Jacob(25)
Jacob sat in an overstuffed recliner and swirled the amber liquid. “Frank, I need to tell you, we’ve been placed on alert. There’s a situation that could get ugly fast. Another team is attempting a remedy, but the reality is we could be called at any time. Will you, Keelee, and Danny be able to handle the work?”
Weather-worn and toughened hands held the liquor in the fancy crystal goblet. “Yep, we got a couple of the Koehler boys that we typically hire through the winter to help with the heavy lifting and calving come the spring. Danny will be back from visiting his brother the day after tomorrow. Don’t get concerned about us; we’re more than capable of getting by. Not like I’m destitute here.”
Chief finished his cognac in one swallow. “Skipper, I’m heading out. Mr. Marshall.”
Jacob and Frank nodded as Chief headed toward the kitchen.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes back here permanently, Frank.”
Frank grunted out a chuckle. “He would be welcome. He’s a good man. But I don’t see him leaving you until you stop being active in operations. Each one of them would lay down his life for you.”
“As would I for them.” Jacob filled his glass again and reached over refilling Frank’s. “We’re the best at what we do.”
Frank nodded. “I can tell. You’ve never taken a day off from physical conditioning except for the days you’re working the herd. I watch you talk with hand signals. A look or even the way your body is tensed conveys meaning to them. They are as much a part of you as Victoria is. As long as she can deal with what’s coming—the separation, the anxiety, and the not knowing… you two will be fine. More worried about Keelee and Adam.”
“Tori still has her demons to slay, Frank. The doc she’s been seeing is good. He recommended a colleague in the DC area. I’ll make sure she is safe and has the continued medical support she needs.”
They sat in silence for a while before Jacob looked at him and smiled a knowing smile nodding towards the kitchen as he puffed on his cigar. “Keelee and Adam? That may be a real rough ride, Frank, best put on the spurs and hunker down. Those two are fire and gasoline.”
The old man chuckled and puffed on his cigar. “Shit son, I been ready to ride that bronc since the first night they saw each other. When do you think those two idiots will figure it out?”
“Honestly sir, I wonder if they will. Some don’t.” Jacob threw the stub of his cigar into the fireplace. “I, on the other hand, am marrying your daughter as soon as we land in DC. I have a license and Doc has already sent in the blood tests. We can do a big wedding later. I’m not going overseas without her as my wife. My new will has already been drawn up and she’ll be taken care of if I make a mistake.” He looked at Frank. “For your information, I don’t tend to do that. Make mistakes.” Jacob finished his cognac and placed the glass on the ornate silver tray. “Been batting around an idea I need to run by you sir. Would you consider allowing other teams and operatives from our company to use the ranch as a recovery site?”
Frank pulled on his cigar and considered the ash as he blew out the smoke. “Yep. That would be acceptable.”
“We’ll pay you for the land and if they are physically able, they will help around the ranch like we have. I was also wondering if you would allow us to put up a small clinic for those who need more intensive assistance.”
The old cowboy took a deep breath and leaned forward in his chair resting his forearms over his thighs. He looked over at Jacob. “I got plenty of land. Make you a fair price or a long term lease. I’m assuming your boss would want it that way. The clinic is a good idea, but it should be a hospital—two or three beds. We would need an airstrip to negate the need to go into the city—for privacy and immediacy. The pasture to the east would work for that, it is damn near flat, little to no grading required. A firing range can be built over the hill behind the house and you should have a gym for rehabbing those who are injured. You pay for the supplies and labor, I’ll get it done. Have to wait till spring now. Snow’s too deep to start any construction but we can work the plans. I’ll do that and send it on to you.”
Jacob looked at him, his eyes narrowing in thought. “Yes sir. Gabriel, my boss, told me he would have his lawyers contact you to work that out.” Jacob scratched his chin, “Just what in the hell did you do in your previous life?”
Frank shrugged casually. “Me? Hell son, I’m just a rancher. Just an ole’ cowpoke.”
Jacob watched Victoria walk up the stairs and stood. Looking over at the man, he shook his head. “Just an ole’ cowpoke huh? Well, we both know that is an outright lie, now don’t we, Major?”
He nodded to the older man and walked up the stairs to the woman he loved. He paused on the upper landing when he heard Frank’s voice coming softly from the room below.
Tori’s father gazed at the portrait of his wife above the fireplace. “Well, Elizabeth, we got the wild one settled. Now what are we going to do with your first born?”
Jacob didn’t think those words were meant for his ears and silently made his way to Tori’s room.
Chapter Fourteen
Jacob fell to the barn floor and started pumping out push-ups with a growled, “Grind them out boys. Five hundred.” Frank looked up from the bridle he was mending and glanced at his watch, shaking his head. Jacob grinned. The bet last night at the dinner table must have energized his team. He, Doc, and Chief had pushed through their run and finished in record time, but the wonder twins still beat them to the barn. The four men immediately face planted and without hesitation began pumping out the compressions. Amazement slowly covered Frank’s features as they synchronized the beat and never slowed down. The men’s breathing became more labored and the veins in their necks bulged, but the rhythm never varied.
“You’re a masochistic bunch. Back in my day this type of physical training didn’t happen,” Frank snorted as he watched Jacob jump to the chin up bar they had installed. “Can’t say I’m sorry, either.”
“Two hundred in sets of twenty. Rotate through doing sit-ups in-between your turn.” The four men hit the floor and started pumping out sit-ups in rhythm as Jacob did his set of pull-ups, Doc leapt to the bar as Jacob hit the floor automatically synchronizing with the exertion of the rest of the team. Chief followed Doc and then Dixon and Drake rotated onto the chin-up bar. It took about twenty minutes for the entire team to cycle through the required exercises. When they were through, they were awash in sweat despite the frigid South Dakota temperatures.
Jacob’s voice rang out over the winded gasps from the men. “Alright, listen up. We are on standby. Bravo team is trying to negate a crumbling situation in the Kapisa Province. The primaries have been compromised.”
Three of his men knew exactly where the province was. They had been there once before. It was the God-forsaken land where Kurt, their first field medic had been killed, the only teammate they had ever lost. The savagery of the hostiles in the area demanded attention.
“We have obtained Fury’s services and Jason has established a civilian aircraft exit strategy for the primary and his family, but that may be impossible. The area is extremely hostile and there are no known friendlies. Intel is spotty at best. I anticipate a rescue mission for the primaries by Bravo team.”
Chief cleared his throat and spoke when Jacob acknowledged him. “Skipper, it has been a long time since Fury has been engaged in a rescue operation. Is there a need for his special talents?”
Jacob nodded. “Yes. The new Islamic terrorist group ISIS has taken over the area. His extensive knowledge of the terrorist organization is essential. He is dropping into the area in advance of the mission. As of today, the responsible nation has not made a commitment so Guardian has not been officially engaged for his direct participation. Fury will drop just beyond Mahmud-e-Raqi to the north and will work to stabilize the landing zone. If a determination is made, his unique skill set will be used behind the scenes to neutralize several targets. That will facilitate our swift resolution of the situation.”
“Drake, Dixon you’ll be loadmasters to ensure the C-17 landing strategy works. We’ll need the most bang for our buck. Nothing is packed unless it is essential and has multiple uses. The more weight that bird carries the longer the runway needed to launch. I don’t have to tell you five hundred feet in a hostile LZ can mean the difference between life and death. I want high reward explosives, but they must be stable so we can run with them through unforgiving terrain and they must tolerate the climate. Digital triggering devices are required so we can remotely detonate. Complete packs for all men, provisions, demolitions, hand-to-hand implements and enough ammo to last through one hell of a firefight. However, I want no more than sixty pound rucks per man.”
The twins nodded. “Got it, Skipper,” was the response in unison.
“Chief, we need satellite comms and encryption that will confuse the fuck out of the towel heads. I need enough power to be heard, but not enough to be found. Set up our GPS to military specifications. I want locations to the centimeter and set crypto keys to synchronize the passive alert so we can find each other on our frequency. Bounce the rotation of the frequency so we can’t be hacked.”