Page 6 of Bernadette
“I know, and since you two are the next thing to parents I have, I would like you to take that place of honor.”
“Are you sure?” Wilson asked in shock.
“I am. This is the way I figured it. My parents died, or if you can believe the information we have, they were killed when I was seventeen. I hired the two of you to help out here on the ranch when I was eighteen. I will be thirty-eight on my next birthday. So, if you’re doing the math, I’ve known you longer than my parents, and I would like you to represent me at the wedding.”
“It will be our honor,” Wilson said as he held out his hand to shake. Once that was done, Dolly hurried around the counter and engulfed him into a hug.
“It will be my honor, too,” she said as she hugged the younger man. As she stepped back, she had to wipe the corner of her eyes. No one said a word until there was a knock on the back door and everyone turned as one to see Alex walk in the back door.
“Oh, hey, sorry to interrupt, but Wyatt, I wanted to let you know that I’m ready to head to the field. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to run over to the compound and tell Joyce that I will be in late.”
“That’s fine, why don’t you follow Morgan over?” When Morgan started to say something, Wyatt just gave her a look, but talked to her brother. “You will have an escort. When you’re ready to come home for the night, call and someone will come to escort you back.”
“What if I have one of my brothers follow me back here? Or one of the girls?”
“That works for me, as long as you are not going back and forth alone. We don’t know if or when Carlisle will strike. It’s better to err on the side of caution.”
“I agree.” Morgan nodded, then gave him a quick kiss on the corner of his mouth, then turned and walked out ahead of her brother.
CHAPTER3
“Commander.”
“General,” Bernadette Cromwell nodded to the man as he entered his outer office at 6 a.m. on Monday morning.
“Come in, I’m assuming you wish to speak with me?”
“I do,” Bernie said, and was grateful when her boss didn’t try to help her struggle to her feet. It took a few extra seconds, but she finally made it into the office, then stood at attention before the desk.
“At ease, would you like a cup of Joe?”
“I’d really like a shot of whiskey in that, Sir, but it’s too early in the morning for it.”
The older man chuckled, and it shocked Bernie to see him make a pot of coffee in the corner of his office. In no time they were settled in their seats, sipping the strong brew.
“What’s on your mind? And don’t tell me nothing. You wouldn’t be here at the ass-crack of dawn if it wasn’t important.”
Bernadette closed her eyes, drew in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. When she opened her eyes, she looked directly at her commanding officer and said in clear, concise words.
“General, I regret to inform you that I am requesting my DD 2656.” She kept it short and simple. She knew her boss knew what she was talking about when he jumped to his feet to pace.
“There’s no change?” he asked after several minutes, and he had pointed to her knee.
“No, at best, I can graduate from the crutches to the cane.” She tapped the one she had bought on Friday on the floor. “The doctor is saying eighty percent, which I am at now, with no chance of improvement.”
Bernadette sat there and watched her commanding officer as he went from his desk to the coffee pot, to the window, and back several times before he settled before the window. She didn’t know whether she should be worried or not, when he remained silent for such a long time. Taking the initiative, she drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Sir, please don’t ask me to ride a desk. I have been doing that since this injury occurred, and there is no way I can continue to do so.” Before she could continue her explanation as to why she wanted to retire instead of working at a desk for the rest of her career, the general turned to her, and Bernadette had to suck in her breath at the anguish she saw in his face. She remained silent as she watched him go back to his desk, sit down, then he opened a drawer and withdrew a file.
“I received this at the end of day, Friday,” he explained as he handed her the folder.
Bernedette took it with mixed feelings, and slowly opened it. She had to read the short, one-page letter three times before it clicked in what she was reading. She whipped her head up and demanded, “Permission to speak freely, Sir?”
“Granted,” the general said as he leaned back in his chair and studied the woman before him.
“What crock of shit is this?” Bernedette demanded as she shook the folder at him. “They’re going to decommission the EWMs? What the hell? Who ordered this?”
“The Commander-in-Chief.”
