Lone Star Rising

by Kurt Winans

  By two in the afternoon at the Tillman estate, the entire family had awakened and shared a family meal of party leftovers. The last of their guests for the extravagant New Year’s Eve celebration had departed at roughly four in the morning, so as a consequence, both Samuel and Victoria slept until nearly noon. With a crew of hired hands now cleaning the house and exterior patio area under the guiding and watchful eye of either Victoria or Ms. Holloway, Samuel had a few hours at his disposal before partaking in one of his favorite New Year’s Day traditions. That time would be put to good use, as he had a few business loose ends to take care of and phone calls to make.

  After ensuring that the location of all the cleaning staff members was accounted for, Samuel retired to his office and contacted number twenty-three. His intent was to communicate via her switchboard with many of the key players that he would see and do business with come Monday morning in Austin. Although Samuel had been given no cause to believe otherwise, it was important for him to verify that all was well with each of those operatives and that their aspect of the plan for Monday was in place. Once that was done, he could settle down for the tradition of watching some late afternoon and evening college football bowl games.

  Samuel spoke first with number three, who was ready to assume his new role within the organization as per the agreed upon terms of the Texas Legislature. Then he called number five to confirm their meeting in her office for early Monday morning, and how she would manage the events throughout the remainder of that day and beyond. Next was number eleven, the former United States Senator Nathan Pearson, who had presented the proclamation of the intended Texas independence to his brethren and Vice President Sutherland from the Senate floor in mid-December. Having also been informed several days prior of his upcoming role, number eleven was eager to have that position confirmed by number three in Austin on Monday. His fourth connection through number twenty-three was to number seven, who like number five, had been a guest at the party the previous evening. He had safely returned to his offices, and was ready to assume his role within the new government once the Legislature had moved forward with addressing his particular area of expertise. Each of the calls had been lengthy, and the business matters upon his desk had been time consuming as well. Therefore the available time afforded to Samuel had grown short. Others that needed to be contacted with regard to their upcoming postings or assignments didn’t need to be spoken to with such urgency, so those calls could wait until Saturday morning. In the current moment something more important took precedence over those calls, and Samuel didn’t want to cause undue pain by failing to meet his obligation. He had made a promise to Savanah that they would meet in the family room prior to four o’clock in order to watch the Rose Bowl game together, and promises, especially to her, were something that Samuel firmly believed in keeping.

  While relaxing with Savanah seated nearby, Samuel watched the action on the huge holographic wall screen. It was nearly time for the game to start, and even though his beloved Texas A&M Aggies had never played in that particular bowl game classic, the yearly televised contest was something that he seldom missed. The previous New Year’s Day had been one of those rare exceptions however, as on that occasion he had taken Savanah to Manhattan with her oldest brother Jason for what may have been her only opportunity to visit the big apple in the winter. After a brief moment of reflection upon those few days, and how much Savanah had enjoyed her adventures in New York, Samuel glanced in her direction and smiled. She had continued to respond well to her various treatments, while the continued regiment of physical therapy and swimming was also helping to slow the progression of her affliction.

  With less than a minute to play in the currently televised bowl game from Tampa Bay, Florida, yet another advertisement was shown for the upcoming Rose Bowl clash. During that network plug, which had already been viewed numerous times over previous days and weeks, Savanah turned toward Samuel and asked, “Hey grandpa, have you ever been to the Rose Bowl game?”

  “No sugar, I haven’t.”

  “Have you been to California?”

  “Oh yes, many times.”

  “Is it nice?”

  “Well I haven’t seen all of it, but yes, many parts of California are nice.”

  “Have the Aggies ever played in California?”

  “Yes, they have on a few occasions. But the last time was just before you were born.”

  “Well maybe if the Aggies ever play in California again, we could go to the game.”

  Understanding that the non-conference portion of a football schedule for most major programs was often determined nearly ten years into the future, Samuel knew that Texas A&M had no such game on the horizon. Based on that fact and Savanah’s uncertain health those many years from the present time, the thought of planning such an event would be impossible. Even so, Samuel smiled and replied, “That sounds like a great idea, but I don’t think the Aggies are going to play out there anytime soon.”

  Then a voice from the holographic wall screen announced that it was time for the broadcast from the Rose Bowl game in Pasadena to begin, so Savanah turned her attention toward that. A moment later as the teams of Indiana University from the Big Ten Conference and Oregon State University from the Pacific-12 Conference ran onto the field, Savanah turned and asked, “Hey grandpa?”

  “Yes Savanah.”

  “Oregon State is called the Beavers right?”

  “Yes they are.”

  “Well I know what those animals are because I’ve seen pictures of Beavers in books, but I don’t know what Indiana is.”

  “They are called the Hoosiers.”

  “Is that an animal too?”

  “No sugar. A Hoosier is not an animal. It’s a nickname for a person from Indiana.”

  “You mean like an Aggie is a person?”

  “That’s right.”

  Just then the two men in the broadcast both began their pre-game comments. Within the course of that rhetoric was the mention that Indiana’s one and only previous trip to the Rose Bowl game had been played fifty-nine years earlier in January of 1968, while the most recent of only three Oregon State appearances in the New Year’s classic had been three years prior to that in 1965. In neither case had the team come away victorious, and since the lone Oregon State victory in their three attempts had come in 1942 during the only Rose Bowl game played outside of Pasadena, the current contest carried added significance. The upcoming victory in the natural home for the granddaddy of all bowl games was destined to change history for one of the involved universities.

  The contest became a well fought affair, with the lead changing several times in the process. Throughout the gridiron scuffle Victoria and various members of the family moved in and out of the room to watch the action for a few minutes, but Jennifer was never seen. Two fourth quarter field goals by Indiana, their fourth and fifth such tallies of the game, gave the Hoosiers a tenuous lead of five points, but in the end the slight measure of insurance that the second kick intended to provide was not enough. The game tilted toward the Oregon State Beavers by a score of 32-29 when they ran for a touchdown and subsequent two-point conversion with less than one minute to play. With an ensuing fourth down incompletion near midfield by Indiana to seal the outcome, a vast sea of orange and black clad Oregon State fans within the stadium exhaled and became understandably jubilant.

  Turning toward Savanah and the present family collective which had grown in number throughout the later stages of the game, Samuel said, “Well, I don’t know how anybody else feels about it, but I think that was one great football game!”

  Savanah smiled back at him and replied, “It sure was grandpa, and I think that Oregon State deserved to win. Thanks for watching the game with me.”

  “Well you’re welcome sugar. As with all the other games that we have watched together, this was a lot of fun. We can do this anytime you want.”

  Unnoticed in her stealthy movements during the family’s fixation on the game, Jennifer stood silently
in the hall leading toward her family’s wing of the mansion. She had taken up that position near the kitchen on many occasions before during the previous year or two, and had overheard the content of a wide range of conversations in the process. This time however, when Jennifer listened to what her grandfather had said to her younger cousin, she spun around in dejection with head hung low before silently moving back to the confines of her room.

  Mrs. Dawson greeted President Harwell with a strong cup of coffee as he entered the oval office, and said, “Good morning sir. How was everything yesterday during my absence?”

  After reaching for the coffee, tasting it, and then savoring the impact of that first gulp, he replied, “Well Mrs. Dawson, it certainly was a busier day than a year ago, but that was to be expected I suppose.”

  Still somewhat miffed at having been ordered to take the entirety of the day in question off, but feeling well rested as a result of it, Mrs. Dawson stated and inquired, “Yes sir, I’m sure that it was. And how did my stand in do for you?”

  “Oh the young man did well enough I suppose, and he was quite professional in his attempt to cover for you. Unfortunately things are never the same when you are gone, as this strong cup of coffee is an example of how you can anticipate my immediate need better than any other staff member.”

  Feeling reassured by his words as to her abilities, she replied with, “Thank you sir, that’s very kind.”

  “You’re welcome Mrs. Dawson. So then, what’s on the docket for this morning?”

  “Well sir to begin with, there is a file on your desk from the Secretary of Transportation. The staff member who delivered the file said it contained, among other information, the numbers which you requested yesterday afternoon. Additionally, Agent Bishop is scheduled to arrive here at eight o’clock, and then you have a meeting with the Director of Homeland Security at nine.”

  “Thank you Mrs. Dawson. Could you please send in Agent Bishop when he arrives, and inform Mr. Westin that I would like him to be here for the meeting with the Director?”

  “Yes sir, is there anything else?”

  “Yes. I will also need to speak with the Governors of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma at some point in the near future. Can you attempt to contact their offices later this morning to see if we can set up a video conference call?”

  “Contacting the offices is no problem sir, but there may not be anyone on duty during the holiday weekend.”

  “That’s probably true Mrs. Dawson, but we could get lucky in that someone might be in their office. If not, then leave a message for each respective Governor to contact the White House as soon as possible.”

  As she left the oval to begin those preparations, President Harwell turned to the file on his desk. There was a large amount of detailed information to go over, but the task provided an opportunity for the President. He was able to reacquaint himself with some United States geography which he had forgotten long ago, and as the elected leader of the country, he secretly felt ashamed that the geography had somehow become unimportant for him to remember. Then in the course of formulating an initial strategy while studying all of the informational statistics, maps, and satellite photography within the report, he was interrupted when Agent Bishop entered the room and said, “Good morning Mr. President.”

  Looking up toward the voice of his favorite protectorate, Jordan Harwell replied, “Well good morning Heath. Is it eight o’clock already?”

  “It’s actually a few minutes prior to that sir, but Mrs. Dawson said that I could come in anyway. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Of course I don’t mind Heath, I asked her to send you in when you reported for duty. So, how were your two days off? Did you have some fun?”

  “They were fine sir, and yes I did have some fun. New Year’s eve was one of solitude and quiet contemplation.”

  “You spent the evening alone? Are you telling me that you had no party to attend, or a young lady to share some time with?”

  “That’s correct Mr. President. I was invited to an event, but I have never been one to party much for the celebration of a New Year. As to the latter of your suggestions, that would be little more than a distraction for me at the present time.”

  Although fully understanding the man’s passion and due diligence toward his duties as a protectorate, the President shrugged and said, “Perhaps that’s true Heath, but sometimes the right distraction can do wonders for the soul.”

  Exhibiting a rare visible relaxation in his normally stoic veneer, Agent Bishop smiled to the retort of the President. With the memory of a distant past rendezvous now brought to the front of his mind, he replied, “Yes sir they can, but finding the right distraction can prove to be difficult at times.”

  While nodding in agreement, the President then said, “Well, based on your description of New Year’s Eve, that must not have been the fun part of your two days off. What did you do yesterday that could be considered fun?”

  “I went for a long run in the morning, and then read over some files and reports.”

  “That still doesn’t sound like much fun Heath. What are you hiding?”

  “Nothing Mr. President. I had some research to do on various subjects, and the last two days seemed like a good time to take care of it. However if it will make you feel better, I did watch the Rose Bowl.”

  “Well that’s something. Unfortunately I didn’t have any time to watch the game. Was it a good one?”

  “Yes sir, it was. Sorry to tell you this because you missed it, but the game will probably be considered as one of the classic Rose Bowls in recent memory.”

  “Well that figures. Last New Year I had all the free time in the world to watch what was a completely one sided game, and this year I miss a classic! Who won by the way?”

  “Oregon State did, in the last minute.”

  “Well good for them I suppose. And if it couldn’t be the Washington Huskies, then at least it was a team from the Pacific Northwest.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “And I still say that your two days off weren’t all that fun if watching a football game was the best part of it. We need to find you a woman Heath.”

  “Yes Mr. President. I’ll work on that sir.”

  Having entered the oval in time to hear only the final exchange of their conversation, Mrs. Dawson said, “Sorry to interrupt a conversation of such international importance Mr. President, but the Secretary of Defense is on the phone for you sir.”

  “Thank you Mrs. Dawson, but before I take that call, will you help me convince Agent Bishop that he needs a woman in his life?”

  After nodding with understanding, she turned and inquired, “So are you having troubles with the fairer sex Agent Bishop?”

  With slight embarrassment as if he were somehow discussing the topic with his mother, Heath replied, “No ma’am, I’m fine. The President seems to think that I need a girlfriend, and I was attempting to explain that it was a low priority for me at this time.”

  “I see. Well, the President could be right you know. It might do you some good to have a girlfriend, so perhaps we could work on a strategy to help you find one. Would you like me to ask around to see if any of the women here in the White House are available?”

  “No ma’am. That is to say, thank you but no. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to get involved with someone who works here.”

  As both she and the President then broke out into laughter, Mrs. Dawson said, “Relax Agent Bishop, I was just having a little fun at your expense. I have absolutely no intention of setting you up with anyone from the White House or anywhere else. I think it’s up to you to find your own girl.”

  “Yes ma’am, so do I.”

  Although a lighthearted moment and a quick laugh within what would become a busy day was certainly a welcome relief for the President, it soon came to an abrupt end. With Mrs. Dawson turning to depart from the oval, Jordan Harwell picked up the phone to speak with the Secretary of Defense and was immediately informed of bad n
ews. Beyond the death of a two man crew whose plane was blown to bits over Syria, news of the additional two member crew that had bailed out of their badly damaged aircraft heightened the level of despair. The rescue mission sent from the fourth fleet carrier task force for those men had been unsuccessful, as by the time the retrieval helicopter and supporting gunships arrived at the location of the pilots GPS tracking devices, there were no men in sight. While two helicopters remained slightly aloft in a protective formation, the third in the group landed to retrieve nothing more than a pair of discarded parachutes, two helmets and flight suits, four boots, and the dog tags of each crew member. A quick visual scan of the immediate area from the ground and above revealed no clue as to the whereabouts of the pilots, and then after engaging in a weapons exchange with approaching hostile ground forces of superior number, the three helicopters returned to the USS H.W. Bush.

  Once back onboard the carrier, the debriefing for the mission had been quick. It was obvious to members of the recovery flight crew that the men had been taken by someone as prisoners of war, and by striping them down to nothing more than what they surmised as their t-shirts, boxer shorts, and socks in the process, any potential escape from those captures would become significantly more challenging. Adding to the disheartening loss of the crew who could no longer be located via GPS tracking, there was an unavoidable fact. Nothing was currently known as to if they were dead or alive, and if it was the latter of the two, who held them or where they had been taken.

  On the morning of Monday January fourth, members of the Texas Legislature eagerly convened for a special session in the capitol city of Austin. Their task at hand was perfectly clear, and as a whole, those within the body of elected officials were highly motivated to prove that it could be accomplished in short order. The structure and line of immediate succession within the government leadership had been verbally agreed upon by high ranking members of the Legislature soon after the mid-December declaration of separation by Texas, but that structure was not yet official. With the dawn of the calendar year and the birth of their beloved republic now a few days into the past, the time had come for those decisions to be ratified and penned into the newly drafted Texas constitution.