by Robert Boren
“Isn’t that a dangerous way to go?” somebody yelled.
“Make no mistake. Both of these jobs are going to be dangerous. You’ll be fighting a desperate enemy. Some of you won’t survive. The main part of the group going into New Mexico will be the core group from Fort Stockton, but the team will include some of you who joined with them later. Remember that this group is already supplied with weapons for this task. The second group will be supplied with similar weaponry and vehicles when they get to El Paso, but it’s not ready yet.”
“Who’s building the weapons?” Curt yelled.
“We’ve had a team working on that for a few weeks,” Ramsey said. “Using your blueprints, Curt, of course.”
“Oh, that’s why you wanted copies,” Curt said, laughing. “Kudos.”
“That’s all I have at this point. Good luck and Godspeed to you all.”
Moe shut down the audio as the room exploded into conversations.
“Wow,” Jason said. “Not what I was expecting.”
“Me neither,” Clancy said. “I like the idea, though.”
“I’m glad we can go get our rigs,” Kyle said. “The thought of living out of my truck didn’t thrill me.”
“Seriously,” Moe said.
Kate and Kim came down with Eric.
“What do you think, honey?” Kate asked.
“I like it,” Kyle said. “You?”
“Sounds less dangerous than a frontal assault against a big installation like that depot.”
“Yep,” Kim said. “I agree.”
“Wonder what else we’re gonna find out?” Eric asked. “From General Hogan. Wonder if it’s about those RFID chips?”
“I doubt it,” Jason said. “I’m gonna call Carrie and let her know we’ll be coming home. She’ll be relieved.”
“Until she finds out we’re all going across the border,” Kyle said.
Curt walked over with Amanda.
“Did you guys expect that?” Amanda asked.
“No, not really,” Jason said.
“When can we head back home?” Curt asked.
“Good question,” Kyle said. “It’s not that late in the day.”
Eric laughed. “You guys are forgetting about something.”
“Oh, crap, we can’t use I-40,” Kim said. “It’s all clogged up with broken troop transport trucks.”
“Yeah, we ruined most of the on and off ramps too,” Kyle said.
“Wait a minute, pencil necks,” Curt said. “We still got the frontage roads, and we’ve all got off roaders, so we can just take the dirt when we run into problems.”
“True,” Amanda said. “Even the old bobtail can do that. It’s pretty flat around here.”
“Good, then let’s saddle up,” Curt said. “Let’s spread the word.”
“I’m for it,” Kate said.
They left, looking for the core team and others who were staying in Amarillo.
Chapter 19 – Cold Sweat
“Well, you’re all smiles,” Don said as Sydney walked up.
“Our people are on their way home,” she said, sitting next to him in the clubhouse. “I didn’t expect them so soon.”
“I’ll bet they’re relieved that we aren’t doing an assault on the depot,” Don said. “Does it scare you that we’re all going to New Mexico?”
“Yes, but it’s okay,” she said. “We’ll all be together, and we’re getting supported pretty well.”
“Wonder what General Hogan is gonna tell us?”
“Don’t know,” Sydney said. “One thing at a time, though. You look tired.”
“Neither of us got much sleep in the last forty-eight hours.”
Sydney laughed. “I know, but we were able to power through. We don’t have to wait up until everybody gets here, you know.”
“You don’t want to greet your sister when she gets home?”
“She’s going to be more beat than we are,” Sydney said. “They all are.”
“Then maybe we ought to go home,” Don said.
“Home?”
“Our home,” Don said.
“Oh. Sorry. It is our home, isn’t it?”
“We could call it the love nest like your sister does,” Don said.
Sydney chuckled. “Don’t egg her on. It’s bad enough as it is.”
“Shall we, then?” Don asked.
“Why are you in such a hurry to get to our love nest?”
“We can discuss that when we get there,” he said.
Sydney laughed. “Don’t get any ideas.”
“Hey, no ideas here,” Don said, raising his hands.
“Yeah, right,” she said. “You’ve been checking me out all day.”
“Of course I have. You’re my woman, and you’re gorgeous.”
“You’re just thinking about the other morning,” she said. “Before the battle started.”
“Maybe a little.”
“Maybe a lot,” Sydney said, grinning at him.
“How about you?”
“How about me what?”
“We going to play this game again?” Don asked.
“I like this game. Your system shut down yet? Let’s get out of here.”
“Just about,” Don said, watching his laptop screen. “There.” He closed the lid and unplugged the power cord.
“Finally.” They picked up their stuff and walked towards the door. They were almost to their trailer when Pat saw them.
“Any more word on the others?” she asked.
“They’re on their way, but it will take a while,” Don said. “We decided not to wait up. We’re both beat.”
“It’s not that far,” Pat said, looking concerned.
“True, but remember what they did to I-40. It’s all clogged up with broken enemy vehicles. They have to take surface streets the whole way. Thank God for the frontage road.”
“Oh, you’re right, Don,” Pat said. “My stars, why didn’t I think of that?”
“Brushy made it through the battle okay, you know,” Sydney said.
“Oh, I know, that old fart told me all about it,” she said, shaking her head. “He’s loving this stuff.”
Don chuckled. “He’s a card, but I like him a lot.”
“I love him, of course,” Pat said. “He’s the only close family I’ve got left. Got a few nieces and nephews here and there, but I never hear from them anymore.”
“Such is family,” Sydney said.
Pat smiled, shrugging her shoulders. “So true. I’ll see you two in the morning. Try to spend some of the time sleeping.” She grinned and walked away.
Sydney smirked. “Everybody thinks we’re a couple of bunnies.”
“Well, we are living together,” Don said, “and apparently your sister is a little loud.”
“Quiet,” she said. “Be nice.”
“I was being nice,” Don said. “That’s not the word I’ve heard about those two.”
“Oh, really,” Sydney said, watching as Don unlocked the trailer door. They went inside. “So what is the word you’ve been hearing?”
“I’m not saying.” He pulled the door shut and locked it.
“You’re going to be that way, are you?” she asked. “Maybe it’s time to try out the shower.”
“You’re not too tired?”
“No,” she said. “If we get on the road tomorrow we might not get another good chance.”
“Good point. Maybe I’ll get in after you.”
“What about the hot water?” she asked.
Don laughed. “We’ve got a six-gallon water heater. It runs out fast, but it also heats up fast. Remember you’ll have to take a navy shower, or you’ll run out of hot water.”
“I know,” she said, heading into the bedroom. She came back out a second later. Don moaned when he saw her naked form. “Are you gonna do that every time you see me naked?”
“Probably,” Don said. “Sorry.”
She shook her head and went into the bathroom. Don sat on the couch, his
mind going over the dangerous trip they were about to take. His phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and answered it.
“Don?”
“Hey, Dirk, what’s going on? The trip going okay?”
“Slower than we expected,” Dirk said. Chance laughed in the background.
“Why?”
“The frontage road is a little more screwed up than we expected, and there are some spots where it’s hard to go around the clogs. No matter, we’ll get there. Wish it was going to be light a little longer.”
“Yeah, it’s gonna be dark pretty soon,” Don said. “You called to tell me something.”
“Sure did,” he said. “We’ve been talking back and forth on a conference call. Just wanted to give you a heads up on something.”
“Uh oh,” he said. There was a shriek from the bathroom. Don chuckled.
“What?” Dirk asked.
“I think Sydney just found out how long a six-gallon water heater tank lasts.”
Dirk laughed. “Oh. You’re doing well with her, are you?”
“We’re going slow,” he said.
“Slow, huh,” Dirk said. “That must be fun when you’re living right next to her. She’s beautiful.”
“I’m going to marry this girl.”
“Yeah, I saw that coming pretty early on,” Dirk said. “She want that?”
“Yes, from what I can tell. We’ll see. I’m not rushing her.”
“Probably the right way to go,” Dirk said. “Oh well, I’d better tell you what I was gonna tell you.”
“Go ahead.”
“The group wants you and the main part of the social media team to stay in Amarillo,” Dirk said. “Wanted to bring it up so you didn’t spend time packing your rig.”
“Why?” Don asked.
“You’re in a good location with nice strong internet,” Dirk said. “You’ll be our eyes and our voice on social media. We’ll probably need the same kind of help that you’ve given us before.”
“Oh,” Don said. “I’m good with that.”
“We also want you to ride herd on the teenagers,” Dirk said. “Keep them busy and focused. Try to keep them out of trouble while their parents are in New Mexico.”
“That’s going to be a tough job,” Don said.
Sydney came out of the bathroom, drying off. “I suppose you got a good laugh. Oh, who are you talking to?”
“Dirk,” Don said. “I’ll be off in a minute.”
“Okay, sweetie,” she said.
“I’ll bet you just got to see her naked,” Dirk said. “You lucky son of a bitch. I think I need a girlfriend.”
“Cindy’s been giving you a lot of looks,” Don said.
“I know,” Dirk said. “I still see Gray when I look at her. Don’t know if I can get over that.”
“Well, you should try. She’s a great woman. Still looks pretty good for somebody as old as you are, too.”
“I’ll tell her you said that,” Dirk said.
“Don’t,” Don said.
“I’m kidding. I’ll let you break this to Sydney. Talk to you later. Get some sleep. Don’t wait up for us. I know how many hours you folks have put in.”
“We had the easy part,” Don said. “Nobody was shooting at us.”
“Well, there is that, I suppose. See you in the morning.”
“Take care,” Don said. He ended the call.
“So, what’s up?” Sydney asked, coming out with a towel wrapped around herself.
“I liked the other outfit better,” he said.
“Oh, geez,” she said. “C’mon, what’d he say?”
“They want us to stay here with the social media team instead of going with them to New Mexico.”
“Good. I was hoping. We’ve got a good team set up here, and they’ll need us again.”
“Yep,” Don said. “There is a catch. They want us to oversee the teenagers.”
Sydney laughed. “Like anybody is in control of them.”
“They’re serious, honey, so if you don’t want that, we need to say something.”
“Hmm, let me think,” Sydney said. “Get shot at by Islamists, or watch teenagers. I’ll take the teenagers.”
Don chuckled. “I’m not sure which one is more dangerous.”
“You taking a shower?”
“Yeah, in about five minutes. The water ought to be hot enough by then.”
“I see what you meant about the water heater.”
“So how’d you run out?” Don asked.
“I was deep in thought, with the hot water flowing on the back of my neck. It felt so good. I kinda lost track of the time.”
“That’ll do it,” Don said. “What were you thinking about?”
“Us, of course,” she said. “I’m always thinking about either that or the war. How could I not?”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Not right now, okay? Take your shower and let’s go to bed. We need some sleep.”
“Okay, sweetie, I’ll go get mine done now. The water should be ready.”
Don went into the bathroom and stripped. The little shower was cramped, but it worked well. He did his navy shower and dried off, taking a few minutes to shave and get his hair combed out. Sydney was asleep under the covers when he got into the bedroom. His heart fluttered as he slid into bed next to her, keeping his distance so he wouldn’t wake her, drifting off in less than a minute.
There was a metallic clank outside. Don woke in a panic, his skin clammy with sweat, heart pounding. It was the dream again.
“You okay, honey?” Sydney asked, sitting up and looking at him. “Oh, this is how you are after the dreams.”
“Sorry,” he said, trying to force the images out of his head. “Told you. What’s going on, anyway?”
She rolled over and peaked out the window next to her side of the bed. “Our friends are back. They’re getting into their rigs.”
“Wonder what time it is?” Don asked. He checked his phone. “It’s only one.”
“We went to sleep before it was dark,” Sydney said. “Maybe that was a mistake. You didn’t cuddle.”
“You were already asleep,” Don said. “I didn’t want to wake you up, so I kept my distance.”
“Oh. Thanks for that. You can cuddle with me now.”
“You really want me to do that?” Don asked.
“Are you going to tease me, or are you going to get over here?” she asked, turning her back to him. “You know what I like.”
“Spooning,” he said, sliding towards her. “I might be a little clammy still. I wake up in a cold sweat from those damn dreams.”
“You feel fine so far,” she said. “Mmmmmmm, that’s nice.”
“I’ll say,” he said, putting his hand tentatively on her hip. She giggled. He pulled his hand back. “Sorry.”
“Put your hand back,” she said. “I liked it.”
He moved it back, loving the soft curve that was there, and the warmth. He moved his hand from her hip to her waist and back. She moaned and moved against him tighter.
“You don’t feel like you’re enjoying this,” she whispered.
“Will power,” he said. “Besides, we should go back to sleep.”
She giggled and took his hand, putting it against her breast. “There, that’s better.”
“Oh, God,” he said.
“Now you feel like you enjoy it.”
“You’re having a ball, aren’t you?” he asked. “Two can play this game, you know.”
“I’m counting on it,” she said. “Just remember our boundaries. We’ll sleep fine after we enjoy each other a little bit.”
They moved against each other, hands roaming, kissing and caressing, until both of them drifted off again. They woke when sunlight seeped around the curtains, still close against each other.
“Good morning,” Don said.
“Still up against me, huh,” she said. “That was nice last night.”
“I need to hit the bathroom.”
&nb
sp; “Men always do,” she said, watching as he left the bedroom. He was back in less than a minute, stopping to switch the heater on.
“Can we cuddle some more?” Don asked as he slid next to her.
“Yes,” she said, turning on her back and looking at him. “But this way, okay?”
“Sure,” he said. “Better access.” They kissed, and after a few seconds were caressing each other again, driving themselves into passion.
“Oh, geez,” she whispered.
“Maybe we’d better stop,” Don said.
“Just a little longer,” she said, her breath coming fast.
“Okay,” he said as she opened herself to him. They were lost in each other for a few minutes, and then Sydney stopped them.
“That’s all I can handle if we’re going to stop,” she said.
“Just what I was thinking,” Don said, lying on his back. She turned on her side towards him, her arm going over his torso.
“My love for you is growing fast,” she said. “It makes me feel a little out of control.”
“I know, me too,” Don said. “We probably should get up if we’re gonna talk about this, or we’ll be right back at it.”
“I know,” she said, sitting up. “Hey, what were you going to tell me about my sister? Remember, when you said you were being nice?”
“Let’s not go back into that,” he said.
“C’mon.”
“You’ll say something, and then I’ll be embarrassed.”
“I won’t, Don. I promise. What were you talking about?”
He sighed. “When I said she was getting a little loud and you said be nice. Is that where you want me to go? Really? Why don’t we drop it?”
She giggled. “Yes. It’s fun to watch you get embarrassed. You squirm so delightfully.”
“We’re gonna have a crazy love life when we get going,” Don said.
“So I’m a little naughty. You don’t like it?”
“Oh, I like it,” Don said.
“You gonna tell me or what?”
“Okay, you asked for it. I used the word loud. The person I was talking to said she shrieks.”
Sydney laughed. “Oh, should have known. Do you find that disturbing?”
“No, it kinda excites me,” he said.
“Good, because it runs in the family.”
Chapter 20 – Grand Central Station
