A Soldier Finds His Way Page 8

Audra looked up from her and Zoe’s game. “How long do you think it’s been since Hank left?”

  “Maybe two hours. He should be getting close to his objective right now.”

  * * * *

  Hank hoisted himself onto the ridge with a final push. Once he removed his climbing gear, he found a place to rest for a few minutes before making any calls. He ate a granola bar, took a good swig from his water bottle, and relaxed.

  He removed his gloves, flexed his fingers a few times, then retrieved the cellphone and turned it on. Great reception. Five bars. He pushed the buttons to make his first, and most important, call to 911 emergency services, and put the phone to his ear.

  Straight away, he connected with a recorded message. “We’re sorry. All circuits are busy. Please hang up and try your call again later.”

  “It figures,” he mumbled. “Everyone’s trying to make a call right now.”

  He waited a few minutes and tried again with the same results. So, he waited again.

  Once more, he dialed. This time the phone rang and rang, but no one answered.

  That’s funny. No answer with 911?

  Hank hung up and pushed the buttons again. This time, after it rang for some time, someone picked up and answered with a hurried voice. “Nine-one-one, can you hold please?”

  * * * *

  Judging by the hunger building up in Edward’s stomach, Hank had to have been gone four or five hours. The waiting was killing Edward. Several times, he caught himself looking at the wrist where he had worn his watch. Each time, he grumbled under his breath, and Audra tried to smother a little laugh at his expense. He sighed. “Force of habit.”

  While Audra and Zoe continued to play games at the table, Edward stood vigil at the window looking for signs of Hank’s return. He tuned out their playful chatter, focusing his attention outside the cabin.

  Zoe tapped his arm and looked up at him.

  “What?”

  “I was asking you if you wanted to play checkers, but you didn’t answer me.”

  “No. I already told you I didn’t want to play. You don’t listen very well, do you?”

  The sparkle left Zoe’s eyes. His cold response had stung her.

  He met Audra’s piercing gaze. Her squinted eyes and pursed lips let him know she didn’t like the way he had spoken to Zoe.

  “Zoe, wait a minute,” he said. She was about to take her seat at the table when Edward came to her. He took a deep breath, lifted her up and plopped her on the counter so she was eye level with him.

  Audra stood to her feet, ready to intervene.

  He raised his hand. “I just want to talk to her for a minute, that’s all.”

  Face to face with Zoe, he hesitated, unsure of how to begin. When he spoke, it was with a gentleness that was foreign to him. Tender talk didn’t come easy. “I’m not a particularly nice man, Zoe. It seems like every time I open my mouth I say things that hurt people. Audra is right. It’s like I have a chicken bone stuck in my throat that won’t let me apologize when I should.”

  Audra stood beside them now, listening.

  “We probably don’t have much time before you and Audra...” The words in his head brought unexpected sadness and stuck in his throat. A different type of chicken bone this time. “You’ll be going home soon. That’s a good thing. What I want to say is that I should have treated you both a lot better than I did right from the start, especially you, Zoe. I’m sorry about that.”

  His hand rested on Zoe’s knee and when she put her small hand of trust and acceptance on top of his, it touched something deep inside him. She wasn’t just some ‘kid’ anymore, but a little person with feelings he’d disregarded until this very moment, and he didn’t feel good about himself. Again.

  Zoe patted his hand in a grown-up gesture and smiled. “Don’t be sad anymore, Edward. I forgive you.”

  * * * *

  A quick knock on the door interrupted Edward’s moment.

  Hank’s gruff voice yelled from outside the cabin, “Don’t shoot! I’m coming in.”

  Cricket went crazy with excitement and demanded Hank’s full attention once he came inside. He roughed up her coat with a vigorous petting. “How’s my pretty girl?”

  Hank peeled his coat and hung it on a hook near the door. “Hey curly kid. Miss me?” He gave Zoe’s hair a playful yank and greeted Audra with a nod. “How’s the arm?”

  “Throbbing, but better, thank you.”

  Hank pulled a chair from the kitchen table and plopped onto it.

  “Well?” Edward prompted. “How did it go?”

  “Not good at first when there was no answer when I called nine-one-one. Then, when I finally got through, they put me on hold.”

  Audra sat across from Hank with a look of dismay. “They actually put you on hold? I didn’t think they were allowed to do that.”

  “I’m sure they were inundated with calls,” Hank said. “Sounded to me like they were doing the best they could under the circumstances.”

  “Okay.” Edward crossed his arms. “Do you have any good news for us?”

  “Impatient, aren’t you? I was getting to that. Yes, I have good news. I called Greco.”

  “Greco? I don’t—”

  “Nine-one-one was of no use to us. I figured if Greco wanted to find you anyway, he could come get you and, in the process, get the girls out of here as well. That’s what took me so long. Once I got a hold of Greco, I stayed on the ridge while he made a few calls and waited until he got back to me.”

  “Good thinking. What’s his plan?”

  “Greco’s trying to commandeer the Black Hawk we keep over at Stewart. You know, the stripped down one we sometimes used to train fast roping and extractions. It’s fully operable for a mission like this. His father-in-law is a full-bird colonel, so he has connections. Shouldn’t be a problem getting the chopper and a couple of pilots. We’ll do the extraction, deliver the packages, then you’re immediately off to wherever you’re going. He wouldn’t tell me anything about your mission. They’ll drop me and Cricket off with the girls. I’ll find my way back home from wherever the drop off is. We should know something tonight or tomorrow.”

  Hank’s news rumbled through Edward’s head. “How, exactly, are we going to know something?”

  Hank shrugged. “Look, if Greco says he’ll get word to us, then he’ll get word to us. I’ve trusted him with my life before. Getting you and the girls out of here will be a piece of cake compared to other missions we’ve been on. Now, what’ve we got to eat?”

  Audra sorted through the supplies on the kitchen shelves.

  “By the way,” Hank said to the girls. “Major Greco called your parents, so they know you’re alive and well. I’m sure that was good news for them.”

  Audra released a breath of relief. “I’m glad they know we’re all right.”

  Edward helped Audra at the kitchen counter.

  Hank sat at the table with his chair turned in their direction. “Thousands of people are without power. Utility crews from other states are on their way to lend a hand. Road workers are having a hard time finding places to dump all the snow they removed from the roadways.”

  Audra poured a cup of coffee and set it before Hank. He took a sip and thanked her. “Airports in the tri-state area are in a bind. Passengers are stranded, flights delayed. It’s going to be a while before everything gets back to normal.”

  Edward added a split log to the wood stove. “The only thing we can do now is wait.”

  * * * *

  By nightfall, Edward was convinced they’d hear nothing from Greco until morning. Audra and Zoe were safe and warm. That was all that mattered right now.

  Hank sat on the braided rug with Cricket. “Come sit with us.” He patted the rug beside him. Zoe joined him right away.

  Edward helped Audra lower herself onto the rug, and sat beside her.

  Zoe petted Cricket’s ears. “She has soft ears. Like velvet.”
>
  “Yeah, she’s got good petting-ears all right.” Hank smiled.

  “How old is she?”

  “I’m not sure. She showed up at my place one day and announced she was staying. At first she was a bit shy, but after a while she decided it was love, and she moved in with me. She’s a great dog, isn’t she?”

  “Yeah, she’s great. She heard our accident happen and told Edward about it, and that’s how he knew we needed help.”

  “Is that a fact?” Hank patted the dog’s hip.

  “That is indeed a fact,” Edward said. “If it wasn’t for her, I may have not heard it or may have passed it off as branches falling under the weight of the snow. She’s the hero here. She deserves a medal, or at least a juicy bone.”

  “Then it’s settled.” Hank scissor-clapped loose dog hair from his hand. “When we get out of here, we’ll have to have a celebration involving a big juicy bone.”

  Edward sat on the rug for a while staring into the fireplace with its ever-changing lights of yellow, orange, and blue. There was something comforting about the hissing sound that emanated from the fire as it devoured the wood. The flames played upon the logs and did cartwheels in the heat, mesmerizing him. His eyes grew heavy and his muscles relaxed in the warmth the fire shared with him and the others.

  How comforting it was to sit in silence, basking in the peace that surrounded them. Zoe lay with her head on his lap, her legs propped up on Cricket’s haunches. Edward instinctively stroked Zoe’s head. Her eyes drooped and closed for the night.

  Audra leaned close and whispered, “I better put her to bed.”

  He snapped out of his reverie. “Oh, she conked out on us, did she? What a party pooper.”

  He gathered the child into his arms, rose from the rug and reached back to give Audra a hand getting up as well. He led her into the bedroom and released her hand. Audra pulled the blankets back, and Edward lowered Zoe onto the bed. Audra tucked the covers, bent over, and kissed Zoe’s forehead.

  “Isn’t she beautiful?” Audra whispered.

  “She is.”

  Audra gazed with loving admiration at the sleeping child. A stream of light from the living room found its way between the hanging blankets and brightened Audra’s profile. In a millisecond, he captured her image. The lines of her jaw, the shape of her nose, the curl of her eyelashes. He got it all, and she’d seemed unaware of his momentary gawking. He went to back away.

  “Edward,” she said, turning in his direction. “This has been a good day. An incredibly good day.”

  “For me, too.” He stroked her arm. “Good night, Audra.”

  Chapter 10

  Edward wasn’t quite sure if he was awake or dreaming when he first heard the Black Hawk in the distance. He jumped to his feet. Cricket paced with uneasiness. She’d heard it too.

  “Hank, listen.” He nudged him with his foot.

  Hank propped himself on an elbow and stayed still.

  The sound grew louder. A sure sign of the chopper’s pending arrival. Both men threw on their boots and coats and headed out the door with Cricket running ahead. They followed the sound to the river, not far from where Audra and Zoe had splashed down.

  Cricket hit the ice full throttle and skidded halfway across. She panicked to find her footing, and ran back to the safety of the river’s edge.

  The helicopter stopped its forward motion, hung in the air, and hovered over the frozen river. A rope came tumbling out, and a soldier rappelled down the line onto the ice. As he waited, guys in the aircraft lowered a large bag. He unhooked it and waved the chopper off. Cricket barked at him as he tried to step onto the bank.

  “Cricket, be quiet!” Hank called out as he and Edward got to the drop-off area. Hank and Edward pulled the bag onto the firm ground and turned to greet the new arrival.

  “I heard you guys needed a medic.” Marcus Weatherly extended his hand toward Edward.

  “Marcus. I never expected to see you come down that line. How’re you doing, Rev?” Edward shook Marcus’s hand with a warm welcome.

  Hank greeted him with the same enthusiasm.

  “It’s good to see you guys,” Marcus said. “I hear you’ve had a little excitement while on leave this time, Edward.”

  “Yeah, you can say that again. What’s that old saying? There’s no rest for the weary? It’s true.”

  “Hank,” Marcus said. “I have a sedative for your dog. I got it from a vet who said it was for a seventy-pounder. She looks a little bigger than that, but it should do all right. We landed a crate for her at the pickup site downriver. We’ll give her the sedative right before crating her. She should be drowsy for the flight.”

  Hank patted his back. “Good thinking. This way. Let’s head to the patient.”

  * * * *

  The door opened as Edward neared the cabin with Marcus and Hank.

  Zoe welcomed them with characteristic cheerfulness.

  Edward entered first. “’Morning, Zoe.”

  “Good morning, curly,” Hank passed by her and tossed her hair around a bit.

  “Aunt Audra,” Zoe called out. “I think we need a bigger cabin. They brought another guy home with them.”

  They laughed as Zoe closed the door behind them.

  Edward found Audra at the counter arranging cans and boxes on the shelves. “Audra, I’d like you to meet Marcus Weatherly, the unit’s medic I told you about. Marcus, this is Audra Lorenzo and her niece, Zoe Leonard.”

  Marcus smiled at the girls. “Pleased to meet y’all.” He shook hands with Zoe and nodded his head at Audra. “Miss Audra, if you don’t mind, I’d like to have a look at you. I hear you got yourself all banged up.” He turned to the rest of them. “If y’all will excuse us for a few minutes, where can Audra and I go to talk?”

  Edward pointed toward the bedroom, and Audra and Marcus moved toward the curtain.

  * * * *

  Audra went through the curtain Marcus held open for her. Nervous sweat dampened her hands.

  “This should only take a few minutes.” Marcus set his bag on the bed and hung a stethoscope around his neck.

  The medic’s gentle demeanor put to rest the awkward feeling of being touched by a strange man. He checked her neck, her spine, and even palpated her abdomen as she lay on the bed, checking for internal injuries. He checked her blood pressure and spent a few minutes listening to her heart.

  Marcus put a fresh splint on her arm.

  The splint’s Velcro straps seemed odd and out of place after wearing a padded stick tied with ragged cloth for several days. The stiff, starchy white sling and its strap rubbed her neck. Her face must have shown discomfort.

  “Here,” he said, “let me see if I can adjust that so it’s more comfortable.”

  He put his stethoscope back in his backpack. “It looks like Edward has taken good care of you.”

  “Yes, he’s treated us well. Can I ask you a silly question?”

  Marcus loaded his things. “’Course you can. Shoot.”

  “On TV, soldiers always call each other by their ranks and last names, like ‘Lieutenant Giordano,’ for instance. But you and Edward use first names. Is this common?”

  Marcus gave a little laugh. “It’s different in units like ours. We switch back and forth between first names, last names, and nicknames. In a tight-knit group like ours, we tend to ease up on formalities.”

  “Edward told me you have several nicknames, Rev, and Holy Roller being a few. Does this bother you?”

  “Not at all.” His tone was resolute. “I’m not ashamed of my relationship with Jesus Christ. I’ll let you in on something. Before the team is about to go into a sticky situation, I take a knee and bow my head. By the time I’m through praying and open my eyes, I have several guys doing likewise, saying amen along with me.”

  “Is Edward one of them?”

  “No. Never. But, he takes up his weapon and provides over-watch until we’re finished.”

  �
�Over-watch? Is that like guard duty?”

  “Exactly.” He squeezed the air out of his blood pressure cuff and put it in in his bag.

  * * * *

  Edward ripped open an MRE and handed Zoe a Pop Tart. “Here you go. It’s enchilada flavored. Your favorite.”

  She took it and read the wrapper. “It’s strawberry, silly.”

  Her laughter made him smile.

  A few days ago, Zoe had entered the cabin kicking and screaming. Now, she flitted around the room without a care in the world, happy-faced, and giggling.

  “She looks good,” Marcus said as he pushed through the curtain with Audra. “You did a good job keeping her arm immobilized like you did, LT. You were right to err on the side of caution since you weren’t sure if the bone was broken. I also suspect there’s a break in either the radius or the ulna, probably not both. Well done.”

  Marcus put his bag on the counter and accepted a cup of coffee from Hank. “Now, let’s talk about getting out of here. I know you ladies are eager to get back to your families and your lives.”

  Zoe beamed with excitement. “Hear that, Aunt Audra? We’re going home.”

  “I know. Isn’t that great?” Audra’s smile faltered and faded when she looked at Edward.

  Marcus took a swig of his coffee. “Here’s the plan. The chopper is going to make a pass in about an hour. Greco, Dexter, and Jackson are on board today. If we need more boots on the ground to help us get to the pickup point, we’ll let them know during the flyby. When Greco makes his pass, I’ll radio him and give the go for the extraction. If, for some reason we lose the radio, we’ll pop green smoke, and they’ll know we’re a go.

  “We’ll then make our way about one mile downriver to a spot where we don’t have to stand on the ice for the extraction. They’ll give us one hour to make the trip. Before we load the dog into the crate I told you about, we’ll give her the sedative. She should begin to get drowsy pretty fast. We’ll send her up first.

  “Hank, you’ll go up with the little one. Edward, you’ll go up with Miss Audra. I’ll go last.”

  Audra raised a hand. “Stop. Whoa. Back up the apple cart. What do you mean by go up?”