by Robert Boren
“Damn straight,” Junior said.
“Jasper and Earl were both newer to the group, but valuable members. They saved our bacon more than once. They were both bright and witty and fun to be around, and great in a fight. I know we had a little rough time at the end, but it wasn’t their fault, and they were loyal members. They will be missed.”
Kelly got off the picnic table and went back to Junior, Brenda and Rachel rushing over to them.
Carrie and Kate joined Jason and Kyle, all of them teary.
“Maybe you should slow down a little,” Kate said to Kyle. “You’re gonna feel lousy tomorrow if you don’t.”
“Okay,” he slurred.
“You too, honey,” Carrie said.
“I will,” Jason said, sounding more together than Kyle. “It’ll be better when we start eating. I think both of us had empty stomachs.”
“Yeah, dude, that’s what it was,” Kyle said. Kate and Carrie rolled their eyes.
Cindy walked over to them.
“I’m so sorry,” Carrie said, hugging her. “So so sorry.”
“Me too,” Kate said, hugging her after Carrie.
“I wanted to say this before I lost my nerve,” Cindy said. “Helps to be a little drunk.”
“Go ahead,” Carrie said.
She nodded. “Jason, I want to become active in the fight.”
“Really?” Jason asked. “You’re welcome of course, but why now? Because of what happened?”
“Of course it’s partly because of that,” she said. “Gray was a very traditional man. He always insisted on sheltering me from the violence. I was active back home when we were under attack. I almost got killed, and that just tore him up.”
“We don’t have to talk about his now,” Jason said.
“I want to,” she said. “I’m an expert with pistol, rifle, shotgun, and bow and arrow. A champion, in fact, during my younger years. I’ve still got it. I can be valuable, and I want to be involved.”
“Wow, I had no idea,” Jason said.
“Neither did I,” Kyle said.
“Gray was deathly afraid of losing me, and look what happened,” she said, breaking down for a moment. The others watched, all of them fighting back tears.
“Oh, honey,” Carrie said, hugging her again. They broke their embrace after more than a minute.
“Do we have a deal?” Cindy asked.
“Yes, we have a deal,” Jason said. “Not that I’m the leader, but I’ll push it.”
“I’m still fighting,” Kate said. “And I’ll continue, until my pregnancy makes it impossible.”
“You’re pregnant?” Cindy asked. “Now?”
“Yes,” she said.
“On purpose?”
“Yes,” Kate said. “Life has to go on. If something happens to Kyle, I’ll at least have something left of him.”
“Oh,” she said. “I can see that, I guess. Gray and I have a son. He’s in the military. I don’t know where he is right now.”
“You must be worried sick,” Carrie said.
“Some days I am, some days I’m not,” she said.
“When’s the last time you heard from him?” Kate asked.
“Six months ago. He was in the San Diego area. I’m glad. That’s one of the safer places, apparently.”
“I hope so,” Carrie said.
Curt walked over with Amanda, Don, and Sydney.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Curt said. “Gray was such a great guy.”
“Yes,” Don said. “So sorry.”
“Thanks,” Cindy said. “You together? I heard rumors?”
“Not officially,” Curt said.
Amanda elbowed him. Sydney shot her a glance and then laughed, Don standing next to her with a red face.
Cindy smiled. “This is the hope for all of us. I’m going to get back to our group. They’re really beside themselves. Thanks for listening.”
“Of course,” Carrie said.
She walked away.
“What was that all about?” Curt asked.
“She wants to fight,” Jason said. “Said she’s a champion at shooting and archery.”
“How come we didn’t know about this before?” Curt asked.
“Gray didn’t want her fighting,” Kate said. “Sound familiar?”
“Hey, I haven’t stopped you,” Kyle said, slurring worse.
“Somebody’s had some beer,” Amanda said.
Kate laughed. “He thinks he can stop me.”
Kyle shook his head. “No, nobody can stop you, but I love you anyway.”
“Good,” she said. “C’mon, let’s get some food into you. No more beer.”
“Ah, come on,” Kyle said as she led him away. The others watched, laughing.
“He’s as good as married,” Jason said.
“Yes, he is,” Carrie said. “C’mon, Kate had the right idea. Let’s get some food in you. Toss that beer.”
“But I just opened it,” Jason said, voice slurring a little.
“Perfect timing, then,” Carrie said, grabbing the can from his hand. She tossed it into the trash. “C’mon, Chelsea, let’s take daddy to get some food.”
“Okay mommy,” she said, rushing to keep up.
“Well, that was cute,” Amanda said.
“Look who’s talking,” Sydney said.
Curt laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Amanda asked.
“You gonna punch me again?” Curt asked.
“Only if you deserve it,” Amanda said. “Let’s go eat.”
“What if I want a few beers?” Curt asked.
“We have work to do,” she said. “Remember?”
Curt smiled at her. “You passed that test.”
“Oh, did I now?” she asked. “Think you have me all figured out, don’t you?”
Curt laughed. “That’ll be the day.”
“I heard you two moved in together,” Sydney asked, eyes dancing.
“I spent the night in his toy hauler last night,” Amanda said, “but we didn’t do anything yet.”
“We cuddled,” Curt said. “That’s not really nothing.”
“You guys slept in the same bed?” Sydney asked, grinning. “Yeah, we’ll see how long your chastity lasts in that situation.”
“Yeah, well what about your little love nest on wheels?” Amanda asked.
“I haven’t moved in there,” she said. She glanced at Don, who shot her an embarrassed smile.
“You two are something else,” Don said. “You always tease each other like this?”
“Only about men,” Amanda said. Curt rolled his eyes.
“Maybe we should stop this conversation,” Sydney said.
“Why?” Amanda asked. “So, you haven’t moved in. Yet. What’s your timetable?”
“Amanda,” Sydney said.
“You two can barely keep your hands off each other,” Amanda said. “You know it’s true.”
“So?” she said. “I’m not sleeping in the same bed with him, cuddling all night.”
“Maybe we ought to go get some food and leave the ladies to this discussion,” Don said to Curt.
“Good idea,” Curt said. “Let’s go. Maybe this will blow over by the time we get back.”
“Get me a plate, okay honey?” Amanda asked.
“Oh, so it’s honey now?” Curt asked.
“Yeah,” she said. “I’ll take some pork ribs, a chicken breast, and whatever side dish they have.”
“Okay,” Curt said.
“What do you want?” Don asked Sydney.
“Just chicken, and some potato salad and beans if they have some,” she said. “Thanks, honey.” She snickered.
Don nodded yes, turned to walk away, but instead whirled around, grabbing her arm, pulling her against him. He kissed her passionately, then let her go and walked away with Curt, both of them chuckling.
“Holy shit,” Amanda said. “You’ve got yourself a live one there, girl.”
“So have you,” she sai
d.
“You really like him, don’t you?” Amanda whispered.
“I’m so much in love with him that I can hardly stand it,” she whispered back. “Don’t tell him I said that.”
“Don’t worry,” Amanda said. “We’re both in the same boat.
Chapter 26 – Heel and Pill
Landry sat in his dark bunker, despair setting in. Do they know? Simon Orr said they did. Landry was afraid to call anybody now. They’re listening. Saladin would kill them both, Orr had said.
The console lit up. Call coming in. Landry stood up in a panic, and clicked accept. The smiling face of Commissioner Wallis filled the screen.
“Landry, how you holding up?” he asked.
“When do I get out of here?” Landry asked. “I feel like a prisoner.”
“As do I, old friend,” Wallis said. “Be patient. We’ll be done with this before too long. I promise.”
“Who decides how long we’re here?”
“Gallagher and Ramsey, but Nelson has the final say,” Wallis said.
“They out walking free?” Landry asked.
“No, they’re both in bunkers, just like we are.”
“What’s been happening? I haven’t heard anything all day.”
“It’s been quiet,” Wallis said. “Haven’t you looked at the briefings?”
“Not yet,” Landry said. “I was just getting ready to. Why don’t you give me the gist?”
“The air patrols over the cities have prevented any more attacks, and we haven’t had the expected attacks on areas we’re not actively protecting,” Wallis said. “It’s really good news.”
“I’ve tried to raise Major Carlson several times to get updates and pass him instructions. Any idea why I can’t do that all of a sudden?”
“No, but I’ll look into it,” Wallis said. “Probably a technical problem.”
“Yeah, right,” Landry said. “This whole thing stinks.”
“I know, it does,” Wallis said. “Anything I can do for you before I get off the line?”
“Get me out of here.”
“Other than that,” Wallis said.
“Nope. Thanks for nothing.” He reached over to the console and ended the call. “Asshole.”
He knows. The realization hit him right between the eyes. What do I do? Talk? Make a deal? There has to be something.
His cellphone rang, shaking him out of his thoughts. Maybe it’s Major Carlson. He answered it without looking at the number.
“Carlson, thank God,” Landry said.
Simon Orr chuckled over the line.
“Dammit, talking to you once probably ruined me, and now you’re calling again?”
“Calm down,” Simon Orr said. “They already know about you, and they already know about me. Nothing to lose.”
“They’ll have me shot,” Landry said. “I take it you got away. You must not have attacked Fort Stockton. Good.”
“Wrong again,” Orr said. “We booby-trapped our hideout, and then put a team of snipers on the ridge. Far as we can tell the body count was five.”
“Where are you?” Landry asked.
“Far away from there. I’m done with Texas. I’ve moved on to my next assignment. All I have to do is snip off some loose ends. You, for instance.”
“Dammit, Orr, get me out of here.”
He chuckled. “Even if I could, what’ll that buy us? You’re no longer of value.”
“Yes I am you…”
“Shut the hell up. There’s somebody who’d like to talk to you. Sorry, it’s not in person. It’s on tape, so listen up.”
A young woman’s voice was on the scratchy recording. “Daddy? Daddy? They’re going to hurt me. Daddy?”
“Son of a bitch,” Landry said, tears rolling down his cheeks.
“Recognize her?” Simon Orr asked. “Took us a while to find her. Switzerland? Very sneaky.”
“What do you want?”
“Protection,” Simon Orr said.
“Protection?”
“You know,” Simon Orr said. “Take it. Right now. Stay on the line.”
Landry’s heart pounded in his chest. “You promise she’ll be okay?”
“I promise, but do it quick. They’re already on their way, since they’ve been listening to you all along.”
“My God,” he said, reaching down for his shoe. He pulled it off and twisted the heel, removing the small plastic bag with the little white pill inside. He ripped the pill out of the bag, put it in his mouth, and swallowed it just as two men burst through the door.
“Down,” Landry said, already feeling it.
“Good,” Simon Orr said. “Oh, I lied about your daughter. Apparently she was a lot of fun while she lasted.”
The men picked up Landry, turning him, the white foam coming out of his mouth and onto their pant legs as he convulsed. His phone lay by his side, the tinny sound of Simon Orr’s laugh coming out.
Chapter 27 – Courthouse
“There it is,” Lita said, looking up from her phone GPS. “See it?”
“Not much of a courthouse, dude,” Juan Carlos said from the back seat of the SUV.
“It’ll do,” Lita said. “We’re probably not doing anything today. We just wanted to check, that’s all.”
“Check what?” Madison asked.
“We need to see if they record these on the internet right away,” Richardson said. “If they do, it’ll give off our location. That’ll cause us to wait until we get to Houston.”
“Why are you bothering?” Madison asked. “We’ll be in Houston in a couple of days.”
“A girl wants what a girl wants,” Lita said, shooting a grin back at her.
“True statement,” Juan Carlos said.
“Don’t even,” Madison whispered. “I told you.”
“Told him what?” Hannah asked.
“Hannah,” Madison said.
Hannah and Brendan chuckled from the back.
Richardson pulled into the parking lot. They got out of the car, Juan Carlos helping Madison.
“You getting tired, sweetie?” Juan Carlos asked.
“I’m okay, but I’ll be resting up when we get home.”
They went to the information desk.
“Can I help you?” the attractive black woman asked.
“We need information about getting married in the courthouse,” Lita said.
“Okay,” she said. “You’ll have to go upstairs. It’s on the second floor. You can’t miss it.”
“Thanks,” Richardson said. The group moved to the elevator. Richardson pushed the button, and they waited.
“Sure you guys want to go along?” Lita asked. “We’re just going to ask questions. If we decide we can get married today, we’ll text you.”
“I want to go,” Hannah said.
“Me too,” Juan Carlos said. Madison looked at him and rolled her eyes.
“What’s up with you two?” Lita asked as the doors opened. They walked inside, and Lita hit the second-floor button. “Well?”
“Nothing,” Madison said.
Hannah nudged her.
“Nothing!” Madison said again.
The doors opened up to the second floor. They walked to the counter. There was a young man behind the desk, clean cut with black hair. “Can I help you?”
Lita came forward with Richardson. “We have a question.”
“Well, I’ll do my best to answer it,” he said.
“If we were to get married today, does the marriage get documented on the internet systems right away?” Lita asked.
The man chuckled. “Out of this courthouse? No, it takes nearly a month. Sorry.”
“Is any other indication that the marriage occurred made public in any way?” Richardson asked.
“What are you guys trying to do, get married in secret?” the young man asked.
“We’ve had problems with a stalker,” Lita said, shooting a glance at Richardson.
“Okay, that makes sense,” the young man said. “
No, we don’t publish anything. We used to offer an announcement in the local paper, but it went belly up. Victim of the internet.”
“Okay,” Lita said. “One more question. Is there a waiting period? Or anything else that would prevent us from getting married today if we wanted to?”
“Yes, there’s a seventy-two hour waiting period,” he said. “unless you are active in the military.”
“Any military?” Richardson asked.
“Well, now that we’re a Republic again, all kinds of laws are shifting around, but I believe it covers Federal Armed Forces, State National Guards, and DPS.”
Lita looked at Richardson, grabbing his hand. “Shall we, honey?”
“We shall,” he said. “What’s next?”
“Fill out the application for a marriage license. I’ve got them here.” He pulled one out. “And the other two couples?”
“We’ll take one,” Hannah said quickly. Brendan smiled. “Yes, we’ll take one.”
Madison stared at Hannah, shocked look on her face. “What?”
“I know what I’m doing,” Hannah said. “I couldn’t be happier.”
“Maybe we should make it three,” Juan Carlos said, taking one.
“I told you,” Madison whispered.
“Yes, I know what you told me,” he said, stroking her pretty blonde hair. “I want you. Now.”
She looked into his eyes, tearing up. “Damn you.”
“You want it,” Juan Carlos said softly.
She stared at him silently for a moment, eyes softening. “Oh, fine. It was going to happen anyway.” A smile crept onto her face.
“I knew it,” Hannah said.
“Shut up,” Madison said to her, glancing at Lita.
“My my, it’s catching,” she said. “C’mon. There’s some desks over there.”
“Thanks,” Richardson said to the man.
“No problem, just bring them here when you’re done.”
They went to the desks, filling out the forms together.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Madison said, smiling now, looking at Hannah.
“Me neither,” Hannah said. “Isn’t this great? I’ll bet we fooled you, Lita.”
