by K R Hill
“Of course,” said Dalton.
Connor and Dalton climbed up into Nick’s house.
“It’s starting to look pretty good,” said Connor. “Once you get the roof on, and get your doors and windows in, it’ll look like a real house.”
A large jungle beam, held up by the cinderblock walls, divided the house into two sections. The shady side, where the women were dishing up lunch, was blocked from the rays of the sun with a makeshift tarpaper roof. The sunny side, where Nick, Dalton and Connor stood, had a round jungle beam sticking through one of the window openings. The three men lifted the beam and carried it into the house.
“Right there,” pointed Nick. “That’s my mark. We’re going to lift the beam and set it right there. The other end goes over here.” Nick shoved his hair back, hurried across the house, and pointed to a black arrow at the top of the wall.
The men hoisted the beam and set it on the wall, and rolled it into in place.
Nick climbed a ladder and shoved a piece of rebar through a hole in the beam. “That should keep it from rolling.”
As the others walked toward the table, Nick straddled the wall and pounded the beam into place with a large hammer.
“Hey,” shouted Dalton. “Easy with that shoulder.”
“I’m good.”
They scooped up beans and rice, and pieces of the big grouper that Dalton had caught the day before. One by one they sat around the table.
“I wanted to thank everybody for allowing us to stay.” Connor walked over to the five-gallon bottle of water hanging in a swing, tilted it, poured water into his glass and drank.
Jax smiled and sat beside Dalton, and ate a spoon full of beans. “There’s no need to thank us. Having friends here has made this town feel like home. It’s been really good.”
“That is so sweet.” Ashley said: “You guys are the best. We’ve never built a house like this. Mayan design, as Nick calls it. It’s been fun watching it go together.”
Jax sipped her water and stood up. “I say that’s enough work on for the day. Besides, I heard back from the priest, and it’s all been arranged for us to use the church, unless you two have changed your plans.” She laughed.
Connor raised his hands in the air and said, “No, by this time tomorrow I’ll be a married man.”
Nick laughed as he walked by. “You mean if Ashley will still have you, right?”
“I still want him,” said Ashley, kissing Connor on the cheek.
“We better get going. Your buddies will be at the airport in an hour,” said Dalton, pushing away from the table.
“Good, yeah, let’s go.” Connor shoveled two spoonsful of beans into his mouth. “I finally got an email from Bartholomew, too. He got my invite, and is arriving later tonight.”
“That’s a rowdy crew coming in,” said Ashley, laughing. “Baby, are you sure you want all your buddies staying in the same hotel? What if they burn it down or something?”
“It wouldn’t be the first one,” laughed Connor, and high-fived Dalton.
Jax hurried across the room and took Ashley by the arm. “We need to get going too. We have to make sure the wedding dress fits, and a hundred other details. You boys get on out to the airport and round up all the buddies, and try not to come back too drunk to make it to the rehearsal tonight.”
The moment that Ashley and Jax stepped out of the house and climbed into the car, Dalton said: “Okay, they’re gone. Nick, put the cooler in the truck. We’ll hit the liquor store on the way out of town for beer and ice.”
As the three of them climbed into the pickup truck, a Mexican police car pulled up and blocked them. Two heavy policemen jumped out and motioned for Nick and Connor to stay in the vehicle.
The police chief was a thin Mayan man in a short sleeve guayabera shirt, shorts and polished leather sandals. He greeted Dalton by name, shook his hand, and led him away from the others.
“Felix,” said Dalton, smiling and shaking the man’s hand. “You should have come a little earlier. You could’ve eaten lunch with us.”
“Oh, thank you, Mr. Dalton, but I came with some disturbing news that I thought you might want to know.”
“Felix, please understand, I’m not trying to be rude. But I’m leaving to the airport right now to meet a wedding party. I have many arrangements to make, so please get to the point.”
Felix glanced over his shoulder to the truck. “There are three unpleasant strangers in town. You were involved in law enforcement, so please understand what I am trying to say when I say unpleasant.”
“Shit,” said Dalton. “And these men, are they Americans? This is a tourist town, right?”
“Tourists go to Cancún or Playa del Carmen. These men were speaking a strange language. A hotel worker told me that one of them was carrying a gun and asking about you.”
Dalton took out a $100 bill and stuffed it into Felix’s hand. “The groom has a lot of soldier friends, and the three you mention could be some of them. I appreciate you coming by and letting me know.”
Dalton patted Felix on the back as they reached the truck. The chief of police waved to his officers, and the three of them climbed into the squad car and drove away.
“What was that about,” asked Connor.
Dalton laughed, started the truck and adjusted the rearview mirror as he drove onto the street. “Oh, it was nothing. The chief of police likes to tell me who’s in town because I pay him when he does. It sounds like some your soldier buddies are staying in the resort outside of town.”
Connor laughed. “Yeah, that’s probably Hooch coming in on his Harley. I thought he’d get stuck in some brothel on the way, and not show up until a week after the ceremony. We’ll have to swing by there tonight, if we get a chance.”
“Oh, hey,” said Dalton, changing the subject. “Did Nick ever show you those Jesse James 45’s he has? We got a favorite spot in the jungle where we do some target practice. You still keep them under the seat, Nick?”
“I do, and I’m a better shot than both of you put together.”
“Wait a minute.” Connor leaned forward. “That was your Lieutenant voice. Why do you need to know where the guns are?”
“Okay,” said Dalton. “We have three strangers in town. I’m just being safe.”
“I just put a box of ammo down there too.” Nick popped the top of a beer bottle and handed it to Connor. “Come on, we’re celebrating your wedding. Lighten up.”
***
The next day, as everyone was rushing around the church, Dalton pulled Nick aside and told him to wear a jacket.
“It’s 85 degrees and you want me to wear a jacket?”
“Those three men that Felix told me about are Serbs. Maybe they’re here on vacation, but I need you armed for everyone’s protection. Can you do that, Nick?”
“Do you think it’s the Ghrazenkos?”
“I don’t think so, but I need you armed.”
“Okay, Boss, I’ll strap up.”
Connor, Nick and Dalton dressed in the priest’s quarters. Once they had slicked their hair back and changed into a tuxes and shiny shoes, they left the room and walked along the corridor toward the sanctuary. As they passed another door, they heard Jax and Ashley laughing.
“Wow,” said Connor, stepping into the main hall. “The church is looking good.”
Dalton patted his shoulder. “We bought a whole truck load of flowers.”
“You mean Jax bought it,” said Nick.
Four Mayan women, in white, flower-embroidered dresses, rushed about placing flowers here and there. Guests laughed and joked and ambled down the aisle. Children ran and screamed and chased one another between the pews. Two photographers adjusted a tripod beside the alter.
Outside, guests stood in groups on the steps. In the side yard, the caterers were spreading white cloths over two long tables. A worker in black pants and white shirt, a red apron around his waist, was setting bottles of liquor behind the bar. And over to the side, sitting in the first row of fo
ld up chairs, four mariachis practiced Here Comes The Bride.
When it came time for the ceremony, the bride’s maids, Dalton, Connor and the priest were waiting at the altar. The music started and the audience stood and turned to the door. There was a long, awkward pause, but the bride did not step into the doorway as planned.
“Something’s wrong,” said Dalton. “Connor, stay here. I’ll go check on Ashley.” As he stepped away from the wedding party, he called Nick, and pointed to the main entrance.
Nick rushed into the aisle and hurried to the door.
Dalton walked back into the waiting rooms of the chapel. He tapped on Ashley’s dressing room, waited a moment, and when there was no answer, he stepped inside. He looked around, opened the closet, looked in the restroom, but she was gone. He stood still, wondering if she had run off, or had just simply changed her mind.
Then he noticed a small vase with a rose in it. A silk bow was tied around the vase, and beneath the vase lay a large white envelope. Instinctively he walked to it. There was no writing on the envelope, so he slid a hand inside and touched something that felt like a chamois.
Dalton jerked back when he saw what it was in his hand. His mouth dropped open as he looked at a piece of skin, blood on the edges, and a rose tattoo in the center. His stomach convulsed as the blood touched his hand. He tried to speak, but had no voice. He wanted to run out and shout and shoot at some phantom, but all he could do was stand there gasping for breath.
The door that led out to the courtyard opened, and Ashley hurried inside. In the background Here Comes The Bride was playing.
“Dalton,” she said, tears flowing down her cheeks. “Where’s Connor? Is he okay? A boy came in and told me that Connor was hurt and needed me. I ran outside, but the boy ran off and left me.”
Dalton shoved the grizzly piece of skin into the envelope. “It was probably just some joke. Connor is waiting at the altar. It’s time for you to walk down the aisle, girl. You better get out there or you’re going to be late for your own wedding.”
Jax and Nick ran into the room.
Jax rushed over and took a hold of the Brides arm. “We need to go, baby.”
Ashley laughed, and together they hurried out the side door.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, boss,” said Nick.
Dalton handed him the envelope. Nick reached inside and pulled out the piece of skin.
“Huh,” shouted Nick, and dropped the skin. On the floor, beside the skin, lay a business card.
Dalton picked up the card. Written in a font that spoke of aristocracy, he read: Alexander Ghrazenko.
“Ghrazenko,” said Nick. “I thought we were done with those guys. What are we going to do?”
“Well,” said Dalton. “The message has been delivered, so I don’t think we have anything else to worry about right now. Let’s go and have fun. When the newlyweds get back from their honeymoon, I’ll have a talk with Connor.”
Dalton walked along the dark corridor and took his place beside Connor and the priest once more.
“What happened?” asked Connor.
“Oh, you know, she had a problem with her dress. No big deal. They’re going to start the music again.”
“Good, okay.”
“Hey,” said Nick. “Look who’s here.” He pointed to the back of the congregation.
In walked Bartholomew with an arm around Artie.
Connor rushed up the aisle and hugged them. “This is the best.”
“Where should we sit?” asked Artie.
“Thanks for coming. You guys don’t get to sit. I need family beside me, and you two are brother and father.”
“It’d be an honor. Monte would be proud. I know that.”
Connor pulled them along the aisle.
“Wait,” said Bartholomew. “I can’t go up there in shorts and flip flops.”
Connor laughed. “Yes, you can. I’m glad you made it, brother.”
The music began, and once more the audience stood and turned to the door as Ashley stepped into view in a white silk dress that seemed to glow with rays of the setting sun.
Bartholomew leaned close and whispered: “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
Connor laughed and smiled bigger than he ever had, unable to look away from Ashley. “Dad taught us by example not to be afraid. No fear. One day at a time, brother. Look at Ashley. Have you ever seen a woman more beautiful?”
Bartholomew laughed. “I never have, brother.”
THE END
Book 1, The Templar Map
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