by Reed Hill
It wasn’t long before the reply came in. Raúl glanced at the wireless and slammed on the brakes, sliding the truck to a stop. He swore profusely and pounded the steering wheel enough to shake the dashboard. He tossed the wireless to the seat next to him as he sped away into the night. He shook a fist at the infernal device, which sat on the seat mocking him as it glowed in the otherwise dark cab.
Crow’s Nest: Done. More to follow in 24 hours.
*****
Biggs Field - El Paso Intelligence Center
El Paso, Texas - July 7th, 2017 – 6:45 a.m.
“There’s been no movement for the past hour, General,” the Red Viper Guard stood tall before Sifuentes, who didn’t move from the desk. “The forward observers say that a counter-attack appears to be very unlikely in the short term.”
“Very good Lieutenant Sanchez,” Sifuentes glanced at the man. “Get the men fed, and make sure the night patrols are relieved with those who are fresh.”
The young Viper officer snapped to and began to hustle away, before Sifuentes called out to him. “And please, have some breakfast brought up here as well.”
He nodded quickly and headed off through the long monitoring room and through the main double doors. Sifuentes leaned back in the chair and rubbed his belly, loosening his belt a little. He was wearing down under the strain of the operation. The few hours of sleep he had gotten the previous night weren’t enough. He had been expecting a strong, swift response from the U.S. government, but never in his broadest imaginings did he expect them to use weapons of mass destruction, much less ones that did so much damage to their own people and so little to them. It couldn’t have been a misfire. They had fired on their own troops.
He reveled in the possibility that the U.S. government was in such disarray that the confusion of battle had caused them to strike their own troops. The other possibility was unthinkable. Delicious, yes for the cause, but truly unimaginable. Using nuclear weapons on their own troops?
Unbelievable.
The Dons had said their assault would likely fracture the U.S. and throw the region into chaos. They probably had no idea just how right they were. They had apparently pulled one of the load-bearing cards, and the neatly stacked house was teetering on collapse. From the news reports, it was clear that America was beginning to come apart.
Bombings.
Riots.
Assassinations.
Sifuentes looked at the American flag again, the one that hung on the wall across the huge monitoring station. One corner had come loose at the top and was falling down, draped across itself. While the flag still held from the other three corners, the area with stars had fallen and hung lifelessly.
At that moment, a young corporal burst through the double doors trotting toward him with a paper in his hands. He approached and breathlessly handed him the note. “You need to see this right away sir.”
Sifuentes snatched the paper from the short enlisted man and scanned it quickly.
“We got them.”
Sifuentes grinned broadly. The note was from Colonel Martinez, whose command was to attack north from them into Nuevo Mexico and assault the National Laboratory and Research Center.
The note was simple. Sifuentes chuckled to himself. It certainly described their mission objective in New Mexico, and probably the crazy American government as well.
It read: ‘We have them. Two soda cans short of a six-pack.’
*****
Three Eagles Ranch
Outside of Hunt, Texas - July 7th, 2017 – 10:15 a.m.
“Are you sure you are up to this, Nick?” Sara looked at him with concerned eyes. That was a nice feeling, to be back in her good graces. In truth, he didn’t remember much after seeing the Mohawk and gunning his way toward him. There was a hazy memory of the leaders from the southland, but not much else.
Except of the warmth of Sara’s touch as he lay in bed, and sight of Lauren, Sam and Jack coming in a few times. He looked at his wife and touched her face. She closed her eyes and put her smooth cheek in his calloused hand.
He could see the scores of soldiers forming up in the south field adjacent to the orchard. Most of the guys from the club had already grouped up too, so Nick started that direction with Sara close by. Lauren was managing the boys well. He was glad they had decided to change into better clothes even if it was just for fifteen or twenty minutes. Seeing Jack in his striped suit and little red bow tie brought a smile to Brodie’s face.
“Yeah. And you’re okay going to your mom and dad’s now?” He pulled her close.
“I think it’s for the best, yeah.”
“Me too,” Nick kissed her lightly. “I want you and the kids safe. Tompkins has arranged to have a Ranger meet you in Kerrville and escort you all the way to your folks’ door.”
“I hate the thought of leaving you,” she kissed him back, and nearly put her arms around him before catching herself. “But I think it’s still too dangerous here right now.”
“Okay,” he glanced over his shoulder at her serious face. “You know things are going to be better, right?”
She allowed herself a small grin, “That’s what you always say.”
They lined up across from Jeff Doyle, who stood holding hands with the tall, tawny-haired attorney. Nick turned and took Sara’s face in his hands. “You know I love you and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
“I know, Nick,” she said softly. “I love you too. We’ll be back when it’s all over.”
As Nick looked out over the neat formation of soldiers he had the profound sense, one that had escaped him for many years. The feeling he had been chasing for years, that elusive thing that had never been in any of the places where he stopped to look, be it the bottom of a bottle or out in the dusty acres of the ranch.
Peace.
*****
“And so, despite their passing, we know that these brave souls are in a better place.” President Chase looked out over the grove of apple trees and settled his gaze back on the four freshly prepared graves. “Texas has lost ardent defenders in these men. These courageous soldiers, one of laws and the others of order and arms, gave their lives so that we might live.” Doyle put his arm around Callie as she began to weep. They had slept for more than ten hours but he had still had woken up tired. He had spent the night by Callie’s side, wanting to be near her, to look out for her. He knew he was feeling something very powerful for her, and he sensed the same from her. She looked up at him with tears on her cheeks before turning back to Chase.
“We ask God’s blessing on them and to receive them into his glory,” Chase continued, “where there’s no chaos, only tranquility. No pain and suffering, only joy and pleasure. Where there’s no strife and war, only peace.”
Chase stepped back and took a place next to Doyle, across from Brodie and his family.
Doyle noticed that Brodie looked like he had more color in his face and even had smiled a few times that morning. He stood formally with his family, his arm around his wife’s waist as she pulled the little boy close to her. Three hundred soldiers stood by in neat rows a short distance away in the field to the south.
Jeff Doyle felt the heat of the sun on his neck, and after a call was made, seven soldiers stepped forward and marched in cadence stopping about fifty feet away in a tight line. There was a pause as the soldiers brought their rifles to the ready. The wind washed over them, and Doyle could only hear Callie’s quiet weeping and the soft sobbing of Brodie’s wife and daughter.
Then from off in the distance, there was the blare of a trumpet. The somber notes of taps wafted on the warm breeze. A set of commands could be heard, just barely, and the gunfire from the seven soldiers rang out. They fired again at the nearly silent command and then a final time before coming back to attention and settling their rifles at their sides.
As the last long note of the somber tune hung in the desert air, Jeff glanced at the graves and then to Callie and Chase. They had come so far, and yet there was so much
to do. Chase needed him more than ever. Despite the somber tone that drifted over them, Doyle found a new sense of purpose welling inside of him.
He rubbed Callie on the back as she allowed her head to rest on his shoulder. After the honor guard returned to their posts in front of the columns of soldiers, the crowd began to disperse. He noticed Chase giving him a quick glance of gratitude and a friendly nod, before the President turned to walk back toward the house.
A fragile, newborn Republic of Texas had been delivered in a storm and was clinging for life. He needed to make sure that it lived and grew. The difficult task of putting together a new government in the midst of hostilities both foreign and domestic lay in front of them. He knew Chase was equal to the task. Doyle vowed that he would be also.
Jeff turned toward Callie and lifted her chin up. She had gathered herself and seemed content to just enjoy the moment. He caressed her face and gave her a deep, tender kiss. As they turned to walk back toward the house, he felt the gentle tug of her arm around his waist. It seemed like a day for vows, and he smiled hoping others would be making similar commitments. It was a new day for Texas, and Jeff Doyle, one full of hope and promise.
“So what now?” Callie asked Jeff as they crossed the lawn.
Indeed. That was the question.
He answered honestly and without a hint of humor, “Now comes the hard part.”
THE END
To find out what happens next, look for the next novel in the Anvil of Freedom series, Forged in Fire due on store shelves as well as for your Kindle at Amazon.com and CreateSpace Store in the fall of 2013.
