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

by Jacqueline Druga

  “I’m too dressed up. Am I too dressed up?” Ellen asked Jess nervously.

  “No.” Jess spoke with the needle in his mouth.

  “I think I am. You would tell me no just so I won’t talk.”

  “Ellen, hold still.”

  “I’ll ask Robbie.” Ellen raised her voice. “Robbie!”

  “Ellen.” Jess flicked her leg.

  “Ow.”

  “He’s taking a shower and painfully too. You jabbed him pretty hard today.”

  “Well Dean gave me a damn heart attack. He so calmly says George called. You know George said he was calling back when it was time for Dean to leave.”

  “So you thought it meant Dean was leaving?” Jess asked.

  “Wouldn’t you?”

  “Yeah, I guess so.”

  “I’m too dressed up.” Ellen shook her head. “It’s a small ceremony in a field with just my family. Do you think Dean is getting dressed up.”

  “He may be.” Jess stitched. “Hold still.”

  “He can’t be. Come to think about it, about as dressed up as he gets are those tan pants he has.”

  “With a nice shirt and tie, that’s dressed up.”

  “You have such a fashion sense. You know your uniform is never wrinkled,” Ellen commented. “I noticed that. I’m too dressed up. I’m putting jeans on . . . ow.” Ellen felt the slight pinch of the needle. “Why did you do that?”

  “You are not putting jeans on, damn it. You’re the bride. Now let me finish this hem.”

  “O.K., O.K., but I know I’m too dressed up.”

  “Ellen. Quiet.”

  “All right I . . .” Ellen stopped talking when Robbie walked in the bedroom. He wore a towel around his waist and neck. “Is that how you’re dressing for the wedding?”

  Robbie snickered as he rubbed his hair dry. “Better than you. At least I’m not all dressed up.”

  ^^^^

  Binghamton, Alabama

  “What the fuck is this shit?” Frank held what looked like a short leather strip. He brought it to his nose and sniffed it, making a curled up face and an outward breath of disgust. He checked the flexibility of the supposedly edible object and it wouldn’t bend. After sniffing it once more, Frank tapped it on the surface of his desk, then he tapped it again. He laughed at the durability of the food and smacked it on the desk as hard as he could. There was a crack and the top piece of the food flew up. Frank lifted the piece he held in his hand then looked down to his desk with a snicker when he saw the small nick in the wood surface. Still laughing in amusement at the damage he did, Frank looked up to the knocking on the door.. “Yeah.”

  “Frank, I mean Colonel.” Richie walked in.

  “Richie, what the hell is . . .” The food dropped from Frank’s hand when he saw the black man walk in, wearing a grey suit and tie, none-the-less. “Who are you?”

  “Marcus Hunter,” he spoke with arrogance as he walked to Frank. “Peace ambassador for the Society. You don’t remember me?”

  “Should I? I have amnesia you know.” Frank pointed to his own temple. “What can I do for you Mr. . . .”

  “Hunter. I’m told I can rest up here a few days before continuing on my journeys. I’m also going to observe how things are going while I’m here.”

  “Observe?” Frank nodded with a closed mouth. “O.K.” He sat down in his chair. He then noticed Marcus staring. “Yes?”

  “Are you going to show me to my quarters?”

  “Me personally? No. Richie?”

  “I’ll take care of it, Colonel.” Richie walked to the door.

  “Thanks,” Frank said

  “This way, Mr. Hunter.” Richie held the door open for Marcus and followed him out.

  Frank rocked back in forth in his chair. He picked the food back up and fiddled with it. “Maybe I should have offered him something to eat.” Frank snickered at his bad joke, rocked in his chair, and went back to amusing himself with that piece of brown food.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  “Andrea!” Joe yelled from his cluttered and box filled bedroom. “Where in Christ’s name are my silver cufflinks? I’m flapping like a goddamn bird here with these sleeves!” He flipped open a box and grumbled.

  “Blasphemy, Joe. Not in my home.” Andrea scolded as she walked in wearing a bright peach flowered dress and a wide, wide brim sun hat to match.”

  “My house and what the hell are you wearing?” Joe stared at her.

  “Benjamin from fabrics made this outfit for me.”

  “Figures,” Joe grumbled.

  “Joe, this is the first opportunity I have had to wear it.” She touched the rim of her hat. “You don’t like?”

  “No. Where in the hell are my . . .” Joe saw the saddened look on Andrea’s face. “Christ. You look lovely, Andrea.”

  “Thank you.” She smiled.

  “Now where in the hell are my cufflinks? Damn wedding. Of all days and my shit is packed.”

  “Here.” Andrea pushed him a box. “Dresser stuff. Try there and lose the attitude, mister.” She pointed her finger and walked to the door. “And hurry. We’re waiting. Denny is complaining about his hair. I’m afraid he’ll mess it up.”

  Joe only raised his eyes when Andrea walked out. “Probably has the kid’s hair parted like a damn nerd and . . .” Joe moaned again as he rummaged through the box, pulling out a book. “This isn’t dresser stuff. The stupid hat is strangling her brain. Can’t she look inside the box before she writes . . .” Joe stopped when the folded piece of paper fell from the book he held. He wouldn’t have paid any attention to it had it not opened slightly and exposed a name. Looking to the door, then to the tri-folded paper, Joe opened it. It was Beginnings paper, the stuff they started making four years earlier. If possible, Joe’s face became more stern as he read it silently to himself. ‘Andrea, I am not a word person. I never was. I do better when I write what I feel and I just wanted to write you this letter. It’s going to be difficult for me at first to adjust, but know that I will get through as long as we can still remain friends. I commend your commitment to Miguel and wish the both of you all the luck in the world. I wish your decision could have been with me. I will always remember our time together and you will always hold a special place in my heart. Love always . . . George.’

  Joe read the letter one more time, closed the flap on the box, folded the letter, placed it in his pocket, and then continued to search out his cufflinks.

  ^^^^

  Binghamton, Alabama

  Frank stared with no emotion at the phone that was extended down to him courtesy of Marcus. Frank took it, spun his chair, and allowed for Marcus to only stare at his back. “Yeah.”

  “Lt. Merrick has disappeared?” George asked with surprise.

  Frank fluttered his lips. “How do you like that? I’m not wasting much more man power on searching for him, that’s for sure. He left in the middle of the night, one of my staff said.”

  “Yes, as you know, we have problems with defectors.”

  “Assholes.”

  “So, I see you met Marcus.”

  Frank turned his chair, looked at Marcus, then turned away. “Yeah.”

  “How is he?”

  “An asshole.”

  George laughed. “I don’t like him much either. Three things, Frank.”

  “Shoot.”

  “One, take care of him and issue him three or four guards to accompany him on his camp site search. Two, I need you to do something for me tonight. Got a pen?”

  “Yep.” Frank reached and fumbled for one.

  “Write down this number. 916-4556.”

  Frank wrote it down and stared at it. “Who am I calling?”

  “Seems we need to let these people of Beginnings know that they didn’t kill you. A little mind game. I want you to do it this evening. Call that number. When the man answers, you tell him that you just wanted to warn him that you were alive.”

  “Sounds stupid,” Frank commented.
/>
  “Humor me. Marcus will be there when you call if you run into any problems.”

  “What’s the third thing?”

  “The UWA soldiers. They no longer are needed. Have them killed. The sooner the better.”

  Frank was silent for a moment as he turned his chair once more and looked at Marcus. “I’ll take care of it personally.”

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  Joe looked at his watch as he stood in Robbie’s living room and then looked up the steps. “Ellen, for crying out loud. It’s four ten. Move it!”

  With a running thump, Ellen flew down the steps. “Sorry. I was changing.”

  Joe looked at the dress she wore. “You had that on when I got here twenty-five minutes ago.”

  “Yeah, I changed it and put it back on. Then changed it, tried something . . .”

  “Ellen.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Your wedding?”

  “Yes, my wedding,” Ellen said nervously.

  Joe opened the door for her. “After you. Good thing I radioed Dean and told him you were running late.”

  “Is he mad?”

  “Yep.”

  “Shit.”

  “Go.” Joe pointed to the Jeep and pulled the door closed.

  “You look very nice, Joe, cufflinks and everything.”

  “Yeah.” Joe looked at the silver cufflinks. “Had quite the informative time looking for them too.”

  “Huh?” Ellen was lost.

  “Get in the Jeep. And why are you so dressed up anyhow?”

  Ellen tossed her hands up as she climbed in.

  “Christ.” Joe stopped the Jeep as they hit the spot a mile out in the under developed section. “What the hell is this shit?”

  “Joe.” Ellen stepped from the Jeep. It looked as if every person in Beginnings was there. “It was supposed to be just our family.”

  “Yeah, well, you know the people in this town. They look for any excuse not to work.”

  “Oh my God.” Ellen was breathless. There were so many people standing there she couldn’t see Dean despite the small opening path that divided them.

  “You ready?”

  “I think. Yes. Shit. This wasn’t supposed to be like this. Now I’m nervous.”

  Joe smiled at her and lifted his hand in a signal wave to Robbie.

  The words ‘she’s here’ went through Dean and shook his stomach so hard he thought he lost that internal organ. He lifted himself from the seat on the ground he had as Reverend Bob informed him that Ellen had arrived and was ready.

  Dean took a deep breath and walked with Rev. Bob. He saw Paul sitting with the guitar where Rev. Bob was going to stand. He wasn’t supposed to be there. None of the massive amounts of people were supposed to be there. Simple, short and quiet. “Rev. Bob.” Dean whispered as he walked. “This wasn’t supposed to be like this.”

  Rev. Bob simply smiled and took his place with Dean on his left.

  Fixing the grey tie he wore, that Robbie lent him, Dean nervously ran his hand over his crisp white shirt that Jess ironed for him, placed his hands in the pockets of the black pants Danny lent him, and turned around to face where he knew Ellen would walk up.

  Paul’s guitar picking of the simple bridal march--his own rendition--made Dean’s stomach flutter but not as much as when he saw Ellen walking up the pathway, holding on to Joe’s arm. Ellen waved with a smile to him and Dean’s heart pounded so strong. He lost his breath momentarily and cleared his throat in his nervousness. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. The cool breeze that swept through the field wisped Ellen’s dress and hair just a little but enough to make the whole entire vision that Dean took in almost dream like. The moment was too good to be true, too long awaited, and Dean hinged in fear of the second he would wake up and it would be gone.

  But the music kept playing, Dean kept watching, and Ellen and Joe drew nearer.

  Joe laid his hand with a father’s pat onto Ellen’s as it gripped tighter to his white shirt. He leaned his head to her the closer they walked to the front. “It’s Dean. Come on. Calm down.”

  “This is real. It didn’t seem real until this moment. I’m marrying Dean.”

  “Yep. This is as real as it gets.” Joe stopped walking with Ellen when they reached Dean. He looked to Dean, one eyebrow raised a little and a quirky smile hit him. “First time I really give her away, Dean.” Joe winked. “Don’t make me kick your ass if you do her wrong.”

  Dean’s head dropped with a smile.

  Before Joe handed Ellen over, he faced her. His left hand laid on her face and Joe pressed his lips firmly to her check. “Love you,” he whispered.

  “Love you too.” Ellen touched his hand and Joe stepped back.

  Joe took his place next to Andrea, looked at her hat, and stepped a few inches from her.

  “Hey.” Ellen smiled at Dean.

  “Hey.” He whispered back then motioned his head to everyone behind him. “What is up with this?”

  “I don’t know.” Ellen shook her head. “It’s not supposed to be like this.”

  “I’m nervous.”

  “Me too.”

  “Can we begin?” Rev. Bob asked with a snicker to his voice.

  “Sorry,” Ellen said with embarrassment.

  “Sorry.”

  Rev. Bob opened his Bible. “Can I ask our two witnesses to step forward?”

  Robbie moved close to Dean’s side and Jenny stepped forward to Ellen’s. At the sound of a small sob, at the same time, Ellen Dean, Robbie and Rev. Bob all looked to Jenny.

  “Sorry.” She dabbed her eye. “Sorry. I need a hanky.” She faced the crowd and whispered loudly “Who has a hanky!”

  Andrea, holding her hat, did a feminine run to the front, handed Jenny a handkerchief, and stepped back.

  Rev. Bob waited until he saw all were situated. “We’ll begin.”

  Ellen swallowed and felt Dean search out her hand. They joined fingers and locked them. So tightly his hand held hers. “You look very handsome.”

  Dean smiled. “Thanks.”

  Rev. Bob peered once at his Bible then looked back up. “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude” Rev. Bob smiled at both of them. “We’re gathered here . . .” He paused when Jenny sobbed again. “Are you all right?”

  Jenny nodded with a whimper. “That was beautiful.”

  “Back to where I was.” He cleared his throat. “We’re gathered here today, amongst God’s green earth, to celebrate the greatest gift God has given us, the gift of love and expression through marriage. I’ve given them an assignment. I asked them to write their own vows today. Ellen?”

  “Oh God,” she gasped in nervousness. “Sorry Reverend.” With another deep breath she faced Dean. “Here I go . . . Thank you for this. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. This step that we’re taking is . . .it tells me something. It tells me you have faith in me, which makes me feel good, Dean, because I have this humongous amount of faith in you. I want you to know that I promise, as your wife, to stand by you. I’ll love you and try my hardest with you because you’re worth it. I truly believe that I couldn’t face tomorrow if I didn’t have you there. I know this from our past. And Dean, I’m not letting you go this time.”

  Dean kissed Ellen, ran his hands though his hair, and waited for the ‘go ahead’ nod from Reverend Bob. “The road’s been long, El.” He let out a loud breath. “Really long, but we made it and I’m still waiting for someone to jump out and say. ‘Hey, we’re kidding you’.” He paused in his nervousness. “El, I can’t stand here and tell you what my heart feels because I’d be standing here forever. Just know, from this moment on, I will do my best not to let you down. And I’ll stand beside you too . . .” Dean closed his eyes. “I am so grateful to God for this day. You can’t even imagine how grateful I am. I’m . . . grateful for you.”

  A soft smile came across Ellen’s face and she kissed Dean. “Thank you.”

  “You too
.” He winked.

  Rev. Bob motioned his head to Jenny then to Robbie. He held out his hand and both of them laid the thin gold bands in his palm. “Ellen, just like I told you.”

  Ellen took the larger band and took Dean’s hand. “With this ring, I thee wed.” She slipped it on his finger. “I take you as my husband.”

  His steady hands trembled as Dean lifted the band and took Ellen’s hand. “El, with this ring, Dean’s voice cracked a little as he placed the ring on her. “I take you, El, as my wife.” He lifted her hand, ran his thumb over the band, and gently laid his lips to her fingers.

  Reverend Bob watched their joined hands. “We have witnessed the vows spoken and the exchanging of rings. Now with the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife . . . You may kiss your bride.”

  A quiver took over Dean’s top lip as he leaned down to Ellen, laying his left hand that sported the wedding band upon her cheek. So rapidly, so strongly his heart beat as he kissed her softly, then kissed her again. Pulling away slowly, they embraced.

  Reverend Bob extended out his arms as Dean and Ellen ended their hold. He laid his hand on their shoulders and guided them to turn and face the people of Beginnings. “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. Ladies and Gentlemen of Beginnings, may I proudly present to you, Mr. and Mrs. . . . Dean Michael Hayes.”

  Dean and Ellen blushed some and smiled as they faced those who greeted them with applause, whistles, and cheers. The awaited union had taken place. Finally and for real . . . Dean and Ellen were married.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Binghamton, Alabama

  Link, Kyle, and Jeff moved slowly because their feet were in shackles and they were linked together like a chain gang as they moved passed the gate guard and out into the deep wooded area.

  “Keep moving,” Frank ordered as he stayed behind them. “Go. Go. Move. That’s it.”