleep early and I saw you were in the middle of it.”

  “I don’t mind, but somehow moving into the house has lost its excitement.”

  “But why?” Jenny asked. “Ellen will be so pleased with it. She really will. There will be no better place for her to recuperate both mentally and physically. Trust me.”

  “Maybe you’re right. I’ll let you go.” Dean extended his hands to Nick. “I appreciate this.”

  “It’s not a problem. What am I gonna do, right?” There was a tone of sadness in Jenny’s voice. She began to hand over Nick and stopped. “Dean? Would you mind if I kept this little one? I’ll gather some things. I . . . I’m not teaching tomorrow and I’m sure right now you don’t need to deal with an infant. Would you mind?”

  “Not at all.” Dean shook his head and took the baby while Jenny left the room. He got lost in his thoughts while holding Nick, because he didn’t hear Jenny come back, nor did he realize how long she was gone.

  “Here.” She took Nick back, a smile crossed her face. “Goodnight Dean.”

  “Night Jenny.” Dean walked them both to the door and opened it for her. When she had left, the house rang with silence. He walked slowly, almost exhaustedly to the couch and sat down. Sadly he leaned against the arm of the couch, grabbed a pillow, and held it his chest. He brought his knees close to him and emotionally, Dean dropped his head forward to his legs.

  ^^^^

  Squeak. Thump. Thump-thump. Thump. In a steady rhythm the pattern continued, mixed with heavy breaths flowing out in to the quiet just outside the garage. Jess listened first before he walked in and found Robbie. He was concerned about his new friend. With the news of all that was going on, Robbie made excuses to be busy all day and night, just like he was doing in the garage. Perhaps it helped ease his pain.

  Robbie, in a firm boxer’s stance, stood before a large punching bag. He hit it hard, over and over, his face red. He wore only cloth shorts which were drenched with the sweat that poured off his bare chest. So determined, Robbie kept on hitting.

  Jess knew Robbie heard him when he walked in, yet went unacknowledged, so he spoke up. “You know, I was a champion fighter in the service.” Jess walked toward the bag, keeping his voice soothing. “If you want, we can put on the gloves and we can go a few rounds. If you want to hurt yourself, that’s the way to do it.” Jess stepped within inches of him. “Not this.” He reached out and stopped Robbie’s hand from hitting the bag again. Robbie’s knuckles were raw, some bled from the lack of protection against the canvas bag. “Robbie.”

  Robbie let out an emotional breath, grabbed onto the bag and rested his forehead against it. His head swayed. “My brother is gone, Jess. My big brother is gone. Do you even know how much I looked up him? What am I gonna do? God, I never thought it would hurt this bad.”

  “You loved him. Do you think because you’re this big tough Slagel nothing can get to you. You’re wrong.”

  “It’s getting to me.” Robbie stared at the bag. “Frank. Ellen.”

  “That’s right. Ellen.” Jess moved even closer, laid his hand on Robbie’s shoulder and spoke closely to him. “What are you doing? Where have you been? I thought this woman was your friend. A close friend, and someone you care about.”

  “She is. I love
her.”

  “Then why are you here? No one knows better than I the bond and love between two brothers. I’m telling you, if I had a family and something happened to me, I certainly would want to know that my brother was taking care of what was mine.”

  Robbie raised his eyes to Jess. “It hurts to see her like that.”

  “I know it does but get over it. I know my words are harsh, but listen to me. Frank loved this woman. She is family to you. If you care half as much about her as you say you do, then why in the hell are you beating this bag instead of helping her beat the obstacle she faces.”

  Robbie stood straight up. His head lifted. “You’re right. You are absolutely right. I owe her an apology.” Robbie stepped back and laid his hands on Jess’ arms. “Thanks, Jess. I mean it. Thanks.” With no more said, Robbie took off, just the way he was, all the way to the clinic.

  Robbie was out of breath when he arrived in Ellen’s room. He took a few short breaths before stepping in.

  Henry stopped talking and looked at Robbie, then looked again. “Oh my God, El, Robbie just walked in all sweaty and showing off that Slagel fur.”

  “Shut . . . shut the . . .” Robbie slowed his speech as he neared the bed, “the fuck up, Henry.” He grabbed a chair and pulled it closer to Ellen’s head. He leaned over and kissed her, keeping his mouth near her ear. “I’m sorry I wasn’t around. I promise you it won’t happen again,” he whispered, kissed her, and then sat back down.

  Henry’s chair squeaked as he inched it from Robbie’s.

  “What?”

  “You’re sweaty.”

  Robbie lifted his arm and sniffed. “I don’t stink.” He held his armpit to Henry. “Do I?”

  Henry made a loud sound of disgust. “That’s gross. It’s a jungle of armpit hair. You should shave some of that.”

  “No I shouldn’t. Don’t tell me you do.”

  “No!” Henry snapped. “I don’t grow much hair under my arms.”

  “Still in that prepubescent phase, huh Henry?”

  Henry tsked. “El, he’s bothering me. I need you to stick up for me.”

  Robbie cleared his throat. No matter how much he tried to joke around, there was still a sense of nervousness to him. “She looks better.”

  “Yeah she does,” Henry smiled. “Her color is back. Andrea said it’s from the blood they gave her and the oxygen.”

  “She’s still breathing funny,” Robbie said of the way Ellen still slightly twitched with her breaths.

  “She’ll breathe that way until she comes out. They injected her muscles with this drug. See,” Henry lifted her hand, “she’s not tight anymore. You can hold it.” Henry grasped Ellen’s hand in his.

  “Then may I?” Robbie asked, waited for Henry to move, and then took Ellen’s hand. “So uh, what are you doing Henry, reading to her?”

  “Oh no, talking.” Henry grabbed his notebook. “You gonna join in now?”

  “Yeah, I’ll join in. What are we talking about?”

  Henry skimmed over his notes. “Second grade. I’ve made it through the first six year of my life.”

  “Swell.” Robbie held Ellen’s hand and listened as Henry rambled. He didn’t add much to the conversation. In his mind he was taking it one step at a time. His first step was over and that was putting aside his fears and going to see Ellen.

  ^^^^

  It was after one in the morning, From an empty bed, Andrea went to the porch after following the smell of cigarette smoke. Joe sat there with his white shirt out of his pants. His feet were bare. Andrea stepped out and joined him. “Couldn’t sleep?

  “Nah.” Joe hit his cigarette. “I went to see Ellen.”

  “How is she?”

  “Busy.”

  “Busy?” Andrea asked.

  “Robbie’s there and so is Henry. Henry’s rambling on about his seventh grade dance. I don’t know. Other than that, she’s still the same.”

  “It could be days, Joe, even weeks before she comes out of it. She’s made progress. Her health is improving. She’s strong.”

  “I know.”

  Andrea rested her hand on Joe’s back. “How are you? Been thinking about Frank, haven’t you?”

  “How can I not?” Joe’s head swayed.

  “I’m sorry, Joe.”

  “Don’t be, not yet.” Joe looked out and tossed his cigarette. “I know everyone believes he’s dead.”

  “You don’t.”

  Joe shook his head. “Nope. Until Ellen tells me for sure that my son is gone, I won’t believe it. I won’t.” Joe looked at Andrea with a sad seriousness in his eyes. “Because I know if he was, I’d feel it. I’d feel it right here.” Joe clenched his fist and brought it to his chest. “But I don’t. The only thing I feel is that my son is in trouble and I just don’t know where to start to help him.” He looked out again.

  “Yes you do.” Andrea spoke softly and waited for Joe to look at her. “Ellen.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  September 2

  Beginnings, Montana

  Sitting cross legged in a chair, Jenny held Ellen’s hand. Ellen’s fingers draped across Jenny’s palm as Jenny filed the nails. She rotated between filing, buffing, blowing, and removing cuticles. The whole time Jenny’s hands moved as fast as her lips.

  “My goodness, you certainly let your nails go. These will look so nice when I’m done. You’ll be pleased. I know if it were me, I’d want to know I was presentable. You have to be presentable, Ellen because so many people keep coming in here.” Jenny had a remembrance look. “Don’t you wish we had press-on nails again? What are the odds of you talking to Henry about inventing them again? I’ll throw in some more pizzas. Gosh how I remember being little and loving your long nails. You always had them done, a great tan, and really blonde hair, and you were so thin. I wanted to look just like you.” Jenny grew sad for a moment, then became up beat. “Actually, some people say we do.” She started to laugh hoping that would get a reaction out of Ellen. Nothing. “Did I tell you, Blake does wonderful manicures and . . .” she snickered, “pedicures. Don’t tell John that Blake touches my toes. I promised John I wouldn’t sleep with Blake. He says I do too many favors already. Yeah, I guess I do, but I get nothing out of it. O.K., here’s something that might make you come out of it. I let Blake,” Jenny dropped her voice to a tiny whisper, “suck my toes.” Jenny smiled. “He doesn’t mind and I get all tingly.” Jenny stopped talking when Patrick walked in the room. “Shh, we’re invaded by a man.”

  Patrick gave a smile to Jenny and Jenny flung back her hair. “What, Jenny?” He grunted in anger, checked Ellen’s IV, and moved back to the door. “Go on. I’m leaving.”

  “I’m a little angry with Patrick. I told him two stories the other day and he forgot I told him one. My point is he’s lucky to have a woman to talk to him and be with him. He could at least pay attention. I’ll be mean until he begs, which most men do. Speaking of men, did you ever notice and I’m sure you did, how Nick makes that Henry face? He whines like Henry too. Really Ellen, Dean is not a whiner. You’re gonna have to get that kid to break that habit. The odds are evening up in this world for men and women of the new generation. But if he acts like that, he’ll never get laid.” Jenny smiled and grabbed the buffer. “Of course, he could be gay, not that that’s a bad thing, mind you. We have our share of closet gays here in Beginnings. I know. I have radar when it comes to homosexuals. I know which men are gonna need women and which ones aren’t.” Jenny giggled and switched to the nail file. “It’s so funny to me because the age old saying holds true you can’t judge a book by its cover. Wait until you come out of this. I’ll walk with you, wait better yet, we won’t wait until you walk, I’ll wheel you around and point out all the man I know are gay that no one else does.” Jenny kept filing. “My little present to you. Speaking of presents . . .” Jenny looked back behind her. “Dean has one for you. It’s a surprise. He can’t wait to give it to you. It’s such a big one too. You’ll love it. But I know us women hate
surprises, so, just because you and I are friends . . . I’ll tell you what it is.”

  Jenny checked out the door one more time, and got up and shut it for security purposes. She then took her seat again, cupped her hand over Ellen’s ear and whispered just in case Dean walked in. Jenny didn’t want to get in trouble.

  ^^^^

  Every time John Matoose entered Joe’s office, he filled with a thick nervousness. He felt like a specimen under a microscope and rightfully so. John knew this and he expected it. He never talked right anymore around Joe, which made John feel even guiltier. He feared that it looked like he was hiding something. For the first time in a long time in Beginnings, John Matoose was totally honest and up-front about everything.

  “Joe, you got a minute?” John stepped into Joe’s office. Joe was by the filing cabinet.

  “Yeah, what’s up?” Joe shut the drawer and while reading, he walked to his desk.

  “I have something.” John laid a folder on the desk in front if Joe.

  “What is this?” Joe opened it.

  “I’ve been thinking. I’ve done a lot of it since Ellen arrived yesterday. I know you think there’s someone else in Beginnings working for George. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have asked me about it. I didn’t think there was.”

  “You do now?”

  “Yes.” John nervously cleared his throat and pulled up a chair. He sat down. “Every single person in Beginnings found out three days ago that Frank had Ellen beyond the wall and every single person knew they were at Ft. Peck lake. It wasn’t a secret.”

  “Your point?”

  “I know the way George’s soldiers run, eight in a pack, sixteen at the most. What hit Frank and Ellen at the lake was a brigade. By the talk, there were three trucks. Come on, George had to send them after Frank and Ellen. They had to come from the area where the search party found the massacre. That was close, too close. I know better than anyone the way our communication tracking works. When George calls here, it’s not easily traced. The system has to be configured to do so every time, so how often do we do it? Since Quantico was discovered, how many calls do we see go to George a day? Many, meaning his people check in. Meaning whoever worked for him in Beginnings can call him and they did. George sent his people after Frank and Ellen. It was too planned. I know the way George works.”