by James Young
“Horrible class, that,” Wallace replied. “I think that’s probably the worst experience I’ve ever had in my life. I take it that you did all right?”
“I boxed in the Brigade intramurals,” Jacob replied evenly. “I placed second in the light heavyweight class.”
Wallace smiled.
“Well, glad to see your aggressiveness won’t be a problem,” he said with a smile. “Its part of the reason you’re here. But before we get started, would you like me to have the mess send up something? There should be sandwiches or something available, I realize you’re probably famished after coming all the way out from Pearl.”
“No thank you, sir, I actually ate before coming aboard,” Jacob said. “I will, with your permission, have some of that water in the corner however.”
“By all means,” Wallace said, gesturing towards the pitcher and glasses. As Jacob stood, Houston’s captain began their discussion.
“I understand that you were somewhat surprised when BuPers cut your orders.”
“It’s rare that an officer is requested by name, much less by someone he has never met,” Jacob replied cautiously. “Serving twice as an XO is lucky, but three times is unheard of.”
Wallace grimaced.
“When Captain Rooks got cancer three months ago it was a shock to the entire wardroom,” Wallace replied. “Admiral Hart offered every one of the officers the opportunity to transfer to other vessels, and most of the division chiefs were reassigned throughout the fleet or sent back to Pearl. I only requested that Admiral Hart give me the most experienced XO possible, and apparently your name was selected.”
Well that explains it, Jacob thought, fighting the urge to curse aloud.
“I understand you had been slated to take a destroyer in about six months,” Wallace continued. “I realize that an XO tour, much less one here in the Forgotten Fleet, is hardly an equal trade, but Admiral Hart has assured me that he will personally see to it that your career doesn’t suffer.”
Jacob was taken aback by Wallace’s frankness. Usually mere commanders were not informed of admiral and captain’s personnel machinations, much less apologized to for their careers being possibly set back.
“Thank you, sir,” he said, feeling a great deal of tension leave his body. Wallace gave a slight smile.
“I think, were I in your position, I would be ready to punch my captain out at the first opportunity. Given that you apparently have some experience with that, I would much prefer to clear the air before we have to work together.”
Jacob smiled in return at Wallace’s slight joke.
Obviously not one of those men who believes that the captain must appear as a god before all mortals, he thought. As if reading his mind, Wallace continued.
“I’m not a man to stand on protocol between us in private, especially given your seniority. I also won’t beat around the bush—I expect you to be my hatchet man. All six departments on this ship are good, but I need you to make them excellent,” Wallace said simply. “Especially as I think we’ll be in war within a month.”
Jacob gave his captain a measured look.
“I’m not saying I disagree, but what is your reasoning, sir?”
“The damn Japs are probably going to take the news out of Europe as a blank check to start ‘liberating’ some colonies around here, and we need to make sure they don’t think the Philippines are also on the foreclosure list.”
“I was told before I left Pearl that there’s talk of still making the Philippines independent at the end of the year,” Jacob replied. “With Great Britain’s surrender, is that still going to happen?”
“Apparently that idiot MacArthur thinks that the Philippines can defend themselves with Navy help,” Wallace snorted. “So, yes, it will probably happen, but that won’t change any of our war plans.”
“So Admiral Hart still intends to retreat to the Dutch East Indies if the Japanese attack? That was the last plan I was privy to when I was on CINCPAC staff.”
“Yes, we’re not staying here to absorb shells for the Army,” Wallace replied.
“Instead we’re going to die defending some occupied countries’ colonies,” Jacob replied, his voice more bitter than he intended. Wallace fixed him with a hard look.
“I will forgive that outburst XO since we are alone. But I would caution you that I will have considerably less patience if you display one iota of that opinion in front of any of our junior officers. Do I make myself absolutely clear, commander?”
Jacob reined in his temper, surprised that he had grown so annoyed.
“Very clear, sir,” Jacob said calmly. “I apologize.”
“It happens that I agree with you,” Wallace said with a wave of his hand. “However, neither of us are in charge and the hour grows late. I notice you don’t wear a wedding ring, but your personnel jacket indicated that you were married.”
“My wife passed away six years ago,” Jacob replied evenly. “She had a massive coronary when I was in Norfolk.”
Wallace’s face clouded for a moment.
“My apologies,” Wallace said. “It’d be nice if the damn personnel folks had let me know that before I made an ass of myself.”
“For some reason BuPers is incapable of passing that information to any of my duty stations,” Jacob replied, his voice with a hard edge. “I go through this every time I have a new assignment. Thankfully to date they have never messed up Jo’s file.”
“Jo? You have a son?” Captain Wallace asked.
“No, short for Josephine,” Jacob said with a broad smile. “My wife started calling her Jo because she swears it was quite obvious to everyone that I had wanted a boy.”
“I have three sons myself,” Wallace said. “Trust me, in some ways daughters are easier. At least you don’t have to worry about them being in harm’s way.”
“I wish that were absolutely true, sir,” Jacob returned, his smile disappearing like morning fog.
Honolulu, Hawaii
0530 Local (1030 Eastern)
12 September
I am crazy. As in, “Welcome to the nuthouse, Josephine, we are so glad to see you” insane, Josephine Marie Morton thought for the fifth time that morning. Fighting back a yawn as she stood on the quay looking out into Honolulu’s harbor, she turned to look at her three companions. Two of them loomed far above her own height even in the low heels she wore with her plain brown dress. The other was only a half foot taller than her with the athletic build of a long-distance runner. Giving a sideways glance at the trio, a thought came to her mind that nearly made her giggle.
“You’re in somewhat good spirits,” the smaller man said quietly. Turning to face him while simultaneously brushing back her shoulder-length brunette hair, Jo finally couldn’t hold the light laugh in anymore.
“I’m sorry, Nick, but every time I see you three together I cannot help but wonder how your mother went from big, bigger, biggest to runt,” Jo replied.
Nick Elrod Cobb, Lieutenant (j.g.), United States Navy, gave Jo a half smile.
You know, you could really be a lady killer if you tried, Jo thought wistfully. However, you’ve made it very clear that you don’t want to try with me—but a gal can dream.
Nick, unlike his three brothers, had dark hair to go with his blue eyes. While none of the Cobbs were hard to look at, the youngest of the four sons had definitely gotten more than his fair share of handsome. Moreover, unlike the two blonde-haired grizzlies behind him, Nick wasn’t so big that a woman felt she had to worry about being broken in half.
“I think our father figured he could get just as much manual labor for half the groceries,” Nick replied, looking sideways at his two brothers.
“That’s a theory…” Samuel Michael Cobb, Captain, United States Marine Corps began.
“…but probably not very valid,” David Aaron Cobb, Captain, USMC and Sam’s twin, finished.
Nick made a sound of frustration.
“You know, four years away from you two lugs and I’d fo
rgotten just how fu…darn annoying that habit is!”
“You know, Nick, you really can swear around me,” Jo said with a chuckle. “I promise, my father has said many, many worse things around the house, to include references to the act of copulation.”
“It’s not your opinion he’s worried about,” Sam observed, giving his younger brother a glower.
“No, it would be the fact that we wouldn’t want him to ever give the impression that our mother didn’t raise us to act like gentlemen around a lady.”
Jo shook her head.
“Has anyone ever told you Southerners that the age of chivalry has long since passed?”
“Just because you Yankee women don’t know how to demand proper behavior from your men doesn’t mean that we have to stop giving it,” David replied, looking out towards the harbor. “I do believe that is Patricia’s vessel.”
“Only half a day late,” Nick observed. “Damn merchant..ow!”
Jo was amazed at how quickly Nick turned around, starting to raise his hands to punch one of his brothers then stopping to think better of it.
“Why do I get the feeling I’m witnessing a family story that has played out many, many times over the past twenty-four years?” Jo asked bemusedly.
“Because you’re an astute observer of human behavior,” Sam said lowly, not taking his eyes off Nick.
“In addition to being highly intelligent,” David continued, also watching Nick like a hawk. “Oh, and very pretty.”
Jo felt herself starting to blush and was glad for the olive tint of her skin.
Sorry boys, I own a mirror, she thought. While she didn’t consider herself fat by any means, Jo knew she could stand to lose a few pounds. Thankfully it seems to go to the right places, though. Voluptuous was a fair word to describe her even if pretty wasn’t.
“Yes, these two think it’s funny to both pick on someone,” Nick said lowly, his voice making it very clear that there’d be a fight if either brother touched him again.
“Mama raised you better than to curse in front of a lady,” Sam replied simply.
The incoming vessel sounded its whistle, interrupting the brothers’ discussion. A small liner, the S.S. Hampton Roads made a regular trip between Hawaii and the mainland. Usually it returned with mostly military dependents and those seeking to make their fortune working at Pearl Harbor or one of the various Army posts scattered around the islands. Ten minutes after sounding her whistle, the ship’s crew was tossing ropes to the men gathered on the dock. Shortly after that, Jo got to see yet another member of the Cobb family.
“Will you look at the hams on that one,” a man said a little too loudly to his companion as they walked by. Jo, focusing on the ship, whipped her head around to see that both men were likewise looking at the gangplank as a tall, beautiful brunette began to descend. The woman was wearing a yellow dress and a matching hat, with curly locks trailing all the way down past her shoulders.
I wonder if that’s…
“Well that’s a sight for sore eyes,” the second man replied, “Looks like we’re about to get some fresh round eye…”
The man never got to finish his sentence. One second Sam, David, and Nick were standing on opposite sides of her. The next, Nick had seemingly teleported the ten feet to the ogling duo’s location. Looking at the two men, Jo could tell that they were soldiers. She couldn’t have identified what clued her in about their manner or their walk, but upon a closer look it was blindingly obvious.
“Excuse me, mister,” Nick said lightly, “but you wouldn’t happen to be about to make a comment about that women in the yellow dress, would you?”
The two men looked at Nick, then looked at each other.
“She your wife or something, pal?” one of them asked belligerently. “Looks a little young to be married.”
“As a matter of fact, no,” Nick replied. “She’s my sister.”
The two men looked at one another, then looked at Nick.
“Okay, so even if my buddy and I here were about to say something, we were having a private conversation. We doubt your sister minds.”
Not only soldiers, but stupid ones, Jo thought.
“Yes, but I mind, and I know exactly what someone means when they start talking about roundeye,” Nick continued. “I would appreciate it if you talked quieter or maybe keep your comments to yourself.”
The first man looked somewhat sheepish, but his companion apparently had been having a bad day.
“Well we’d appreciate it if you minded your own business,” the man sneered. “You’d probably like it a lot more too.”
Just like that, I’m standing by myself, Jo thought to herself, as Sam and David both ambled over behind their younger brother.
“You know, we’re not quite as sensitive about what we may overhear,” Sam said.
“After all, with the wind blowing in our direction, you may not have realized that your comments about our sister were audible to us,” David continued.
“But Nick here asked you kindly enough to maybe take your comments elsewhere, and you have refused,” Sam resumed, his voice dropping lower.
“So maybe it would help if we told you a bit more forcefully to go somewhere else,” David finished. Jo felt the hair on the back of her neck rise at David’s tone.
Never thought I’d see someone beat to death, she thought nervously. Fortunately the quieter of the two soldiers realized that his friend’s mouth was about to put both of them in the hospital if they were lucky, morgue if not.
“Let’s go, Matt,” the man said. “I don’t think that dame’s going to give you the time of day if you’re in traction.”
“Matt” gave all three Cobbs a cold, hard look as he allowed his friend to tug him away. If he was trying for intimidation, he could have saved his breath and energy.
I think he’d have more luck scaring one of the volcanoes around here, Jo thought, fighting the urge to shiver from the adrenaline rushing through her. She was about to say something when she heard a very exasperated, feminine sigh behind her. Turning, Jo saw that the woman in yellow had made a beeline towards the three glowering men, her brow furrowed and mouth in a thin line. Looking at the other woman’s features close up, Jo felt a sudden, insane pang of jealousy.
No wonder her brothers are protective of her, Jo thought bitterly. Probably had plenty of practice.
“Well, glad to see some things never change,” the woman snapped, the ice in her voice freezing the honey of her drawl. “Let me guess? Did someone make an untoward comment about my attire and you three felt the need to defend my honor?”
Jo was in shock at the transformation of all three Cobbs. One moment the trio had been clearly ready to perform carefully choreographed mayhem. The next, Sam, David, and Nick wore almost identically sheepish looks.
Holy shit, I need to take lessons from her, Jo thought.
“I am once again reminded of why I will probably die a spinster,” the woman continued, her delivery rapid and tone sharp.
“We figured fleeing Alabama like a wanted fugitive two weeks before your wedding to Beau might have had a bit more to do with that,” Nick responded, his face hard. Both of his brothers stepped away from him, the move so quick that it was obviously unconscious. Jo didn’t blame them, as if looks could kill Nick would have simply ceased to exist.
Her eyes turned into green death rays, Jo thought, remembering a line from some dime store novel she had read as a teenager.
“The only state I am a ‘fugitive’ from is matrimony, Nick,” the woman observed. “Don’t you stand here and judge me when it is obvious that you do not find it very palatable yourself—or is the issue more that I jilted your guys’ childhood friend?”
Nick sighed exasperatedly at his sister.
“Yes, of course, because I have had so many opportunities to meet women in my line of work. Why, just the other day the Nautilus stopped off at this tropical refuge where there were all these doe-eyed maidens…”
“So I suppose
we’ll just forget all the wonderful young women that mother tried to set you up with? At least Eric was smart enough to finally ask Joyce to marry him.”
“Well judging from the current situation, a ‘yes’ sure doesn’t seem to mean…”
Jo stepped between Nick and his sister, the movement causing him to stop mid-sentence. She stuck out her hand, catching the rapidly reddening Patricia by surprise.
“Hello Patricia, my name is Josephine Morton, and I’m a friend of your brothers,” Jo said calmly. “As I know Nick here likes to run his trap to excess sometimes, I thought I’d see if you were interested in seeing your room sometime before nightfall.”
“My room?” Patricia asked, so shocked that her anger was forgotten. “I’m sorry, there must be some…”
“Mistake? No, not really,” Jo continued. “I’ve known Sam, David, and Nick since they got on the island. Rather than have you live by yourself, or move in with David only to have to move out when he gets hitched to Sadie, your brothers thought it’d be nice if you had a more experienced roommate to show you around.”
Patricia released Jo’s hand, her expression going from angry to suspicious.
“They did, did they?” she asked, arching an eyebrow. “And what do you get out of this, Miss Morton?”
You mean, other than the chance to see your brothers more often? Jo thought, successfully keeping a smile off of her face.
“I’m living in a four bedroom house by myself,” Jo replied. “My father just got sent to join the Asiatic Fleet, and it’d be nice to have someone to help with household chores.”
“I have very little independent means,” Patricia said. “I was hoping to find a job at the shipyard or someplace else suitable to my skills.”
“What skills do you have for the shipyard?” Jo asked, befuddled.
“I worked for an architect for the past four years working on blueprints,” Patricia replied. “I understand drafting ships’ plans is similar work.”
Jo shrugged.
“Got me, but I do know the library is looking for more staff. Seems that one of the girls up and ran off with a Dauntless pilot.”
