A Soldier Finds His Way (7 page)

Zoe laughed, scratched herself behind her ear and tapped her foot on the floor like a dog. “Let’s take a bath right now!”

Good. His playful smirk got a positive response from her.

“Okay then.” Edward rigged the special hose he’d made to the water pump. He ran the end around to the tub and weighted it down with a rock he’d staged for this purpose. “Who pumps first?”

Zoe pulled a chair to the sink, jumped on it, and pumped with unbridled vigor.

“Slow down or you’ll get tired too fast,” he said. “I’ll start heating some water.”

With a pot of water hanging from a hook in the fireplace and another on the woodstove, Edward sat near Audra while Zoe pumped water into the tub. Now and then she paused and switched arms.

“This is hard work.” Zoe sat on the counter, shook out her arms, and started pumping again.

Cricket let out a low growl. Hackles raised, she stood to her feet, and glared at the door. A guttural sound erupted outside. The door handle rattled.

Edward jumped out of his chair, grabbed Zoe off the counter and pushed her toward Audra.

The door flew open, and a hulking figure filled the doorframe.

Zoe screeched and ran.

Edward dropped to a knee between Audra and the intruder and trained his Glock on the stranger’s head. “Hold it right there or I’ll blow your head off.”

The stranger stood motionless and breathed heavily. His breath vaporized in the air. He pulled off his mittens, threw the fur-lined hood off his head with a sweep of his hand, and lifted the goggles from his eyes. “Well, that’s a fine howdy-do. Is that any way to greet a man coming into his own home?” His gruff, booming voice filled the room.

A deep breath and slow exhale slowed Edward’s heartbeat. He lowered the handgun and stood. “Hank? Are you crazy? Man, I could’ve killed you. What are you doing here?” He returned the gun to an upper kitchen shelf. “I thought you were going to visit your mom in Miami.”

“I was, but then I said to myself, ‘Hank, why don’t you skip the flight and hike up to the cabin and see if you can get yourself shot today.’” He walked into the room, slammed the door with his foot and dropped his backpack onto the floor.

Cricket went wild with excitement, and Hank scooped her into his arms. She licked his face, squirmed and whined even more.

Edward waited for Hank’s serious answer. He couldn’t think of any sane reason for his brother to hike to the cabin in such treacherous conditions.

“Atta girl. I love you too.” Hank set Cricket onto her feet. “My flight was cancelled. Everything’s grounded with this storm. Anyway, I gave you a few days to be by yourself, then figured I’d come get Cricket and take her home so you wouldn’t eat her.”

Edward laughed. “We made friends. She can stay. Besides, she looks like she’d be a little too chewy for my taste buds.”

“Who’s the cupcake sitting in my favorite chair wearing your drawers? I thought you came out here to be by yourself, you rascal you. What happened to ‘alone, o
solo mio
, solitude’?” Hank grinned. “Liar.”

Audra sat wide-eyed, her breaths coming in short gasps.

“It’s okay, Audra. This is Hank, the one we talked about this morning,” Edward said. “He won’t bite. Zoe? Hey, Zoe, where’d you go?”

Audra pointed to the bedroom.

Edward went through the curtain. “Zoe? Where are you?” He stopped and listened. Sounds, much like a dog panting on a hot summer day, came from under the bed. He dropped down on his stomach. “It’s okay, you can come out.”

She shook her head.

“What are you afraid of, Zoe? He won’t hurt you.”

“It’s Bigfoot. He’ll eat me. I know he will.”

“Zoe, it’s my friend, Hank. He’s just a big hairy guy who talks kind of loud. Come on, I promise he’s okay. Trust me. Will you trust me?”

She came out from under the bed but declined the hand Edward offered, preferring instead to cling to his leg as they went to the living room, where she half-hid behind Edward.

Even without the Parka and snow pants he’d shed and dropped by the door, Hank was a huge hulk of a man. Six foot-four, muscular frame and wild-man appearance, his persona fit that of a wrestling ring contender. Wild, wavy and sandy blond, his hair nearly touched his shoulders, his wiry beard showed hints of red. A narrow elastic band held a black patch that covered his left eye. One look at his face made Zoe gasp and run to the comfort of Audra’s lap.

“Hank, this is Zoe and her aunt Audra. Girls, this is Hank,” Edward said. “The ladies had an accident by the river. Their car went off the road, and they ended up here with Cricket and me. Now you have the whole story. They’ve been here for a few days, and I was going to go get help, probably tomorrow.”

“I hope you weren’t thinking about trying to get to that truck of yours because it’s buried under a mountain of snow. What possessed you to park right under that outcrop of rocks? That was a mistake.” Hank wagged his shaggy head. “You’d have gone all that way for nothing. Good thing ol’ Hank showed up when he did, eh, pumpkin?” He smiled and reached to pat Zoe’s head, but she recoiled farther into Audra’s lap.

“She thinks you’re Bigfoot and that you’re going to eat her,” Edward said.

Hank cast a grin at Zoe. “Me, Bigfoot? No way. I’m not Bigfoot. But I have a cousin who looks like Sasquatch. Boy, is she ugly.” He laughed.

Hank turned toward the kitchen and rummaged through supplies. “Whatcha got in here to satisfy a man’s empty belly? I could eat a whole wildebeest carcass right about now and fight off a pride of lions to do it.” He grabbed an MRE off the shelf and tried to rip the package open with his teeth. “Either these packages have gotten stronger or my teeth are giving out.”

Edward stepped up and handed Hank his pocketknife.

“Thanks, buddy.” Hank opened the package and dug into it with the knife. “Mm-mmm-mmm.” As he shoveled the food into his mouth his beard became a catchall for food that failed to hit the target. He held the bag out and cocked his head sideways to read the bag. “Lasagna, my favorite.”

Hank licked both sides of the knife, wiped it on his pants, folded it up and handed it back to Edward. A huge, unrestrained burp bellowed out of him, then, with the back of his sleeve, he wiped his mouth. His huge paws patted his stomach. “That hit the spot.”

Ignoring everyone, Hank went to the fireplace and stretched out next to Cricket on the braided rug. He rolled onto his back, pounded his chest with his fist, let out another loud belch, then turned onto his side and closed his eyes.

Edward tossed his knife in the sink and turned toward the girls who were wide-eyed at the spectacle they’d just witnessed. He had to laugh. This was exactly how most people reacted to Hank the first time they met him. “I told you he was different.”

* * * *

Edward dumped the hot water into the tub and tested it with his hand. Nice and warm.

The girls stared at Hank. They’d regained their composure, but neither of them had said a word for several minutes. Edward touched Audra’s arm.

She flinched and sucked a quick breath.

“Didn’t mean to startle you. Your bath is ready. Zoe, go get your clothes, and Audra’s too. I’m sure you’ll both feel a little better if you’re in your own stuff once you’re cleaned up.”

He grabbed a plastic cup off of the kitchen shelf as they passed by and handed it to Audra. “Here, you can use this to scoop the water over your hair. It might make washing it a little easier.”

“Good idea. Thank you.” She looked past him to where Hank lay by the fire. Her breaths came a little faster.

“Don’t worry. Hank’s a good guy.”

“I’m sure he is. It’s just that—”

“I know.” He removed Audra’s splint. “Try not to bang that arm around. Let Zoe help you get in and out of the tub. There are a couple of towels over there.” He nodded toward a shelf. “And soap and shampoo. Don’t drain the water when you’re done. We’re recycling it. I get first dibs on the tub when you guys are finished. Maybe we can convince Hank to take a dip when he wakes up as well.”

* * * *

Girly voices, melodious and cheerful, drifted through the bathroom door. Edward couldn’t make out their words, but their laughter told him that they were happy. After what they’d just witnessed, it was a wonder they could laugh at all. Most people lived their whole life without having an intruder barge into their home or seeing a man draw a gun on another human being. In a few short seconds, the girls had seen both.

“You like them, don’t you?” Hank lay on the floor with his head propped up on the dog’s back, hands folded behind his head.

“Yeah, so? What’s not to like?”

“Not a thing. Just making an observation.”

“You scared them, Hank. They’ve been through a lot, so take it easy on them. You made an assumption about Audra and me, and I think it embarrassed her. Don’t do it again. You got that?”

“Sorry bro. I’ll be charming from now on, I promise.” Hank got up and sat at the kitchen table. “Now, for the real reason I came here today.”

Edward sat across from him. “Finally.”

“Greco is looking for you. When he kept getting your voicemail, he decided to call me to see if I knew where you were.”

“What does he want?”

“The unit’s been called up. They’re assembling the team, and he wants you to head up a mission.” Hank rubbed his neck and stretched from side to side.

“What kind of mission?”

“He wouldn’t tell me. It’s classified. I’m out. Remember? Anyway, I told him I’d see if I could find you. So, did I find you?” Hank thrummed his fingers on the table. “What I mean is, if you don’t want to be found, well then, I didn’t find you. It’s that simple.”

“I’ll think about that after we get these girls out of here. Right now, I am on a mission.”

* * * *

Audra sat wrapped in a towel as Zoe helped dry her hair and back where she couldn’t reach with one hand. Vanessa would be proud to know how Zoe had risen to the task of caregiver and had done so with such tenderness.

Hank and Edward’s conversation at the table stopped when they stepped into the room.

“Ladies, maybe you’ll allow me a do-over.” Hank stood to his feet. “So, if you wouldn’t mind, let’s start all over, shall we? I’m Hank Fleming, and I apologize if I scared you. Edward has chastised me, and I’ve seen the error of my ways. I’ve been recalibrated. Are we okay then?”

“Yes, of course.” Audra gingerly extended her left hand. Hank’s hand engulfed hers.

“Zoe?” Audra rested her hand on Zoe’s shoulder. “You’ll give Hank a second chance, won’t you?”

Zoe stepped forward, and the big man squatted down with his hand extended.

“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Fleming,” Zoe said in a small voice.

“I’m happy to have made your acquaintance, Zoe. Call me Hank.”

Edward let out a sharp exhalation. “Good. Now, Hank, behave yourself while I take a bath. You’re next. You stink.” Edward went into the bathroom and shut the door.

Audra supported her right arm with her left hand. Next to her, Zoe held the padded stick and strips of cloth.

Hank moved forward and gave a warm smile. “Splint?”

“Yes. Yes, it is. We’re not sure if my arm’s broken, but Edward felt we should immobilize it just in case. The swelling has gone down a lot.”

“May I?” Hank held his hand out.

Zoe handed him the stick and the ties and watched as the huge man gently splinted Audra’s arm and helped put the sling back on.

“Not too tight, is it?” he asked.

“No, that’s perfect. Thank you.”

“What happened to your eye, mister?” Zoe blurted.

“Zoe, that’s not polite. You shouldn’t ask people such things.” Audra turned toward Hank. “I’m so sorry.”

“No, no. Don’t be sorry. See, that’s what I like about kids. They speak their minds. They’ll come out and say what you’ve wanted to say all along, but civility dictated it was wrong to ask. I’ll tell you what happened to my eye.” He pulled out a kitchen chair and sat.

Audra joined him at the table, and Zoe stood nearby.

“When I was a soldier in Afghanistan, an insurgent, a bad guy, that is, fired a grenade at the truck I was driving, and it exploded. I was one of the lucky ones. I survived. Later, the doctors tried to save my eye, but, in the end, I ended up losing it. I can’t hear out of this ear anymore, either.” He tugged his left ear then shook his head. “Ironic, isn’t it? Me, a demolition expert, being discharged because I got blown up.” He let out a wry laugh.

“Eddie was in the vehicle behind me and saw the whole thing. It was a traumatic experience for him. He and the other guys circled the wagons, so to speak, and provided cover while the medic worked on me.”

He folded his arms on the table. “LT is a good guy, a really good guy. He can be cantankerous, I’ll admit, but I’d put my life on the line for him any day of the week. He’d do the same for me.”

Zoe looked perplexed. “Who’s LT?”

Hank chuckled. “LT means lieutenant. Eddie didn’t tell you he’s a Lieutenant?”

* * * *

Edward came out of the bathroom. “Hank, you’re next. All the towels are wet, but I suppose if you try hard you can shake off like Cricket does.”

“Maybe later.” Hank’s face took on a pensive look. “Right now, let’s see those topographical maps and the other maps, the ones we drew up when we were kids. I’ve got an idea.”

Edward spread a couple of maps on the kitchen counter.

Hank flattened a few wrinkles in the paper, hunched over and studied alongside Edward. Hank scratched his scraggly beard. “If we could get in touch with the local search and rescue, maybe they could send a chopper to medevac the girls out of here.”

“That sounds good. This might make for a good LZ. What do you think?” Edward tapped a finger on the map.

“No, not a good landing zone. Too many trees. It looks good on the map, but I’ve been there. We’re not landing anything within a few miles of here.” Hank lowered his voice. “We’re going to have to yank them up on a line. You and I both know that.”

Audra didn’t strike Edward as the adventuresome type. And Zoe? Well, she was just a kid. “They’re not going to be too pleased to hear that.”

“What are you guys talking about over there all hush-hush like?” Audra called to them.