The Horse Soldier: Beginnings Series Book 10 Read online

  “Who makes up the Neville committee?”

  “Good question. For the radio listeners, it was asked who makes up the Neville committee. I’m gonna tell you but you are eliminated from competition if you try to sway the committee. They are as follows. In Beginnings, we have Trish, Jason, and Forrest. In Bowman, it is Elliott Ryder, Dr. Blue, and a woman with a weird name, Gergerace. Anyhow . . .” Robbie shrugged. “They’ll meet bi -weekly, either in person or on the radio. Any more questions?” He saw Dan raise his hand again. “Dan?”

  “Will we all get a copy of the rules?”

  “No, we won’t all get a copy of the rules. There are too many people here. The rules will be located at History, the social hall, the chapel, and with any committee member. Anyone else?” Robbie waited and looked around. He grinned widely and clapped his hands. “Good luck gentlemen and over the next few weeks let’s have fun with this. May the best man be Neville.” A loud eruption of eventful cheers echoed in the security area. Robbie gave a thumbs up to everyone then looked over his shoulder to his father who had watched.

  With rolling eyes, Joe just shook his head.

  ^^^^

  “Shit.” Dean set down his radio and ran his fingers through his growing hair. “Not there.” He paused tapping his fingers on the counter in the lab. “Hell with it.” Hooking his radio on his belt and grabbing his personal cell phone, Dean left his lab and walked down toward Andrea’s office. He knocked the door’s frame. “Hey.”

  Andrea looked up from her files. “What’s up?”

  “I’m out of here for a while.”

  “Where are you off to?”

  “Well, I was hoping to find Jason to do it or Johnny, but . . .” Dean tossed his hands up. “To no avail. Anyhow, Forrest needs my help grinding the prescription for Johnny’s glasses. If you see him, tell him I am personally finding him and making him put them on.”

  Andrea smiled “I’ll tell him.”

  “O.K., well I’ll see you later. I have to talk to Joe so I don’t know when I’ll be back.”

  “That’s fine.” Andrea smiled again. “Bye, Dean.”

  Andrea lowered her head back down to her work after Dean had waved and left. She listened to his feet hit against the floor and fade away and then Andrea dropped her pencil slowly and looked back up.

  Her hand smoothed against the surface of her desk as she stared in thought. After a moment, she stood up, closed the chart she viewed, tucked it under her arm, and left her office.

  She could see in her walk down the hall that the lab door was open. Looking around first, up and down the clinic corridor, Andrea turned into Dean’s lab. “Jason.”

  Jason, surprised, looked up from the computer he was reaching for. “Andrea.”

  “What . . . what are you doing in here?”

  ^^^^

  Like the tiniest of bowling balls rolling across the hard floor was the sound that made Johnny lift his head from his work in the cryo -lab. A rolling sound, soft and faint, but in the room with him, and then it clicked. Johnny looked around. Nothing. He returned to the feeding charts he reviewed as he sat at the counter and then the sound began again. Rolling, rolling, click. “What the fuck?” Johnny got his answer when he heard a giggle. Rolling his eyes, he looked to the door.

  Bev stood in the open door. “Busy?”

  “Yes.” Johnny wrote something down. “Why aren’t you? Don’t you hold a job during the day or something?”

  “I’m on my break and I was hoping to change the bad luck I’ve been having by finding you.”

  “Bev.” Johnny dropped his pencil. “Why is it that you keep tracking me down?”

  “I like you.”

  “Yeah well, you like Dean. Remember?” Johnny raised his eyes. “You have been making it no secret around here that’s who you have your views set on.”

  “Dean is smart. So are you.”

  “So the flavor of the month is intelligence?” Johnny asked.

  “I don’t understand.” Bev took a step into the lab. “You started this whole thing between me and you.”

  “By complimenting your legs?”

  “Yes.” Bev moved slower in. “Wow, Dean works here.”

  “If you’re so infatuated with Dean.” Johnny watched the look on her face. “Why do you keep chasing me?”

  “I like you.”

  “You shouldn’t be in this lab and you like Dean. Sorry babe, I did the share thing. I was the secondary. I don’t do the secondary. Rather go womanless than play second fiddle again.” Johnny kept his eyes on his work, staying cold and ignoring Bev as she stepped closer.

  “Who said you would be second fiddle. I’m a free woman, I’m not with Kevin anymore. It’s not too often a woman in this community chases a man. Why do you insist on making me chase you?”

  “Why do you insist on chasing me?” Johnny stood up and started to gather his work.

  “I told you. I like you. You’re different. And . . .”

  “And you want Dean.”

  Bev inched her way to Johnny. “I want Dean for a different reason. I want you, for you.” She stood right next to him and softened her voice. “We can help each other out you know. We’re supposed to.”

  Johnny smirked with arrogance. “Help each other out? What in the hell are you talking about?”

  “You can help me get what I need and in return, Johnny, I can help you get what you need.”

  “And what is that?”

  “This.” On Bev’s one word answer she dropped down to the floor before him.

  “Shit.” Johnny’s eyes widened when he felt her hands run down across his waist and to his zipper. His tall stance fell to a lean into the counter. He swallowed the lump in his throat and his eyes widened at the sudden sensation that began to sweep up his body. Wondering if he should take a stand with Bev or advantage of the situation, Johnny let his eyes roll slightly as he gripped the counter’s edge.

  It never was warm in the lab, yet Johnny felt warm. He took off his lab coat, flinging it across the lab, and then his hands reclaimed their cling to the counter. So surreal the situation felt. So dreamlike until . . . reality set in with the closeness of voices that came into his earshot, a male and female, closer and closer. “Shit.” Johnny opened his eyes. The cryo-lab door was open. He looked down again, then back up and Andrea and Jason were entering the lab. “Stop.” Johnny called out.

  Andrea and Jason stopped cold.

  Andrea tilted her head in wonder. “Johnny?” She took a step to him. “Are you all right? You look flush.”

  “Stop. You can’t . . . you can’t . . . come . . . any further.”

  “Why?” Andrea asked.

  “Dean will . . . Dean will get pissed.” Johnny closed his eyes tightly then opened them. “He’s got a . . . he has . . . he . . .”

  Andrea and Jason both looked oddly at him.

  “You have to leave,” Johnny said. “I’m under strict orders not to let anyone . . . in.”

  Andrea looked at Jason then to Johnny. “Well, we’re looking for the Beesly file. Dean was supposed to have finished running . . .”

  “In!” Johnny’s voice was high pitched. “In the fridge.”

  “The fridge?” Jason questioned. “Why is the Beesly file in the fridge?”

  “Think cold thoughts. I mean, in the bin next to the fridge. I put it there by . . . by mistake.”

  Andrea turned to Jason. “Did you look there?”

  “No. I searched the other two bins. That’s why I thought I’d go into the computer. For sure he logged the results.” Jason tossed his hands up. “Let’s go.”

  “Thanks, Johnny.” Andrea waved. “Get some rest. You’re acting strange.”

  “I will.” Johnny gave a strained smiled. “Can you shut the door?’

  Andrea smiled. “Sure, sweetie.” She stepped through the door first and Jason followed her.

  Johnny watched as Andrea and Jason seemed to leave in slow motion. He wanted to wonder why they came down the cryo-lab a
t all, but at that moment all he could do was wait for the door to close and when it did, with a grunt, Johnny plopped forward to the counter.

  ^^^^

  Binghamton, Alabama

  Frank’s face was stone cold as he stood near the entrance to the base. His insides churned and soured as he watched the two truckloads of Society people roll right in. He stared, letting not one bit of his feelings out but he stared. Frank had no idea when he sent his trucks out to meet the train what he was getting. He did now, as he watched them arrive. He was getting the sense that somehow he just wouldn’t have the control anymore.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  Robbie opened Joe’s office door, slid to his stop, cringed, then grunted in disgust when he saw Henry behind Joe’s desk. “Dad.” He looked to his father who sat in the chair. “Come on, you’re still leader.”

  “Henry needs to get the feel,” Joe explained. “Humor me.”

  “No.” Robbie shut the door. He held on to a large stack of papers. “Where’s Dean?”

  Henry decided to answer. “He had to go to Glass and do something. He’s been there for a little bit.”

  Robbie sat down in his seat and no sooner was his rear end in the chair that Dean walked in.

  “Sorry I’m late.” Dean closed the door. “Joe, I have Johnny’s glasses. He needs them. Have you seen him?”

  Before Joe could say anything, Robbie did, very calmly too as he bit his nails. “Last I heard he was at the cryo -lab getting a blow job from Bev.”

  There were three things that happened after Robbie’s remark, Henry’s loud sound of disgust, the banging as Dean fumbled and nearly missed his chair as he went to sit, and Joe’s grunt.

  Joe winced. “Did we need to hear that?”

  “Um . . . .yeah,” Robbie said. “We asked him to get close to her. He did. Well she got close to him or would that mean they were both close.” Robbie shrugged, ignoring the looks he got. “Anyhow, that’s what Johnny told me. Took him by surprise too.” Robbie snickered. “But uh . . . not as much as surprise as when Andrea walked into the cryo -lab in the middle of it.”

  “My wife walked in on him?” Joe asked.

  Dean was just as shocked. “What was Andrea doing in the cryo -lab? Did Johnny say whether he kept her out or not?”

  Again Robbie shrugged. “I’ll guess he kept her out because, well, they never saw Bev.”

  Joe was just so confused. “Why in God’s name would Johnny volunteer the details to you?”

  Henry knew the answer to that one. “It’s a guy thing, Joe. Really and Johnny still a kid so he brags.”

  “No,” Robbie snapped. “God. We asked him to get close to her. He was letting us know how the plan was going. Of course he says now he has to get total control and in order to do that with her, he has to be a . . .” a snicker came from Robbie. “A dick. He’s gonna blow her off.” He saw the silent glares he got from all three. “What?” Still he got stares and then it hit him. “Oh.” And Robbie laughed.

  Joe turned away from Robbie and to Henry. “Wanna get this thing moving along?”

  “Joe, why don’t . . .”

  “Henry.”

  “OK.” Henry moved his chair closer to the desk. “I don’t know why Joe called us here. It has something to do with Robbie. So Robbie, do you want to do the honors.”

  “Yeah.” Robbie’s hand tapped on the stack of papers he had. He looked so pleased. “Since I have been chosen to become the new Ministry assistant, I attended Bible class with Rev. Bob.” He stopped while everyone got their snicker out of their system. “Anyhow, we talked about some good stuff and I drove him a little crazy about Cain and Abel and the great flood.”

  “Robbie,” Henry interjected. “Could you get to the point.”

  Without saying what was on his mind to Henry, Robbie continued, “Well, I was smoking a cigarette and when I left, I left them in there. Now I had to go back, right. I could have stolen them from distribution but my dad would have been . . .”

  “Robbie.” Again, Henry interrupted. “Please. We all have things to do.”

  “Henry,” Robbie growled his name. “Quit being such a prick and get off your high horse, all right? Fuck. I swear the moment you become leader, I’m moving for your impeachment and having people vote me in.”

  ‘You couldn’t do that,” Henry argued.

  “Could too.”

  “You could not,” Henry said. “They wouldn’t do it.”

  “Ha!” Robbie scoffed. “Bet me. Henry, they voted on you being leader a while ago. If given a choice they’d pick me.”

  “No, they wouldn’t. Joe?”

  Joe hesitated. “Well, Henry, everyone likes Robbie. They just might.”

  “Oh that’s not very nice.” Henry shook his head. “Dean, do you agree?”

  “What? What are we talking about?”

  “Weren’t you listening?” Henry asked.

  “No not really,” Dean answered. “I’m still shuddering in the fact that Johnny had oral sex in my lab.”

  Robbie held up his finger. “No, Dean. Technically he received . . .”

  “Robert,” Joe scolded.

  “But Dad, technically . . .”

  “Technically my ass,” Joe growled. “Now can you please just quit with the dramatics and tell these two what you found when you were being noisy in Rev. Bob’s office?”

  Robbie let out breath that showed his shock. “I can’t believe you ruined it for me. All right.” Robbie took the first copy of the yearbook from the stack. “This one is mine.” He handed one to Joe, then to Henry and Dean..

  Dean was stuck in bewilderment staring at the blank top sheet. “What is this? There’s nothing on the front.”

  Robbie grinned. “I did that on purpose so you wouldn’t know until I told you to . . .” Robbie flipped over the first page. “To turn to the next page.”

  “Oh!” Henry was so excited. “I love looking at other people’s year books. Is this Rev. Bob’s? Does it have autographs and messages from people. I love . . .”

  “Henry!” Joe yelled. “Pipe down. That’s not why were looking at this. This is a secret gentlemen. What we have in our hands cannot be told to anyone outside this room. Clear?” He waited for the agreement. “Yes, this is Rev. Bob’s Iowa State yearbook. Robert, do the honors again.”

  “It’s about time.” Robbie chuckled at his father’s displeasure grunt. “Now, this is really, really important that you listen to what I say. Everyone, turn to page twenty-seven. And!” Robbie instructed loudly, “Keep your eyes focused on the left hand corner. Henry don’t peek.”

  Henry whined.

  Dean’s head bobbed from side to side. “My eyes are peeled Robbie. What?

  “O.K.” Robbie gave a ‘shush’ look to his father.“Dean, what is Reverend Bob’s last name?”

  “Haddon,” Dean answered.

  “Correct.” Robbie nodded. “Now. Everybody scan down to the fourth row and let’s find Rev. Bob’s wonderful freshman picture.” Robbie didn’t have to look for Reverend Bob. He saw the picture the night before and quiet enjoyed seeing the man of the cloth, thin and with dark thick hair. But he didn’t enjoy that pictures as much as the moment when Dean and Henry saw him. Their ‘what’s?’, shocked expressions, and slow raising eyes to Robbie was worth the wait. “Yep.”

  Dean took a double take. “No. No way.” His eyes kept blinking over in over in disbelief.

  Henry’s mouth was open as well. “Oh my God. It’s George’s picture next to his. He went to the same college as George? Wow. But Iowa State is a big place. Do you think they knew each . . .”

  “Henry!” Joe yelled. “Is that the only thing you see?”

  Henry responded with a blank look.

  “I fuckin knew it,” Robbie grunted. “He had to ruin it didn’t he?”

  Joe held out his hand to Robbie to halt his complaining. Calmly, Joe looked at Henry. “Henry, look again.”

  Henry looked down to his paper yearbook. �
��O.K.”

  “Look closely, Henry,” Joe instructed.

  “Joe, I’m looking, I . . . “ Henry peered up to Joe. “Shit.”

  Robbie tossed his hands up. “Finally.”

  Joe nodded very slowly in assurance to Dean and Henry. “Looks like my immature and nosey son discovered a pretty big secret about Reverend Bob. Now, my question to all of you is . . . at this point in the game, how long should we wait before we approach our good Reverend Bob Haddon to tell him that we know he is actually the Good Reverend Bob . . . Hadley?”

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY

  Washington, D.C.

  If George could trophy his proudest accomplishment he would, the White House. So many times he wanted to waste the man power and fix up the white structure that for nearly two terms was his home. He wanted to fix up the entire D.C. area and the monumental structures, symbols of our forefathers who shaped the laws that shaped America into a great nation. Arlington cemetery laid totally overgrown. Thick and dense, in years to come it would end up being a forest instead of a tribute to those who had lost their lives in battle. George considered himself very patriotic. Just because he wanted to rule the world, along with the country, didn’t lessen his patriotism. He worked hard all his life in law school, the courts, small political positions, and all the way up to the Presidency. All he ever wanted to do was make the world a better place . . . plus, run it. But that would have been a given had his plan to cut down earth’s out of control population growth had not gone array.