by Robert Boren
“Maybe you can see me on the way back.”
“Yes, maybe we can, sweetie,” Jane said. “Here, I’ll hand the phone to your dad for a second.”
“Alright, mom. I love you.”
“Love you too, honey.” Jane handed the phone to Frank.
“Here, say hello to Sarah. She didn’t get past Boise….sounds like she’s going back to Portland soon.” Frank put the phone up to his ear.
“Hi, sweet pea,” Frank said.
“Hi, daddy.”
“So, you are in Boise?”
“Yeah, my roommate has a cousin that lives here who has put us up for a few days.”
“Boy or girl.”
Sarah sighed.
“He’s a boy, daddy,” she said. She giggled.
“I see,” Frank said, trying to sound stern. “I think you’d better get back to Portland.”
“Oh, daddy,” she said. She giggled again.
“I’m just kidding, sweetie. I’m glad you didn’t have to drive all the way to where we are. We were pretty worried about you making that trip.”
“I know, but it was scary in Portland before we left. Looting and crazy stuff. It was good to be away for a little while. I’m not all that anxious to get back.”
“Well, take your time then,” Frank said. “Or even settle in Boise if you want to. What’s holding you in Portland?”
“Nothing, really, come to think of it,” Sarah said. “I have a job there, but it isn’t a very good one. I could probably find as good a job here.”
“Well, then think about it,” Frank said. “We’ve got to go.”
“OK, daddy, take care of mom,” Sarah said. “I love you.”
“Love you too, sweet pea,” Frank said. “Bye bye.”
Frank handed the phone back to Jane.
“She’s interested in her roommate’s cousin, I think,” Frank said.
“I like that you suggested she stay in Boise,” Jane said. “I think that’s a better place for her.”
“Me too,” Frank said. “Ready to go?”
“Yes, let’s go...and don’t worry about drinking too many Martinis. I’ll drive home.”
Frank laughed. They went out the door, pushing Lucy back inside when she tried to follow them. Frank closed the door and locked it.
“I wonder what the cousin is like?” Jane asked.
“If he has a job and doesn’t beat her, I’d be happy at this point,” Frank said. “Some of her other boyfriends have been interesting, to say the least.”
“Oh, stop it,” Jane said, smirking. “She’s a free spirit. I was one of those once.”
“Last I checked you still were,” Frank said. He put his arm around her shoulder as they approached the clubhouse.
Jane leaned her head against his shoulder as they walked through the door.
“Well, look at the love birds,” Hilda said as they walked up. “I miss having a husband.”
“Well, there’s always Charlie,” Jane said, wishing she wouldn’t have when it came out of her mouth. Her face turned red.
“Oh, stop,” Hilda said, putting her hand on Jane’s shoulder. She got close so she could whisper. “Don’t let on. I’ve almost got him hooked.”
Jane got a big grin on her face.
“Mum’s the word.”
“Ah, Happy Hour,” said a loud voice from over by the door. It was Rosie, beaming again. “Belly up, everybody!”
Jerry had a sheepish look on his face as he walked her in. Jasmine looked downright embarrassed.
Frank was already at the bar. Chester was bartending. They both turned and watched Rosie coming over.
“What'll you have, Frank?” Chester asked.
“Why don’t you take care of Rosie first,” he replied, grinning.
“Yes sir,” Chester said.
“Wow, we have very handsome bartender,” Rosie said.
“What will you have, beautiful?” Chester asked.
“Oh, and good liar too,” Rosie said, grinning. “I’ll take Weng Weng. You know how to make, young man?”
“Of course,” Chester said.
“What’s a Weng Weng?” asked Frank
“It’s one powerful drink, from the Philippines,” he said.
“Oh, yeah, baby,” said Rosie. “Surprised you know what is. You can get in big cities, but out here, bartender don’t know.”
“What’s in it?” Frank asked, chuckling.
“Almost everything back there,” said Chester, waving his arm at the table behind him that was covered with booze bottles. “As I remember, it’s ¾ ounce of Bourbon, Vodka, Tequila, Scotch, Brandy, and Rum, with a little OJ and Pineapple Juice, and a little Grenadine.”
“Wow,” Frank said. “Make that two. That'll get me in the party mood in a hurry.”
“You will like,” Rosie said, smiling. “You Frank, right?”
“Yes, I’m Frank,” he replied.
“You have lovely wife Jane?”
“Good memory,” he said. “Yes, Jane is mine.”
“How about bartender? Married?” she asked.
Chester looked up from the drinks and grinned.
“Confirmed bachelor, Rosie,” Chester said. “Women don’t tolerate me for very long.”
They all laughed. Jerry walked up with Jasmine.
“Is she behaving?” asked Jerry.
“What you mean, behave,” said Rosie. Then she cracked up.
“Rosie is a gem,” Frank said. “Life of the party.”
“Well, she is that, isn’t she,” Jerry said. He grinned.
Chester pushed the drinks across the bar, to Rosie and Frank. Rosie took a sip.
“You do very good,” she said. “As good as Manila.”
“Great, I aim to please,” Chester said.
Frank took a sip, and shook his head.
“Wow,” he said. “These things have some horsepower.”
“Don’t tell me, let me guess,” Jerry said. “Weng Weng.”
“Yep,” Chester said. “Want one?”
He thought for a minute.
“Sure, why not. Guess we aren’t driving anywhere.”
“Coming right up, Jerry,” Chester said. He got to work on another one.
“So Chester, where did you learn to tend bar?” asked Frank. “Didn’t expect that.”
“Here and there,” he said. “Mostly in Nevada. Vegas, Reno, and Tahoe. Paid good, too, but they don’t want you when you get too old. I had to hang it up when I couldn’t move quick enough anymore.”
“Were you in Vegas during the Rat Pack days?” asked Jerry, taking the first sip of his Weng Weng.
“Sure was,” Chester said. “I knew most of those guys. Sinatra would talk your ear off. Joey Bishop was the funniest. Dino was the nicest. I really liked Dino. I got a Christmas card from him for years. So sad what happened to his boy.”
“So what brought you to Williams?” Frank asked.
“I came home when I couldn’t work anymore. My folks still had a little ranch there. I moved in with my brother.”
“What happened to him?” Rosie asked.
“He passed on a few years back.”
“Sorry to hear,” she said.
“Oh, he lived a good long life,” Chester said. “He was eight years older than me. Went in his sleep. I hope I go that way.”
Jane and Hilda came walking up.
“Looks like you guys have the party going already,” Hilda said, smiling.
“What will you have, girls?” Chester asked.
“Cosmo here,” Hilda said. “How about you, Jane?”
“Martini, dry, with olives,” she said.
“There’s my girl,” Chester said. He got to work on the drinks.
“What the devil is that you’re drinking, Frank?” asked Jane, moving closer to him.
“This is a Weng Weng,” Frank said, laughing. “Powerful stuff. Here, have a sip.” He handed her the class and she took a careful sip. Then she shook her head.
“Wow…..th
at reminds me of the Hurricanes we had in New Orleans.”
“Yep, pretty much,” Frank said. “It’s a drink from the Philippines.”
“Ah ha, so Rosie is the bad influence here, huh,” Jane said, laughing. Rosie looked at her and winked.
“Where’s Charlie?” asked Frank.
“He finally managed to get some of his friends on the phone,” Hilda said. “He’s talking to as many as he can get ahold of. He’ll be along in a little while.”
“Well, that’s good,” Frank said. “Should help us to gauge our safety here.”
“Hopefully. That poor man is really worried about his RV Park,” Hilda said. “It’s been in his family for years. I don’t want to see him leave, though.”
“The place will probably keep pretty well,” Frank said. “As I remember most of the buildings were made out of cinder block. Even if they get burned, it won’t be a total loss.”
“Yeah, he’d survive better than my place would,” Hilda said. “Mine is mostly wood frame. My parents weren’t very well off when they built this place.”
“How old is this one?” asked Jerry.
“It was built in 1962. Not nearly as old as Charlie’s place. His was built in the 1920s.”
Chester slid the Cosmo and the Martini over to Hilda and Jane.
“Jasmine, would you like a drink?” Chester asked. “A Weng Weng, perhaps?”
Jasmine got a shy smile on her face.
“Those are too much for me. How about some white wine?” she asked.
“Coming right up,” Chester said. He poured her a glass and gave it to her. She took a sip, then smiled and nodded.
“Thank you,” Jasmine said. Then she looked over at Rosie. “How are you doing, mom?”
“I’m enjoying self,” Rosie said. She was about halfway through her drink.
Jeb came strolling through the door. He was wearing dirty clothes. He walked up to the bar.
“Sorry, folks, I’ll change later,” he said. “Got any beer, Chester? I’m powerful thirsty.”
“Care what kind?” Chester asked.
“Any American beer you have. Bud or Coors or Miller.”
Chester pulled a Bud out of a tub of ice on the floor and handed it to him. Jeb popped off the top and drank about half of it in one gulp.
“Wow, you are thirsty,” Hilda said, laughing. “What've you been up too?”
“You have someplace to store venison?” Jeb asked. “I just got a deer with my bow. It’s been bled and cleaned, but I’ve still got some work to do.”
“Of course, we can put some in the deep freeze and some in the walk-in fridge, assuming you are going to share.”
“Of course,” Jeb said. “I got it for the group - and by the way, very swanky blind back there. The booze and magazines are a nice touch.”
Frank and Chester started laughing. Hilda just shook her head and smirked.
“Did you shoot the deer from the blind?” asked Jerry.
“No, too high up for bow hunting. It would be perfect for a rifle up there, but I would rather save the lead for protection if possible. Plus I didn’t want to scare the devil out of all of you good people by firing my gun off.”
“Well, that was very thoughtful, Jeb,” Hilda said.
“So you had to stalk the deer on the ground,” said Jerry. “Is that hard to learn?”
“Not really,” Jeb said. “I’d be happy to teach anybody who is interested.”
“That would be great,” Jerry said. “I have a crossbow. I know they're kinda cheating.”
“No they aren’t, unless we are worried about when hunting season starts and finishes. Crossbows are a good way to learn.”
“You know how cook deer?” asked Rosie. She was starting to slur just a little bit. "I do."
“Why, yes, I do,” Hilda said. “We used to have it all the time, and I used to serve it up to customers back when I had Jer to hunt it. It’s as good as beef if you know how to cook it right. Maybe even better than beef.”
“We won’t starve here, that’s for sure,” Jeb said. “There’s a lot of game out there. I saw some evidence of cougar when I was tromping around. You don’t have those predators without some good game to support them.”
“Yep, that’s why Jer built those blinds,” Hilda said.
“Well, I’d better get back to it,” Jeb said. “I’ve got another hour of work to butcher the deer and clean up.”
“Here, take one for the road,” Chester said, handing Jeb another Bud. “I’ll bring another one out to you in a little while.”
“Thanks, that would be great,” Jeb said. He walked out.
“Now there is a valuable guy to have around during times like these,” Frank said.
“Yep, you can say that again,” Jerry said.
“What do you do, Jerry?” asked Frank. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
“I’m a software engineer,” he said. “I was working at that big missile plant down in Tucson before the crap hit the fan.”
“Oh, that was part of Hughes Aircraft Company, right?” asked Frank.
“Yep, until it got sold. Miss that company.”
“Me too,” Frank said. “I worked at another division. We got sold to a different outfit.”
“Really? What did you do?”
“I ran the IT department in El Segundo,” Frank said.
“You aren’t Frank Johnson, are you?” Jerry said.
“Sure am.”
“I remember you,” Jerry said. “I read one of your books. Good to meet you.”
“Same here,” Frank said. “Did you work system software?”
“Yes, guidance, mostly,” he said.
“Here comes Charlie,” Hilda said, looking over at the door. He walked over to the bar.
“How about a beer, Chester?” he said.
“Usual?” asked Chester.
“Sure,” he said. Chester slid him a Coors. Charlie opened the can and took a large swig.
“What’s Jeb up too? Saw him walking to the back of the park with a beer in his hand. He was a mess.”
“He nailed a deer with his bow,” Jerry said. “He’s back there dressing it.”
“Ah, should have guessed,” Charlie said. “Love venison.”
“So what’s going on down south?” asked Frank.
“Oh, Hilda told you guys, huh?” Charlie asked.
“I told them the phones were back up,” Hilda said.
“Good,” Charlie said. “Alright, here’s what I found out. Williams appears to be safe now. The Feds came in and kicked the militia types out, now that the Islamists are pretty much done. The Army chased the militia north. The bad news is that they are up in my neck of the woods now, hiding in the desert outside of Tusayan.”
“Is you place alright?” asked Hilda.
“So far, yes, because it’s too close to town for the militia folks...and get this. They are being chased by the last remaining Islamists.”
“Really?” Frank asked. “Why?”
“Let’s just say they did some things that were a rather big insult to the Prophet.”
“Interesting,” Jerry said. “I’ll bet the Army is waiting for them to be in the same place, so they can clean up both messes.”
“They aren’t admitting to that, but the folks I talked to are thinking the same thing.” Charlie said.
“Hmmmm,” Frank said. “None of this is a total shock. Is the militia causing problems for people around Tusayan?”
“Yes, actually. They’ve been sneaking in at night to steal supplies, and they’ve kidnapped several girls. A fourteen year old, a sixteen year old, and a couple of women in their early twenties.”
“Oh no,” Jane said.
“Yeah, these are bad guys. The people I talked to are upset with the Army about this whole thing, because they won’t come in and do anything until the Islamists get flushed out.”
“I can’t blame the locals for that,” Hilda said. “What are they going to do?”
“Well,
they would like to bring their daughters up here, but I advised against it. I suggested they take them down to Williams instead, since that's pretty well locked down.”
“You didn’t tell them where we are, I hope,” Jerry said.
“No, and a couple of them are mad at me for that,” Charlie said. “I’ll have some fence mending to do when I can go back.”
“Why you not tell them?” asked Rosie.
“The militia is still asking where we are. They want to avenge the ‘Martyrs of Williams’.”
“Do you think they’d drop what they are doing and come up here just to get to us?” asked Jane.
“Maybe,” Charlie said. “I don’t want to risk it.”
“I think you did the right thing, Charlie,” Chester said. “Another beer?”
“Sure, why not. Thanks, Chester.”
“Anything on our old friend Officer Simmons?” asked Frank.
“I was getting to that. He’s an interesting guy.”
Chapter 10 – To Trust or Not To Trust
Frank was nervous, sitting at the bar, with people gathered around listening to Charlie. Charlie had been on the phone with people in Tusayan, and was just getting to Officer Simmons.
“Has anybody actually talked with Officer Simmons there?” Frank asked.
“Yes. During the daylight hours, he has been around town asking questions. He’s still wearing his uniform, but he’s bandaged up around his torso, and limping. Most people are wary of him, but he’s trying to convince them that he’s there to help. They're also scared of the militia, because of what they’ve been doing, of course. Stealing supplies, moving into people’s houses, and taking advantage of the women. Simmons has been asking for volunteers to take on the ‘Williams Militia’ as he calls them. He’s not getting much response, though, even with the trouble the militia has caused. He tells tales about his raids against them, and his actions against the Islamists. His stories are pretty grisly, apparently. He tends to turn people off, and they don’t believe him.”
“This sounds similar to what Arthur was telling us,” Chester said.
“For the most part, but I heard some things that make me think this guy isn’t just after the Williams Militia.”
“Really. What things?” asked Frank.
“He’s telling the people in Tusayan that the Williams Militia broke into two pieces. Half of them are down around the Grand Canyon area outside of Tusayan, and the other half went north. He said that the person who shot him is with the people in the north, and he’s going to get them after he neutralizes the people down there.”
