Retribution Road Jon Coon (best android ereader TXT) 📖

When they opened the doors into the paneled conference room with its high-back leather chairs and trophy heads on the walls, Senator Benson stood beside a chair with its back to the table. Emily, Paul, and Angelica were seated. The table was set with platters of brisket, beans, corn, and fresh bread. Not the funeral fare Carol expected.

“What’s going—” Carol began.

“We have something to share,” Paul said.

Carol felt a knot rising in her stomach and looked at Gabe for reassurance. She got none.

“It’s not that, Mom. We’re not—”

“Sorry. Please go on.” Her relief was evident.

“We have a plan, and it’s a good one. There’s a scuba shop in Austin that trains dive instructors. I’ve gotten a job there, and I can work off most of the tuition while Angelica is in school getting her nursing credentials. They have a great police science program, and we can travel in summer and make enough to pay our own bills while I finish. We want to come home long enough to fix up Dad’s truck, but then I want to come back here and be a Ranger, like Grandpa and his dad. I can dive like Gabe and carry on our family traditions.”

He waited.

Angelica went next. “I know you don’t know me well, but I love Paul, and I promise I will never do anything to hurt him. He’s asked me to marry him, and I said yes, but not until he had a plan we could both commit to. We’re going to wait a year to make certain this is right, and then we will marry. If you agree.”

“He’s young,” Carol said.

“I’m four years older, but I’ve been on my own since I was fifteen. Trust me, please. I wouldn’t be doing this if I had any doubts.”

“Paul, what about you?”

“I’m all in, Mom. This is what I want, and Angelica is the one I want to share it with.”

“Are you planning to live together in Austin?”

“We found a loft with two bedrooms. I’ll get a job as a nurse’s aide or LPN. Paul will be working in the dive shop. We can afford it if we’re careful. I’m Catholic, so it’s separate beds until we marry.”

“It does sound like a plan,” Gabe said, offering his hand. “Congratulations, Paul. I’m sure you will do well.”

“I agree,” Carol said. “I think the two of you will make a great marriage. Angelica, welcome to our family. I couldn’t be happier.” She wrapped Angelica in a warm hug.

Bob Benson smiled. “Congratulations to you both. Paul, when you’re ready, I might still know someone in the Rangers, and I’ll be happy to write that letter for you. Angelica, I’ve got your paperwork processing. As you know, it’s a long process, but we’re going to be proud to have you as an American citizen. After everything you did to help us, it’s the least we can do. Now I think there’s just one more little thing before we hit that barbecue.” He spun the chair to face the table.

“Wasn’t that one hell of a show?” Captain Tom Bright said, then laughed heartily. His arm was in a sling and stitches ran across his right temple. He’d been ridden hard and put away wet, but his smile was undamaged, and he was still able to hold a cigar in one hand and a double shot in the other.

Carol shrieked. “You ass!” She ran to hug him. “Where have you been?”

“In a cow pasture in a coma for while. Bob’s guys found me talking to a fence post. Not a bad conversationalist actually. Better than the soccer ball in that Tom Hanks movie.” He winked at his family, all of whom appeared torn between disbelief and jubilation, between confusion and hilarity.

“Anyway, I just got out of the hospital. Things are still a little fuzzy, but the doc says I’ll be back in the saddle in a week or two.” Tom looked at his daughter, and his face sobered. “Bob told me what you did. Darlin’, if that works, you should get the Nobel Peace prize. I’m really proud of you.” He looked again to the faces around the room. “All of you.”

“It has to work, Dad. It just has to. And one more thing,” she said, through tears. “This guy and I are getting married. Today if possible. We’ve waited long enough, and I want his boots under my bed before you drag him off on any more of your crazy missions and you both go out in a blaze of glory like Butch and Sundance.”

“And if I have to put up with the two of you driving me nuts and scaring me half to death every time you’re out of my sight, I at least deserve some of the benefits. And I don’t mean next week.”

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