The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  Robbie finished the sentence. “You haven’t a clue where they’re at. How did you get stuck? I can’t see my father doing that to you.”

  “He didn’t,” Tim said. “He gave the honors to Jason Godrichson.”

  “Jason asked you?” Robbie questioned.

  “No. Jason told Danny to show these folks around.” Tim saw Robbie getting ready to speak and he stopped him. “Before you place the blame on Danny, Danny told Henry, Henry passed it on to Hector, Hector passed it on to Jenny, and I happened to be at the school and I ended up with it. I know no one else to pass this one to.”

  Robbie laughed. “Man, you would think it was a bother to everyone. Hey, you know someone. Me.” Robbie stood up straighter. “I’ll show you all the cool spots. In fact . . .” He motioned out his hand. “Number one place.” He pointed the Social Hall.

  “You’re not too busy?” Tim questioned.

  “Nah.” Robbie shook his head and walked to the Social Hall. “Cool, it’s open.” He pushed the door. “This, gentlemen, is our watering hole. The local tavern, so to speak. Bowman has Hoi-Hoi on the Range,” Robbie explained as he walked in. “But this is where you go when you want a more down to earth, corner bar feel.”

  Warren took in the familiar view of the Hall. “I remember this place well when I was here. It’s a good place for us to come to get to know people since we’ll be staying here in Beginnings for a while.”

  “Whoa,” Dale spoke in awe and immediately, with his eyes glued, he moved to the stage area where the instruments and PA were. “You have a band.”

  “The Starters,” Robbie answered. “Yeah, they play here all the time. They practice here too.”

  Warren interjected, “Dale here was our stock entertainer back home.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Robbie smiled. “You play?”

  “Guitar mainly. I sing and play a little piano.” He gave a humble twitch of his head. “Not much.” He moved closer to the stage. “I played out a lot before the world went to pot.”

  Again, Warren spoke up. “Dale knows so many songs. He kept learning them for us. He had a lovely woman who sang with him, but she passed on. We enjoy him.”

  Dale shook his head with a smile that showed some embarrassment. He was more focused on the stage.

  “So you’re good?” Robbie asked.

  “I’m OK. I mean, what musician says they’re good? I probably suck now . . .” His hand reached out and touched the electric guitar on the stand. “We didn’t have power. I haven’t played an electric in, well, a really. . .” He snickered. “A really long time.”

  “Then all the more reason for you to sit in with the Starters,” Robbie suggested.

  “You think they’d mind?” Dale asked.

  “No way. They’d love it.” Robbie replied with a smile. “You’re in town so you might as well.”

  “I’ll do that.” Dale nodded. “Thanks. Can I tell them you said it was OK.”

  “Hell, yeah,” Robbie said. “They love me. Paul will tell you to grab the guitar and get on up.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  “Neither can I,” Warren added. “Not to seem impatient, but we really must move things along. We have that meeting with President Slagel and Council shortly.”

  Robbie understood. “if you have that important meeting, I really should take you to where the brilliant people hang out.”

  “Brilliant people?” Warren asked.

  “Brilliant,” Robbie repeated. “They are so highly intelligent, we keep them all together.”

  With an ‘ah’ Warren nodded. “They probably are always coming up with something new.”

  “And entertaining. Most of them are male too. We like to keep them out of sight because what women we have fight over them.” Robbie added. “Shall we?”

  “Yes.” Warren answered following him. “What is this place called?”

  “Oh, you’ll love it.” Ornery, Robbie grinned as he opened the door. “Containment.”

  ^^^^

  Ellen stood on one side of the clinic lab counter while Elliott stood on the other side. She rambled and he stared, with his hand on his hip, nodding.

  “Then I wondered, you know, would Dean get mad. He might not. He might . . .” She put her coffee cup to her lips and sipped. “Wow, that’s good. Dean did good. Want some?”

  “No, Ellen . . .”

  “You look like Frank when you stand like that. Anyhow . . .”

  “Ellen.”

  “I was thinking. Would he get mad? And where is it? I mean, I would think that it wouldn’t be too hard to spot, right? What do you think?”

  “Two things.” Elliott held up his fingers. “One, I don’t know what to think because I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about. And two . . . you’re stalling.”

  “Oh, I am not.”

  “Yes, Ellen, you are.”

  “Well, I was waiting for Dean, but he’s taking so . . .”

  “Tell me.” Elliott raised his eyebrows.

  Ellen shifted her eyes to the door. “He might get mad if I do, but he ran them right?” With an exhale she smiled. “The results are the same. Your remission is holding steady. You made it through the test week.”

  Elliott’s jaw clenched at the same time he fisted his hand and closed his eyes.

  “I take it you’re happy,” Ellen said.

  “Very,” he whispered out.

  “I am happy for you too, Elliott. In fact, since I am a little selfish, I’m happy for me too.”

  Elliott smiled. “This Leukemia episode has taught me a lot. Whether the remission is short lived or long, I know for a fact that life is too short. One doesn’t come to that true realization unless they think and know they are going to die well before they are ready. I’m not ready yet and I fully intend on taking advantage of this second chance.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I think I’m going to take some risks and not be so reserved.”

  Ellen snickered. “I don’t think you can.”

  “Oh, certainly I can . . .” Elliot paused. “I think my first risk, which may not sound like a lot to you, is . . . asking you something.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Defying what the Captain wants. Since my health is stable, I would like to be the one to escort you out of these walls and spend the sentence with you.”

  “Elliott.” Ellen closed her eyes.

  “No, listen to me. The Captain and I have been preparing the place you’ll go. I can defend any elements that come our way. You know this.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “And I believe of that of anyone, your husband would want me to be the one.”

  On that, Ellen laughed. “I don’t believe so. Why would you say that?”

  “Because he knows that as a gentleman, I will respect the sanctity of your marriage and treat you as no more than a friend in any physical capacity. He can trust that if he asks that of me.”

  “Right,” Ellen scoffed. “Up to two months alone out there with me. Just you and me and you won’t try anything.”

  “No.” Elliott shook his head.

  “What if I hit on you?”

  “I would turn you down.”

  “What happened to the risk taker?”

  “I don’t want to die, Ellen. For as much as everyone around here fears Frank, I fear your husband more. He is the one man in this community I am certain can kill me and no one will ever know.”

  Dean’s entrance along with a revelation, ‘ah’ rang into the lab. “Finally,” Dean said as he walked in. “You say something I agree with.”

  Ellen hurriedly looked to Dean. “Dean.”

  Dean smiled and extended his hand to Elliott. “I know my wife has a big mouth and she told you. Congratulations on making it through the test week.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Hayes,” Elliott responded. “I was nervous when you said it would test the remission but I’m confident we are good for a while.”

  “So am I.” On his words, Dean ki
ssed Ellen on the cheek and stood next to her. “I overheard your conversation. Yes, I was eavesdropping.” Dean’s tone took on a serious one. “I don’t know if you realize this, but there are a lot of offers from people to go with my wife.”

  “I do,” Elliott responded.

  Dean continued. “Out of those offers, though I don’t admit it, there are those I fully trust to protect her. They have the skills and ability. Frank, Hal, Joe, Danny, you. However, I believe I only trust one to be no more than a protector and friend out there. So . . . should I not be able to be the one to accompany my wife, just know I stand fully behind the decision, that you, Sgt. Ryder, be the one to escort her and protect her.”

  It was music to Elliott’s ears.

  However, it was a sour note to Robbie who, like Dean, was in the hall listening. He was about to make his happy entrance into the lab when he stopped on the conversation so as not to interrupt. He only wished he had walked away. It wasn’t what he heard. It was what he didn’t hear that made Robbie’s heart so heavy that he felt less than minuscule. It wasn’t Dean’s backing of Elliott to escort Ellen out. It was when Dean reviewed his list of names of the men with ability and skill, men he trusted to protect Ellen, and Robbie’s name was never mentioned.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Former Quantico Marine Headquarters

  Johnny had stirred.

  As soon as the news arrived to George, he dropped his strategy meeting. Nothing else was important and he flew to the hospital. Johnny wasn’t sitting up, bright, smiling and well as George expected but his eyes fluttered and some sort of life was finally seen.

  “Not too long,” The doctor instructed at the bedside. “He has to be sedated again. Keep it short.”

  “I understand.” George moved closer.

  “Don’t get him upset.”

  “No, I won’t.” With a lot of fatherly concern, George grabbed Johnny’s hand. “Hey.”

  Johnny moistened his lips and weakly spoke, “George.”

  “Don’t want you to speak. OK? I was concerned.”

  “Better.”

  “You look better. I’ll tell you . . .” George let out a ‘whew’. “You had us worried.”

  “Was shot. Escaping.”

  “That’s what we figured,” George stated. “They were on to you then.”

  “Trial,” Johnny rasped out. “My trail.”

  George lost his breath for a moment. “They had a trial for you?”

  Johnny nodded.

  “Johnny . . .”

  “Bev,” Johnny said painfully.

  “That’s what I wanted to speak to you about. She wasn’t with you.”

  “No.”

  “Did they have a trial for her?”

  “No,” Johnny replied and tried to speak more.

  “You couldn’t get her out? Could you?”

  “Couldn’t . . . killed.”

  Understanding, George nodded. “That’s what I thought.” Exhaling, he gave a pat to Johnny’s leg. “I’ll let you get that rest.” George stepped back some to allow room for the doctor. “We figured things got dangerous but don’t you worry, Johnny.” George winked softly. “We’ll get her out of there yet.” After another pat on Johnny’s leg, George turned to leave.

  Johnny’s mouth opened, the word formed, but no sound emerged in his attempt to call George. Hit with an immediate uncontrolled sluggish and grogginess, Johnny gave in and closed his eyes.

  ^^^^

  “See this?” Hal pointed to Frank’s closed hospital room door.

  Robbie, with enthusiasm at a level zero, nodded.

  “This lack of a ‘do not disturb sign’ better be permission granted. What in the world was up with Dean placing a three hour quarantine on Frank’s room?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “He knows I have a town to run, and I have Frank to torture.” Hal reached for the knob. “Ah, it’s open.” Just as he started to push in the door, he stopped. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Are you sure, Robbie?”

  “Positive. Let’s do this. This will help my spirits.”

  “Nothing like Olivia Newton John for that special pick me up.” Grinning, Hal walked into the room and looked at a lying Frank. “Look at our bother, Robbie. Doesn’t he look well?”

  “He looks great, Hal.”

  “Are you exercising more, Frank?” Hal asked in a joking manner. “You look buffer.”

  “No, Hal,” Robbie corrected. “Rested. He looks rested.”

  “But bored.” Folding his arms, Hal nodded. “He looks bored, little brother. I think we should help him out.”

  “I think so too Hal.” Robbie snapped his fingers once. “Hey, I get it. There’s nothing like a song.”

  “So true. Sheena Easton?”

  “Nah.” Robbie shook his head. “How about . . . Olivia Newton John.”

  “Wonderful choice. How about . . .” A look of revelation hit Hal. “How about something in honor of Frank’s new physique.”

  “I know exactly what song you’re talking about.” Robbie positioned himself next to Hal in Frank’s view. “Look Hal, he’s giving us smiling eyes.”

  “That’s because he knows we’re gonna serenade him. Would you like to count it?”

  “How about you?” Robbie suggested.

  “I’d love to.” Hal cleared his throat. “On three and don’t forget to bob.”

  “Bob. Got it.” Robbie gave a thumbs up.

  “One, two . . .”

  On the count, both Hal and Robbie began to bob back and forth, side by side, singing brightly and up as they did.

  “Let’s get physical. Physical. I wanna get physical. Let’s get into physical. Let me hear your body talk. Your body talk. I wanna hear your body talk . . .”

  Frank’s ‘oh’, silenced them both. “You wanna hear my body talk?”

  “Hal,” Robbie said brightly. “Oh, my God. Did we?”

  “We have to get Dean. We woke him early.”

  “It’s Olivia,” Robbie said.

  “It’s fuckin sick!” Frank flung off the covers, causing both Hal and Robbie to scream in surprise and shut up.

  “You’re dressed.” Robbie pointed.

  . “And armed,” Hal indicated as well

  “I am.” Frank stepped to him.

  Quickly Robbie dove behind Hal. “Help.”

  Hal rolled his eyes. “What are you gonna do, Frank? Kill us?”

  “Yes. For all the stupid songs, the poetry, the ribbons in my hair, and for making Josephine play with herself.”

  Robber snickered.

  “Frank,” Hal said seriously. “It is not our doing that you were in a position where a woman aroused you and you could do nothing about it. Perhaps if I summon her now, she’ll be happy to repeat her performance while you are more . . . up . . . to the occasion.”

  “Hal!”

  “Frank.”

  “Frank,” Robbie called.

  “Robbie,” Frank responded.

  “Frank.” Hal gave an upward motion of his head.

  “Fuck. What?”

  Robbie dropped his voice to a whisper. “I just heard Ellen.”

  “Fuck.” Frank flew into the bed. “Don’t blow this. She’s on my people to semi-kill list.” He settled himself, covered up, and kept his eyes open.

  Robbie and Hal just stared solemnly.

  Humming some Barry Manilow tune, Ellen stopped the second she walked into the room. Her humming slowed down and she gave an awkward snicker. “What’s going on you two?”

  Hal shook his head. “Just visiting Frank.”

  “Visiting,” Robbie said.

  “Staring is more like it.” Ellen, with a chart in her hand, walked to the bed. “No singing? I was hoping to hear some Olivia Newton John songs.” She set the chart on the night stand and looked at Frank. “He looks different today.”

  “Buff.” Hal stated. “He looks . . .” The word ‘buff’ was a grunt when Robbie nudged him.


  Ellen looked with a smile. “Buff? What is up with you? No he looks . . . different.” She inched closer. “And . . .” She took in a whiff. “He smells different.”

  Trying with diligence not to laugh, Frank refrained during Ellen’s long sniffing of him.

  Shrugging, Ellen exhaled. “Can’t put my finger on it. Oh, well. Hey, Frank.” Leaning down, Ellen brought her lips to Frank’s to kiss him softly. The moment they met his, she was grasped.

  Frank’s hands clung to Ellen’s head forcefully holding her to him as he kissed her. Ellen’s struggling grunts were heard as her hands punched and her legs kicked to try to keep her footing.

  “Good God, Frank.” Hal reached down, perturbed. “Allow the woman some oxygen.” He separated the two.

  Gasping with a wheeze of life, Ellen stepped back, hand over mouth. “You’re . . . You’re . . .”

  “Frank,” Frank replied. “I know I look younger, but I’m still Frank.”

  At the same time, Robbie and Hal just looked at each other.

  Frank stood up out of bed. “So, El.”

  “Why . . . . why didn’t Dean tell me you were awake?” Ellen asked. “You came out of the Salicain early.”

  “You people brought me out early,” Frank stated. “And Dean is helping me pay all of you back for torture, sheer torture while I laid in that . . .” Frank just stared.

  Thinking perhaps his brother was having a hard time remembering, Robbie decided to help. “Bed, Frank. While you laid in that bed.”

  “Ryder,” Frank rasped out with a slight gravel. “Sgt. Fuckin Ryder.”

  Elliott froze as he stood in Frank’s room. “Captain, this is unfair. You failed to tell me Frank awoke.”

  Hal tossed his hands up. “I am as surprised as you.”

  In slight nervousness, with Frank coming at him, Elliott cleared his throat. “Good to see you up, Frank.”

  “Elliott, I think my brother is a bit upset with you.”

  “No, shit, Captain,” Elliott said.

  “No shit?” Hal asked curiously. “No shit. Hmm. Thank you for that, Elliott. I’ll have to remember that fine gentleman style comeback when someone suggests something I am already aware of.”

  Grabbing his head, Frank spun to his brother. “Hal, fuckin knock it off. You started this.”