ROCKS AND SHOALS

by M. L. Maki

  Leahy leans back in his chair and contemplates his coffee, “The President is getting push back from Churchill, too. The Brits are rightly pissed that we are not honoring her. Churchill even suggested they take her off our hands.”

  King sighs, “God, they would. But how can we fix this mess?”

  Leahy, “We need fifty-eight votes in the Senate. My staff is working on it. By the way, have you met her?”

  “Briefly, at Lee’s wedding. She’s quite calm about the whole thing. But she did say something that stung. She told me that she didn’t expect any better from her leadership. And, damn it, right now, she’s right. Will, we need to fix this before it creates a cancer of mistrust in the ranks.”

  Leahy, “Ernest, thank you for coming to me. I will work the hill. We need to get movement on this, and we will.”

  WILLIAMTON, MICHIGAN

  1230, 26 October, 1942

  Swede and Gloria pull up to a small white house with a one car detached garage. Sitting in the driveway is a 1935 Chevy two-door sedan. “Is this where you remember them living?”

  “No. Sometime during, or after the war, they moved to just outside Detroit. When jobs dried up there, they moved back and got a place north of Lancing. Grandpa worked at GM his whole working life. He started on an assembly line and ended up an engineer.”

  “Wow.” They get out just as a woman comes out the front door. “Stephan? It is! Stephan, welcome home.” She comes down the porch steps and wraps him up in a hug. “Hon, it’s Stephan.”

  “I can see that. Come here, grandson. Come here.” He hugs Stephan, then let’s go and pushes him away, “Let me look at you.”

  Swede grins, then pulls Gloria forward, “Grandmother Silvia. Grandfather August. This is my fiancée, Gloria Houlihan. Gloria, Grandma Silvia and Grandpa August Swedenborg.”

  Silvia takes Gloria’s hand, “Such a pleasure to meet you. Please come in.”

  August just pulls them all into a group hug, “That’s better. Come on. Silvia has lunch on. I have to go to work soon. I’m so glad you made it.”

  JACKSON FARM OUTSIDE CHILTON, TEXAS

  1150, 26 October, 1942

  Frank walks out of the barn, wiping his greasy hands with a rag. He’s wearing jeans and a heavy flannel shirt. He sees the bus stop at the crossroads and a woman get off. A gust of wind catches her hair and before Frank can command his feet, he’s running. His grandfather walks out of the barn and watches as Frank runs up to a woman in uniform.

  Smiling his delight, Frank stops in front of Abigail, “Um. Hi.”

  “I told you I was coming.”

  “Yes, you did.” He pulls her into his arms and kisses her. After a long time, he lifts his head, looking down into her eyes, “I love you.”

  Abigail pulls his head down for another kiss. When they come up for air, she says, “I love you, too. Oh, Frank. I love you.”

  “Good. Will you marry me?”

  “I didn’t come all this way to say no. I will marry you, love. I will walk with you. I will fly with you. I’m yours for eternity.”

  Frank’s grandfather watches as Frank picks up her bag, and putting an arm around her, walks her back up the drive. When they get to him, he says, “You been chasing Frank here? Ain’t seemly at all.”

  Frank, “Grandpa, when I get your Frankenstein Model T fixed, we’ll be on our way. Abigail, this is my great grandpa, Bill Jackson. Grandpa, Miss Abigail Chase, my fiancé.”

  “Well, I won’t stand for no cavorting in my home. Won’t have it.”

  Frank, “Yes, sir.” Frank takes her into the house to meet his grandmother. “Grandmother Janice, this is my fiancé, Abigail Chase. Love, my great grandma Janice.”

  Janice smiles and takes Abigail’s hand, “A pleasure to meet you. Frank, you got grease on her clothes.”

  Abigail, “It’s fine. It’s a pleasure to meet you, as well.”

  Janice, “Are you English?”

  “No, ma’am. I’m from Australia. It’s where we met.”

  Janice smiles, “I have coffee on. We’ll have lunch in a bit. Frank, why don’t you get that beast of a car running so you two can be off.”

  Frank kisses Abigail, “Yes, Grandma.” He goes back to the barn to work on the Frankentruck, a 1919 Model T touring car with the body behind the front seats chopped off and replaced by a rough flat bed.

  In the barn, Bill says, “You know her coming here like that is unseemly.”

  “Grandpa, I can see why you would think so. You know, my boss, Commander Hunt would skewer you for your sexist attitude. I understand you and where you came from, but know this. Right now. Not tomorrow. Not six years from now. Right now, you are a dinosaur. You can either accept the world has changed and adapt, or you can stand your ground and be left behind. Whatever you decide, you’ll have no effect on the march of progress. The only thing you can control is your own happiness.”

  Abigail comes in, coffee cup in hand, “What’s wrong with it?”

  Frank, “It won’t fire.”

  “It’s wired backward. The plug wires are front to back, left to right.”

  Bill, “Are you sure?”

  “We had a fuel truck at my field that used the same engine.”

  Frank rewires the engine and says, “Everyone clear.” He cranks the engine and it sputters, then turns over. “Yes!”

  Bill, “Well, I’ll be.”

  Frank washes his hands in a bucket. “Can you take us into town now. I think I need a car.”

  Bill, “Do you want this one?”

  “No, Grandpa.” Frank goes back to the house and grabs his bags and Abigail’s. “Grandma Janice, I love you.” He hugs her tight. Then walks out with the bags and puts them in the truck, “Honey, you’ve got the front. I’ll ride in the back.”

  Bill, “I need to get some feed anyway.” He drives them all the way to Temple and drops them off at the Dodge dealership.

  “Thanks, Grandpa. We’ll see you later.” They carry their bags to the dealership office.

  A salesman spots them and comes over, “How may I help you, sir?”

  Frank, “I saw a used car when we were walking in. It’s the 1940 Hudson convertible. The red one.”

  “Can I interest you in one of our new cars. They’re quite nice.”

  “Why don’t you want to sell me the Hudson? What’s wrong with it? “

  “Uh, nothing. It’s just… wouldn’t you prefer a new car?”

  “I like the color. It’s a stick. It’s what I want. Please get the keys. We want to do a test drive.”

  “Yes, sir.” The salesman gets the keys.

  An hour later, Frank is back in his aviation greens and they’re heading north in their new car.

  Abigail grins at Frank, “It was nice for them to give us those ration stamps.”

  “Yeah, it was.”

  “Frank, are you okay with me joining the navy?”

  He glances over to her, “Love, I promise to never clip your wings. I won’t lie, the thought of you in combat terrifies me. But, it’s the same for you when I fly. I don’t want you to have regrets. If it’s what you want to do, do it.”

  “It is, but I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “There are no promises in warfare or aviation. That’s how it is. When we fly high performance jets, things can go wrong. They just can. That, and the enemy could get real lucky. Just because it’s dangerous, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.”

  “I love you.”

  He sees some trees and pulls over. Frank pulls her to him and kisses her. She lifts her head, “I’ve dreamed of you.” She wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him again. Then, she puts his hand on her breast.

  Frank pulls back, “Confession, love. I’m a…a virgin.”

  She grins, “Not for long, love. Not for long.”

  She pulls something out of her bag and gets out of the car. “These trees should be just right, and I have this.” She holds up a condom, grabs his hand, and pulls him deep into the shadows.

>   ATHENS, TENNESSEE

  1510, 26 October, 1942

  Sam walks around a baler. She clearly remembers Leigh’s old baler. This is similar, but the same type. “Another change to history. So, how does this one knot the twine?”

  The owner of the dealership says, “It uses these needles and wire, not twine. The top plunger stops and the needles insert through the hay. On the other side the wire is twisted and cut.”

  Leigh, “How many spools of wire do you have and how hard is it to get right now?”

  “We got six. That should get you by for a few seasons. I should be able to order more from New Holland. The problem is they’ve switched to war production, but I’m told they have some in stock. Mr. Hunt, what kind of tractor do you have? This machine is heavy.”

  Leigh, “A John Deere D.”

  “Yep, that’ll do it.”

  Sam, “I know you’ve been sitting on it because people lack cash. How much?”

  “Eighteen hundred.”

  Sam, “That’s its list price. What are you willing to part with it for?”

  “Now, little lady, don’t worry your head over the money. Your husband and I will sort it out.”

  Sam, “Little lady? Do people still talk like that? Sir, my name is Samantha Hunt and Leigh Hunt is my grandfather.”

  “Oh my. You’re the Hunt in the news reels. Ma’am, may I shake your hand?”

  “Yes.”

  “So, now that I know you’re famous and all, I reckon you can handle full price.”

  She smiles and shakes her head, “The Navy doesn’t pay that well, and we’re the only folks around here with cash money. So, fifteen hundred and throw in that ’37 GMC stake-bed for hauling it home.”

  “My God, Lady. That truck is worth eight hundred on its own.”

  “Only if you can find someone willing to pay it.”

  “You’d buy a truck for one trip?”

  Sam, “No, sir. We have need of it, but it’s used. Fifteen hundred for both.”

  “You’re paining me, Commodore. Twenty-two for both.”

  Sam turns to Leigh, who’s watching this with a huge smile. “Maybe your right. We ought to wait until after the war.” She turns back to the owner, “Thank you very much for your time, sir.”

  “Now, now. Nineteen for both.” Her face stoic, Sam walks to Leigh. “Okay, eighteen.”

  Sam, “Eighteen with all six rolls of wire and a full tank of gas for the truck.”

  The owner looks at her, then nods. “I see why you beat those Krauts. You’re smart as a whip.” He offers his hand, “Agreed.”

  Thirty minutes later, Leigh and Sam get into the loaded truck. “So, Sam, why do we need a big truck?”

  “Grandpa, we’ll be buying cattle. With this, we don’t have to pay someone else to haul them. Next we need supplies to build a cattle chute.”

  “You’re right. You getting hungry?”

  “Yes. Lunch first?”

  “Yes, granddaughter. You’re a true Hunt.”

  CCC RANCH, OUTSIDE OF DECATUR, TEXAS

  1510, 26 October, 1942

  Frank shuts the gate behind them and climbs back into the Hudson. “The ranch is big. I guess it’s small by Texas standards, but big.” Two mares trot up and look them over, then gallop alongside them to the ranch houses. A tractor in the field turns toward the houses. A red and black REO stake-bed truck is parked alongside the barn. A black Ford phaeton is pulled up to the larger house. Thud parks beside the Ford.

  A young woman carrying a baby steps out of the smaller house. “Hello?”

  Frank, “Hi. Are you my great aunt Lisa, or great aunt Rebecca?”

  She steps off the porch, “Frank? Frank Jackson?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Mom will want you in the main house.” She walks up and smiles, “Come with me.” She leads them into the larger house. “I’m Lisa. Becca is in Hawaii.” She smiles down at the baby, “This is Bobby.”

  “Great aunt Lisa, this is my fiancé, Abigail Case.”

  “Pleased to meet you.”

  The tractor rolls up and an older version of Lisa steps off, “Lisa, is this my great grandson?”

  “It is, Mama.”

  Debra Clay wraps Frank up in a hug, “I’m so glad you came home.” She pushes him out to arm length, “Let’s have a look at you. My God, you’re skin and bones. Lisa, stoke up the stove. We got to feed this one up.”

  “Yes, Mama.”

  Debra turns to Abigail, “I’m Debra Clay, his great grandma. Welcome to my home, Abigail.” She pulls them both into a hug and closes her eyes, “God, thank you for bringing our prodigal son home. Thank you for sending angels to protect him while he does your work bringing freedom to the world. Amen. Now, let’s get you two inside. Where’s your bags?”

  The room they walk into was the original log cabin with an open beam ceiling. The kitchen is off to the back and the cook stove is warming the house. Thud looks around, smiling and joyful. “It didn’t change much.” He watches Lisa in the kitchen pouring coffee. “Frank, Abigail, how do you like it?”

  Frank, “The straight swill.”

  Abigail, “With cream and sugar, if it isn’t too much trouble.”

  Lisa brings out a tray with four cups, “No trouble. Mom, I’m hotting up last night’s stew.”

  “Thank you, Lisa. Now, Frank, I have a million questions and don’t know where to start.”

  Frank grins, “It’s the time travel.” He puts an arm around Abigail, “We met in Australia. She was married to an Australian Air Force officer. He knocked up his secretary and they divorced. We’re both pilots.”

  Debra smiles, “I’m happy for you both. Frank, have you been here before?”

  “Oh, yeah. As I remember it, there were a couple more houses. And the barn was different. The new one was bigger and had a work shop. This house, I think, had another addition out the back.” He grins, “Grandma, there was even a grass airfield out front.” He looks over at Lisa, “Aunt Lisa, when I was little, you still lived in your house. Aunt Sharon lived in town. Uncle Richard lived in this house. Grandma and Grandpa lived in their own house on the other side of Aunt Lisa’s. Little Bobby lived in Austin and Washington, DC. He worked for a congressman.”

  Debra, “What about James and Rebecca?”

  Frank, “Ma’am, it’s a new time line. Things have changed. In my memory, Great Uncle James died in captivity in the PI. Aunt Rebecca’s ship was torpedoed near the Solomon Islands.”

  Debra, “The Philippines? He isn’t there now. He’s in Australia at a place called Brisbane. Rebecca is in Hawaii.”

  Frank, “Oh thank God. I know my ship, the Carl Vinson, covered the retreat from the Philippines. I just wasn’t sure James made it out. In my time line, the Americans surrendered and were treated horribly. We were told that James survived the death march, but died in the camp.”

  Debra smiles, “Then there’s a chance for Rebecca as well?”

  Frank, “Yes, ma’am. I think so.”

  Lisa gets up and goes into the kitchen. In a few minutes, she brings in bowls of hot venison stew and a plate with bread and butter. A six-foot two teenage boy walks into the house, “Mom, where did the cool convertible come from?”

  Lisa serves the food and grins at Frank. Debra, “Peter, it belongs to your grandson, Commander Frank Jackson.”

  “Oh wow. Super. Hi, um…Commander Jackson.”

  Frank stands and puts out his hand, “Hi, Grandpa. Frank is fine. If you like, you can call me Thud. It’s my call sign.”

  “Okay.” He turns to Debra, “Mom, can Wendy come over? We want to go riding.”

  “Sure, if she helps with the chores first. Also, please put Frank’s bags in James room and Abigail’s in the spare room.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Nice meeting you, Frank.” He turns to Abigail. “I’m sorry. I’m Peter.”

  Frank watches Peter pick up their bags and take them upstairs. He tastes the stew. “This is good, Grandma.”
>
  “Thank you, Frank.”

  Frank turns to Abigail, “I’m sorry I didn’t introduce you to Grandpa Pete.”

  “It’s fine. I’m going to need a primer on all the family.”

  Debra, “I understand. We Clay’s have taken the bible rather literally.”

  Frank snorts, then turns red, “Yeah. We are fruitful and we multiply.”

  Lisa, “Why do they call you ‘Thud.’”

  “It’s my call sign. You never get to choose our own. I ended up with ‘Thud’ because I suck at telling jokes. Every time, they fall flat, or thud.”

  Debra smiles, “I hate to ask, but when do you have to leave?

  “In about two weeks. My friends, Swede and Gloria are getting married in Lancing, Michigan. I have to be there for them.”

  “When are you two getting married?”

  “I don’t know. She’s planning to join the navy. I don’t want our marrying to mess it up.”

  Abigail grimaces, “Woman officers are not required to be single.”

  Frank smiles, “Yeah, but Sam told me ages ago that being married hurts your chances of promotion.”

  “I don’t care if I stay an ensign. I just want to fly.”

  Frank looks to his great grandmother, “Is it okay if we get married here after Swede and Gloria?”

  “Of course, Frank. That would be lovely.” She turns to Abigail, “What about your folks?”

  Abigail, “They know I’m going to marry Frank. It’s okay.”

  Debra, “What about your father’s family?”

  Frank snorts, “I think I burned that bridge. My grandpa is in the Army right now, and my great grandpa is an ass. If I could, I’d like my great grandmother, Janice, to come.”

  They finish eating and Lisa whisks away the dishes and freshens everyone’s coffee.

  Frank, “I’ll write Sam, Jose, Swede, and Gloria. I don’t know if they can make it, but I’ll try.”

  Lisa, “Do you want someone to stand up with you, Abigail?”

  “I don’t know. Gloria or Sam, I guess, if they can come. Travel is so difficult right now.”

  Frank, “Our travel orders pretty much give us carte blanche to travel where we want as long as we pay for it. It’s the benefit of these oak leaves.” He points to the devices on his collar.