Duke sat on his bed, halfway dressed, looking at the shirt in his hands.
This is it. Three weeks over. The last day of my leave. The last day home. Tomorrow, I go back to base. Back to my Joes. Back to the fight. No more days with no real responsibilities. No more lazy afternoons. No more horseplay with the kids. No more jokes or heckling over the table. No more evenings falling asleep after supper on my favorite chair, little girl in my lap. Back to base...back to h-
Rabbit threw open his door, ran to the bed with a yell and tackled him. Duke growled and somersaulted back over his quilt, tickling her all the while. It was now their morning ritual. She'd become his alarm in the last week, coming in to bounce off him, or mock wrestle. Vincent joined in once, and gave Duke more of a battle than he remembered his little brother capable of. It wasn't an even match; not by a longshot, but he'd definitely needed to put in actual effort to pin the kid. For the most part, though, it was Rabbit and an easy tussle in the morning. She'd also taken to launching herself on him from the first landing with no warning.
Duke didn't mind. He just made sure he was decent by the time she got to his room each morning and always kept an ear cocked towards the stairs whenever he walked by. He wasn't looking forward to having to wake up without his happy tackle.
She squirmed in his grasp, kicking and laughing till she could barely breathe. A flailing sock-covered foot caught Duke in the jaw and he grunted. It wasn't very powerful, but it took him off-guard, all the same. He stopped tickling and reached up to gingerly finger the point of impact.
"Ha! Gotcha!" She laughed, standing up on his bed. Duke felt along the inside of his cheek with his tongue, but couldn't taste any blood. The giggles trailed off and a worried look took over. "Hey, sorry, did it hurt?"
"Not too much." Duke's hand flashed out like lightning and he grabbed her ankle, pulling her off her feet and towards him. He stood, pulling her up to dangle upside-down in front of him. She screamed joyfully. "It was a nice one, though, Rabbit."
"Put me down! Put me down!" Drew tried to curl up and reach for his hands. She was laughing again.
"Nothing doing." Duke gave her a shake and walked out of his room, across the basement and up the stairs. She howled loudly. He managed to pull her up and trap her against his chest. She had left the door at the top of the stairs open, and he pushed through it and into the kitchen. It smelled of brewing coffee and baking biscuits. Still carrying his baby sister wadded up against him, he peered into the oven and inhaled deeply.
"Mmmmm. Almost done?"
Duke's mother nodded from the sink, where she was rinsing out her biscuit bowl. "By the time the horses are fed and put out, everything should be ready." She dried off the big plastic bowl and put it back in it's home in the cabinet under the counter. "Get me the bacon and eggs out of the counter, will you, please?"
Duke walked to the fridge and arranged Drew in one arm so her hands were free. "Open it up and get the bacon out, Rabbit." She pulled the door open , and he stepped forward so she could grab the package of bacon. He grabbed the carton of eggs and then turned back to his mother, kicking the fridge shut. Smiling, she relieved them of their packages and set both on the counter.
"What helpful children I have. Thank you both."
"No problem!" Drew grinned, dangling. Duke shifted her so she could wrap her legs around his waist.
"Come on, Rabbit. Let's go help out in the barn. Long past time you started putting in a hand in the morning." Duke carried her out side and across the back lawn. By the time they got there, Vincent was nearly finished. He'd gathered, filled and distributed the water pails. He was dumping oats into the feed buckets when they came in.
"Morning." He nodded. "Hey, Squirt. Come to help out, huh?"
Duke let Drew slide down to the floor. She walked over to Vincent. "Yeah. What can I do?"
He handed her the scoop and pointed to the oat bucket. "Go fill scoop up some oats and dump them in Sparkle's pail, here."
Drew grabbed the scoop and ran to slip the top off of the bucket. She hung pulled herself up on the edge and hung, halfway in, legs out, to get a scoopful of grain. Dropping to the floor, she started to run the few steps back to them.
"Walk, Rabbit. We don't want to spill any." Duke watched as she slowed to a deliberate walk, holding the scoop in both hands, eye focused hard on it. She them and very carefully tipped the scoop into a bucket.
"Do I give it to her now?"
"We have to full all the pails, Rabbit. There are three left. Let's fill them first, then we can go hang them in the stalls."
They let Drew fill the remaining buckets. It made the job slower, but Duke didn't mind. He and Vincent waited to distribute the pails, although there was no reason to. Drew dumped the last scoop, and Vincent grabbed two buckets. Duke took two in each hand and made his way along.
"You're strong." Drew followed along behind him.
"It's not that heavy. You'll be stronger, when you're bigger, Rabbit."
" Can I take Sparkle's? Not as strong as you."
He stopped and set down a bucket. She lifted it in one hand.
"Probably not, no. But there's nothing wrong with that. You'll be strong in other ways." He hung a bucket on the hook in Ranger's stall and moved on to Buck as the Tennessee walking horse began to chomp on the grain. Buck greeted him with a whicker. Down the line, Wally stuck his head out and craned his neck to see him. Buck happily dove into his breakfast and Duke stopped in front of Sparkle's stall. He set down Wally's pail and picked Drew up, pail and all, so she could reach into the stall and hang the feed next to her pony's water.
"Breakfast, Sparkle!" She scratched her mount between the ears. "How will I be strong?"
Duke set her down. "There are all sorts of ways to be strong, Rabbit. You can be physically strong. You might be, you know. You're pretty active. Not strong as me doesn't mean you wont be stronger than a lot of people. But you can also have a strong mind." He slapped Wally on the neck as he set the pail on its hook. The stallion grunted and dove face-first into his feed.
"You mean smart?"
"You are smart, Rabbit. But a strong mind can be creative, or compassionate, fast-not just like a genius. And even then," They walked back to the oat bucket to listen to the horses eat. Vincent began getting halters ready. "there are different types of smart. You could be good at math, or science, the stuff people are doing with computers, or building things. Some people are very good at sports, and I'm not talking muscle. It's in their heads, too. It's not just knowing stuff, it's being able to take what you know and do something with it."
"You think I'm smart?"
"Yes. All three of you are smart. You may be smarter than me, in the end, Rabbit. Probably will."
She looked dubious. "But..."
"You're going to college, if I have anything to do with it." Duke helped Vincent halter the horses as they finished eating, and lead them out to the paddock. Drew tripped along behind them.
"You didn't go to college."
"He did." Vince lead Misty and Sparkle past her. "We told you that. He had a football scholarship to Yale. You've seen the pictures, Squirt."
"Oh, yeah. But you didn't finish, Duke."
Duke had Wally and Ranger. They never had a problem being next to each other. He stopped and looked down on her. "No. No, Rabbit. I didn't finish. I dropped out to enlist."
"You never went back." Drew could halter and lead Sparkle unassisted, and she followed him to the paddock with her pony.
"You're right. I never went back. My freshman year was it. When I came back from 'Nam, I didn't go back." A degree within reach. Heck, NFL scouts in the stands-and I never went back.
They reached the paddock. Duke let Ranger, then Wally out, giving each a slap on the flank. Drew lead Sparkle right through the gate before unsnapping the lead form the halter. Her pony stood fore a second, then started and trotted off after the others. Vincent leaned against the paddock railing. "You ever wonder what it would be like if you'd stayed?"
Duke coiled his leads slowly. "Yeah. But it does me no good, Vince. I didn't But you're going, Rabbit. I want Vince and Jenn to go, too. I can't make you go."
"I'd be scared." Drew came up to him and stood in front of him, her feet on his toes. She barely reached his stomach.
"College is fun, Rabbit."
"It's hard."
"It's hard, yes. But there's a lot of fun things, too. There's all sorts of things you can do and learn. I think you'd enjoy it." He took a few steps with her balanced on his toes, and then looked back at Vincent, who seemed very deep in thought. "C'mon, I smell bacon. I bet breakfast is ready."
Mamma was at the stove, piling eggs onto a platter. Duke saw a massive platter of bacon and a what could only be his mother's buttermilk biscuits, wrapped in a thick dishtowel in a basket, already on the table. Butter,Grammy's peach preserves, and honey were already out and ready to apply, as was a jar of peanut butter. Jennifer was setting the last few plates on the table as they came in. She jumped when the screen door slapped shut. Mamma set the platter of eggs on the table next to the bacon.
"Good timing, everything's ready." She went to the swinging door and pushed partway though to shout. " Jack! Everyone's here! Breakfast is on the table!" She was smiling when she stepped back and crossed the linoleum to the coffee machine. "Wash up, you three, and we can dig in."
Duke and Vincent took turns washing their hands in the huge sink. Vincent lifted his little sister and held her while she washed hers. When she was done, he set her down and handed her the dishtowel. "All clean, Squirt?"
"Yep." She hung the towel on it's hook and went to climb into her chair, just as Jennifer finished laying out knives and forks. Jack walked in, paper under his arm.
"For once, Bobby got it right. I imagine that means our payment is due soon and he wants a tip." He dropped the paper on the table. It landed between his place and Duke's with a soft thud. "I checked the weather. Says it's going to be a nice day. When we're done here, I'll get the smoker up to speed."
"That will be perfect, dear." Jane scanned the table to be sure everything was out. "Conrad, grab the orange juice out of the fridge, will you please?"
Duke pulled open the door for the pitcher and marveled at the slabs of meat inside. They'd gone to Old mike the butcher and bought a few cows' and pigs' worth of it. Ribs, steaks, chuck for burgers, sausages, pork butts and, to top it off, six chickens...some sat in this fridge and some was crammed into the spare fridge in the garage. Jack had volunteered to smoke a few dozen racks and a couple of butts and most of the chicken. He prided himself on his South Carolina smoking and barbecuing skills. It would take all day, and it would smell amazing. Duke knew Jack wouldn't be alone-Mamma would keep him company as he kept an eye on the temperature and babied the meat. Closer to the event itself, they'd fire up Uncle Max's big grill and cook everything else.
Everyone had volunteered help, as usual in any big barbecue on the Hauser spread. Max's wife Tante Klara, Wilhelm's wife Tante Bella had volunteered to do vegetable dishes. Oncle Leo and Tante Nina had a hand on the drinks. Willy and Lena were handling the bread and desserts. Probably that was all Lena, but Duke suspected Willy had helped out with funds for the meat, as he had done himself. Oncle Bern and Tante Teresa and Oncle Adler and Tante Mary were managing the set up, with help from Rolfe and Annalise. Tante Winnifred had called to let them know she was bringing sacks of coffee and powdered hot chocolate and one of her large percolators from her coffee and pastry shop. Duke imagined she'd bring a few sweet things, too. There was no way Grammy could come without stacks of pies and pickles. Grampy would help with the barbecuing. Jimmy had offered to bring over a sound system and hook it up to Vincent's stereo for some music. Jeff and Sandy were toting as much macaroni salad as they could make.
And those were just the guests bringing things. A whole cadre of local friends were expected to drop by to wish Duke well on the last day of his leave.
We're going to have one heck of a party. We'll be stuffed, that' for sure.
"Conrad? Orange juice?"
Duke came to with a start. "Oh, sorry." He shut the door and brought the juice to the table. As soon as he sat, Vincent, Jennifer and Drew dove in to help themselves to fluffy eggs, crisp, smoky bacon and light flaky biscuits. Duke decided to wait for the whirlwind to die down before helping himself.
"You were letting all the cold out, Duke." Drew grinned, a piece of bacon halfway in her mouth.
"He was hypnotized by all that meat, is more like it." Vincent laughed.
Jennifer's laughter paired with his. "Did it have you under its spell, Con?"
Duke found it peaceful enough to load his plate with eggs and bacon. He reached under the towel and grabbed a biscuit. It was still steaming. He split it and slathered on butter, then drizzled honey over the whole thing. "I guess. It looks like the walk-in on base when it's been re-stocked for the month."
"Hypnosis isn't real. My teacher Mr. Billing says so." Drew piled bacon and eggs on half a biscuit and drowned it all in honey. Duke watched to see how she would get it all into her mouth. She managed to bite a third of it before it crumbled back onto her plate. She attacked the debris with a knife and fork.
"I don't know." Jennifer shook her head. "They do it on TV and at the fair all the time."
"You know that's all acting." Jack shook open the paper. "Those people are either paid or they go along with it because everyone else is."
"But surely, psychologists use hypnosis with some clients." Mamma sipped her coffee and nibbled at a biscuit.
"In the movies, maybe." Jack shrugged behind the sports section.
"I'm sure Sandy mentioned something about it to me at school one day." Mamma looked thoughtful. "Otherwise, they can't always get to why a person is acting the way they do. The hypnosis allows them to open up and explore things they normally wouldn't."
"Oh, it's a bunch of bull." Vincent laughed. "Just some woo-woo fantasy stuff. People walking around with their arms out in front of them talking liiiiikkkeee thiiiisssss." He dropped his voice to a low, drawn-out monotone. Drew laughed. Jennifer and Mamma looked angry.
"It's not!" Jennifer hit Vince as he held his arms out and let his mouth go slack, crossing his eyes.
"Itttttt issssssss."
"Mamma! He's-"
"I've been hypnotized." Duke calmly worked on his eggs. The room grew silent. He looked up to see five pairs of blue eyes looking at him in shock. Vince still had his arms out. Duke shrugged. "I have."
"What?!" Vincent dropped his arms.
"Seriously?" Jennifer looked triumphant.
"Did you watch a gold swinging thing or a spirally thing?" Drew crammed more bacon into her mouth.
"Neither. It was a sound that put me under. A conch horn, actually. Like the ones they blew in Hawaii on that vacation we all went on. Well, not you, Rabbit, you weren't born then." Duke put down his knife and fork. They were all looking at him still. "I really was."
"Why dear? Were you in therapy of some sort?" Mamma looked concerned.
She's been trying to get me in a psych's office for years. Duke knew she'd worried about him since he came home from Vietnam. Duke had refused. Even when he was at his lowest, losing entire days in a drunken haze, he'd refused anything more than chatting with Sandy in the relative safety of a hike or horseback ride. Jack and his cousins and uncles had done more to drag him out of that Hell. In truth, though, he had gone on more than one occasion for a quick chat with Doc, who had a good ear and a calming way about him. But never in an office on a couch. Duke didn't want to be psychoanalyzed. He was afraid of what they'd find.
"No, Mamma, no therapy."
"Then, why?"
Jack got up for more coffee. "Some sort of party game, Champ?" Duke knew what he was hinting at.
"No. Nothing like that. It wasn't by choice, really. COBRA did it."
Jack brought over the pot and freshened his and Mamma's mugs. "To you? COBRA hypnotized you?"
"Thanks, Jack. Me, Flint. Pretty much all the boys."
"With a conch shell?" Vincent was amazed. "How?"
Duke rubbed his chin. "I don't know the specifics. Something about the specific frequency of this thing works only on a man's hormonal system. Didn't affect the women. Thank God, really. They pulled us out of the soup."
Mamma touched his arms. "What did they do to you?"
"The Baroness marched us off to some planes and flew us back to one of their bases. I think they were planning to use us all in some tactical strike."
The color drained from Jack's face. "You'd have been fighting American soldiers." Mamma, eyes wide, put her hand on his. He flipped it over and grasped hers tightly.
"Yeah. So, thank God for the women. Jaye, Cover Girl and Scarlett rallied the female greenshirts and the few men who were off base when the rest of the guys were done in. Like I said, they got us out."
"Did you fire on them, Champ?" Jack's voice was barely a whisper.
"Yeah. A few rounds. Not that I wanted to. I don't remember too well. It's all a bit hazy." Duke knew the kids didn't get it, but Jack did. It could have been bad. We're elite. Highly trained-the cream of the crop. If we were turned on our own country, the best thing they could do would be to kill us. It would be the only choice. Traitors. Unwilling, but traitors all the same.
"So, all the women saved the day, huh?" Jennifer smiled gleefully. "In your face Vince!"
"Jennifer, that was uncalled for. Vincent has never said anything against women serving." Mamma frowned at her across the table.
"Oh, right, Mamma. What was it you said just two weeks ago in debate, Vince? Women can serve and fight, but only as long as there are men around to be sure they're protected?"
"Vincent Reginald Falcone!"
"Busted!" Drew giggled and pointed.
"What? I mean, honestly, Mamma." Vince turned red. "Women just aren't as physically strong."
"Not often, but they're pretty much faster." Duke helped himself to another biscuit. "Frankly, I think the women I serve with are probably stronger than a lot of guys in the regular world. But stronger or not, they can get the upper hand if they've planned right. And they did. I expected no less from them. Came to our rescue with some sort of device that woke us all up."
Good thing, too. I almost hurt...I could have killed...I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I ever hurt her.
"What did it feel like?" Drew looked up at him.
"Yeah, really. Did you feel all dizzy?" Vincent had recovered from his embarrassment. "Did you try to fight it?"
"Were you really sleepy all the time? Jennifer pushed her empty plate away.
"Did you know what you were doing, dear?" Mamma dabbed at her mouth with a napkin.
Duke rubbed Drew's head. "Truth be told, it was pretty relaxing. Sort of like I was asleep and dreaming it all. I had no control over what was going on, I just did what I was told, no questions or anything."
"I'm stuck between being horrified and wanting one of those horns for my classroom." Mamma laughed. Jack joined her.
The tension at the table broke.
"Hey, Con, if it affected men, then the Baroness must have also had women troops, right?" Vincent waved his fork.
"Well, mostly. I seem to recall Destro was there. They're a pair. But her troops were all female, yeah." Duke polished off his second biscuit and went for another.
"So, uhhhhh, did they, you know..." He trailed off with a wolfish grin.
"Did they what?"
"Did they, maybe, take, um, advantage, of the situation?" He winked. Duke got it.
"Uhhhhhh." Duke thought back. There were some shadowy and not altogether disturbing images in his memory of his time under the Baroness's control.
Jennifer caught on. "Eew, Vince, you would think of that, you pervert."
Vincent shrugged. "It's a legitimate question, sis."
"Eew. No it's not. It's some disgusting movie you've seen with Badger and Marty. Anyhow,Con wouldn't get mixed up in that."
"Yeah, because he's so pure and everything, right?" Vincent chortled.
"What?" Drew piped up. "What are you talking about? How would they take advantage of you, Duke?"
Think fast. Jokes about Jenn's dates are one thing. This is another. Duke looked down at her. "They tried to ...ahhh." He looked to his mother. "I got nothing."
"They tried to sell him Tupperware, dear." Mamma had tried to host a Tupperware party a few years back. She had written Duke it had been a nightmare inducer. Drew was terrified of the overly chipper and smiley Tupperware lady, who had picked her up and smothered her with affection and lipstick kisses the entire afternoon. To this day, his little sister remembered it as one of the most horrific experiences of her short life, and Tupperware parties and ladies were banned from the household.
"Oh God! That's terrible! Did they insist on kissing you over and over, too, and squeezing you into their giant boobs?"
Vincent nearly fell off his chair laughing. Jennifer dropped her head to the table.
"Well, that backfired, Mamma." Duke glared at his mother, who shrugged. He turned to his baby sister. "They sold us all snap-n-seal pasta savers and those lemonade pitchers. Worse. We were powerless and unable to resist. My cabinets are full of things I have to burp before refrigerating."
"Oh. I thought it was some sort of gross sex thing." She lost interest. "Whatever."
"Good. Now that that subject is off the table never to return, Vincent... What about today? You four should probably help with the set up, but I do want you to enjoy each other's company while you can. This is Conrad's last day. We don't know..." Her eyes looked a little teary. "...We don't know how long it will be before he can come back. You should spend the day together. Any ideas?"
Duke sat back in his chair and regarded his half siblings. Vincent had been born when Duke was into double digits. Jennifer a little over a year later. He was twenty six when Drew popped into the world. They were all so much younger.
What could they possibly want to do with me all day?
"Really, Mamma, they don't want to hang around with meall afternoon." Duke laughed as he picked a final piece of bacon off of the platter.
"Why not?" Vincent raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with you?"
"Well..." Duke thought for a bit. "Nothing. I'm just...you're..." Duke had no real answer he wanted to give, and he found himself staring at his kid brother.
"Oh! I know! We could go to the river one last time, Con. You didn't get to stay and horse around with us during my party. Heck, we could take another picnic!" Jennifer beamed. "I can make sandwiches."
"We'll put the swing back up, maybe bring a ball or two."
"Speaking of horses, you could ride." Jack pushed his plate away. "Good day for them to get a little exercise. You'd be back in time to rest up for tonight's shindig."
"I'm going, too!" Drew crossed her arms. "You can't all go to play in the river and leave me behind."
Duke put his hand on her head. "I wouldn't dream of it, Rabbit. Of course you're coming." He couldn't help but grin. "A ride to the river? Why not? Sounds like fun." It had been a long time since he'd been out there to just mess around. A trip to the river started his leave, why shouldn't one finish it?
After breakfast Jack went to go get the smoker going. Jennifer grabbed Drew and set herself to make sandwiches and put together a picnic, refusing every one of Duke's offers to help. Thwarted he grabbed Vincent and took him downstairs to the basement and the weights.
"You been lifting in school?"
"Yeah. A little." Vincent fingered the barbell where it sat on the stand. " And next year, Coach will have us doing a four day split."
Duke sat on the bench and rolled himself slowly back under the bar. Two days ago he'd loaded it with 250 pounds for three sets of nine He'd been lazy and not re-racked the plates. Duke set his grip on the barbell and looked over at Vincent. "Spot me, Kid."
Vincent moved behind the bar and nodded. Duke took the barbell up, and then lowered it slowly to his chest. He pushed it up and away with a burst of energy, and then lowered it slowly. He hit nine, did a tenth and hit failure two thirds of the way to being finished with a eleventh. He began to set the barbell back on the rack. Vincent moved his hands under to spot and helped get it in place.
Duke stood. "Your turn, Kid."
Vincent looked at the bar dubiously. "I dunno. I don't think I could get a full set."
Duke moved behind the rack. "I'll spot you, it's OK. See how many you can knock out."
Vincent lay back and shuffled himself under the bar. He took some time setting his grip, then nodded. Duke helped him get the bar off the rack and centered over his chest.
"Ready, Kid?"
"Yeah."
Duke moved his hands out of the way and watched while Vincent lowered the bar to his chest, a little quickly, and pushed it up. Duke put his hands under it, but didn't touch it. Vincent's face was red.
"One. Good Kid. Don't be afraid to arch your back just a little, and try and push the bar up as fast and hard as you can. Blow all that air out when you do."
"Right." Vincent lowered the bar, and then, grimacing, pushed it up again. His form was better the second rep.
"Two. Nice." Duke held his hands under the bar. "You can get a third, easy."
Vincent didn't look sure. Sweat had started to bead on his forehead. His arms were shaking, but he gritted his teeth and took the bar down again slowly.
"Right, Kid, push!" Duke egged him on. "Push it! Get that bar up!"
Vincent groaned as he put his all into pushing the bar up and away from his chest. Once he managed to get it a few inches, the lift was easier. It wasn't pretty, but he managed to struggle it up. Duke grabbed the bar at the top and guided it back on the rack, Vincent's hands still hanging on.
"Great Kid. Good job. That was tough. Here, get up and let me get in another set."
They swapped places, and Duke managed another nine and went for a tenth. He barely made it, roaring as he hefted the bar to it's apex. He racked it and sat up. "Care to try a few more?"
Vincent nodded, and managed to get two good reps and a third slightly shaky one. Duke got back down and knocked out a third set, hitting failure on his tenth rep. He stood up, grabbed a towel from the shelf and wiped his neck, and then set the weights for bent-over rows. Vincent watched as he demonstrated proper form.
"Keep your back straight, Kid, and squat a little, but keep your knees behind your toes and your head up. Use those abs. It's a great way to work your back, but if you do it wrong, you can really screw yourself up." Duke knocked out a set of eight. "Try it."
"Yeah." Vincent took the bar and tried a rep.
"Chin up, Vince. Don't look at the floor."
Vincent lifted his head and managed four before he set the weight down. They swapped off for three sets. Duke helped his brother with shoulder presses, bicep curls, and then took him over to the cable machine for tricep rope pull downs. As he watched Vincent finish his last set, he found himself wishing he'd thought of it three weeks ago. They could have shared time lifting several days a week during his leave. It would have been good to spend more time alone with the kid, teach him a full body workout. The basement door clicked shut, and he looked up to see Jennifer standing on the top basement step, grinning at them.
"Oh, look. Stud and Stud-in-Training."
"Don't you know it." Vincent flexed his arm.
"I could smell the testosterone all the way in the kitchen. Lunch is all packed. Pop's happily swearing at the smoker. He pulled out the rope swing and stuff, Con. It's on the porch. Drew's getting into her swimsuit, and I'm on my way to find mine. You two grunting beasts may want to hose down and get into yours. It's going to be a hot day."
"Wait, why shower if we're going to jump into the river?" Vincent was checking the 'pump' in the full length mirror Jack had put up next to the treadmill.
"Because, eew, you're both all sweaty." Jennifer made a show of holding her nose.
"The fish don't care. Nothing wrong with a good, honest sweat."
"Except maybe the smell." Jennifer mimed gagging.
"You just can't handle these guns." Vincent flexed his arms.
"You mean those dual pea-shooters? Who'd want to? Persephone's gotta be after your mind, brother of mine. That must be a let-down." She laughed at him.
"Keep telling yourself that as you go out with your beanpole Schwartzman. Guess I could hop under the spray for a few."
Duke cracked his neck. "Do what you want, but I'd prefer not to put fresh clothes on over gym sweat. Be out in a bit." He walked across the basement to his door and stopped, turning back, to look at them both. Jennifer was posing and flexing next to Vince mockingly. He leaned over and poked her in the stomach. Both were laughing. Drew's voice called through the door.
"Hey! Where are you guys? I'm ready already!" She stood at the top of the stairs, peering through the doorway in a massive pair of sunglasses. The huge hat from three weeks ago once again topped her head.
Nutty kids. God, I'll miss them.
Duke went on through to his shower.
0000000
He emerged a few minutes later, his trunks on underneath his jeans, to find the basement empty. Duke climbed the stairs, through the kitchen and out to the porch. Jennifer and Drew were waiting for him, watching Jack as he nursed the smoker. Platters of meat covered with cloths sat on the table, waiting for attention. The screen door slapped shut, and Vincent came up next to him, towel over his shoulder.
"Gonna be one Hell of a spread." He looked over the platters, grinning. "This is only part of it."
Duke glanced down at his little brother. "Sure. Looks like lots of people are dropping by. When we get back, we may want to drag out some bales as well as all the seats we can."
Vincent nodded.
"Are we going?" Drew pulled at Duke's shirt.
He looked over at Jennifer. "Everything ready?"
She pointed to two back packs leaning against the back wall of the house. "I packed the food and drinks in those." Next to the packs was the sack with the cleats and mounting bracket. The rope swing was coiled up to one side.
"Right. Vince, grab a pack. You too, Jenn." Duke grabbed the rope and slung it under one arm and over the opposite shoulder. It was a little bulky, and too heavy for anyone else to carry. It fell into the exact spot his bandolier would soon occupy. He picked up the bag with the bracket and cleats and looked down to Drew. "Lead the way, Rabbit."
Drew scampered away to the paddock leading the rest of the siblings. They caught the horses and saddled them quickly.
"Don't forget to bring along your halters for when we get to the river, gang." Duke tied the bag with the cleat and bracket to the back of his saddle, lead the stallion out of the stable, put his foot in a stirrup and slung himself into the saddle. He settled the rope swing around him and looked around to watch Jennifer and Vincent swing up onto their own mounts. Drew lead her pony to the railing and climbed on.
"C'mon..." Duke gave Wally a little tap and the stallion took off. He could hear Vincent and Jennifer
whooping and laughing behind him. Their mounts could easily keep up. In fact, Duke was certain that both Rusty and Misty could overtake the heavier Frisian without much effort. Once they were on the dirt road along the pasture, he reined his mount around to loop back and come alongside Drew. Both she and her pony were holding their own. She held her hat to her head with one hand, the reins and Sparkle's mane with the other. She wasn't yet strong enough to hold herself up out of the saddle too long, but was managing to sit the gallop well. She grinned at him, braid flying behind her. He rode alongside her the rest of the way, ready should she take a tumble. She was a good rider, but he wanted to make doubly sure she stayed in the saddle-she wasn't as strong as the others, not yet.
Before long, they were at the river. Duke took off Wally's saddle, slipped the bit out of his mouth and slipped off his bridle. He slid on the halter and tethered Wally on a long line to tree. Then he helped Drew do the same for her pony. Vincent and Jennifer quickly took care of their horses. Duke, pulled off his shirt, stepped out of his boots and pants-down to his bathing suit. He grabbed the sack and climbed the tree to get the swing properly attached while Jennifer spread out the towels and set the packs. Vincent tossed a football to himself. Once the bracket was on, Duke looked down at his brother.
"There, Vince, it should be good, test it out."
Vincent grabbed the rope and gave a few yanks, nodding. He let it go, and stripped off his shirt and jeans, revealing a pair of blue trunks. Stretching, he grabbed the rope again, yanked a third time, and backed several steps up the bank. With a war-cry whoop, he ran full speed down the bank and flung himself over the edge. The rope reached the end of its curve, and Vincent let go, flying a few feet further before hitting the water with a tremendous splash. Empty, the rope swung in smaller and smaller arcs till it again hung down.
"Looks good." Duke stood and carefully made his way farther out on the branch, then dropped into the water. He swam under the surface to where Vincent was treading water, grabbed his ankle, and yanked him under. Vincent kicked at him, but Duke managed to twist well out of the way. He surfaced to see his kid brother pop up, sputtering.
"Gotcha, Vince." Duke slapped his hand on the water, splashing him. Vincent splashed back and laughed.
"Tarzan!" Duke and Vincent both turned to see a blue and yellow bathing-suited Drew, sans hat and glasses, way up on the bank, rope swing in hand. She gave a mighty yell and ran towards the river, jumping at the last moment to sit on the knot in the end of the rope. Airborne, she screeched out her best Lord of the Jungle yell and let go to arc over them both and hit the water, arms and legs flailing with a large slap She surfaced, grin plastered across her face, and swam over to them. She wrapped her arms around Duke's neck. He felt her legs slide around his torso to hang on tightly.
"Nice swing, Rabbit."
"Yeah, pretty good, Squirt. Next time, though, tuck a little more. You'll splash better and it will hurt less." Vincent reached over and pinched her cheek.
"Look out!" All three looked up to see Jennifer let go of the rope. She was coming right for them.
"Oh crap! Get out of the way!" Vincent paddled away furiously.
Duke tried his best to kick out from under her and to the side. Drew managed to hang on to his neck as he dodged. They escaped being landed on by inches. The splash washed over Duke and his baby sister.
"Managed to get the drop on you all, Con!" Jennifer giggled. "And Pop says you have sensitive ears."
She disappeared under the water suddenly. Vincent surfaced where she had been, and she exploded back out of the water a few seconds later.
"Wow, that is fun." Vincent wiped water from his eyes. "Just find an ankle and pull."
Jennifer yelled and tried to climb on top of her dunker. They tussled with each other for a few seconds before he managed to get the upper hand and hold her in front of him, arms held to her sides. However, he was unable to use his own hands to stay up, and both disappeared again, only to pop back up, grinning and gasping for air.
Duke swam till his feet hit the riverbed and stood watching as they continued to wrestle. Jennifer was hopelessly outclassed and out muscled, but apparently got a few good kicks in underwater. They both laughed uncontrollably as Vincent eventually grabbed her in both arms, got her up to shallower water, and flopped over backwards, throwing her over his head.
Duke set Drew down. "Be my backup, Rabbit. Time to even up an unfair fight." He moved closer to his little brother. "Hey, kid. Think fast."
Vincent looked up, but had no time to dodge as almost two hundred pounds of big brother slammed into him. They both went under. Duke wrapped the kid up in a knot and dragged him up onto the small sandy beach, where they continued to wrestle. Drew and Jennifer followed, cheering.
It was definitely a tougher battle than the last time Duke had been home. Vincent was getting brawnier and cannier. He managed to break out before Duke could get a grappling hold on him more than once. Eventually, though, weight, muscle and experiential advantages were on Duke's side, and he got the kid onto a solid combination scissor hold and bear hug that he couldn't escape, no matter how he struggled. Duke tightened the hold a bit.
"Do you give?" He grunted in Vince's ear.
Vince was panting, but still tried to twist his way free. "Hell no!"
Duke tightened again. "Do you give, kid? Go on, submit."
"No!" Vincent tried twisting the other way.
Duke tightened a third time. He knew he wouldn't go any further with it-any tighter and there would be some serious pain and constriction, but he wasn't about to tell his brother that. "Do you give?"
Vincent sighed and went limp. "Yeah. OK. This time."
Drew and Jennifer cheered the victory..
Duke let go and got up, offering a hand to his little brother. Vincent took it and let himself be hauled to his feet. Both were panting.
"You're getting stronger, Vince. That was pretty good." Duke nodded and slapped him on the back.
"Took you longer this time, huh?" Vincent put his hands on his knees and leaned over to regain his breathe. He was smiling.
Duke leaned closer to his brother's ear. "Don't let on, but, yeah. Don't congratulate yourself too much, I could have gone harder. Next year, I will." He winked and straightened up, brushing the sand off.
"Yeah, sure. I'll be ready." Vincent stumbled to where he had spread his towel out under the sun and dropped down. "Me for a sandwich!"
Jennifer plopped on her towel with the backpack of sandwiches. She opened it and tossed one of the wax paper wrapped bundles to Vincent. Duke grabbed the other and opened it to reveal several cans of soda and a large thermos of what upon tasting revealed itself to be lemonade. He poured some out into the cap. Drew came next to him and grabbed a can of pop, then went to get a sandwich from her sister.
"I'd wait to open that, if I were you, Rabbit." Duke nodded at the can she held and then caught each of the two sandwiched Jennifer lobbed at him.
"Why?" Ignoring his advice, Drew pulled off the tab. Foamy pop sprayed out. Most of it landed on Jennifer. Vincent chortled through a mouthful of sandwich. Jennifer glowered.
"I was going to say that a gallop didn't do those cans any good, Rabbit. You should have waited." He chuckled. "Better go wash that off in the river, sis. You'll attract bees."
Jennifer snorted and stomped off to the river to wash the sticky pop away.
"I'm sorry!" Drew called after her. She looked back at Duke and Vincent. "I didn't mean it."
"She'll be fine once she's dry." Vincent shrugged and finished his sandwich.
Duke, went to Jennifer's towel and looked into the backpack of sandwiches and happily noted that Jennifer had made six. He helped himself to two. Jennifer flopped down next to him, wringing out her hair. "I assume these are mine, Jenn?" He took a big bite of one. Ham and cheese.
"Yeah. I can't remember you ever eating one sandwich, unless you were snacking, Con. How do you get away with eating so much?" She pulled the last one out for herself and unwrapped it to take a bite.
"It all goes to good use." He lowered himself next to her, not worrying about the sand sticking to his trunks and skin. Duke took a second massive bite, chewing slowly.
She smiled and poked his chest. "Uh huh." Her finger trailed over to a newer scar. A Crimson Guardsman had managed to get a good lick in with his combat knife. Duke had thanked him for his trouble with a fist to the throat. He'd eventually snapped his neck. Some nights, Duke could still hear that sound, still feel the way the neck had suddenly come loose in his hands. A few hasty field stitches closed the wound, but he was left with a souvenir. Jennifer's smile faltered and her eyes rose to his, serious and sad.
Duke slowly reached over with his free hand and caught her nose between his index and middle fingers. He slid them off, his thumb poking between them. "Got your nose."
She laughed. It always made her laugh. Since she was a baby and he was a teenage big brother leaning over her crib, it had always made her laugh. She leaned into him, resting against him, and Duke wrapped an arm around her to give her a squeeze. Jennifer held up his second sandwich.
"Here, before you waste away."
Duke laughed, finished the last few bites of his first sandwich before taking the second one. He felt a tap on his shoulder and looked over to see Drew standing next to him. A small smear of mayonnaise graced her cheek. He reached over with a napkin and wiped it off. "Good sandwich, Rabbit?"
"Sure!" She burped to back it up.
"Jenn made them, right?" He nodded meaningfully at his other sister.
"Oh. Thanks, Jenn! Sorry again about the pop."
"It's ok. I washed it off." Jennifer shook her head.
Drew poked Duke several times. "Let's go! Let's have a chicken fight!
"We can't go in, Rabbit. We just ate." He took another bite of his second sandwich. "I'm not even finished."
"So?"
"You'll get cramps."
"And?"
"You'll plummet to the bottom and die a horrible death I can't save you from. Better wait a half hour." Duke looked at her seriously and ate half of what was left in his hand.
"Oh."
Jennifer stretched out in the sun. "You all can go back in. This feels pretty good right here."
Duke had to admit, the sun felt good on his skin. He lay back in the warm sand and threw an arm over his eyes. He heard Vincent get up.
"I'm going to walk upstream a bit. I'll be back."
"Can I come?"
"Sure, Squirt."
Their footsteps faded as they moved off up the bank.
Duke let himself drowse, sated with sandwiches and lulled by the sun and warm sand on his skin. The sounds of the woods-breezes through the leave, birds calling to each other, relaxed him.
How long will it be before I can get back here? Home. To the river? The kids? Jack barbecuing and Mamma feeding me well and treating me like her boy. To a place I don't have to constantly be on guard or in charge? How many months? A year? More?
He sucked in a deep breath, held it, and then slowly let it out through his nose.
"Mamma, why are you dressed up?" Conrad climbed on her bed and watched as she looked through her jewelry box.
"Oh, Kleiner, you know why. We've talked about this all week, haven't we? What's happening tonight?" She found the pair of earrings she was looking for, and put them in one at a time, peering at him in the mirror.
"Grammy's coming over." He knew she would bring cookies or pie. Maybe even both. "Grampy's having a card game and she's coming over. He's going to smoke a big fat cigar."
Mamma smiled."Probably. Now, why is Grammy coming over?" She dabbed he neck with perfume from the very special bottle in the center of her dresser.
"Because Grampy's big fat cigars stink."
"Besides that, Kleiner."
Conrad looked down at his toes. "Because you're going out."
Mamma patted her hair and checked over her dress and hose. Her shoes were ready one the floor in front of Conrad."Yes, Klenier. I'm going out. Grammy's going to watch you and put you to bed. I'll be back tonight, but probably after your bedtime."
"Why are you going out?"
"For dinner, Conrad."
"Why are you going out for dinner? We've got food here. Grammy will probably bring more." He wriggled back on the bed and kneeled as she came closer to step into her shoes, fastening her little gold watch on. When she came close, he could smell her special perfume. It smelled nice. She only wore it on Christmas, New Year's, or her birthday. Or...or Papa's birthday and one other time a year-their anniversary. But neither of those would happen again. Tonight wasn't a holiday, and it certainly wasn't her birthday. That was in June, Conrad remembered. Grampy taught him "Jane was born in June" and he never forgot. "You don't have to go out, you can eat with us!"
"Conrad." Mamma came over to him, crouched down, and put her hand under his chin, raising it to meet her. "Now we have talked about this. You know why I'm going out to dinner. A very nice man has asked me to dine with him and then see some musicians in the City."
Conrad felt an ache in his stomach. He gazed into her eyes. A man. Mamma's going out with a man. "But..."
Mamma sighed. "Oh, Kleiner, I know this is probably hard for you..."
"...but why are you dressing up? Why are you putting on that perfume? You can't wear it today...it's not a special day."
She pulled him to her and hugged him tightly. "Sweet thing, I know what you're thinking. He's a very, very nice man. He comes by the library while I'm volunteering. He's been coming in for weeks, and he's nice to talk to. When he asked me to dinner, I thought long and hard, and realized I wanted to go. He's so nice, I want to look nice for him."
"...and smell nice." Conrad mumbled at the comforter.
"Yes, and smell nice." She sat down next to him and put her arm around him. "He's a very nice man. He's a soldier. A special soldier. The first time he came into the library, his car had broken down and he was waiting for Smitty to fix it."
Conrad rolled his eyes. "You said. He came in and he asked for a book and then he started asking you about the ferry. He'd driven all the way from Fort Leonard Wood to listen to some jazz music in the city and gotten off track and his radiator blew."
Mamma blushed. "Yes, well, you've heard it."
"Now he drives back every few weeks and comes this way and goes to the library...for some stupid reason I don't know, because the City is between here and Leonard Wood." Conrad rolled his eyes again.
Mamma looked surprised. "How do you know that?"
"It's south of the City. I looked it up in the map book in the den." He'd carefully paged through the huge book until he found the big map of Missouri.
"You did? Since when are you interested in maps, Kleiner? You could read all the names?"
"Most of them. Oncle Max helped me with the rest. He likes maps. I like maps, too. When you read them, it's like you're flying over the world, you can see where everything is, and all the tiny people are down there."
Mamma looked at him, her eyes twinkling. "Well, feel free to study the atlas anytime. I'll get you your own, if you want."
"Yes, please! But I don't want a baby one. I want one like Oncle Max's. He showed it to me. It has maps of everything." He snuggled into her shoulder. She seemed to have forgotten. Maybe she would just go down and start dinner...
"How about this? You behave tonight for Grammy while I'm out, and don't get into any fights at school for the rest of the week, and I will get you your own atlas, as close to Oncle Max's as I can find."
Crap, she's still going out. No fights? Would she somehow get everyone else to shut up? "Uh..."
"I know you can behave for Grammy."
"Yes."
"And a week without fighting isn't too hard." Mamma's voice was gentle.
"It'snot my fault. They start it." Conrad avoided her eyes.
"Every fight?"
"Yes!"
"Kleiner..."
"They do."
Mamma sighed again. "Can you try to ignore them for a week? Just one? For me?"
He looked at her then. Her eyes were worried. The fighting hurt her. He knew it did. But Delph and his friends just wouldn't shut up. He tried. He tried to hold it in, but eventually the buzzing in his head built, and he got hotter, and hotter, till he just had to let it out.
And it hurt her.
"I'll do my best, Mamma."
She smiled again. "Good boy! I never expected anything less." She held him tightly.
"Jane? I'm here!" Grammy called up from downstairs. She had let herself in with her key. They never bothered locking the door, until...after. The bad men had been caught. They were locked away. But Mamma still locked the door. No matter what his Oncles promised.
"We're upstairs Come on, Conrad, let's go say hello to Grammy." She stood up and held out her arms. He jumped into them, and she carried him out of the bedroom to the stairs. "Oof! You're getting so big, Kleiner."
Grammy had made it up the stairs to the first landing. She looked up at them, smiling. Mamma let Conrad slip down so he could run down and jump into Grammy's open arms. She kissed him noisily on the cheek, then took his hand and led him down to the den. He saw the telltale bags. Grammy had definitely bought along a few things to eat. Mamma saw them, too.
"Oh, Mam, you didn't have to bring anything. I made dinner for you both. There's chicken, potatoes and green beans."
Conrad made a face at 'green beans'.
"Of course you did, Jane. I know it will be wonderful. This is just a little treat for Conrad and I to share after." Grammy winked at him, and he smiled back at her. She sat down on the couch and pulled him up into her lap. "Nothing washes out the taste of green beans like chocolate silk pie." She held her forehead against his and smiled into his eyes.
"Two bags is not a little treat, Mam." Mamma laughed, though. She wasn't angry.
Grammy waved dismissively at her bags. "No, well, I brought some cookies for the rest of the week" She looked back at Mamma. "The other one has my knitting. And another pie you can freeze. Or maybe you might want to share it later tonight."
Mamma blushed. "Mam, this is my first time out with him, I'm not going to invite him in when we come back."
"Of course not, I didn't mean to imply anything. Should I leave it on the porch?"
"Mam!" Mamma looked pointedly at Conrad.
Grammy sighed. "Jane, your life doesn't have to end, just because-"
"I know that Mam. I just needed...time." Mamma looked over at Papa's picture. Conrad saw that her eyes looked watery. "I just needed to feel...that it was OK."
"Of course it's OK. Jane, Sebastian wouldn't want you to be alone the rest of your life." Grammy's voice was soft.
"She's not alone! She has me!" Conrad stuck his chin out and crossed his arms over his chest. He glared at Mamma.
Both women laughed.
"I can take care of you, Mamma." Conrad glowered at the floor. "You don't need to go out. I'll do it. I can. You don't have to go away." His eyes felt hot. He slid of Grammy's lap and onto the couch. It wasn't funny. Why were they laughing?
Mamma and Grammy stopped laughing. Grammy put her arms around him. Mamma came close and crouched in front of him, kissing his forehead. "My brave, strong, little man, of course you can. Conrad, it isn't that simple. You and I both need someone to take care of us. I need someone to be with when you're all grown up and gone." She caressed his cheek. "But Conrad, this is a night out, you understand? I'll be back tonight. You'll be asleep, but I'll be back tonight. Wherever I go, whatever I do, you're coming with me. I won't leave you behind. Ich bin immer für dich da. That's a promise, Kleiner. Ich liebe dich."
"Ich liebe dich, Mamma." Conrad fell forward and hugged her tight.
The doorbell rang. Mamma stood, smoothed her dress, and smiled down at them. "Well, that's him." She fussed with her hair. "I'm nervous. I can't believe I'm nervous. Do I look nervous?"
"No, dear." Grammy smiled encouragement.
"Conrad?"
He looked up at her, and told her the truth. "You look beautiful, Mamma." She always looked beautiful.
Mamma's smile spread over her whole face. "Come with me and meet him." She stood and went to open the door. Conrad followed her, but hung back behind the skirt of her dress as the door opened to the cold night air. Mamma's voice rang. "Hello! Oh look! They're lovely, thank you!"
"Evening Jane. I thought these flowers were pretty, but when you opened the door, I'm not sure anything else can be called that." The voice wasn't as deep as Papa's, but it was pleasant and cheerful. Conrad dared a peep around his mother. The man carried a bunch of mixed flowers. He was nowhere near as tall as Papa, but he was solidly built; he looked strong. He was dressed in a soldier's fancy green uniform. Buttons and badges glinting in the light that shone through the door. His shoes were polished. He wore a hat like the old one Great Uncle Robert had brought back from France. A beret. The hair underneath was black. He was cleanshaven, and his eyes were a dark blue, darker than Mamma's or Papa's, or even his own. Those eyes flicked down to see him, the eyebrows above them raised up, and Conrad ducked back behind his mother. "Well. Is this your boy, Jane?"
"Yes, Jack, this is Conrad." She reached back for his hand and gently pulled him forward. Conrad took a few tentative steps, then glanced back to Grammy. As he did, he saw Papa's picture, and suddenly felt driven to bravely stalk the rest of the way. He planted himself squarely in front of Mamma and looked the man in the eye. Mamma put her hand on his shoulder. "Conrad, say hello to Mr. Falcone."
Conrad didn't look away. "Hello." The hand on his shoulder squeezed once. "...sir." After a second squeeze, Conrad held his hand out.
"I've got plenty of people to call me 'sir', Conrad. You can call me Jack." He took Conrad's hand and shook it firmly without doing him the indignity of crouching down. He looked over Conrad to Mamma. "He's a tough one for sure. I can tell."
Mamma laughed. "You don't know the half of it. Come in while I get my wrap."
They all went back into the den, where Jack took off his hat, tucked it into his pocket, and introduced himself to Grammy. Happily impressed, she relieved him of his bouquet and went to find a vase. Mamma went upstairs to get her nice jacket, leaving Conrad and the man alone for a minute. Conrad watched as the man rocked on his feet and glanced around the room, his eyes ending at Papa's picture, where they lingered for a few seconds, only to drop back down to Conrad. They regarded him appraisingly, if somewhat sadly. Conrad stuck his chest out and stood as tall as he could. He was barely as high as Jack's belt.
"This is a very nice house you have."
Conrad looked around to see if Mamma or Grammy had returned, but Jack must have been speaking to him. "Thanks."
"Your mother says you get into fights."
Conrad felt his ears burn. "Sometimes." He stared at the carpet.
"Nothing wrong with fighting, if there's a good reason for it. Waste of energy, otherwise."
Conrad looked up to see Jack smiling. It was a warm smile. "Have you fought?"
"Yes." The smile faltered, but came back. "Yes. Man to man. And...in battle overseas. Now I teach others to fight."
"Man to man?" Conrad leaned against the arm of the couch and fingered the fabric.
"Yes, hand to hand. From boxing and beyond. But also other ways to fight."
Mamma came down the stairs. "OK, I'm ready. Are we still on time?"
Jack looked at his watch. "Sure. But I guess we should leave now." He nodded to Grammy, who had pushed through the kitchen door. "Nice to meet you, Ma'am." He smiled at Conrad. "You, too. Very good to meet you."
Mamma kissed Grammy. "Thanks, Mam. I'll be back before one. Conrad should be in bed by nine."
Conrad groaned. "But it's Saturday!"
Mamma crouched down and hugged him. "Yes, and your bedtime is nine." Conrad caught Grammy's wink over her shoulder. He smiled back. Mamma let him go and stood. "Be good for Grammy, Klenier. Do go to bed when she tells you."
"OK."
Jack opened the door and held it as she passed, then stepped out, nodding at Conrad and Grammy as he left. "Goodnight! I'll have her home on time! I promise!"
Conrad didn't exactly go to bed at his bedtime. Grammy ignored the clock. They had dinner, and then pie. Then they played checkers, then chess, and then watched movies on TV while Grammy knitted a sweater, holding it up to him every now and then to check the fit. When he finally allowed himself to be ushered upstairs and through the ritual of brushing, washing his face, pulling on pajamas and climbing under the covers, it was gone ten o'clock. Conrad huddled under the sheets and quilt with a flashlight and an encyclopedia. He couldn't read much of it, but he liked the pictures and tried to figure out what they were about with the words he did know.
Much later, he heard Mamma come through the front door. She was singing. Conrad's ears perked. Mamma hadn't sung for a long time...not since...Her voice was clear and sweet.
"How high the moon,
Does it touch the stars?
How high the moon,
Does it reach out to Mars?"
She called hello to Grammy, and then continued to sing as she climbed the stairs and came down the hall. Conrad shut off his flashlight and quickly arranged himself under the covers, rolling on his side to face the wall and squeezing his eyes shut. His door opened slowly, and Mamma tiptoed in, no longer singing. He knew she was leaning over him. She pulled his covers up to his neck and kissed his cheek before tiptoeing back out, softly shutting the door behind her. He heard her break into song again as she went back downstairs to Grammy.
"Somewhere there's music,
How faint the tune.
Somewhere there's heaven,
How high the moon!"
Mamma was singing again.
Duke jerked to consciousness. Something wet and cold was running over him. Drew stood above him, tipping a soda can. River water spilled out and onto his chest. She laughed. Down by the bank, Vincent and Jennifer joined in.
"Now he's awake!"
"Rabbit, why is it always you?" Duke sat up and took the can from her.
"Vince was going to, but he chickened out. I'm not afraid." She grinned, then wrapped her arms around him.
"Hmmm. Brave Rabbit." He managed to get to his feet with her hanging from him and walk down the sand and into the river. He swam out, Drew on his back, and then dove. She clung to him, this brave little girl who wasn't scared of her killer big brother.
She might be, if she saw some of what Vince and Jenn has.
Vincent and Jennifer had seen it, the night Duke had put his fist through a car window. Funny how thinking about it a few days ago made it easier to recall now, but he still couldn't remember doing it. He only remembered the anger flooding through him and taking over...Wolfe was dead and Maddy was gone to California, he'd come home to a handful of medals and Hell. Everyone just wanted to forget Vietnam and the men who had been there.
Both of them had seen it...Vince and Jennifer had ridden in the old Buick with Jack and Mamma, too young to be left alone when the call had come from Mikey's: 'Come get Conrad, he's at it again.' They'd pulled up to the bar just in time to see Duke shake off Jeff and the five men who had pulled him outside and thrust his arm right through the window of the nearest car, which happened to be Jack's. Jeff told him later that Jack had stormed out, bellowing, and managed to bully him right into the backseat with his terrified little brother and sister. Someone had found a bar towel to wrap around his bloody hand. It hadn't been enough, and the blood had seeped into the upholstery of the back seat and resisted cleaning. He'd ranted for a bit, then passed out. How they got him from the car into the hospital, he never knew.
He woke to his hand being stitched. He was alone in the ER. When they were done, the doctor gave him a prescription for painkillers and had a nurse escort him out to the waiting room, where Vincent was asleep on a chair next to Jack. Mamma held Jennifer tightly on the other side of Duke's little brother. Jack stood, helped Mamma to her feet, picked up Vincent and walked crisply to the exit, leaving Duke to follow meekly. It must have looked odd, the big blond brawler hanging his head to slink out in shame. Mamma refused to let Jennifer go, and held her all the way home in the car. When Vincent woke to find himself alone in the back seat with his big brother, his eyes went wide and he shuffled right up against his door.
Those were dark days. Lost my way for a bit there. Couldn't go back to college, gave up my scholarship. Too old, anyhow. Nothing to do beyond try to keep myself busy or drunk enough not to think about Maddy or Wolfe, or the noise or blood or worst parts of that place. Got so bad my own kid brother was scared of me. Jenn was to little to really remember well.
The day after, Jack and Duke's uncles had come to him and laid down the law; shape up or get out. Duke had nowhere to go. He didn't want to leave his family, and he had little way of supporting himself beyond the family land; people were wary of hiring 'Nam vets. He'd agreed to stay home and dry out, and dry out he did. He sweated it out, worked it out, ran it out. Walked and rode and talked with Sandy when she could convince him to let it out. Labor and exercise until he just about dropped. Months of it. When he was finally clean and back in his own head, Duke decided to re-enlist. It was the only place he could think of that would take him, and he wanted to prove to himself he could manage.
Guess that worked out OK.
He wasn't totally whole; he had given up on ever wanting to fall in love again...but now that might just get better with a little help, mightn't it?
Duke swam till he could stand again and glanced back at Drew. "You still want a chicken fight, Rabbit?"
"Sure!" She climbed up to sit on his shoulders.
"Let's go!" Duke hollered at the others. "You two against us, best two out of three!"
Jennifer cheered and climbed on Vincent's shoulders.
They battled through the afternoon.