The Colonel's Daughter (13 page)

For a brief moment, Dallas thought about asking Monsignor Augustine for his blessing to get to know Abby in a more amorous way but there was no time to explain things and he could not jeopardize the focus of his mission any more than he already had.

“Thank you, sir.” Dallas shook his aged hand.

* * * * *

Abby sat in the passenger’s seat of the borrowed vehicle as she went over unanswered questions in her mind.

Dallas weaved through traffic with his eyes fixed on the road. He focused on getting the package to its destination, mindful of the importance of the contents.

“Doesn’t it seem interesting that my father would tell that old priest that the sign was supposed to be this necklace…and that I was supposed to be wearing it? What if I wasn’t wearing it? What if I never visited that church? It just doesn’t make much sense to me.”

“Those are just a bunch of what-ifs. Your father gave me specific instructions to give you that necklace and to make sure you wore it. I just thought he was being sentimental after all he was getting beat almost daily…besides, I follow instructions from my Commanding Officers no matter what my personal opinions are.” He spoke over the traffic and engine noise.

“You’re right…besides…it’s almost impossible to figure my father out. My mom always thought he was so reckless. To me, he’s brave, not afraid to die, and he’s damn good at what he does!” Abby began to sob. “I feel like I’ve lost my dad.”

Dallas stopped the car at a red light. He leaned towards Abby, kissed her neck and whispered in her ear, “Don’t cry. I’ll do everything I can to get you your father back. I promise. Just don’t cry.”

He put the car in gear and continued his focused driving. Abby sniffled, lowered the visor, looked at her teary eyes in the tiny mirror and dried them with her hands. They arrived at Fort Sam Houston and headed straight for the General’s office with the steel brief case.

* * * * *

Javi walked up to the glass door to the conference room and barely limped. He wore a band-aid on his forehead. Taking notice of Dallas and Abby sitting next to one another while waiting for the General, he waved, “Dallas,” motioning for him to step outside.

“Hey what’s up man?” Dallas shook his hand, “You look fantastic!” Then realized his partner was not as happy to see him.

“You weren’t supposed to go anywhere without me. What is this I hear you were parading this girl outside the city? Your detail reported back to me.” And in a whisper he said, “They saw you kissing her.”

“What? You and the General had guys following me. What the hell, bro?”

“What were you thinking, Dallas?” Javi shook his head in disbelief.

“Hey listen, we got those codes back safely. That’s all that matters. The fact that I really like this girl has nothing to do with it.”

“Are you insane? The fact that you like this girl is wrong on so many levels. Not to mention the fact that her father was your Commanding Officer who happens to be hostage to a terrorist right now. He entrusted his daughter to you. How do you think he’s going to take this? He sends you out to protect her life and you take advantage of it. You went completely against protocol. You’re damn lucky you got those codes back.” Javi looked down at the ceramic tiled floor unable to look at Dallas in the eyes.

Dallas’s face turned dismal. He pivoted about and slowly marched back into the conference room. Javi took a side door exit and gripped the stairway railing in frustration. The turmoil within him had his emotions on edge. He was convinced that the attraction between Dallas and Abigail did not compare to what he was experiencing with his own affection towards Jasmine. He reasoned that he should not regret having been tough on Dallas.

Dallas took a seat across from Abby at the large oval conference room table. Abby studied Dallas’s somber look and noticed that his gaze focused inward. She wondered what Javi must have told him to have Dallas radically change his demeanor. The General arrived along with some Special Forces team members. Javi entered the room and sat next to the General.

“Dallas.” General Brown rubbed his palms.

“Sir.” His face remained dismal.

“Pack your satchel. You’re paying another visit to the sand. We got Intel on Shahrivar and Colonel Johnston’s location. I need you to lead this rescue mission. I’m giving you a team of seasoned men. It’s time to redeem yourself against those bastards that took you down.”

“General,” Javi interjected.

General Brown gave Javi his right to speak. Even though he was familiar with Javi’s many accomplishments throughout a long military career, nothing Javi could say would convince the General to let him go on the mission.

“With all due respect, General, you got me all fixed up just so I can sit back and not take part in the rescue mission?”

“Now Captain Santos, you know you’re like a son to me. You have earned my respect and the respect of my men who would follow you to hell and back if you asked them to. I got you fixed up because you deserve it Captain, not so I can send you back out in the sand. You’ve just been through a bomb blast in a location where most of the men died. I’m going to order you to take some time off.”

“Sir, I assure you, I’m fine.”

“My order stands, Captain.”

“Yes sir.” Javi hung his head.

“Young lady,” General Brown looked at Abigail. “Be a good girl and stay at the guest house and let us bring your father back.”

“That is all.” The General stood up, “Dallas meet me in my office at fifteen hundred for a briefing.”

“Yes sir.” Dallas stood and saluted General Brown. Not once did he glance at Abby. He made no eye contact the entire meeting.

She walked slowly out of the conference room hoping he would approach her but he exited as if she were invisible. Abby walked briskly past a few soldiers who were escorting the codes to an undisclosed location. She ran down the outside stairwell and caught site of Dallas at the parking lot.

“Dallas!” She called out against the wind. Stray strands of hair blew wildly around her face.

Dallas stopped but didn’t turn around. She sprinted to catch up.

“Are you purposely ignoring me?” Abby tucked strands of hair behind her ear.

Dallas folded his arms in silence then drew a breath.

“Why won’t you look at me?”

“Listen, I’ve been asked to lead an important mission. I promised you I would help get your father back and I intend to keep that promise. I’m focusing on that right now. What else do you want from me?”

“What’s the matter with you? It’s like you’re a different person.” She squinted.

“Quit imagining things, alright? You heard the General…now go on back to the guest house.” He pointed.

“You’re being a jerk.”

“I’m risking my life for your father,” he flung both arms in the air bringing his hands to his chest, “And I’m being a jerk?”

“Yes!”

“Do you have any idea how I am supposed to face Colonel Johnston? Am I just gonna go in there, kill the insurgents…then grab your father…and tell him…hello Colonel, I’m here to rescue you and by the way I’m in love with your daughter! He trusted me with you. I severed that trust.”

“I think you’re wrong, Dallas. My father would do anything to see me happy.”

“You know…I don’t even fear those insurgents…I fear your father.”

Abby took a step closer while on her tippy toes, she put her hands on his triceps and leaned her face to his, almost touching.

“Don’t do this, Abby don’t draw me in like this. I cannot show any sign of weakness. I’m commanding seasoned men. They’re looking to me now.”

“A lot of those men have wives and girlfriends. If they saw us they would understand.” She heaved a sigh. “So I’m your weakness? Why can it be that you draw strength from us? I know I do…and…I think my father would be happy to see his daughter in love.”

“It’s not just your father. These guys,” he paused, “Like Javi for example…they don’t think that way.” He looked at her intently while licking his lips.

Batting her eyes, she puckered her lips as he drew closer.

With a racing pulse, he looked around, “You’re right, I can handle those guys.” And exhaling, “C’mon, I’ll walk with you.”

He marched by her side to the guesthouse. Locking the bedroom door behind them, he brought her body against his. She grabbed his shirt and pulled it off over his head as she glided her fingertips down his abdomen and unbuckled his pants. He raised her shirt, slowly kissing her breasts. Taking her into his arms, he lowered her onto the bed. She wrapped her legs around his bare muscular back, pressing her chest against his.

“You’re tense.” Abby whispered.

“I’m nervous, Abby.” He grunted.

“Me too.”

He kissed her mouth and felt her body rise. He loved her before he met her and when he closed his eyes he hoped that soon he would make things right, and by gaining the consent of her father, he would take her as his wife.

* * * * *

Chapter Six

As night fell, four Chinook helicopters flew to a remote mountainside near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Thirty Special Operation soldiers were inserted into the treacherous terrain several thousand feet above sea level. Dallas was among the special operators ascending towards the established rally point. From the rally point, security teams were set up while Dallas and his group of seven headed towards the target. They stopped within a few hundred yards to study the mud hut then crept forward in pure assault mode.

Colonel Johnston lay shackled with a chain and two padlocks in the east room of the mud hut. Dallas motioned for the first soldier to enter with the LED light. An outside guard took notice but before the guard could fire his weapon, Dallas took him out with his silencer. The rest of the Special Op soldiers followed and they soon filled the mud hut killing the kidnappers.

Dallas approached the ailing Colonel and helped him to his feet. He shot the padlocks at close range releasing the chains from his legs. He placed the Colonel’s left arm over his own shoulder facilitating his walk to the pick-up zone. A Chinook helicopter hovered in the blackness of the night as it lowered the electrically powered rescue hoist.

“You’re going to be alright Colonel!” Dallas shouted as he gripped the cable.

“That was very well executed soldier. Excellent job, you saved my life. I’m proud of you, son.” Colonel Johnston placed his hand on Dallas’s shoulder before being airlifted in the harness.

* * * * *

Javi parked his rental car in a lot full of mini vans and SUV’s. Sounds of children’s voices whisked in the air and bounced off the trees. Javi approached the little league dugout and studied the players noticing a golden curled ponytail popping out of a baseball cap. He turned his gaze towards the wooden bleachers and spotted Jasmine. Jasmine leaped out of her top row seat and clumsily stumbled over people as she made her eager descent. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She flung her arms around his neck. “Never mind, this is the best surprise ever. Come on I want Samantha to see you.”

Jasmine grabbed Javi’s hand and led him towards the dugout fence right behind Samantha’s seat on the bench. Javi placed his hand against the fence inserting his fingers to grab her hair and tugged at her ponytail to get her attention.

Samantha hopped in her seat and shrieked, “Ouch!” She turned around to catch the culprit and jumped out of her seat. “Javi, you made it. You came to see my game!”

The umpire announced the commencement of the game.

“Where can we get some peanuts?” Javi asked.

Jasmine giggled and pointed to the concession stand.

Javi and Jasmine sat among a crowd of parents while cracking shelled peanuts and cheering for Samantha. At the bottom of the seventh inning, Samantha’s team was down by three runs. Samantha was at bat and drew a walk.

Jasmine whispered to Javi, “Look at the coach’s signal. When he tugs at his ear, he’s telling her to steal the base.”

Samantha adjusted her pink batting helmet and fidgeted with her gloves as she looked intently at the coach giving his signal. A pudgy boy wearing glasses that barely fit underneath his batting helmet walked up to the batter’s box ready to swing. The pitcher took his position, lifted one knee in a throwing motion…and Samantha was off. She dashed to second base. The catcher overthrew second and Samantha kept running. She rounded third and slid in at home plate.

“Safe!” The umpire called out.

Javi and Jasmine cheered and whistled as Javi’s cell phone buzzed in his pocket.

“Did you see me? Did you see me?” Samantha called out from the dugout removing her batting helmet.

“That was awesome!” Javi called out ignoring the buzzing phone.

The pudgy boy with glasses drew a walk and trotted to first base. Next at bat began the top of the line-up, which meant the best player on Samantha’s team was in the batter’s box. The coach gave his signal to take the first pitch. The boy obeyed and blew it out of the park to win the game.