Chapter 9
Last we left Mitch and Ranger, they were staring at each other on the Rangemaninja course in Atlanta.
"Is that Stephanie?" Julie whispered.
Ranger didn't say anything, he just stared. Why was she here? Did she not marry Joe and married Charlie from Rangeman instead? Is that why there was no Stephanie Morelli in his search? Was her marrying Charlie the "bomb" that set off two divorces in Trenton?
At that moment another woman and the same little girl came out from the crowd. Both went to Michelle, the little girl slapping her leg trying to get her attention. Michelle broke eye contact with Ranger and looked down. Picking the little girl up she kissed her and handed her to another woman who went over to Charlie and wrapped her arm around Charlie's waist. The little girl moved into her father's arms.
Somewhere in Ranger's mind it registered that strange woman belonged to Charlie, not Stephanie. Who was Mitch? Time passed, nobody moved, suddenly Julie broke free and ran forward, "Stephanie?"
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Michelle was going to answer The Deacon's comment about Ranger training when she glanced at Tank. He stared intently. "What's he looking at?" Michelle asked herself. She drank from the bottle and turned to look. Back in the woods stood a man and teenage girl. There was no mistaking Carlos Manoso, same coloring, same body form. The girl was a like-image, it must be Julie. They came to watch the events.
Michelle then noticed the cane in Ranger's left hand. He was injured. Was this from a mission? She remembered the mission from her dreams, was it real? How did she feel seeing him standing there? Her heart was thumping loudly, the Stephanie was embarrassed, overwhelmed, fearful and yet excited. Michelle realized reality was at hand. One year without him, one year to decide if she wanted a relationship now that he's standing there or to go on with her new life.
Julie started walking away from her father and then broke into a run. When she was close enough to Michelle to look into her eyes, she was sure it was Stephanie. "Stephanie, I can't believe it is you," she gasped.
Michelle looked at the adolescent in front of her. She was tall, slender but with the same coloring, same straight dark brown and same facial features as Ranger. Michelle's mind snapped into gear. This was Julie, Ranger's daughter. The new Michelle didn't know what to do, but the old Stephanie whispered, "Julie?"
The single acknowledgement was all it took for Julie to throw herself towards Michelle and hug her. Michelle, especially Mitch, stood rigid unsure what to do. The old Stephanie pushed out and threw her arms around Julie.
Tank continued to stare at Ranger. His face completely blank but inside he boiled with anxiety. There was no way he'd let Ranger hurt Mitch. One wrong word, one wrong turn and Ranger would be requiring Bobby for rehab once again or a pine box.
The Deacon had been growing interested in Mitch but when he heard Julie call her Stephanie, he realized this was Ranger's woman; the one he walked away from. He looked at Tank who mumbled under his breath, "OK you fucker, the ball is in your court."
Charlie did not know Ranger but surmised this was he. He suspected Michelle was still in love with Ranger but was he with her? It was like the standoff before a gun fight, who was going to blink or draw first?
Julie stepped back and looked at Stephanie and then looked at her father. She realized they were eye locked, neither was going to move. "Oh for heaven's sake," she said and stomped over to her father. Taking his hand, Julie dragged her father towards Stephanie, "Buck it up soldier." Out of curtesy Tank, The Deacon and Charlie plus wife and child backed away.
When Julie got Ranger with five feet of Stephanie she stopped and dropped her father's hand. "OK you two have danced around each other for far too long. Enough is enough. Don't screw it up this time."
"Jules," Ranger growled.
"Good, glad to know your brain and mouth are working, Dad. Now whatever needs to be said and done between you two, do it. You have been miserable for a year Dad. Either end this and get on with your miserable life or work on getting back together. You two aren't getting any younger."
Michelle smirked, "She's gotten bossy."
"Teenager," Ranger mumbled.
Julie walked away and put her arms around Tank. "Promise me you'll kill them if they mess this up."
Tank nodded, "Count on it. They would be mercy killings, for us all."
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Ranger and Mitch still didn't move. Finally Tank spoke up, "Mitch, you can't stand around like that or your muscles are going to cramp. Get moving, NOW!"
Sir, yes sir," she replied.
Ranger raised an eyebrow at her military response, but said nothing.
Tank nodded and started walking away, The Deacon and Charlie plus family followed. Julie went with Tank.
Mitch looked at Ranger, "He's right I'm getting cold and I don't want to cramp. Walk with me." It was then she remembered his cane. "Can you walk far?"
"I can walk farther every day."
She went to her rucksack and reached in for her sweat suit. She quickly dressed, zipped down her pants legs over her shoes and indicated she was ready.
Ranger watched and then noted the water bottle in her hand, "Hydrate, you don't want to get….
…hypothermia," she answered. She drank from her bottle.
They walked towards the base camp without talking. Michelle figured he had more questions that she and let him begin.
His limp wasn't too bad. The cane was used more for safety as he negotiated uneven terrain. After a while he spoke, "Why Mitch?"
"It's short for Michelle, my new name. Stephanie shattered and ceased to exist."
He thought about the two divorces and part of the family moving to Florida. How did they fit into her name change? Did she marry Joe? "Joe?" he asked not looking at her.
"Asshole."
"You didn't marry?"
"Hell no, after he won me and you left, I became nothing to him. He became abusive. Christmas Day….Stephanie died."
Ranger said nothing. What could he say? Instead his mind raged with questions, questions for later.
"Tank picked up the pieces and later other Rangeman," she said without explanation.
"You work at Rangeman now." It was a statement, not a question.
"I was too old for the Army."
"What?! Army?" Ranger was confused. "You were ready to enlist?"
"I needed to be reborn and figured the Army was the only way. Tank suggested it, but I was too old. So he undertook my training in the Maine woods in January. Instead of trial by fire it was trial by frostbite. Once I was somewhat stable, Bobby, Lester, Ram and Hector took over."
"You married Tank?"
"What? Heck no; nor Lester, Bobby, Ram, Hector, Vince, Cal, Carl, Bone, nor any of the others"
He was silent again as he walked towards the main gathering area. They were slow, Ranger was being careful.
She was quiet for a while, "I take it from Julie's comments you aren't married either."
He shook his head no.
"You seeing anybody?" she asked.
He shook his head no again. "What about you?"
Michelle explained, "I've remained celibate since Christmas Eve. It was the last time Joe hit me and ….forced me."
Ranger stopped as if he was wounded. He believed Stephanie would be safe with Joe, not become her abuser. "I couldn't….."
"I know," Michelle replied. "I finally understood. First Grandpa Mazur, then Tank and The Deacon helped me understand."
"You mean Grandma Mazur."
"No, it's a story for another day. I'm not going to ask why nobody told me you survived, I suspect I know. I wasn't ready. It didn't matter if you lived or died, I wasn't ready to know."
Ranger stopped suddenly and quietly asked, "I survived? What do you know?"
She stopped walking and turned to look right into those lovely chocolate eyes that were showing more emotion than she had ever seen before, "Ranger, look at me…it's all in the past, cremated, buried. Stephanie thought love should be all about what she craved, desperately needed; total love, total commitment. It didn't happen in her family or with Dickie or with Joe. You were the closest, but with the Damocles sword over your head, you couldn't. Michelle understands but Stephanie never did."
Ranger looked deep into her eyes, "Is Stephanie totally gone?"
"The shattered Stephanie is gone, she died. The obstinate, indecisive, lazy Stephanie got the stuffings kicked out of her by Tank at her request. Maybe the Stephanie that was filled with love to give is still there, I don't know. I've not allowed her to surface while I work on the rest of me. Right now Michelle or Mitch the Bitch guards the door."
He nodded and resumed walking. Men don't talk, they work it out internally. Probably his internal drive was spinning madly.
Michelle whispered, "Did you kill the fucker that kept us apart?"
His head snapped up. "Yes, Babe, he's gone."
The term Babe hit her heart, she gasped. She cleared her throat trying to get a voice, "I assume from your cane you no longer are under contract."
"It's suspended depending on my rehab. If I get back to 100% then I'll make up my mind."
Her mind raced, it's been about ten months and he's not 100%. How badly was he injured? Now what? Do they pick up from where they left off? No that was Stephanie. Would he even be interested in Michelle, or worse Mitch the Bitch?
They were at the main gathering area where tents were erected for comfort, warm, food and drink. Stephanie angled away from the crowd and stopped.
"Ranger, we've both been through a lot in the past year. I can only speak about myself. I've changed, a lot. You don't know me. Maybe I became what you hoped for or perhaps I've gone way too far. If you are looking for the old Stephanie with the tangled hair, who cried frequently to release her frustrations, anger, and angst; who was so obstinate she drove you, Joe and her mother crazy, she's gone. I no longer have family or so called Burg friends to run my life. My only friends reside on Haywood. I'm giving you a chance to escape, to run from the unknown. Right now I have to use the latrine. If you are gone when I come back, I understand."
She wanted to run to the Porta Potties but kept herself in control. Her heart was beating like a frightened dove. She could hardly breathe, black spots began to appear. Great, she hasn't had a panic attack in over a year. She had to bend over to let the blood back in her head, never a great idea in a latrine. This was not a place to pass out, ass in the air, and head on the floor. Wait! Where was Michelle, where was the Bitch? Hadn't she just spent months making herself into something stronger?
She sat down and began to think. Why didn't someone tell me he would be here? Maybe they thought, like Julie, enough was enough. Now or never; if there is anything between Ranger and her, they need to find it or completely end…..end what? Is there anything between left but ghosts from the past? Relationships are not built upon ghosts. What if he runs? Could she stay at Rangeman? Was she as strong as she thought she was? So many questions, but first she needed to get out of the tiny, smelly box and get fresh air. She opened the door and he was standing just outside. "I didn't run. I'm curious Babe," he said.
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She closed her eyes for a moment and swayed. He grabbed her arm, "Babe?"
"I'm OK, just….hungry." She was hungry and tired but mostly it was the emotions running around in her heart. Could she contain them?
Keeping hold of her arm he walked her to the picnic benches and sat her down. "What do you want to eat?"
"Fruit and a protein, something simple" she said.
For a moment he was shocked. No pizza, no doughnuts? She did ask for simple protein and fruit. No, this wasn't Stephanie Plum. "They have souvlaki, chicken kebabs."
"That will be fine…and water. Wait, you can't carry all that. I need to come with you."
"Babe."
She watched him disappear into the crowd. Was she dreaming? Was he really there or did she fall off a rope on the challenge course and is now hallucinating in some ICU unit in a hospital bed?
"Mitch, I hear you nailed the challenge course," Lester said as he slid down next to her on the bench. "You look…pale. Have you eaten? I'll get you something."
"No, Les, someone is getting me food." She looked at Lester, a man she loved not as a lover but as a friend, maybe even family. All of them; Les, Bobby, Tank, Hector, Ram, Cal, Woody, Bones, Ella and Luis were the only family she ever had that cared about her, save Grandpa Mazur and maybe Grandma Mazur though her love of gossip was inherited and enhanced by her daughter. "Thank you, Lester, for not telling me."
"Not telling you what?" he asked. He looked into the blue eyes he's adored since the first time he saw them. Then he knew. She had seen Ranger.
"Ranger?" he asked.
She nodded.
"We didn't tell you for the same reason we never told him about you," he said. "You both were broken, partially due to your lives together falling apart, but also other factors. You, Joe, engagement, you're your family, and apartment while he had his mission and the physical and psychological damage. You both needed time to mend and you needed to rebuild yourself. He was wounded, badly. That's why Bobby was gone for so long. He went down to work with him."
"Bobby didn't tell him?"
"No."
"And Ranger never asked about me?"
"Michelle, he was trying to decide if he wanted to live or die. Bobby said at night Ranger would call out for you but no, he never asked about you when he was awake. His rehab has been slow because of the ache in his heart. He didn't want to get better. Julie pulled him through." Lester watched her blue eyes begin to gloss over with tears, but she caught herself.
There was motion to her left and she and Lester looked over. Ranger and Julie were bringing over food.
"A little help here Lester," Julie called out.
Lester jumped up and helped carry the food to the table and then turned and gave Julie a big hug, "Julie, is that really you? Where did the little girl go?" He then turned to Ranger, hesitated a second and gave his cousin a brief man hug, "Good to see you Cuz."
Ranger mumbled, "It's been a while."
Everyone waited for Mitch to begin eating. She ate several pieces of fruit before she picked the meat off the skewer, though she really wasn't hungry. She knew Lester would insist otherwise he say….
"You've got to refuel," Les said to encourage her to eat.
He said exactly the same thing after each terrain training session, "You need a new line, Les. That one is getting too predictable."
She sipped her water then remembered, "Les, what about the Ninja course?"
"We resume with the finals in two hours."
"Finals, are you in the final?" Julie asked with her squeaky surprise voice.
"Yes, two of us from Trenton made it, one from here and one from Boston. Ramsey from Miami fell on the last station."
Julie's eyes were wide, "Are you going to climb Mt. Manoso?"
Michelle stopped chewing and looked at Julie and then Lester. Nobody told her an event at Rangemaninja was named Mt. Manoso.
Julie misinterpreted Michelle's stare. "It's like the TV show, 75 feet up a rope. Dad has won the event so often they named it after him."
Michelle looked at Ranger and then Lester. So much had been kept from her. How many years had Rangemaninja been held? Mt. Manoso. Knowing the name, would it have kept her from coming to Rangemaninja? Probably. Old Stephanie would be furious right now, how dare they keep this from her! But Michelle stopped and took a breath; they kept the information from her because they were so careful giving her time and space to heal. She put her head down into her hands. She didn't deserve them.
"Babe are you ill?" Ranger asked with concern.
"Mitch?' Lester wanted to wrap his arm around her, but just moved close, "Is something wrong?"
She shook her head no. Looking up she looked at Ranger, "You put together an amazing team. They all have taken such good care of me."
Ranger looked confused. How WELL have they taken care of her? What's been going on?
Lester tapped her shoulder to get her to look at him, "You are our little sister, even if you are older than most." That earned him a light elbow to the ribs. He laughed. "When you broke we had to put you back together. We didn't want you to go into the Army, we thought we could give you what you needed. We know broke, we've been through it ourselves. You have worked through the PTSD books and mostly through the abandonment issues." Lester wanted to stop and stare at his cousin, but kept going, "Even though Bobby was working with Ranger, he was checking back every few days. Tank formed the new mold, you filled the mold with incredible hard work. The rest of us have been polishing the edges. Michelle, you have been reborn one heck of a woman, a woman we are proud to call a Rangewoman. "
"Is that why you encouraged me to come here?" she said clearly without emotion though inside she was still reeling.
Lester shrugged, "Remember, Ram pushed it. He and I have been working to build your body and skills. You needed to know how good you've become in such a short time. Bobby wasn't sure you were emotionally for this trip. Tank said it was time. He suspected Ranger would be here."
Ranger sat back and listened. He has missed so much. Apparently the old Stephanie, err, new Michelle was willing to speak about feelings, but was he? She appeared to be strong emotionally now, was Ranger, the alter ego of Carlos Manoso this strong?
"This isn't something he needs to hear," Lester said tipping his head towards Ranger, "When we return Tank, Bobby and I are dividing our shares and making you a partner. You are that important to the business."
Michelle dropped the strawberry she was holding and stared at Lester.
He smiled his Lester Santos smile with the wiggly eyebrows, "I've got to go rest before the big climb. Promise me if I win you'll kiss my cheek. It's been a year. See you later, Bitch" He laughed as he walked away.
Ranger looked over asking with his eyes.
"Strictly hands off, celibate Michelle. Tank said I wasn't healthy enough for emotional interactions."
Ranger sat processing the new information. Julie couldn't contain herself, "Why did you cut your hair?"
"Tank and I were…in training. My hair didn't fit under a helmet so I had to wear it scrunched in a cap under my helmet. It matted and tangled."
"Helmet?" Julie asked.
"At that time I thought I'd go into the Army and didn't want to bomb out of Basic Training. Tank helped me get into shape and…correct my thinking. As for my hair, I was tired of fighting it. My mother never let me cut it saying I wouldn't look nice enough to attract a husband. If a man is only attracted to your body, then he's shallow and not worthy of your time. Also when a man, or woman forces you to become somebody else to fit their ideal, they are wrong for you and can end up destroying you," she said looking at Julie but ending up looking deep into Ranger's eyes. "I'm sorry, I was wrong," she said clearly to him.
Michelle knew this wasn't the time or place for an in-depth conversation. First Julie was present. Second, various people came up to Ranger to speak to him. They needed time and to be alone. Rangemaninja wasn't the place.
Michelle stood, "If you'll excuse me, I'm getting cold again. I'm going to catch the shuttle back to the hotel to shower and dress for the chill. I'll be back for the rope climb."
Ranger was going to offer to drive her when yet another individual came up and began discussing something with him. Once back at the hotel she ran into Ram.
"Let me guess, shower and warmer clothes?"
She smiled, "Did my blue lips give me away?"
Shaking his head no, "I'm freezing too. I assume you'll go to watch Les climb?"
"Wouldn't miss it," she laughed. "Plus he'd kill me if he knew I was back here napping. This way I can pack for our departure later."
Ram hesitated, "Did you….?"
Yes, I saw and spoke to him briefly. He didn't run from Mitch the Bitch and I didn't run. That's as far as it's gone." Then she paused, "You thought I was ready to see him?"
"And he needed to see you. Go slow, be Michelle or Mitch," Ram counseled.
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Ranger remained quiet. His life has been a curious passage. A loving childhood rich with love, but his rebellion took him into the dark areas of gangs, drugs and juvenile detention. Light returned with this Abuela in Florida. He gave college a try but he needed more. He needed to be a part of something honorable. The Army gave him a purpose. He was cruising along when another detour occurred, Rachel. A brief interlude in a cheap motel left her pregnant. Being basically moral, he married her giving the child a birth certificate with a mother and father of the same name. The divorce was a formality; there was no relationship between them other than errant sperm and now a lovely baby.
He was a good fit for the Army, too good a fit. Whatever he did, he did to exceptionally well often casting him into darkness. When he left after serving 6 years he was approached to continue what he did so well as a private contractor. He was Carlos Manoso, the Ranger and soon just Ranger. His uncanny abilities and intelligence made him a favorite contractor and soon a wealthy contractor, but his life was lived in the dark. One did not do what he did without emotional destruction. His relationships with women were on an as needed basis; a few hours at most. He had built a wall around himself, until that fateful day in the tiny café in Trenton. He had set up Rangeman Trenton with his Army buddies and was preparing to move to Miami in a month or so to help finalized Rangeman Miami. From that initial meet with a woman with intense blue eyes and crazy brown curls, his cruise down life's highway become as tangled as a Roundabout with a dozen different exits. He was enthralled by this woman and every exit he took only led him back to her.
Last year when he learned he'd finally get a chance to eliminate Guzman he knew he was probably facing the end of his crazy life. One last thing needed to be cleaned up, Stephanie. She had grown weary of waiting for him, beaten down by her mother and the Burg. If he failed to kill Guzman and lost his life, there was no guarantee Stephanie and his family and Rangeman would be safe. He did what he could to protect everyone including having Joe Morelli, a cop, marry her. With her safely engaged to Joe he could go and do his duty one last time. It seemed so simple, so neat.
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Before the rope climb, awards were passed out to the winners of the different events. The Deacon, as host of the games was the announcer and Ranger handed out the awards.
The Deacon addressed the crowd, "When Ranger, Patrick, Marco and I envisioned a day of competition between the Rangeman offices, we never expected it to blossom into this. Originally the games were various marksmanship events and a challenge course.
"As the companies have grown, interest in the event has grown and the number participating. Additionally the quality of participants increased to where we had to add a tough Ninja course and other events.
"Perhaps the biggest surprise is the number of woman to participate in the trials, six this year and surprisingly they hold their own against the men. Rangeman has high expectations of all workers and this excellence is shown in the men and woman who have and are participating these two days."
Standing a bit taller, if that was possible he began, "It is time to hand out the awards. As usual the competition was tough. Each year the proficiency increases and us older guys have to work harder to keep up with you bucks." Chuckles were heard in the crowd.
"The top three scores in single gun are: Ranger Manoso, no surprise there. Tank from Trenton, and me The Deacon. Good to know C Company can still shoot," he chuckled. "Pat and Marco also did well so us old farts don't need glasses….yet."
"The top woman in single handgun placing 6th overall is Mitch from Trenton."
Michelle stood like a statue, that couldn't be. Ram had to turn her and push her to the awards stage, "You earned it. Look at Ranger's face," he said laughing.
She stepped onto the stage and accepted the award from Ranger, "Proud of you Babe," he muttered.
The Deacon continued, "Whoa Mitch, don't go. Two member team competition: Charlie and Mitch from Trenton on the combined time and number of paint ball wounds. They had a clean run. Brian and Clark from Miami second and Murphy and Silvio from Miami third."
Charlie joined her on stage, "You have a good partner, Charlie," Ranger said. "Yes sir, the best," Charlie replied. Then turning to Michelle Ranger said, "I knew you could shoot, you just refused to believe in yourself."
She muttered, "Exactly."
The Deacon took over, "Now the Rifle/Sniper awards: Brian Atlanta, Ram Trenton, Herman Boston. Top woman; at 7th, Claudia Atlanta.
To complete the weapons categories we have the three gun competition: Greg Atlanta. Don't go deer hunting with him, it will be a very short hunt. Second place the old man from Miami, Marco. Third is a newcomer to three guns, Mitch Trenton. Somebody has an eagle eye. Better watch out snipers, Mitch may be entering your competition next year."
Walking onto the awards stage was getting embarrassing. Ranger was holding his expression but the crinkles in his eyes indicated he was laughing.
The Deacon began again, "The swimming events are fairly new to Rangemaninja, due in part to the number of SEALS now with us. For the 1000 m. swim Doug Miami, Stew from Miami and Charlotte Boston.
"Now for the sinker awards, 100 m underwater," The Deacons said, "Jason Trenton, Peaches from Boston and Ram Trenton."
"For the long distance 5 km swim, the winners are, Ram Trenton, Charlotte Boston and Newell from Atlanta. Side mention, Mitch placed 6th, not bad for the first time ever swimming in competition." Mitch was surprised; she knew she saw well, but not that well.
"For us overly muscled guys, the strong-man competition," The Deacon tried to kid. "Winners are Hal Trenton, The Deacon me, Tank Trenton. I believe this is the first time Hal beat Tank. Wonders never cease. No women participated, maybe next year, but remember, no steriods." This garnered a few chuckles form the group.
"Hand to hand competition winner is no surprise since Ranger didn't compete, Tank Trenton, I never could best those two. Second goes to Kyle Boston, third Charlie Boston. Top woman was Charlotte Atlanta. Hopefully more women will compete next year."
"We come to everyone favorite, the challenge course. It is my understanding the first two place winners train together so it is no surprise they did well. First place, Lester Trenton, second place and would have taken first if she had not stopped to do a little celebratory jug after the Tarzan swing, Mitch Trenton. Third place goes to Andy Atlanta."
When Michelle received her award from Ranger he said, "I've never seen the course run so well."
"You were watching?"
"I didn't know it was you until Tarzan."
"You called out to me." She flashed on the dream or whatever it was with grandpa Mazur and someone calling out to her after the Tarzan swing.
He smiled.
"Once again Team Trenton takes overall championship and overall woman is Mitch Trenton. This was Mitch's first trip to Rangemaninja. Let's hope this was beginner's luck otherwise next year she's going to kick all our butts," The Deacon finished.
This time Ranger wanted to throw his arms around her but she backed off. "Proud of you Babe and absolutely shocked."
She blushed, "I had really great coaches beginning with Tank. As I said before, you put together a great team."
The Deacon announced to the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come for the finale, the timed climb of Mt. Manoso. Named in honor of this gentleman who has won the event every year and set a time no mortal has gotten close. Today we have four who will climb. They earned the honor by successfully completing the ten events of Ninja. I have a bowl with the four contestants' names and will draw to determine what order they climb. First to climb will be Steven from Boston. Second will be Jason from Trenton, third will be Andy from Atlanta. The last to climb will be Lester Trenton.
Steven from Boston set a blistering climb of 47 seconds. The three others tilted their heads wondering if they could do better. The second climber, Jason, got off fast but faltered near the end ending up with 52 seconds. Andy from Atlanta who scored third on the challenge course climbed in 45 seconds. It was the last climber's time, Lester. He glanced at his cousin Ranger and smiled. Ranger smiled back. This was a family bet, who was faster. Ranger's record was 35 seconds, slower than the American Ninjas, but Ranger was more heavily muscled. Lester climbed fast and steady, but he hit the buzzer the clock showed 37 seconds. He won the event but his cousin's record remained.
When he returned back to the ground Michelle gave him a kiss on the cheek, "Did you do your absolute best?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said, "Once again that fucker beat me again. He must be Superman."
"You are carrying some of those Superman genes too mister," she smiled.
Ranger came up and gave Lester first a hand shake and later a hug, "You deserve the time."
"Mt. Manoso still stands. Somehow Mt. Lester sounds wrong," Michelle kidded.
"What's wrong with Mt. Santos?" Lester shot back.
"When you win it 7 times in a row, then we'll rename it," Ranger said.