“Guess I won’t be going home tomorrow?”
“Not tomorrow. Not next week. You were hurt real bad, Tommy.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Yeah, that bad.”
“Tell me about it, so I can start the healing process.”
“Where should I start? There were so many injuries!” She began to cry softly, again.
“Hey, hey,” he soothed. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Start at the top and go down to my feet. Okay?”
“Okay,” she promised. “Concussion, severe. Broken cheek bone and eye socket. Broken nose, broken collar bone. Broken arm, four broken ribs. Cracked pelvis, broken hip. Broken left...thigh bone. Dislocated right knee. Broken right ankle. Collapsed lung, left. Ruptured spleen, bruised liver, kidneys, both of them. Two compacted vertebrae and a broken big toe, left,” she said still wiping tears from her eyes.
“That’s not so bad,” he smiled grimly. “It could’a been worse. Killed Cramer, right?”
“Yeah, he was in ten pieces with a rifle stuck through his chest. He was beheaded, too.”
After a minute of reflection, he nodded his head and said weakly. “Who is that man by the door?”
“Jacob. The truck driver. He hit Cramer broadside.”
“Why’s he here?”
“Says he has no place to go. He wants to make sure you’re okay, I guess.”
“Let me talk to him. What’s his name again?”
“Jacob Ladder,” she smiled, she looked around and motioned Jacob over.
“Hi, Jacob. Thanks for hanging around,” Tommy said, trying to pick his hand up from the bed.
“My pleasure, Captain,” Jacob said, reaching down and grasping Tommy’s hand in his own and shaking it gently, but firmly. “I’m plumb proud pink sitting beside an injured Brother!”
“Brother?” Tommy inquired uncertainly.
“Yes, Sir! Hunnert an First Airborne, Ranger, Sir!” Jacob stood at attention and saluted smartly. “All The Way! Sir!” he added, dropping his salute and going immediately into parade rest.
“Where did you serve, Jacob?” Tommy asked.
“‘Nam, Sir! Cam Ran Bay, Sir. Nineteen sementy one to nineteen sementy four. I hauled supplies to the Ranger boys down in the Delta, Sir!”
“That’d be the Mekong Delta?”
“Sir!” Jacob said in confirmation.
“What will you do now? Seems I’m on the road to recovery.”
“Don’t know, Sir. Tammy’s dead. I’m broke, flat. But, I believe in miracles, Sir!” Jacob said seriously. “You survived, Sir! That is a miracle in my book!”
“Jacob, drop the sir. Call me Tommy. Please!”
“Yes Sir. . .Tommy.”
“Who’s Tammy?”
“Was my truck.”
“Why Tammy and why is it dead?”
“Not it, she.”
“Okay, she.”
“She ate every cassette tape I ever put in her tape player except one of Tammy Wynett’s. Well, she ate it, too. But, refused to spit it out again. It’s still playin ‘er was as we went into the slide that wound me up here. I named her Tammy outa respect she didn’t eat that tape and spit it out in pieces,” he continued wiping tears from his ruddy cheeks.
“Why is she dead?”
“Twisted frame, broken transmission, front axle, radiator, rear axle, and motor mounts. No insurance. I had to make that run to pay the premium for a year. But, I didn’t make it. Everything was fine ‘till I topped that hill. Then, everything was gone!” he finished snapping his fingers.
“Maybe it was just time for a new start, Jacob. Have you thought about that?”
“Now, how am I a’gonna start anything? I ain’t got no home, no money, no job! Where can I go? If it weren’t for your beautiful lady there, I’d be on the streets in a cardboard condo, eatin’ deli from a dumpster!”
“Colonel,” Tommy said a little louder than he had been talking.
“Yeah, Tommy? I’m here,” Austin answered standing beside Lisa.
“Colonel do you feel like making a little trip with Jacob?”
“Sure, Tommy. Where are we going?”
“Lisa, drive Jacob and the Colonel to Tulsa to the Peterbilt dealership. Buy Jacob any truck on the lot that he wants. Fully loaded. Custom, whatever. Buy a matching box trailer. Pay any expense. Taxes, license, road taxes, and insurance for a year, whatever, so they can be on the road tomorrow or the next day at the latest.
“Colonel, you and Jacob drive to Louisville, Kentucky. Or Tennessee somewhere and buy me the biggest, proudest, Morgan stud and ten Morgan brood mares you can find.
“When you find them and make a deal, call Lisa. She’ll transfer the funds to the breeder’s bank. Load the stud in the trailer. Then build a wall, with a window so you can feed and water him, across it, then load the mares and come home. By the time you get back, I’ll be out of here and the land will be ours.”
“Tommy, I cain’t let you buy me no truck. That’d be near a hunnert grand! I’d never be able to pay you back!”
“Jacob, you’ve waited by my bedside for three weeks because I’m your Brother. Well, as of today, you’re my Brother. I have billions of dollars to spend on those I care about. And I care about you . . . Brother!” Again Tommy tried to lift his hand, and couldn’t. Again Jacob reached down and took it gently into his. He squeezed it firmly and Tommy squeezed it back.
“Now, you all be off. I’ve got a lot of healing to do,” he smiled; finality in his voice, then fell asleep.
Tommy drifted back in his mind to Master Wu. He bowed over his clasped hands. When Master Wu granted permission, Tommy kneeled before him respectfully. “Yes, young Tommysan, what wisdom do you seek today?”
“Master, my body lies broken from defeating my enemy. My mind and heart are strong. My spirit soars like an arrow from an archer’s bow toward its enemy. I wish to heal quickly so that I may fight and defeat my enemies as they appear. I seek your wisdom in these matters, Master,” Tommy stated.
“Young Tommysan, if the heart, mind, and spirit remain strong, the body will heal itself in its own time. You must always therefore, search your mind for your answers. Trust your spirit to guide you and your heart to give you the courage to do what is right. That is the wisdom which creates all life in all realms of existence. So go now, and search for truth. You shall find it within yourself.”
Tommy rose. After clasping his hands and bowing to Master Wu, he turned and walked away into the silvery nothingness that surrounded him.
Tommy opened his eyes and looked around the hospital room. Lisa was asleep with her head resting on his hand. She sat in a chair beside the bed to his left. He reached over with his right hand and softly patted her hair and head. He could not find words to express his love for this woman. He smiled softly and drifted back into sleep to continue healing.
* * * * *
Kalief Goldman had few friends at CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia. But he knew he had one he could always count on; Terri Ashton. Her grandparents were from the old country and from a noble family. She would help him find the man who had stolen all his friends’ money. He knew he could count on her above all others.
Kalief hung up the phone with a stare of disbelief in his eyes. Terri was on a full month leave of absence; current whereabouts, unknown. She had been gone for less than a week. As much as he hated to, he had to wait. There was no alternative. He hadn’t a clue where to start looking for his enemy in a land as large as the United States!
Knowing he had no choice, he rented a room in a nice hotel and settled in to await Terri’s return. He hated waiting. He was a man of action!
* * * * *
Tommy awakened to a soft kiss on his lips; Lisa smiled as she looked lovingly into his eyes.
“Mornin’,” Tommy said softly.
“Yes, my love. Time to get up and walk. Are you ready?”
“Yes,” he replied, mentally preparing himself for the oncoming pa
in.
He pushed the blanket and sheet back. Lisa helped him to a sitting position, then helped him turn and hang his legs over the edge of the bed.
Tommy was just starting to stand beside the bed when Linda Lake came bustling in. She was dressed in pristine white from head to toe. She was beautiful in Tommy’s eyes. “So, you thought you’d start without me, huh? Well, guess again, Buster!” she said sternly.
“Hi, Sweetie,” Tommy smiled, happy to see Linda again.
“Don’t even try it Buster boy! I don’t butter up easily. Besides, by tonight you’ll hate me.”
“I could never hate you.”
“Don’t bet your money on it, honey,” she laughed evilly, as she took his right arm and helped Lisa stand him up.
“Now, just stand there for a minute and flex your knees a little. Let them get used to holding your weight again,” Linda instructed.
With the first small flex he nearly crumpled to the floor.
“Whoa,” he laughed. “I’m weaker than I thought.”
“Five weeks flat on your back will do that to even the strongest. Most men wouldn’t be able to stand at all, much less flex their knees,” Linda said proudly, looking up at Tommy smiling lovingly. She hugged him tightly to her side. He hugged her back.
“Okay,” Tommy said, seriously. “Let’s step. Right leg first,” he added as he prepared to step forward.
His leg didn’t work exactly as he wanted it to. He stood sort of spraddle legged. He straightened up slowly and moved his left leg forward. It didn’t work much better, but, he didn’t fall either. He leaned heavily on Lisa and Linda for support.
Linda had been right, he thought. It was going to be a long day!
* * * * *
In Kentucky, Austin walked around and appraised the most beautiful two year old Morgan stallion he had ever seen. He wasn’t just beautiful, he was majestic!
The stallion stood sixteen hands at the shoulders. He held his head high, his ears forward and his eyes alert, seeing everything that moved. His mane and tail were long and flowing; Austin Lake was in love!
“I’ll take him.” Austin said. “I’ll have the money wired to your bank tonight and pick him up tomorrow, if that’s alright with you, Mister Lane.”
“That’ll be fine, Mister Lake,” Lane replied easily, as his groom led the stallion back to his paddock.
Austin watched him walk away, memorizing every movement of the stallion’s magnificent body. He knew some breeders would show their pride and joy, then try and pass off a ringer. Austin was there to ensure that didn’t happen to him, or Tommy.
Austin turned to the brand new Peterbilt tractor. As always Jacob was polishing on it. He also was in love. He was in love with Tammy II, his customized, midnight black with silver, red and gold highlights that flowed back into the trailer he pulled behind.
“Jacob, you’re gonna polish all the shine off that truck if you’re not careful.”
“No Sir, Colonel! I’d never do anything to hurt Tammy II. She’s a beaut! Ain’t she?”
“That she is,” Lake agreed, admiring the beautiful truck. The deep-dish chrome wheels sparkled and glowed like diamonds in the center of the jet black tires.
“Let’s go Jacob. We bought us a stallion today. Tomorrow we’ll head for home.”
“Sounds good. Three weeks on the road is plenty for one trip,” Jacob replied, stuffing his diaper soft polishing rag into his back pocket and climbing up into the cab of the long Roman nosed tractor. He started the Cummins diesel engine and listened to it rumble. He buckled his seatbelt and shoulder strap, then eased the transmission into gear, released the brakes with a hiss of compressed air, scanned the gauges once and they were off.
The tractor turned gracefully and the forty-two foot trailer followed the graceful arc of the turn. The twin chromed stacks roared with a deep base thunder, as the truck picked up speed with every shift of the transmission.
Austin glanced over at Jacob. He was smiling as always since getting the new tractor trailer rig. Before, he had hardly ever smiled. He had been a sad, worried man. Now, his dream had come true. Tommy had gained a lifelong loyal friend. A brother in every sense of the word. Austin believed Jacob would die for Tommy LeSade. He knew he would. Anyone as kind and loyal as Tommy deserved friends willing to die for him.
The next day at noon Austin couldn’t believe his ears. The breeder, Mister Lane, claimed the money had not arrived in his account; therefore, they couldn’t have the stallion.
Austin pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Tommy’s number. It was answered on the third ring by Lisa. “Lisa, we have a problem, here,” Austin said angrily. “Mister Lane claims the money for the stallion isn’t here. So we can’t get the stallion!”
“Austin, I assure you, the money was sent to his account at nine o’clock this morning. Its arrival into his account was confirmed. He’s lying.”
“Hold on a minute,” Austin said, staring at Lane angrily. “The full sum was wired this morning and its arrival was confirmed by your bank. It should be there.”
“Should be and is are two different things, Mister. And you’re not getting my stallion until I’m paid. That’s final!”
“Lisa, put Tommy on.”
“What’s up Austin?” Tommy asked when he was on the phone. “Hold on a minute, Austin,” he added, turning to his laptop and began to punch in his code. When everything was ready, he spoke into the phone as he entered the account number given to him by Austin the night before. “At nine o’clock this morning, Lane’s account held a balance of just under seven-hundred-and-fifty-thousand dollars. At six minutes after nine o’clock this morning, the account received a deposit of two-hundred-and-thirty-thousand dollars. Ask him if he agrees about his balance before the deposit.”
“He agrees. He seems a little confused, but he agrees,” Austin replied, wondering what Tommy was up to.
“Ask him if he wants to pay me that amount not to buy his stallion,” Tommy said smiling. “Better yet, put him on the phone.”
“Hello?” Lane said, taking the phone from Austin.
“I don’t know what you’re trying to pull mister. But, if you would like to pay me seven-hundred-and-fifty-thousand dollars not to buy your stallion, just say the word. I can arrange it, right now,” Tommy told Lane seriously.
“Pay you my life savings not to buy Pretty Dancer? Are you crazy?”
“You must think so or you wouldn’t be trying to pull a fast one on me. Why don’t you call your account again and recheck your balance. Then call me back if you want to deal. I’ll be waiting.” With that Tommy broke the connection, then sat back and smiled.
Five minutes later Tommy’s phone rang. He answered it.
“What have you done, you bastard?” Lane cried. “My account’s empty! Wiped out!”
“So, do you want to be honest with me, Mister Lane?” Tommy asked sincerely. “I’m a patient man, but you sir, are pushing my limit.”
“I want my money back or I’ll call the law!” Lane threatened.
“You don’t want the law in this I promise you. I will own you, lock, stock, and barrel if you invite them in. So, sir, what will it be?”
“You put my money back, plus the two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand for the stallion and we’ll forget this ever happened,” Lane offered.
“Sir, you tried to screw me and my friends. That privilege comes at a price. So, I will return your original balance, plus ten-thousand for the stallion. Or, I will completely wipe you out of business and home. Do you understand?”
“Yes, you bastard!” Lane said angrily, his face a mask of fury.
That lowered the price of the stallion by two thousand dollars. “Anything else you wish to say before we end these negotiations, Mister Lane?”
“No, sir,” Lane answered meekly.
“Make mister Lake a legal bill of sale for eight thousand dollars for the stallion and transfer the papers over to him and see that he’s loaded properly in t
he trailer. If you make one careless error, all bets are off and you, sir, are homeless. Understand?”
“Yes sir, there won’t be a problem, sir. I promise,” Lane promised.
“When everything is done, call me back and I will return your money. And, let this be a lesson to you. You never know who you’re dealing with, or who they know,” Tommy disconnected and waited for Austin to call back.
The call came an hour later and Austin reported that everything was settled and they were on their way home.
Tommy called up Lane’s account at the bank and while he was on the phone, restored his money, plus the eight thousand dollars for the stallion.
He didn’t like doing the man the way he had. But, he believed in honesty all the way around. He would much rather be the screw’er than the screw’ee! Plus, he hoped the man had learned his lesson from the experience.
“Tommy, we need to go,” Lisa said coming into the room. “It’s time.”
Tommy got up and they left for the bank. It was time to sign the papers on the land. The horses needed a place to call home. As did they. From the bank, they were going to the custom home designer in Tulsa. They had a preliminary sketch of the ranch they intended to build and the home designer was waiting to enter a bid on their design.
* * * * *
As Tommy and Lisa were backing out of their driveway, Kalief Goldman was seeking clearance from the Air Traffic Controller to land his Lear jet at Tulsa International Airport. Permission was granted and he brought the smooth business jet in and sat it down like a seasoned pro, then taxied to the terminal and parked on the apron near the front door of a flight service.
After making arrangements for the servicing of the jet, he was given a lift to a car rental place where he rented a Chevrolet Caprice and a road map of Oklahoma. He had an appointment in Tahlequah and he had no intention of being late. He had a man to kill and funds to recover. He had, after all, been paid for his services by Niles Cramer. Wherever he was at the present time. He hadn’t been in contact for over a month, now. Kalief was beginning to worry that something serious had happened. It was unlike Niles to not inquire about his slave children, or the possible purchase of more.
Kalief sped down the turnpike toward Ft. Smith. He tapped his finger on the steering wheel to the sound of the music on the radio. He kept the speedometer needle exactly on 65 miles per hour and enjoyed the scenery around him. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before. Beautiful! Was the only word he could think of to describe it. And even that was not adequate.