The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Yeah.” Frank moved closer to her. “It’s a great cabin. It hasn’t been used for a couple years, but great. It won’t take much to go in there and clean it up.”

  “Frank,” Ellen said his name in a whine, “You know who the last people here were, don’t you?”

  “John and Jenny Matoose. So.”

  “So,” She spoke long and drawn out, “They probably had sex in there. I can’t sleep in a bed that John and Jenny had sex on. I can’t.”

  “We’ll put the sleeping bags over it.”

  “Still, as soon as I lay there, I’ll think about it.”

  “Ellen.” Frank tried to remain calm. “We won’t sleep in the bed, O.K.?”

  “O.K.” Ellen took a breath. “I’ll help you carry the stuff in.”

  “Thank you.” Frank walked back to the truck and Ellen followed.

  “Do you suppose it’s dirty in there?”

  “Yes.”

  “Frank, I don’t know how much dirt that I can . . .”

  “Ellen, can you try not to be such an Ellen and remember why we’re here? Please?” Frank reached into the back of the truck and handed her the sleeping bags. “Please? I’ll try to make the place as best as I can.”

  “O.K.” Ellen waited for Frank to grab some things and she walked with him to the cabin. “Frank?”

  Frank dropped everything and totally snapped. “What? What now, Ellen? What can you possible bitch about now? Get it out of the way. Get it over with!”

  Ellen stared at him for a second. “Are you finished? Good. I was just going to tell you I think that it’s going to end up be really nice for us.” She saw the expression drop on Frank’s face. “Feel bad now? Good, because you certainly have hurt my feelings.” Tossing her head back and throwing her nose up, Ellen walked ahead to the cabin. She was impressed with herself for turning the situation in her favor and she promised herself that the gripe she was going to say to Frank could actually wait until later.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  “Modular homes,” Danny stated to Joe with so much pride. “What do you think?”

  “Modular homes?”

  “Yes. They are prefabbed homes that basically come in two . . .”

  “I know what modular homes are.” Joe took a moment to subside his frustration. “Why are you telling me about modular homes?”

  “It’s the Beginnings wave of the future.”

  “What?” Joe leaned back as he laughed.

  “Sure Joe.” Danny spread out blue prints. “You wanted me to look at our prefabbed housing and to redesign and make them into more three bedroom homes. Granted it can be done, but . . .” Danny held up a thinking finger. “Time wise we can get this finished much faster and with less man power.”

  “By using modular homes?” Joe questioned.

  “Yes. You wanted to erect two rows of housing. We can get ten modular homes, line them up front to back instead of side by side in the same area without messing up your housing plan too much. You know, eventually we can put more up, leaving town houses for the single people.”

  “How many are you talking about immediately?”

  “Ten to start, the way I calculated, including the split families . . .”

  “What?” Joe was lost. “Split families?”

  “Yes, the ones that share kids. There are four. Including those, there are nineteen families in Beginnings with children. Now . . . nine of them are fine where they’re at. They either have one child or two of the same sex. The rest have two of the opposite sex or three or more children.”

  “Those four families are already in the three bedrooms we put up last year.”

  “Exactly. We need six. We can do this Joe.” Danny said.

  “How long you talking and how many men?”

  “One team of four. We can lay the foundation and get the houses erected in two weeks.”

  “Good plan with one fault. Where do we get the modular homes and how the hell do we get them here?”

  “See.” Danny grinned. “About this point you’re gonna be like, ‘Wow, that Danny Hoi’.”

  “I doubt that, but go on.”

  “Highway 200. There’s a modular home sales place right there. Four trucks are on the lot. Using those four trucks it will take three trips to bring the houses in with a minimal amount of gas.”

  “All right. Get started on this. Pick a crew from our new batch of guys. You have the list of families who are first priority for homes and give them a time frame of when they’ll be moving. Clear a security team to go with you to pick up the trucks. Set it up. You know what is needed.”

  “Thanks Joe.” Danny smiled and grabbed his blue prints. “Oh, by the way, since you married Andrea and she is on the needs housing list, you’ll be moving in two weeks.”

  “Two weeks?”

  “Can’t do it any faster. You guys only have two kids, so you’re at bottom of the list. Start packing.” Danny turned to leave and when he did, Dean and Henry walked in. “And there’s Mr. Top Priority.” Danny pointed to Dean.

  Dean looked almost frightened at that moment when he saw Danny pointing. “What?”

  “You’re moving. Start packing.” Danny started to leave.

  “Wait a second.” Dean stopped him. “I’m moving. Where am I moving?”

  “Oh we’re doing new housing. So . . .” Danny closed his eyes and thought. “You’re first on the list. One week tops.”

  Dean gasped. “One week? How are you going to build the houses in one week?”

  Joe slightly rolled his eyes when he answered for Danny. “Modular homes.”

  Dean smiled. “You’re kidding. No townhouse? I get a modular home. Hey Danny, those things can be nice. Get me a nice one for Ellen. She’ll love it.”

  “How about when I go to the lot, I get you the deluxe model home?”

  “I’d be grateful.”

  “What’s it worth to you?” Danny asked.

  “What do you want?”

  “Can I get back to you?”

  “Yeah, sure.” Dean smiled and watched Danny leave. He turned around to see Joe staring at him “What’s wrong?”

  “Are we done?” Joe asked. “Can we sit down and be ready, because I’d like to start this as soon as Robbie gets here.” Joe watched Dean give a fake look of fright, but Henry had a different, sad expression on his face. “Henry, what’s wrong? You’re not going to whine because you don’t get a modular home, are you?”

  “No Joe,” Henry sulked to his seat. “I just have this feeling that I’m forgetting something.” He brought his fingers to his mouth. “I just wished I knew what it was. I bet it’s important.”

  “Can’t be that important if you forgot about it,” Joe said.

  “True, but still.” Henry drew up another thinking look. “I wonder what it is.”

  ^^^^

  “According to John Matoose,” Joe paced around a listening Robbie, Dean and Henry. “He says no one else is working for George, but how much can we believe him?”

  Robbie shook his head in disagreement. “No, he knows he’s on borrowed time with us. I think if he knew about someone else he’d tell us. He’d do anything right now to save his ass and stay with his family.”

  Joe nodded. “You have a point. All right this ‘George insider’ is top priority. Beginning tomorrow, we try to figure out who this person is. Start from scratch. Compile a list of suspects and we’ll go through the list one person at a time. Each one of us will do a list and we’ll combine them.”

  Robbie added, “Sort of fine tooth comb it and come down to the most likely.”

  “Exactly,” Joe said with a point. “The most likely suspects will get our full investigation, however, each person that makes the list should be scrutinized through every scenario before they are removed from the suspect list.”

  Robbie questioned again. “Do we need a list of elimination questions with motive and means?”

  Joe nodded. “Yes. This goes no further than this r
oom. Just like we’re keeping the news about John Matoose under wraps, we’ll keep this under wraps. We don’t need a community panic or a lot of finger pointing. We’ll do this slowly and carefully even if it’s putting one suspect a day under a microscope. When we’re finished I’m sure we will know which individual gets our full attention.”

  Dean raised his hand slightly. “Any guidelines on compiling a list of potential suspects? I mean, we could end up with half the community if we think about it.”

  Joe sat back down. “Let’s see. It’s safe to assume anyone who arrived after George’s departure is safe to eliminate, so let’s go from there. Henry, any questions? You’ve been quiet.” Joe didn’t get a response. “Henry? Henry?”

  “Huh?” Henry’s attention was gained. “What was that Joe?”

  “Were you paying attention?” Joe asked him.

  “Yeah, sure but my mind keeps drifting.”

  “To that thing you can’t remember?”

  “Yeah. Isn’t that the oddest thing? The feeling is so strong.”

  Joe merely sat back and gave a pacifying attitude to Henry. “Why don’t you retrace the steps of your day?”

  “Excellent idea, thanks Joe.” Henry immediately stood up and flew to the door. “Catch me later to tell me what time we meet tomorrow.”

  Before Joe knew it, Henry was gone. Joe ran his hand down his face then pointed to the closed door. “And that man has been voted to run the community when I retire? Oh boy.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Ft. Peck Lake

  Frank closed his eyes tightly in the after moments of lovemaking to Ellen. In the bed of the pickup truck, under a quiet starry sky, they lay on and under sleeping bags. Frank kissed her once more then quietly moved to his back, embracing Ellen and holding her to his chest. He stared up at the sky, saying nothing.

  Ellen felt his sadness. With all that happened with Brian, it had been the first time in eight days that they had made love. So unlike Frank, who always tried to bury his hurt within intimacies, he did not turn to Ellen for that during his grief. They had touched and they had kissed, but what Frank needed most from Ellen was someone he was not afraid to break down in front of and that someone could only be Ellen. Ellen could tell Frank searched for something during their lovemaking. He was different. The act was more an act of holding on, clinging, rather than anything else. It was quiet, so quiet. Ellen wished she could read his mind because it frightened her a little. Perhaps that was why she waited for him to speak first.

  Frank waited long time before speaking. He cleared his throat subtly, swallowed harshly and kissed her on her forehead before saying a word. “I’m sorry.” He kissed her again. “I know it wasn’t very . . . it wasn’t very good tonight.”

  Ellen lifted herself up on her elbow and looked down at him. He kept staring. “What are you talking about, Frank? I loved making love to you.”

  Frank shifted his eyes to look at her. “Tomorrow will be better. I promise.”

  “Frank,” Ellen spoke softly. “You’re missing the point here.” She kissed him lightly. “Making love isn’t always about making your body feel good. It’s about making you feel good, right here.” She laid her hand over his heart. “Right now, at this point in our lives, love making isn’t a performance issue; it’s healing issue. And that, for me, you’re doing great. I wish I could help you though.”

  “You have with just this.” He pulled her back down to him. “Even though we have to sleep in the truck.” He felt Ellen chuckle. “Actually . . .” He looked up at the sky. “It’s not that bad. It’s so open out here. I feel alone with you which was the whole point of this trip.”

  “Kidnapping.”

  “That too.” His kissed her on the top of the head then whined some when in the distance, from the cabin he heard the phone ringing. “Man, Robbie again. What’s he trying to do, get all the calls he can in before the batteries die?”

  “Maybe it’s important.”

  “El, the last time he called he wanted to know if he could borrow my spare shoulder harness, come on. I’ll call him back in a little bit. Right now . . .” He pulled Ellen as close as he could. “I just want to enjoy this.”

  ^^^^

  Johnny Slagel would not have thought it odd seeing Henry pacing around Beginnings at ten o’clock at night. Henry often paced, sometimes too fast to even consider it pacing. Standing in the doorway of the social hall, watching Henry made Johnny laugh. Henry actually paced as if he were on a mission. He carried a notebook and walked backwards most of the time. He’d scratch his head, move on, and scratch his head again. Johnny knew it was time to step in.

  “Henry!” Johnny called to him.

  “Shh.” Henry held up his hand “Distribution . . . back to mechanics . . . . the chapel . . . wait, Dean and . . .”

  “Henry, what are you doing?”

  “Going nuts. I’ve been over this a million times.”

  “Still trying to figure out what it is you’re forgetting?”

  “Yes.” Henry nodded his head. “It’s gnawing at me like nothing ever has.”

  “Can I help?” Johnny asked.

  “I don’t think you can.”

  “Sure I can. I think I know what it is?”

  “You do? Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “I wasn’t allowed.”

  “What is it?” Henry asked with impatience.

  “Try this . . . Nick.”

  “What about him?” Henry asked, then after a second his eyes widened. “Oh my God! Oh my God!” Henry began to run in circles. “I lost my son! Where did I put him?” Henry grabbed on to his own head. “Think. Think. Think. Think.”

  “Henry.” Johnny said his name with a laugh. “My Pap has him.”

  Henry looked up to him. “What?”

  “Actually he does now. Danny took him to the nursery this morning where Andrea picked him up. He’s been there all night.” Johnny started to laugh when Henry took off for the living section.

  “Joe!” Henry bolted into Joe’s house.

  “Knock.”

  “Sorry.” Henry backed up, knocked and ran back in. “Joe!”

  “Yes Henry?” Joe stood from the couch.

  Henry took a moment to calm down. “This is . . . this is a little embarrassing. But . . . do you have Nick?”

  “What if I told you I didn’t?”

  “Oh, Joe, please, I’d die. Do you?”

  Joe grumbled and walked to the steps yelling up. “Andrea! He remembered!” Joe looked back at Henry. “She’s giving him another bath. Seems Alex now has a hair infatuation and like someone else I know, she put a hell of a lot of Hair Hold on that kid’s hair while he slept.”

  “He has bad hair, Joe.”

  “He has your hair, Henry,” Joe scolded.

  “Joe, please.” Henry ran his hand through his hair. “I work hard.”

  “You wouldn’t have to if you’d cut the shit out.” Joe switched his views to the steps when he heard Andrea singing and coming down. “Here he is. You can hand him over, Andrea.”

  “He’s such a good boy.” Andrea held him up to her eye level speaking that high pitch tone to Nick. “Aren’t you? Are you a good boy? Yes you are. You gonna go home now. Oh you sweet thing.” Andrea kissed Nick several times. “Grandmommy loves you.” She brushed her nose against Nick’s nose. “Yes, she does. She loves you. Yes she . . .”

  “Andrea!” Joe snapped. “Give him his kid.”

  Delivering a sequence of kisses to Nick, Andrea handed him to Henry. Immediately Nick started to cry. “Oh my.” Andrea reached, saw the glare from Joe, and then held her hand up. “I’ll just make my nightly cup of tea. Night Henry.”

  Nervously Henry bounced Nick. “Well, I’d better be going. Thanks Joe.”

  “Hold it.”

  Henry stopped in his escape to the door. He cringed before turning around. “Joe, he’s really fussy, I should go.”

  “I want to talk to you.” Joe walked to him. “But first . . . give me
the goddamn kid.” Joe took Nick. Nick stopped crying. “Sit down, Henry.”

  “No, I think I . . .”

  “Sit!”

  Henry rushed to the couch and sat down.

  Holding Nick, Joe walked before him. “Now you know I’ve known you a lot of years and I like to think of you as my oddball son.”

  “Thanks Joe.”

  “Glad to hear you appreciate that. Anyhow right now, I’m going to talk to you as if you were my own flesh and blood. Ready?”

  “Yes.” Henry swallowed.

  “What in God’s name were you thinking about!” Joe yelled. “Thirteen hours! Thirteen hours! You didn’t know you lost your baby for thirteen hours?”

  “But Joe . . .”

  “Shut up, Henry! We all thought one hour. Two was pushing it, but when the end of the workday came and went, you pushed abandonment. Now listen to me and listen to me closely.” Joe neared him. “I know Frank looks at this kid as his own. I know he plans on raising this kid. But keep in mind one thing, your wiry ass sperm created this kid and you will learn to be a part of his life. You will learn to take care of him. You will not! Not! Push the responsibility on anyone else when you are in the position to care for him. You hear me!”

  “But Joe, he doesn’t like me.”

  “Make him like you, Henry.”

  “I don’t know how.”

  Joe handed him Nick. “Learn. Now is the perfect opportunity since Frank is away. Learn.”

  Henry whined when Nick started to cry, “See.”

  “No, what I see is you taking my grandson home and being a father to him.” Joe walked to the door and opened it. “Go.”

  “But Joe . . .”

  “Go.”

  Henry slowly walked to the door. “Bye.”

  Joe stopped him, kissed Nick, then let the two of them leave. He shut the door with the loudest of exhales.