Camp’s face fell blank as Raines grabbed his hand.
“I’m a proud old Scotsman, Junior…I don’t like to share my emotions with anyone, not even your mother…but Alzheimer’s gives you a gift that a sudden heart attack can’t give…it gives you a few more moments where you can think straight and say all the things you want said.”
Raines reached over and leaned her head on Camp's shoulder. She had seen the DVD a hundred times before.
“I am so proud of you, Junior…I love you with all my heart…I know, I was tough on you, pushing you, and pushing you…Son, I was trying to push you to greatness and you got there…I love you, boy…I love your sisters, and they have fine husbands and have given me wonderful grandchildren…but oh, sweet Mother of God how I love my boy…I’ve never told you this son, and hopefully you won’t see this until I’m dead, gone and fertilizing the beans, but…you’re my hero. Every night that you were working those 20-hour shifts, trying to save the lives of young soldiers, I stayed awake with you, too, every minute of the day. Ruth called your XO, that Colonel Ferguson, every other damn day. We knew your hours, we knew what you were doing…I was so proud of you. Do you remember those nights when you thought you couldn’t move another inch, when the rockets and mortars came flying in, the IEDs kept blowing your buddies up? That’s when I prayed for you the most, boy. That’s when God gave you the strength to work another shift, another day, do another surgery. That strength from God was His answer to my prayers. You are my hero, son…I have never met a man with more courage or more strength. I am not worthy to be called your daddy…”
Old Seabury started to cry on the video. Raines looked over as tears gushed out of Camp’s eyes too.
“Don’t cry for me, son. I have lived a long and wonderful life. Your mother was smokin’ hot, so that made it easier to endure! They say I might not even know you when you come back from the war. My mind is foggier than it once was…but my heart is as clear as ever. I love you, Seabury Campbell, Junior…I will always love you…you’re my boy…you are my hero.”
Camp and Raines watched old Sea Bee get off of his milking stool and move to an extreme close up as he fiddled with the camera’s buttons.
“How do you turn this damn thing off?” Sea Bee said as the picture finally went black.
Raines threw both of her arms around Camp as he collapsed in her arms.
“I don’t know what to say,” Camp whispered as Raines held him tightly.
“I didn’t know what to do, Camp,” Raines whispered back.
Her arms released him and Camp sat up and looked at her tender eyes.
“You were there for me, Les. You stepped in and took care of my family. I don’t know what to say.”
Raines wiped the tears from Camp’s face and stroked his squared chin.
“Are you mad at me? For not telling you?”
Camp closed his eyes and smiled. “Mad? How could I be mad at a woman as selfless as you? A woman who took care of my parents with such incredible and unselfish love; Leslie, I am beyond grateful. I’m in love with you.”
Leslie’s lower lip started to quiver. Her smile emerged as her tears welled.
“Look at the two of us. We’re a mess,” Raines said as she reached for Camp’s hand. “Tired?”
Camp nodded. Standing up, she took him by the hand. He grabbed his phone as she led him into the bedroom where two vanilla candles were burning on each night table. Camp sat on the edge of the bed as Leslie pulled the button-down white dress shirt up and over her head. He removed his NAVY t-shirt as she tugged on the running shorts that quickly landed on the bedroom floor. Leslie pressed her body against his and kissed away the tears that soaked his face as they made love.
Lightner Farms
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
A car pulled up outside of Lightner Farms Bed and Breakfast. It was almost eight o’clock at night, but the lights were still on even though there were no other cars in the parking lot.
The dome light was turned on and as the address on the envelope was verified: Eileen, Lightner Farms, Baltimore Pike, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
The traveler grabbed a bag from the trunk of the car and stepped up to the door and knocked. An attractive woman in her mid-40s walked through the kitchen and turned the porch light on at the side door by the parking lot.
“Can I help you?” Eileen asked as she opened the door and greeted the stranger.
Eileen’s face coiled ever so slightly as she looked into the badly disfigured face of another woman who wore a head scarf and was carrying a bag.
“I’m sorry to bother you so late, but I was hoping to rent a room for the night.”
“Actually, it’s pretty late and I –“
“I’m from Afghanistan. Captain Campbell said you had a beautiful lodge.”
Though polite at first, Eileen demonstrated renewed hospitality and warmth now that Camp’s name had been dropped. She welcomed the lady into Lightner and got her new guest settled into room number seven and went back downstairs to put a kettle of water on the stove for hot tea.
The guest sat at the long wooden table while Eileen put the tea bags in the porcelain cups on top of the saucers that had once belonged to her grandmother. She carried the tray full of tea, milk and sugar and put them down on the table. Eileen went back to the kitchen and emptied a box of Girl Scout cookies onto an antique white dish.
“Tell me your name,” Eileen asked softly.
“Miriam…I was Captain Campbell’s interpreter…before the fire.”
Eileen looked at the scars on Miriam’s face. She was heartbroken. She had seen many burns as an ICU nurse in Texas, but burns on the face were the most dreadful.
“Oh, you poor thing…my heart breaks for you, Miriam.”
“Captain Campbell saved my life.”
“That doesn’t surprise me…he saved hundreds of lives in Iraq.”
Miriam took a bite of a cookie and pulled the tea bag out of her cup and squeezed it out.
“Is that your phone?” Miriam said pointing to Eileen’s iPhone on the table.
“Yes, yes it is. Do you need to call someone?”
“I was wondering if Captain Campbell is home yet. I would like to thank him in person…but I’d like to keep it a surprise.”
“Well, let’s send him a text message on his phone and see if he responds.”
“Don’t tell him I’m here…I want to surprise him.”
Eileen pulled up Camp’s last text message, the one he sent after Jane’s funeral and before he deployed to Afghanistan.
HEY THERE…ARE YOU STATESIDE?
Eileen showed the message to Miriam and then pressed send. Within seconds the response was received.
JUST GOT BACK ON FRIDAY…EXHAUSTED…WILL COME SEE YOU SOON. LOVE YOU!
Eileen showed the text response to Miriam, and they both smiled.
“Do you have family, Miriam?”
Miriam’s eyes welled with tears. Eileen knew that look and reached out to hold her hand.
“My husband was killed after the fire. I do not know about my son. My sister says he was probably killed as well.”
“Terrorists?”
Eileen watched as a flash of fire bolted across Miriam’s scarred face.
“Oh, yes…terrorists!”
Eileen and Miriam finished their tea, and Miriam was invited to sit in the oversized leather chairs in front of the Civil War era hearth as Eileen took the dishes to the sink. Miriam opened her bag and pulled it back closer to the fireplace.
“After the fire I was taken to Kabul to recuperate. Once I was good to travel, the State Department put me in the SIV, special immigrant visa program for refugees. I landed in Virginia six weeks ago, and they gave me a one bedroom apartment and said I could live in it for six months. Then I would need to find a job and make money to pay for my rent and buy my food. I don’t know anyone.”
Eileen sat down in the chair next to Miriam.
“Do you have any idea how hard it is
to find a job when your face looks like this, Eileen?”
Eileen cringed and felt sad for the Afghan as Miriam stood up and paced behind Eileen and the leather chairs in front of the large fireplace.
“Everything I had was taken from me in Afghanistan. My husband, my son, my friends, my way of life…even my face. The only thing I knew about America was Eileen, on the Baltimore Pike, and her Lightner Farms Bed and Breakfast.”
Eileen was touched to the core by Miriam’s story. She grabbed a tissue and the blanket from the ottoman to cover her legs.
“But I will make it…I have a second chance now.”
Miriam bent down, removed her hijab, and pulled a bottle of ether out of her bag. She poured a few ounces into the hijab as Eileen started to detect the odor.
“Is that nail polish?” Eileen asked. Miriam ignored her question.
“God has given me the second chance to make things right…and I want to personally thank Captain Campbell for all he did for me.”
Miriam lunged at Eileen and covered her face with the hijab that was drenched in ether. Eileen fought her for a few seconds then her grip slipped and her arms fell limp. Eileen was fading but heard Miriam begin to tape her body to the oversized leather chair. She heard Miriam walk to the kitchen and felt a dish rag go into her mouth before she fell completely asleep.
Miriam ran to the table and picked up Eileen’s iPhone. The last text from Captain Campbell was up. She typed in the response.
LOVE YOU TOO…JUST WANTED TO SAY GOOD-BYE…MY LIFE IS NOT WORTH IT ANYMORE…TONIGHT I WILL MEET GOD…PEACE BE WITH YOU.
Miriam hit the send button and sat down on the chair next to Eileen. A minute hadn’t passed before Eileen’s phone started ringing. Miriam answered but said nothing.
* * *
47
* * *
Old Town Alexandria, Virginia
Raines had fallen fast asleep on Camp’s chest after a series of long flights in from Lyon, France. Camp’s 1,500 mile round trip “mission” left him sleep-deprived as well. But all he could think about was his father.
“Alzheimer’s,” his thoughts kept echoing the words his father had spoken.
The vibration from his iPhone startled him. It was another text message from Eileen.
LOVE YOU TOO…JUST WANTED TO SAY GOOD-BYE…MY LIFE IS NOT WORTH IT ANYMORE…TONIGHT I WILL MEET GOD…PEACE BE WITH YOU.
Camp struggled to open his eyes though his mind was still racing. He read the message a second time. He jumped out of bed jolting Raines awake from her deep slumber. He pressed Eileen’s speed dial. Eileen’s phone was answered, but no one spoke.
“Eileen? Eileen! This is Camp.”
Raines threw her shirt back on and walked out into the kitchen where Camp was frantically redialing the number.
“What’s going on?” Raines asked through the groggy fog.
“Eileen…good God, Les, she sent me a text and said she’s killing herself.”
“What?”
“She won’t pick up the phone. I gotta drive out there.”
“I’ll get dressed,” Raines said as she ran back to the bedroom.
Lightner Farms
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Miriam hung up as soon as Camp called Eileen’s phone.
The phone rang again. Miriam connected the call then hung up when Camp spoke. Eileen’s phone rang 20 more times in the next 90 minutes. Each time Miriam let the call go to voice mail.
Eileen started to stir so Miriam gave her another fresh shot of ether.
Miriam pulled out the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 38, a.38 caliber used hand gun she paid a man to purchase for her at a Pawn Shop in Annandale, Virginia and put the gun in her right hand. The revolver was heavy to hold, and though five rounds were chambered, she had not fired a gun since she lived in Afghanistan. Miriam walked to the side door, opened it slightly, and then turned the button in the handle to the locked position. She looked at the clock on the wall in the dining room above the long wooden table. US Navy Captain Campbell should be there soon, and finally she could thank him for his heroics in person.
Camp’s Defender 90 drove down the Baltimore Pike at speeds well over the posted limit and turned on to the gravel road leading up to Lightner Farms with emergency lights flashing. The Defender slid through the loose rocks spraying gravel in all directions before coming to a stop next to a visitor’s car.
“Should I come in?” Raines asked with grave concern.
“Hang in the car for now…let me see what’s going on first,” Camp said as he got out. Raines watched through the windshield as he ran to the side door by Eileen’s kitchen.
Miriam heard the gravel and the vehicle as it braked for an urgent stop. She got up quickly from the oversized leather chair next to Eileen, walked to the kitchen then went inside Eileen’s walk-in pantry next to the side door.
Camp opened the door and slammed it shut behind him then went running into the lodge.
“Eileen!”
Miriam walked out of the pantry behind Camp and followed him as he ran over to Eileen who stirred when Camp yelled.
The lodge echoed with the thunder of the first gunshot that hit Camp in the back of his left leg. He fell to the ground writhing in pain. He turned to look at the shooter.
Raines jumped out of the car when she heard the sound of gunfire and over to the side door. It was locked.
Miriam walked closer to Camp as the muzzle of her 5-pound .38 smoked from the first round. Camp squinted through the pain and the discharged smoke in the lodge to see the shooter.
“Miriam?”
“Get up…sit in the chair.”
Blood was pouring from Camp’s wound, but he pulled himself up into the oversized leather chair and next to Eileen who was now somewhat awake, bound and gagged.
“You took away everything I loved Captain Campbell…my husband…my son…my appointed mission…and now my life.”
“Your son is alive, Miriam.”
“That’s a lie.”
Raines ran around to the back of the lodge and looked in through the French doors leading off to the patio from the dining room. The doors were locked. But the images she saw were more terrifying than the sound of the gunshot she had heard.
Eileen was taped and bound to the chair. Another woman was holding a gun pointed at Camp’s head in the chair next to Eileen. Raines looked for a rock or something to break the glass. Then she remembered the walk with Camp and General Ferguson after Jane’s funeral. She sprinted to the tree line even though her legs felt like they were encased in cement. She pressed the button on her phone for illumination and searched tree-to-tree for the birdhouse.
Think woman, where did he put the Browning?
Raines crossed to the other side of the bark chip path, three trees in she saw the birdhouse. Opening the clasp, her heart stopped beating. Reaching in she felt the cold steel of the Browning 9mm wrapped in cobwebs. The magazine clip was in.
God I pray this thing is loaded.
“You took away the ones I loved…so now I’m going to take away the ones you love.”
Camp tried to think quickly. His leg was too badly wounded to jump her.
“How did you find us Miriam? I thought we had hidden ourselves more carefully.”
Miriam pulled the envelope from the letter Eileen had mailed to Camp at FOB Lightning.
“Mail call makes things very easy,” Miriam said as she tossed the envelope on the ground and took a step back. She raised the gun toward Camp’s head as he winced.
“I want you to watch her die first. I want you to feel the same pain you gave me.”
Miriam slowly moved her gun toward Eileen whose eyes opened wide with terror.
Gunfire ripped through the lodge again. The second bullet hit Camp high on the right side of his chest. He screamed in pain as shattering glass bounced on the wood floor.
Miriam looked at Camp with genuine surprise as blood pooled and drenched his shirt. Miriam turned toward the sound of falling gla
ss behind her and squinted.
Raines pulled the Browning’s trigger a second time. Miriam clutched her throat as the bullet pierced her neck. Her Smith & Wesson 38 fell to the floor first. Miriam’s body fell a second later.
Raines kicked through the glass and unlocked the French doors. She ran first to Eileen’s landline phone and dialed 9-1-1.
“Shooting with injuries at Lightner Farms, Baltimore Pike,” she screamed laying the phone on its side and rushed to Camp as dispatchers heard the chaos at Lightner Farms.
He was struggling to remain conscious.
“Nice…shooting,” he gasped trying to breathe.
Raines put immediate pressure on the chest wound with the ether soaked hijab that was lying next to Eileen and pulled Camp’s left arm up to hold it in place.
“Pressure Camp. Keep pressing.”
Raines grabbed the sewing scissors on the table between the two leather chairs and started cutting the tape off of Eileen. She reasoned that it was better to have a half-drugged ICU nurse at her side than to wait for an ambulance all alone.
Eileen and Raines managed to get Camp to the floor next to Miriam. They put a pillow beneath his head and tied his belt around his upper thigh. Raines applied pressure to his chest as Eileen kept pulling him back from the unconsciousness his body was desperately trying to find.
The sounds of approaching sirens grew louder.
“Come on Camp, stay with us, stay with us…help is almost here,” Eileen pleaded with him. She got up and ran to the kitchen, opened the door and waved frantically to the EMTs as they ran into the lodge.
His heartbeat was weak and faint from the blood loss. The Lightner Farms parking lot was filling with emergency vehicles and flashing red lights. Two firemen rushed in with a stretcher as an EMT got the IV into Camp’s arm, a lead onto his heart and an EKG monitor by his head.
Jericho 3 Page 34
