Six men sat on the porch of Chris' ranch and waited. Chris was surprisingly calm, having vented so much anger in the past few months he seemed almost devoid of emotion. Buck was now the one drinking heavily, almost mirroring Chris after Chris had lost Sarah and Adam. It greatly saddened the others to see humor and charm were now a thing of the past with Buck just as the lively chatter of his young roommate was gone. Vin had developed a more nervous personality and was dismayed to find the four beers had only left him with a mild buzz to ease the tension he felt.
Nathan, grim and quiet, sat by Josiah. Nathan's calm demeanor and quiet confidence in his medical skills had taken a hit and he continually second-guessed his decisions. Josiah suffered a similar loss of faith after fervent prayers following JD's accident. He had not darkened a church door for the past four months. Ezra. His last undercover assignment had almost ended disastrously as Ezra lost concentration and almost lost his life with only Vin's quick skill saving him from a bullet. Since then the best undercover agent in the ATF had been confined to desk duty.
"I don't know," was Chris' flat answer to why they had all been summoned, each secretly dreading the reason. A white pickup drove slowly up the driveway and each man stared as if hypnotized as Nettie Wells, looking worn, tired and older than ever, stepped out.
Vin broke out of his stupor and walked to her and offered his arm and she took it, a small smile on his face as she silently greeted him, and then a pitying look at the five men waiting.
Nettie Wells was as straightforward and to the point as usual. "Thank you for being here. Casey died yesterday morning."
It took a few seconds for each man to break out of his stupor and murmurs of "So sorry, Nettie. We loved Casey. Is there is anything I can do to help you?"
Vin had kept his arms protectively around her as she smiled sadly, patted each man's arm as they embraced her.
"Thank you. I know Casey was family to you, too. I've been expecting it, but it is never easy . . . I need to tell JD. Is he any better?" Taking the sad shakes of the head from each man, she bowed her own head for a moment, and then nodded her thanks to Vin as he pulled a chair in front of the men for her to sit in.
Nettie was struggling between her loss and the pleasant memories of Casey. "That boy made my Casey happier than she had ever been in her life. Oh, JD never liked me calling him a boy. He would stand up and tall as his could and puff out his chest – and I didn't think he even realized it. He so wanted me to approve of him and prove he was now full-grown. Just like my Casey. Those two children . . . well, children to me, were so anxious to be seen as adults. Casseopeia . . . did any one of you know that was her real name?"
The men couldn't help chuckle.
"Casseopeia . . . my sister had some high falutin' ideas. Casey never liked it . . . the kids in grade school called her Pea and she hated it. Never let anyone except JD find out about her real name." She was silent for a moment, then continued. "Proud of those two . . . so young and so wise and mature in many ways . . ." and she broke down slightly, dabbing her eyes before squaring her shoulders.
"Mr. Wilmington I understand you kept a recording of JD's last message? May I hear it?"
Buck nodded. "Ezra made sure there are several backups. Ezra, do you . . ." and he stopped as Ezra nodded and then reached into his shirt pocket. He pressed the button and JD's voice was so full of life they looked around, almost expecting to see him. Casey, too, they could picture her beside him, shaking her head and laughing at him and then punching him in the arm.
Nettie listened with a fond smile. After the recording ceased and the smiles faded into sad faces, Nettie squared her shoulders.
"I don't suppose any of you knew that JD and Casey were married several months ago."
Six startled faces gave her the answer she expected.
TBC