The Horse Soldier: Beginnings Series Book 10 (44 page)

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“Survival training?” There was so much doubt in Leonard’s voice as he asked Frank.

“Yeah. Survival training.” Frank rocked back in his chair.

“For this long?”

Frank laughed. “Well, you can’t call it surviving if you go out there for an afternoon.”

“Where did they go?”

Holding up a finger Frank leaned into the desk. “I gave them minimal supplies and took them uh . . . about seventy-five miles south.”

“Lt. Merrick agreed to this?” Leonard asked.

“Asked for it. He loved the idea.” Frank closed his eyes and twitched his head to the right. “Gosh, I miss him.”

“
It doesn’t worry you that they haven’t returned?”

“Um . . . no. I sent a secret scout after them. They’re fine.”

“Can I speak to this scout.”

“Secret scout.”

“Yes. Can I speak to him?” Leonard questioned.

“No.”

“Why?”

“He’s the secret scout. Sorry.” Frank cupped his hands behind his head and leaned back. “You know if they aren’t back in a week, I’ll go get them.”

“And what of . . .” Leonard reviewed his papers. “Lieutenant Harris.”

“What about him?”

“Is he on survival training?”

“Absolutely.”

“Lt. Harris went on this seventy-five mile survival training mission?”

“No man is immune to it
,” Frank stated with fact.

“And they must survive in the wilderness
then walking back?”

“Yes.”

“What if they run into trouble?”

“Survival training.” Frank had all the answers.

“You expect Lt. Harris to keep up?”

“If he wants to be an officer
he will.”

Leonard seemed a bit disturbed. “Colonel Slagel
, Lieutenant Harris was given the ranking for his brains, obviously not his skills considering he has a prostheses for a right leg.”

Maybe Frank’s lip shuddered a little, but
he was certain Leonard didn’t see his shock or hiding of laughter. “Lt. Harris insisted on going.”

“I see. When does the next batch of survival trainees go out
?”

Frank raised one eyebrow
, looking at Leonard, and imagining him in the large hole he and Richie dug for those ‘survival trainees’ . “Um soon.”

“Well hold off on them until the regiment of CME’s arrive. The president is sending a hundred
, maybe two, to serve as camp guards while you train the other men for strategical purposes.” Leonard began to leave.

“Wait
,” Frank called out. “I have this amnesia thing. CME’s?”

Leonard hesitated in his walk out. “Cyborg mechanically enhanced soldiers.”

“Oh!” Frank closed his eyes, snapped his fingers and smiled. “That’s right! That’s what they’re called. Whoa. Over a hundred SUT . . . such . . . . such . . . a wonderful plan.” Frank grinned again.

“Glad you agree. Good day
, Colonel.” Leonard didn’t return the smile. He just left the office.

Frank snarled as Leonard left. “Asshole.” He brought his fingers to his lips and began to bite his nails. “Shit. That many SUTs?” He spit out a nail bit, rocked some more in his desk chair
, and submerged himself into a ‘Frank’ thinking mode.

^^^^

Shaking his head, Jess rolled the tires up the small grade to the level section. “This is ridiculous
,” he complained out loud. He hoisted them up because rolling them wouldn’t be an option through the bush and crate filled wall Robbie created first instead of last. He emerged into the new clearing that a day earlier was made free of high weeds, trees, and anything that made the area remotely look like one day it could be a forest.

The clearing wasn’t that big, half the length of a football field. Located on the hill used for the security training area
, the new clearing lay beyond the wooded area that lined the area behind the barrack style housing. It was quite the trip to be carrying items, but Robbie assured Jess they were there to stay. After the Neville competition was over, he was sure they would incorporate the new obstacle course into part of their security regimen.

Jess somehow didn’t buy it. Robbie was creating a nature meets plague ravished and looted street appearance. Jess couldn’t figure out how the three cars
that Robbie broke the windows out and brought in off the highways could be at all useful to Frank when he returned.

Jess spotted him, actually Jess heard Robbie first. The metal banging carried up the hillside as Robbie’s foot slammed over and over into an open car door
seemingly trying to free it from its hinges. He chuckled at Robbie’s determination and vain attempt to do something nearly impossible. Then Jess stopped walking when the door flew off. “Shit.”

“Hey.” Robbie ran the back of his hand over his forehead. “Man, is that all you can carry?”

“Um, yeah, Robbie. You made me carry them nearly a half a mile up a hill. You are gonna hurt yourself.”

“Nah.” Robbie shook his head and took the tires. “This is looking pretty good
, huh?”

“Yeah.” Jess watched Robbie lay the tires down in that part of the obstacle course. “Robbie.”

Robbie brushed off his hands as he stacked the last two tires. “Yeah?” He moved to Jess. “Ready to head back?”

Jess walked with Robbie to the crate and bush wall. “The whole point of running through the tires is to trip you up a little
but not a lot. Why are some of them stacked three high?”

Robbie shrugged. “Have to add
to the challenge.”

“Not all men in this community are over six feet.”

Robbie grinned. “Yep. I know.” Robbie slipped his tall body through his homemade wall.

“What if Dean was competing
? He’d never be able to do it.”

“Yeah
, he is little.” Robbie snickered. “I’m surprised we actually have jeans that fit him.”

“We don’t
,” Jess commented. “Any of the jeans he wears that aren’t really old are huge on him and baggy in the butt.”

“Whoa.” Robbie joked as he walked side by side with Jess. “Noticing Dean’s butt are we.”

Jess smiled. “Hey, how can I not.”

“
I’m telling ya, Jess, Ben from fabrics will kick your ass if you go after his dream man.”

“Ben?” Jess spoke in such a upbeat, kidding manner. “Ben has nothing on me. Please.”

Robbie slowed down in his walk when he saw a Jeep pull up to the security training area. “Hey look, speak of the devil, it’s Dean.”

“What’s he doing up here
?”

Robbie shrugged. “Don’t know. But . . .” He nudged his shoulder into Jess’ as they walked. “Now’s
your chance. He has that cute butt.”

“Nah.” Jess nudged back. “I’d rather save myself for you.”

Robbie laughed and walked ahead of Jess. “Hey Dean.” He trotted up to him. “Joining the elite force?”

Dean had a snicker on his face as he walked up to Robbie, his hand in the front pocket of his baggy jeans. “Is Robbie training 101 any better than Frank training 101.”

“Hell yeah. I’m the man.” Robbie smacked himself in his own chest. “What’s up?”

“I need to talk to you
,” Dean said. “I was looking for you at the same time as Joe. He needs to speak to you and when Henry said you were here, I. . .”

“Aw!” Robbie whined loudly. “Henry is such a snitch. I swear.”

“Well, we won’t discuss Henry, but . . .” Dean held up his hand. “I’d like to discuss something else so I told Joe I’d come up here to get you. I thought maybe I’d ride with you to Joe and we could talk.”

“Sure.” Robbie nodded. “Jess
, the keys are in the other Jeep.”

“What
Jeep?” Jess asked.

“The one I drove up
,” Robbie stated.

“You drove up
? I thought you walked. I walked.”

“Then you’re a glutton.” Robbie laughed. “It’s parked behind the barracks.”

Jess tossed his hands up. “Thanks, Robbie.”

“Ha.” Robbie grinned. “Let’s go
, Dean.” He stepped to the Jeep with Dean, stopped, and took a step back to Jess, winking. “Don’t be jealous. I know you want him.”

Jess, with a smirk, flipped Robbie off. He stood there shaking his head with a chuckle, as Robbie and Dean pulled away. Grateful that he at least didn’t have to walk back down to Beginnings, Jess got a second wind and energetically trotted behind the barracks. He stopped cold. “Shit.” He tossed back his head. “That shit.” Jess shook his head. Robbie had lied. There was no
Jeep.

^^^^^

There were several things that ran through Robbie’s mind as he rode with Dean back to the line of utility buildings. One, what Dean had to tell him must be serious. Dean had that look on his face and he was silent as if he was getting it together in his mind. Two, did Robbie do something wrong? And three, Dean had to be the slowest driver Robbie ever rode with in Beginnings.

“Dean?”

“Yeah.”

“Are we pretending we’re teenagers and cruising for chicks because we just aren’t finding them up here.”

Dean laughed but a nervousness came through. He slowed the Jeep down to a stop.

“Uh-oh..”

“What?”

“You aren’t gonna hit on me are you.”

“No, I’m . . .” The shock of what Robbie asked Dean hit him. Dean swayed his head to Robbie.

Robbie raised his eyebrows a few times.

“Robbie, stop that.”

“Kidding you. What’s up.”

“I need to talk to you very, very seriously for a minute. I need you to be serious.”

“O.K.” Robbie turned in his seat to face Dean. “Go on.”

“This conversation has to be had because I just don’t know when I am going to leave. It could be today, tomorrow, or even next week. I need to have this settled.”

“Dean, you need re
assurance that I can come up with a plan that will get you back. Don’t worry. I’ll stake my life I can sneak a team in there and get you and my brother out.”

“Thank you.” Dean gave Robbie a closed mouth look. “I need
reassurance, but not about that. I need reassurance about Ellen.”

“You don’t want me to touch her.”

“No! Touch her. I mean, no, I mean.”

“Huh?”

Dean grunted in frustration of himself. “Two things I need from you. I am coming to you because I think, no I know, you’re the only one to do this.”

“I’m lost.” Robbie tossed up his hands.

“When I go, things may get bad for Ellen. They may get really bad. When it gets around that I left Beginnings for the Society, the people in this community aren’t gonna take to well to that. They may not trust her. They may look at her differently. Treat her differently and not want anything to do with her as a doctor or scientist. All those meds we made, all that work, may not be taken. But even more than the work, I worry about her and my kids. You know. And . . .” Dean’s fingers tapped on the wheel in antsyness. “You are such a strong figure in this community, Robbie. Whether you believe it or not, people love you. They trust you. They really, really like you.”

“You want me to make sure people know Ellen is not part of the
Society and help them to realize they can trust her. It’ll be easy, Dean. I’ll convince them she didn’t know. Jenny won’t turn her back on Ellen and that is a key to the women here. Don’t worry.”

Dean smiled slightly. “With you telling me that, I just may not worry. Now . . .”

“There’s more?”

“Yes.” Dean took a deep breath. “I told Ellen today I want her to act as if she hates me when I leave
, act just as shocked as everyone else. Be convincing. Disown me. Move on.”

“Good idea.”

“Glad you think that way. I need you to do the same.”

“Be convincing
? Hate you? Disown you?” Robbie fluttered his lips. “Piece of cake, I already do.” He nudged Dean’s leg. “Lighten up. I’m joking. Of course I’ll play the part.”

“And help her move on?”

“Of course. To where?”

“To you.”

Silence. Dead silence.

Robbie cleared his throat. He took a long shuddering breath in. “To uh . . . to me?”

“Can you play
that
part as well, Robbie?”

“Act like her new lover?” Robbie’s corner of his mouth raised in a partial grin. “Dean . . .”

“I’m serious. This has nothing to do with being lovers. This has everything to do with taking care of her while I’m gone. You can’t just pretend to be there. You have to be there. Will you be there for her?”

“Dean, you didn’t even need to ask that. I mean, I had every intention of watching out for Ellen and your family.”

“Every day.”

“Yes.” Robbie nodded. “
Every day. I’ll fill in, but tell me why you are coming to me? Any other man in this community could play the part. Why me?”

Den leaned back slowly in the driver’s seat. He stared out at first then swayed his head to Robbie. “Because in the event that I don’t return or Frank doesn’t return
, I want to know that Ellen is in strong hands,” Dean closed his eyes. “That someone capable is taking care of her and my family. That someone that truly cares for her will be there. Also . . .” Dean opened his eyes. “You’re a Slagel. You are part of her heritage. And even though you have no child bathing skills, and you have this weird way of showing kids how to make food fun, you’re the only man I know that can raise Frank’s and my kids the way they should be raised. If Frank and I aren’t here, you are the only man I want raising my kids.”

Robbie didn’t know what to say. He really didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t any idea Dean thought that highly of him and it shocked Robbie to the point that no words came out of his mouth when he opened it.

“Robbie? You’ll do this for me.”

Robbie only nodded.

He sighed out a breath and then Dean reached for the gears. “Whew, that’s over with.”

“Dean, just know I will give my all and do my best to protect and watch over your family.”

“Thank you.”

“But only until you and my brother return.” Robbie paused and smiled. “Then you two can go back to fighting over them.”

An emotional chuckle came from Dean after his serious talk. He shook his head, shifted the Jeep in gear, and drove toward the utility buildings, this time a little faster.

^^^^

“Here he is
,” Joe said of Robbie when he walked into Joe’s office with Dean.

“What’s going on?” Robbie asked as he shut the door. His eyes shifted to his father then to Dan who stood there nervously. “What?”

Joe raised his eyebrows and spoke seriously. “Tell him.”

Dan bounced a little. “Robbie . . . you know how Marv won the opportunity to earn Neville points.”

“Yeah.” Robbie placed his hands on his hips and nodded.

Dean took a double take. He watched Robbie listening to Dan. The stance, the facial expression. If he had a goatee and dark hair he’d be his brother.

Dan swallowed so harshly it was evident. “Well . . .” He cleared his throat.

“Go on.” Robbie motioned his head again. “Didn’t he make the rounds?”

Dan looked at Joe then back to Robbie. “Marv . . . Marv didn’t come back, Robbie. We lost radio contact with him.”

“You checked the community?” Robbie asked.

“I’ve been checking since he failed to radio me back.” Dan said.

“Which was when?” Robbie inquired.

“Three hours ago.”

From looking down to Dan who was five inches shorter than he, Robbie lifted his head slowly. He had a stone cold expression on his face as he moved his eyes to his father and back to Dan. Then Robbie, without saying anything, took the keys that were still in Dean’s hand and barreled out of Joe’s office.

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