012Coming Home

Chapter 11

Actor pounded on Terry's door. "Teresa, open this door or I will kick it down!"

Terry had settled down by now. She walked to the door and turned the knob. She looked up at Actor's angry face. "It wasn't locked," she said quietly. "Please come in."

Actor walked inside and shut the door. He looked at her blotchy face and red eyes, then her back as she walked toward the kitchen. His anger drained away.

"Coffee? Tea? Bourbon?" she offered calmly.

"Nothing, thank you."

Terry stopped and turned at his subdued tone of voice. He looked down, his mouth puckered and moving around as he sucked on his cheek. He only did that when he was upset and not inclined to hide that fact.

"I'm sorry," said Terry. "I should not have gotten upset. I figured out you guys were probably trying to protect me. Dad is a different story, and we won't get into that."

"I may have gone a little overboard," admitted Actor. He cocked his eyes up at her. "You remember how upset you were when I got shot in the chest and you thought I was going to die?"

"I don't think I will ever forget that," replied Terry.

"That is how I felt when you were in the coma," he said. "The guilt is very strong that you deliberately put yourself in a situation that you knew would probably result in your death, all the while trying to save me."

Terry nodded, "I know. Believe me I know." She smiled sadly. "And you know we will both do it again if the situation arises."

"Yes."

Actor held his free arm out to her. She moved forward, but the casts on both got in the way. She almost grinned until they figured out the logistics and moved into a hug.

"Come here," Terry said. "I don't have a free hand."

Actor bent his head down and they exchanged a kiss. She tilted her head back to look up at him. He watched her.

"Caro, that arm has to hurt like hell," she softly admonished. "At least my break is supported by the cast. Yours is weighed down by your cast."

"I have felt better breaks," admitted Actor. "Shall we share the domestic duties for a while?"

"That would be fine," said Terry. "As long as you teach me how you cook. That beef the other night was amazing." She slapped him lightly on the backside. "Where did you learn to cook like you do?"

"Oh, here and there," he said. He did not want to admit at one time as a teenager on his own, he had worked washing dishes at a posh restaurant, and the chef had taught him a few of the basics and recipes.

Terry smiled up at him in amusement, "Ah, Actor, mio caro, you are a cagy one. The things I know about you and the more things I don't know about you. . . Always more surprises."

Actor looked down at her smiling face and carefully disengaged his hand from Terry's waist and reached a finger up to push her hair back behind her ear. He ran the back of that finger gently down her cheek and changed the subject to something more personal. "I cannot give you the things you need, Little One."

Terry smiled affectionately, "I know that. And I can't give you the things you need. As long as we remember this, we'll be all right." She cocked her head. "What do you want? You want us to pull back? I think it is too late for that. And it would ruin the con."

"Is it still a con?"

Terry nodded. "It has to be." She thought about it. "We came into this from two different worlds. When it is over you will go back to your world, and I will go back to mine. You would go insane stuck in the isolation of the ranch. And as much as I enjoy a good con, especially with you, I could not build my life on it. For now, we will go on as we are. Despite the fear and the danger, we both enjoy working together and we are good together. So we will continue, until it is over."

Actor shook his head. "But Teresa, must you be so damned independent?" he asked in frustration.

"Yes," she replied matter-of-factly. She looked up at him. "Sweetheart, we are from two different worlds. I stepped into yours, but when this is over, if we survive, we will go back to our own worlds. I grew up on the ranch. To all intents and purposes, we did not have a father. I got my first horse when I was three years old. Not rode my first horse, got my own horse. I could grab the stirrup and climb up, but someone had to adjust the stirrups for me once I was on. I was herding cattle when I was five. We kids had to. We had a couple of hired hands, but that wasn't enough. We had to be independent and self-sufficient. It was a necessity. And I will go back to that." She smiled and ran a fingertip down his jaw. "Caro, you were born with that proverbial silver spoon in your mouth. Your father made a lot of money off his vineyards. You had servants, tutors, and anything a little boy could possibly want. Until you lost it all. And then you had to learn to be independent and self-sufficient. So, we both have those qualities, but it's still two different worlds."

A thought struck her, and she looked up at him, eyebrows coming together. "How did you get here?"

"I have the Packard," he hedged.

Terry's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "And how did you drive the Packard one-handed? At least I can use the fingers on this arm."

He gave a small, guilty smile. "Julie drove."

"Julie?!" she exclaimed. "Vittorio, that child just turned thirteen. This isn't Montana. She can't drive here!"

"She drove very well. Followed the speed limits and was careful around the wagons with the horses." He smiled.

"Great. And just how do you expect us to get back to the mansion in two cars? I am not letting her drive back!"

With 'con' written all over his face, Actor replied. "The Warden isn't going to be driving the jeep for a while. We leave the jeep here. Can you drive the Packard with your cast?"

"I got here, didn't I?" shot back Teresa. "Why did you come all this way? Why didn't you wait a bit and call me?"

Actor sucked in a cheek. "I needed to get away from your sister. She does have a temper." He changed the subject on purpose. "You did not get breakfast."

"You can make me an omelet when we get back," said Terry matter-of-factly. "Seeing as you are such a wonderful cook. Which you are."

Actor's smile turned to a grin. "I am that. Come on. Let's get Julie and go back."

"Where is Julie?"

"I believe she is at the Fox with Kit."

Terry shook her head and picked up her purse from the dining table. "Shall we?"

Actor gave a slight bow and swept his good right arm toward the door. "After you, cara."

GGG

Back at the Mansion, things settled down. Chris went outside in the afternoon to see what could be salvaged from the garden. The men had retreated to the upstairs common room with the door closed while they played poker. The door to Garrison's room was closed too.

Kelly didn't bother to knock on the front door, he just walked right in. There was no one in the common room. With a shrug, he bounded up the stairs. The door to Terry's room was open. It was empty, the bed unmade, which was unusual for his sister. Hearing voices coming from down the men's hall, he decided Terry must be down there. Things couldn't be as bad as they had sounded if Terry was up and about. He wondered about Craig.

He hadn't gone more than a couple steps when Actor's door opened, and a slightly taller Julie stepped into the hall. She looked up at him sharply and smiled in delight.

"Hello, Kelly," the girl said.

"Hi, Julie," returned the older boy. "I didn't know you were here, but it would make sense. How are you?"

"I'm just fine," smiled Julie. "How are you."

"Even better now that I know you're here." He walked up to her, lifted her hand and kissed the knuckles as he had the first time he had met her. "Are you staying for a while?"

Julie nodded.

"Kelly, what did I tell you the last time?" growled Will Garrison in Lakota, clearly annoyed.

Kelly's eyes went to his father's. Figures the old man was here again. "I can't even say hello to her?" he asked defiantly, in the same language.

"As long as that's all you do," shot back the older man.

To keep the peace, Kelly dropped Julie's hand and looked back at her. She had not understood the words, but got the idea of the exchange. "We can talk later," said the girl softly in French.

"He speaks that too," warned Kelly, just as quietly in French. Julie grinned at the young man, who was not at all repentant. She watched him step into the bedroom and look around. The space in there was getting more and more crowded, so she stayed in the hall and watched.

Kelly peered around the door, following his brother's foot on the bed, up his bandaged leg to his face. Next he looked at his older sister, the cast on her arm and the bandage taped to her head. Next was the man sitting up in bed with a bigger cast on his arm.

"Would someone like to tell me what is going on? I got a message when I got back that Craig was dead, Terry was almost dead, and everybody else was shot up," said Kelly.

"It's a long story," said the General.

Just then, there was a pounding on the front door downstairs. Terry looked around to see who could get to the door easiest.

"Julie, go find out who that is," said Terry.

The girl bounded away.

"The mission was a disaster," said Actor matter-of-factly.

"That's putting it mildly," said Craig.

Kelly shook his head. "If you're all hurt, why are you here and not in a hospital."

Actor answered that with his droll wit, "I believe we were evicted."

Kelly made a face. "What did Casino do this time?"

All of the others laughed.

"Poor Casino," chortled Terry. "Everybody automatically thinks it's him, even when it isn't."

Julie came running back to the bedroom. She looked apprehensively at Gen. Garrison. "Sir, there's a General downstairs!"

"Which one?" asked Will with resignation.

"Abrams," said a man's voice in the hall. "I thought if I followed her, I would find you."

He skirted the girl and entered the room as best he could. Craig tried to get up.

"Stay down, Lieutenant," said the general. He looked around the room. "I guess you won't be going on any missions any time soon." Before anyone could answer, he looked at the elder Garrison. "I could have called, but I wanted to see this for myself." He glanced around again and shook his head. Turning his attention to Gen. Garrison, he continued, "I came to get you. Eisenhower wants you back in Washington yesterday. We're readying a plane to fly you back."

"Wonderful," growled Will. He shouldered his way through and out the door to get his belongings. "Who is going to help them?"

"I'll stay," offered Kelly a little too quickly and brightly.

"Kel – lyyy," objected Terry.

"Hey, I'm not gonna touch her," he nodded toward Actor. "He'd beat me to death with his cast."

Abrams allowed himself a small smile. "I take it she's yours," he said to Actor.

"Yes, she is my daughter, Julie."

The general's smile widened just a tiny bit more. "I wasn't aware you knew Terry that many years ago."

"GOD-mother, General! I'm her GOD-mother! Not her mother. And he didn't know me then," said Terry loudly and with exasperation.

The three men in the common room came out at the loud voices to see what was going on. Casino took one look at the back of Gen. Abrams and began his tirade.

"Oh, no. No mission. I'm tellin' yuh we ain't goin' on a mission," said the safecracker with more than his usual belligerence.

Abrams turned around slowly and eyed the three men. He turned back to the Lieutenant. "Two casts, four slings and two head injuries. I'd say none of you are going anywhere for quite a while."

"We couldn't even get there," said Casino. "Can't work the lines of a parachute or climb in and outta a sub."

"I see that, Casino," returned Gen. Abrams with a touch of humor.

Not arriving with much in the line of luggage, Gen. Garrison was back fairly quickly.

Gen. Abrams looked around. "Well, gentlemen and ladies, I can't say it's been a pleasure, but I wish you all a speedy recovery."

"Thank you, Sir," said Craig quickly before Casino could get started again.

"Take care of yourselves," added Will.

The two officers walked back down the hall and the stairs.

"So where am I sleeping?" asked Kelly.

Terry smiled insincerely. "Seeing as you're staying to be helpful, you can change the linens and towels in the spare bedroom next to mine and that'll be yours."

Footsteps approached at a fast pace and Chris hurried up the hallway. She paused at the doorway and looked at all the people.

"Hi Kelly," she said. "Tell me we aren't leaving."

"No, we're staying," he answered.

"I just saw Dad leaving with Gen. Abrams. What did I miss?" asked the youngest Garrison girl.

"Nuffing," said Goniff with a cocky smile.

"Nothing," she repeated. "Sure." Chris looked between people at Actor. "Is it all right if I make dinner tonight?" she asked.

"Be my guest," replied the con man with relief. "What did you have in mind?"

Chris looked at Terry. "Mushroom Chicken?"

Before Terry could answer, Actor brightly exclaimed, "Yes!"

That brought laughter for everyone.

Julie looked at Kelly as he came out of the room. "Would you like some help changing the sheets?"

"No!" exclaimed Actor and Terry loudly.

Julie jumped and Kelly decided to retreat. Chris did not know what the problem was with the two teenagers, but she had a good guess.

Chris walked out into the hall and smiled at the girl. "Want to help me make dinner?" she asked. "Did Terry teach you how to make Mushroom Chicken?"

"I would be happy to help you, Aunt Chris," said Julie. "Terry has not taught me that dish."

"Oh, well, come on then. After the war, you will need to know how to make it for your father. It's his favorite dish," said Christine.

The two headed for the stairs.

"So wot's the matter with Julie 'elpin' Kelly?" asked Goniff. "They're just kids."

"Kids in years," drawled Chief shaking his head. "And both of them have killed Krauts. They're old enough to get in trouble."

"Oh," said Goniff, as understanding dawned.

"I hope we all heal quickly," remarked the young girl's father.

"Come on," said Casino, slapping Goniff lightly on the shoulder. "Let's go finish our game. I haven't won all your money yet."

The three men went back to the common room. Garrison looked between his second and his sister. He knew the two 'kids' would find ways to get to know each other. The adults would just have to keep a close eye on them.

"It's going to be a long war," he predicted.

7