“Maybe I’d better go and apply lesson number two,” Tommy said thoughtfully. “What do you think?” Tommy asked, becoming tickled at Jacob’s agitated state.
“It ain’t just him you gotta worry about, Tommy. There be several of them boys and they all stick together like Velcro!”
“They could have come for me any time since I locked Jack up. Why now?”
“Jack’s the elder; the only one of the bunch with a lick of sense. He’ll lead ‘em, Tommy. And they’ll foller him! Mark my word! Like ducks after a junebug!”
“Jacob, should I wait here for them to come and get me? Or should I go looking for them? What do you think?” Tommy grinned, knowing he wasn’t going to let danger come around Lisa, Terri or Linda. Or anything else on his property that he was, or felt, responsible for.
“You al’ays ask me the hard questions!” Jacob accused, becoming more and more agitated. “Why?” he asked, perplexed. “Hell, I guess, go fer ‘em! Can’t lettum’ come here!”
“That’s what I was thinking, too,” Tommy answered, standing tall and stretching easily. “Aaaahhhuua! I wonder where they are about now?” he asked after his stretch.
“They’s stompin’ up and down Main Street, talkin’ loud and pushin’ folks around, about a half an hour ago!” Jacob said. “Pushed Miss Clemmons down in the gutter then laughed when she started cryin’. Didn’t even hep’ ‘er up!”
“Now that really makes me sad; that grown men would treat a nice old lady like Miss Clemmons in such a way as that. Miss Clemmons is my friend. I’d better go pay her a visit,” Tommy said calmly. “I’ll be right back,” he added, then stepped inside the house.
“Lisa, I’m going into town for a while. Do you need me to pick up anything while I’m there?” Tommy asked loudly, in the direction of the stairs.
“No, Babe, I can’t think of anything, right off. And Tommy, don’t buy any more toys! We can hardly get in the nursery now. The baby’s not due for another month!”
Tommy smiled thinking of all the toys he had bought in the last few months in preparation for the arrival of his child. “Okay, I’ll be back in a little while.” He turned and pushed through the door and onto the front porch.
“Okay, see you then,” he heard her say from somewhere inside the new house.
* * * * *
Tommy stopped his truck in front of Clemmons Jewelry and got out.
He remembered the first time he had entered the little mom and pop jewelry store. He had stopped in to buy a wedding ring for Lisa. Mrs. Clemmons had treated him like family and had made him feel special, as he looked over the meager selection. She had apologized profusely for not having a better selection in stock. She explained that since Mr. Clemmons had passed away and after the expense of the funeral she was in fact barely getting by. She feared she may have to close the store and go to an old folks’ home somewhere.
Tommy remembered asking her if that was what she wanted. She had just about thrown him out for even suggesting such a thing. He had apologized and all was instantly forgiven. He had bought the most expensive ring in the store and asked her if she would consider a silent partner who had plenty of money, just an investor; she would still have complete say so in every aspect of the business.
He remembered, as he crossed the sidewalk, that she had asked how much of an investor. He had said, however much it took to replenish the stock, remodel the store inside and out and print up a catalog advertising their selection. He remembered glancing around quickly, then saying he figured maybe half a million dollars ought to put her back in style. She thought he was joking, of course, until he had asked to use her phone to make some financial arrangements.
He had called the bank, asked for Sam Bishop, informed him he was in Clemmons Jewelry, here in town and said for Bishop to give Mrs. Clemmons a half a million dollar line of credit on his account.
After he handed the phone back, Mrs. Clemmons began to cry with joy. Tommy held her frail old body delicately and soothed her as best he could until she regained her composure and smiled up at him.
He remembered her kindness, as he pulled the door of the store open and stepped inside, her honest open smile and sparkling bright blue eyes surrounded by her halo of blue white hair, as he looked around the store for her.
“Tommy!” she cried, when he came through the door and stopped to look around.
He noticed a slight limp when she came toward him, looking up into his eyes. He saw her pain and his anger began to burn Corona hot.
“Wanda, are you alright?” he asked. “Did they hurt you?” he added, looking intently into her old, wrinkled face with love.
“They pushed me down, Tommy!” she said honestly, looking up, her eyes searching his face. “I hurt my hip when I fell. They started laughing at me and wouldn’t help me up. I started to cry and they laughed harder until Jacob came. He had a gun and ran them off. They swore they were coming back. Then that fat pig, that was sheriff, spit on me! I feel dirty all over! I’ve been so scared waiting for you to come. I knew you would, Tommy! And here you finally are!”
“I’m here now. Everything will be fine. I’m going to take you out to the hospital for an X-ray. You may have fractured your hip. I noticed you were limping.”
“I can’t close the shop to go get an X-ray, Tommy. I have to pay your money back,” she said earnestly.
“You never have to pay me a dime back, Wanda. You are my friend. I love you like family and I forgive the debt here and now. We are even!” he said finally, as if no argument would change his mind. And it wouldn’t have. “Now, let’s go get that X-ray. We can’t have you limping around in pain, now can we?”
“You’re too good to an old woman, Tommy LeSade,” she said, giving in to his wishes. “If my Billy would have come home from Viet Nam, I pray he would have turned out just like you, Tommy.”
“Now, you are being too kind,” he smiled, wiping her tears away with his thumb. “I can carry you to the truck if you like, it may not hurt as much.”
“I’m not that far gone, yet,” she said stepping forward and nearly falling.
He caught her and scooped her up into his arms. She was as light as a feather to him. He walked to the door and pushed it open with his foot. Then, twisted through it and walked to his truck.
Her frail arms were locked tightly around his muscular neck. He was surprised at her strength. He reached down and opened the passenger door of the truck and gently sat her inside.
“Where are the keys to the door?”
She produced them from a pocket and handed them over. He locked the front door of the store, which also activated the security system, then returned to the truck.
They were met at the door of the hospital by Linda Lake, a Doctor Lyons and three other staff members. They placed Wanda on a gurney and rushed her off to the X-ray department.
“Lisa called,” Linda said. “Jacob explained what had happened. She said you would be here. You can go take care of business. She’s in good hands now,” she added, smiling, knowing Tommy was going to kick some daylight up the Anderson boy’s back sides over this.
Tommy watched until they entered an elevator, then turned and left to find the Anderson boys. “Time to pay up, boys,” he whispered, walking to his truck and headed down town where he hoped to find his quarry.
He was making his first pass down Main Street when he spotted the Anderson boys standing around a pickup in the parking lot of a bar. He counted seven men, total. He pulled into the parking lot, stopped and got out.
“Jack, I heard you’ve been looking for me,” he said, walking toward them.
“That’s right, boy! Gonna’ beat you to death, right ‘chere!”
“That a fact, or a dream?” Tommy laughed, looking over at the other six men. “One of you old boys go and call some ambulances. If you don’t want to ride in one of them, stay by the phone.”
“Won’t need but one,” Jack said grinning. “A hearse is what you’ll need, LeSade.”
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“They’re not for me, Jack,” he said seriously. “They’re for you boys. I’ll be fine.”
“Boy, don’t you talk big!” Jack sneered, manly crushing his beer can in his hand. “They’s seven of us, in case you cain’t count that high.” Jack laughed, then looked around at his followers. They all grinned and stepped up beside him.
Tommy recognized two of them from the day of his arrest, well over a year ago. They were the two mean cops that were going to beat him with the night sticks. They had had a bad experience in their attempt. He guessed they held a grudge.
“You boys have your nightsticks with you?” Tommy smiled, laughing as they turned a bright red. Whether out of anger or shame, he didn’t know. But, he was glad they remembered the incident, if not his name and face.
“That’s a mighty touchy subject...” one of them started to say before he was rudely interrupted.
“Time for some payback, boys! Get ‘im!” Jack yelled, then attacked, thinking to catch Tommy off guard.
The six followers came at Tommy in a swarm. Jack led and was greeted by Tommy’s first assault. He was on the ground and puking his guts out, holding his groin with both hands, his eyes rolled up white in his head, before he had taken three steps.
The snap kick had ended his assault before it had really started. He continued to puke, moan and roll back and forth as two other men came at Tommy. The two swung wide sweeping haymakers at Tommy’s head. He ducked and brushed them aside, then attacked furiously and with blinding speed as they turned to face him.
He snap-kicked the first man in the chin, his jaw snapped like a pistol shot and he dropped like a rock. The second man fared no better. Tommy swiveled on his toes and side-kicked the man in the side of the head. He rocked to the side and stood dazed. A short powerful punch to the kidney dropped him to his knees with Tommy standing behind him.
The other four men closed in.
Tommy side kicked the man on his knees in the back of the head as he turned to face the next four, sending him face first into the gravel of the parking lot. He lay still as death, while blood pooled around his nose and mouth.
The first of the four attacking men assumed a boxer’s stance. He rested his weight on his right leg and extended his left forward for balance.
It was a tragic mistake around Tommy LeSade.
Tommy looked him in the eyes, smiled, and then in a move like lightning, kicked him in the side of his left knee. It snapped like a tree branch and the man screamed in pain and went down. He was through.
The next man swung and connected with Tommy’s shoulder. It had no effect. Before the man could withdraw the punch full and get set for a follow up, Tommy grabbed his wrist and twisted, exposing the elbow, as he stepped around and turned behind the man. He smashed the elbow with the palm of his left hand, breaking it in two. The man screamed in pain and stumbled off cradling his busted arm.
After breaking the man’s elbow, Tommy continued to spin on his left foot. His right foot streaked up and slammed into the approaching man’s sternum, knocking him back.
As Tommy stood straight and stepped forward, he delivered a lightning fast series of punches to the man’s face. He was totally out before he hit the ground, his face and shirt front covered with blood.
Tommy turned to face his final opponent. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Jack struggling to his feet. He smiled as he concentrated on his opponent.
His opponent, seeing Tommy smiling as he faced him, turned and ran. He was quickly out of sight down the street. Tommy turned back to a sick looking Jack.
“Jack, some people are just born slow learners. You, for example, happen to be one of them. You refuse to live in peace in a world you can’t control and dominate fully,” Tommy said mildly. “So, perhaps you belong in the next. What do you think?” he asked standing squarely in front of Jack.
“Go to hell LeSade!”
Tommy’s move was lightning fast. His right arm shot out and up like a steam driven piston. The heel of his hand connected with the tip of Jack’s short, turned up, piggy nose. Fat vibrated down his gross body like a large bowl of Jell-O. He rocked back on his heels as the punch connected, then toppled over backwards. The back of his head connected with a ‘thwack!’ on the hard packed, gravel surface of the parking lot. He would never be the same. In three months he would wake up in the hospital with the mental capacity of a twelve year old bully that cried hysterically at any threat. Tommy turned away from the men on the ground, got in his pickup and drove slowly back to the hospital and Mrs. Clemmons.
At the hospital, he learned that Wanda had in fact suffered a fractured hip. She would be hospitalized for several days, then would be released to convalesce at home until it healed. Tommy called Lisa at home from Wanda’s room and gave her the news.
“Why don’t you invite her to stay with us for a while,” Lisa said. “We have plenty of room here,” she added, thinking of the eight unused bedrooms upstairs.
“That’s a good idea. I will,” he replied. “You sure you won’t mind? I can hire a nurse if you like.”
“No, I’ll take care of her. I still get around pretty good...for a blimp,” she laughed.
Tommy had to agree. She was big and getting bigger. The twins she carried were quickly outgrowing their home. She was due next week according to the doctor and he couldn’t wait to be a father.
“You have guests waiting for you,” Lisa said, changing the subject.
“Who?”
“Guess,” she teased.
“I have no idea. I wasn’t expecting anyone.”
“Adam Jenkins, Sandy Borne and Melissa Jackson; ring a bell?”
“No kidding? I’ll be home shortly.”
“Okay, see ya later. I love you,” she said lustfully.
“I love you too, Babe,” he replied and then hung up the phone.
“Wanda, we want you to come and stay at the ranch when you’re released from here. We have plenty of room. Plus, Lisa needs the company. Okay?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Tommy. I don’t want to be a burden on you young folks,” she replied thoughtfully. “If you’re sure I won’t be a burden to you. But, I’ll need someone to mind the store. I can’t just close it for weeks. I’ve got bills to pay and customers to think of. And my friends stop by to see me. They’ll worry,” she continued, thinking of reasons to decline the invitation.
“Good, it’s settled, then,” Tommy said, leaning over her and kissing her forehead gently. “I’ll be back to see you tomorrow. You just rest and don’t worry about a thing. I’ll take care of everything.”
“Okay, Tommy. You’re such a good man. If I was forty years younger, I’d give you a run for your money!” she laughed, lustfully. “Now, get out of here. I need my beauty sleep!”
Tommy laughed as he winked at her, then left, the door closing gently and silently behind him.
Wanda was still blushing as she drifted off to sleep, thinking of Tommy LeSade.
Chapter 16
Tommy sat in silence, hearing every word his three guests spoke. His mind raced as he connected all the points they touched upon. He was amazed at the simplicity of their plan to select the next President of the United States. He was in total agreement with their selection.
Although Tommy was not political in the sense he considered running for office himself, he believed the people of the United States deserved a government they could believe in and trust. He could see himself providing that government for them.
As it stood now, the great ship United States was rudderless. It had been in such a state for going on a month now, since the unexpected death of President Cartwright and his chosen Vice-President, his brother, Wendell. Left as is, the great ship was bound to run aground as so many other great ships had in the past.
What was needed was a man who was honest beyond question, who’s only aspiration in life was to provide the greatest government the world had ever known. A man, or woman, who had the ability, drive and determination to
see his task through without a backward glance; one who owed no one anything, who could not be bought, sold, or influenced by any power or person on earth. One who was neither Democrat or Republican, Conservative or Liberal, neither pro or anti anything; just a person who loves this country and was intent on leading it into the future and onward into peace, adoration and respect in the eyes of the rest of the world.
Tommy believed, after hearing Adam, Sandy and Melissa out, that they had hit on the perfect candidate in Dr. James Louis Carver, PhD. in Political Science and Constitutional Law at Berkley.
“What makes you think he would be interested in being president?” Tommy asked his fingers steepled beneath his chin. He sat in his La-Z-Boy recliner, his elbows resting on the arms, his ankles crossed on the foot rest as he listened.
“He forever rants and raves about the corruption in our government and how he would change it if he were in a position to do so,” Sandy said, leaning forward, spreading her knees, to give Tommy a look if he wanted it. Once again he saw that she was naked under her skirt.
Melissa, not to be outdone, slid forward onto the edge of the sofa and spread her own knees wide as she turned on the edge, looked across Adam, smiled and said, “He would jump at the chance to clean house in D.C. He’s not one of the ‘good old boys’, so he could be trusted to fulfill his lifelong dream of giving the people back their country and honor.”
“You’re sure about that?” Tommy asked, studying Melissa carefully.
“Yes,” she answered unequivocally. “Why don’t we go and ask him in person?”
“The new jet will be delivered tomorrow morning at ten. We’ll leave for California at eleven to talk to this Doctor Carver. If he agrees, we’ll support him as a nominee. With our help and backing he will be appointed as the next president until an election can be held. If he does good ‘till then he will be elected by a landslide,” Tommy said, leaning forward in his chair. “For now, though. I’m going to bed. It’s one o’clock and it’s been a long day! I’ll see you all in the morning,” he added, crossing the room and went up the stairs to his and Lisa’s bedroom.
“I wonder what we have to do to get his attention.” Sandy mused, watching Tommy out of sight at the top of the stairs.