THE GIFT

Chapter 8

“Ya know, Cuz…back when I was a kid,” he began to muse absently, “I used to have these weird dreams, or fantasies…or whatever. All the other kids in the neighborhood would come to my tree fort for protection from some monster or something. As I got older, they didn’t go away…they changed. It became all my friends in high school coming to my farm to escape something. It really worked its way into me. It gave me this screwy “protector”…um… feelin’, I guess. That’s kinda what made me join the Marines. Marines protect and liberate.”

“While I was deployed to the sandbox, I met an old Bedouin. He was the patriarch of his clan and some sort of shaman. For some reason, he took to me. Maybe his hatred for the Islamist murderers was a mutual thread. Maybe it was the fact that my unit kept the boogeymen away, so the children could play.”

“Anyway, after a while, he began calling me “Abu Gardeen”. When I asked why, he told me that he could see my soul, and it was the soul of a Gardeen…their word for Guardian. I honestly didn’t want to leave those people. I had come to care a great deal for them…even cherish them. When I did, I left a cluster of crying children and their mothers bidding me safe travels, and fathers with a “what do we do now” look in their eyes. He pulled a chain from under his tee shirt. On the chain was a small agate pendant with a gold bezel and finely etched Arabic writing on it. “Allah protect the guardian Curtis” he read aloud. It was a gift from all the people in that village.”

“I felt a sort of vindication. It was as if all those childhood fantasies had primed me for my life’s mission. Then my mission changed. I wasn’t a “Gardeen” anymore…and I missed that sense of purpose.”

“When I left the service and became a civilian again, I built this humble abode and kept track of my warrior brothers. Eventually, we discovered a common passion. So, we cooked up this militia idea, only more Bruce Wayne-ish than Bubba and the Wifebeaters.”

“I guess what I’m saying is…Cuz, you are part of a lifelong dream of mine. Not only am I protecting family…I’m seeing to it that the world is taken care of, too.” He paused briefly. A broad, satisfied smile spread across his face. “Yep, that is so arrogant and narcissistic as to be comical. But it’s real, Cuz. It’s real. Thank you.”

“I don’t want combat on my front porch, but I won’t turn from it, either. What happens next is on them.” He concluded, grim resolve returning to his face.

Combat? Melanie thought. “Don’t we have any other recourse? Can’t the police, or the FBI or somebody like that help us?” She asked, taking them by surprise.

“Well…strictly speaking, we ARE using law enforcement,” he answered, “it’s just that Avery can’t make it official. Ya see, politics infects everything it gets close to. He may be sheriff, but he answers to politicians on the town counsel, as well as county officials, some of which are not worth the air they waste. No doubt, every one of them would jump at the chance to be the politician who handed over the miracle…or you, James. It would be a career maker. Never forget…with very few exceptions…like Avery…we scrape our elected officials from the bottom of the “rotten” barrel.”

“I have read comments from prominent national politicians who are calling for you to be prosecuted for conspiracy to commit mass murder. That paints a big ol’ public target on your back, so there will be no help from them…in fact, I’m pretty sure Uncle Scam helped his good buddy Big Pharma find you.”

“Even the media is trying to color you “bad”. You’d think that the good of all mankind would inspire some honesty from them…but no…not even close. Ever since Walter Cronkite won the Vietnam War, the media has coronated themselves our national conscience, whether we like it or not. Fear, mayhem, death and destruction is their stock-intrade, not hope and faith.”

“No…right now, Cuz…you are both a hero and a pariah.”

It was abundantly clear that Curtis held little regard for politicians, or the news media. On several occasions, he proclaimed that corrupt politicians, with the aid of an agenda-driven corrupt news media, were the “domestic” enemy he had vowed to defend the People and the Constitution from. They were proving it, now.

“Melanie, could you and Matt put an info-bomb together, alerting the world to our peril, and what the bogeys are up to?” he asked.

“Um…sure, no problem.” She replied. Her perspectives on government and society, in general, were undergoing uncomfortable changes. Her fears were gradually changing to rage. She began to perceive her roll in this fight.

“Cool…I’ll have him come by and get you.” Matt had a secure communications room in his oversized tornado shelter that would make the techiest of geeks drool. Conveniently, his ranch was next to Curtis’.

Sharon and Melanie exited the barn just as Matt pulled up in his white Ford pickup. “Oh…that’s right, you haven’t met Matt, have you?” she teased. “Hon, get ready to meet the hunkiest man you’ll ever see. I mean this boy, puts Tom Selleck to shame…and I mean the Quigley Down Under Tom.”

Waving across the barnyard, she went on “When Curtis first introduced us, I ‘bout fell over myself. Such a pretty man…and so damned honest, too.” She mused, “Let me tell you what he did, though. It’ll blow you away.” She continued, “I’d known him for a couple weeks. We had exchanged some looks, then one day while I was grooming Roy, he came into the barn and declared that I was the most beautiful woman he had ever met.” A genuine blush of modesty crossed her face. “He then proclaimed his undying friendship and loyalty to Curtis, and even though he had feelings for me, he would never betray his friend. He said that if I was the one for Curtis, he was genuinely happy for his friend. Then he added…but if that isn’t the case…well…” Since then, a more perfect gentleman cannot be found. He even told Curtis what he had said to me. You’d think that would be an issue, but it never has been. Curtis even had Matt drive me all the 52 way to Houston…for three days…for a medical procedure. Ya wanna know trust? There it is.”

Melanie melted under Matt’s steel blue eyes.

“You’re James’ girlfriend? Howdy, I’m Matt. Pleased to meet ya.” He said, leaving no doubt…he had no intentions of messing with another man’s woman. Not even flirting. He didn’t need to. Every eligible woman…and some that weren’t…had their sights set on him. He’d had a sizzling relationship once before but got badly burned. His focus was elsewhere, for now. Someday, perhaps?