Chapter 1 #2
“Smart move.” Shay nodded then gathered their used plates to throw away, then he put the food in the nearly empty refrigerator. He secretly watched Tony as he had to use the table to rise up, and then steady himself. “You okay there?”
“Yeah, I stiffened up while I sat. I should be good.”
“How are you going to drive if you stiffen up?”
“It’s just driving, I won’t be lifting boxes and shifting like I have when I am packing. I’ll be calling Erin Riceman to tell her when I’m leaving, and that I will take three days to get there. She knows all about my medical challenges and is going to work with me.”
“What if someone doesn’t have a medical challenge? Can they still work at this place?”
“I’m sure you can, I already mentioned it to you, as long as you pass the background check, and are willing to do the work, then you should be fine.” Tony studied the older man and cocked his head to the side. “What are you thinking?”
“Nothing.”
“Shay? You may have been my commanding officer while I was in The Guard, and since the accident we’ve become friends, I see the wheels turning in your head, what are you thinking? Do you not want me to talk to Erin about you coming to Colorado after you retire?”
“No, it’s not that, I was thinking that with you gone, I won’t have anything to do in my free time.
There is a horse ranch a few miles outside of town, what if I went to them and asked them to teach me about horses?
This might be my ego talking, but I do not want to arrive at a horse ranch to work and not know the difference from one piece of equipment to another.
” He looked at Tony and scowled. “What?”
“I’m sure that’s a good idea, but that’s how I’m going in.
” His chuckle turned into a full-blown laugh as he explained.
“I know the end with the teeth is where the food goes in, and the end with the tail is where it comes out. Other than that, I know nothing about horses. I was reassured by Ramos, Lloyd, and Erin that by the end of my first week there I would learn a lot. I’m actually looking forward to learning.
I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to ride a horse, but I will clean up after them the best of my ability. ”
“Well, good luck, as for riding, I think I’m going to check out that horse ranch down the road and talk to them about it.
If they don’t allow it, I’ll see if they know of anyone who can teach me.
I’m sure Ramos can point you in the right direction to go to someone to help you.
Maybe that physical therapist can help you.
Speaking of, do you happen to have all your medical records? ”
“I do, it cost me an arm and a leg, but I have a physical copy, and my doctor told me that whenever I get a new one, have them reach out and get an electronic copy. I’m good in that department.
Oh, and per instructions from both Ramos and Berry, I sent a physical copy of all my records to Erin Riceman. ”
“And your meds?”
“I’ve filled them a couple of days ago, but with the doctor’s help, I’ve been weaning myself off most of the pain meds.
I only take them now if I can’t relax after going to bed.
You know, if I cramp. It’s been about two weeks since my last dose.
I’ll probably take a couple tonight when I go to bed with all the packing I’ve done today, but I’ll wait until I actually settle to see if I need them. ”
“What time are you picking up the truck?”
“At eleven, then I have to come home and load everything. I have a military cot that I used in the tent when we went out on our monthly retreats, I’ll sleep on that so I can pack up my bedroom, because I want to get on the road the next day.”
“Okay, I’m just making sure you’re doing okay and that you’ll have everything you need before you leave.”
“I’m good, and thank you for looking out for me.”
The two men worked until ten that night, then Shay left to go to his own home.
True to his word, Tony took his pain medication after his shower, and by the time he was ready for bed, they relaxed him enough to get a good night’s sleep.
The next day, just before he headed out to go pick up the rental truck, Shay arrived with two other men.
“What’s going on?”
“We’re going with you. Or rather, I am,” Shay said.
“While we’re gone, tell these guys what needs to be packed, and they will break down your bed.
When we return, we will pack your truck, and I have other guys coming over to help.
” When it looked like Tony was going to argue, Shay shook his head.
“Let me, these are men in my current unit. They know about your situation with Burrows. I know if you and Ramos ever found out I use your accident as training on what not to do, you’d kick my ass.
I still feel guilty that I didn’t Article 92 Burrows’ ass sooner than I did.
That I didn’t take your word for it when you first brought it to my attention.
If I had, then none of what the two of you went through would have happened. ”
“Commander, no matter when you issued the Article 92, Burrows would have found a way to get to myself and Ramos. He was a vindictive entitled little shit that thought he could get away with anything because his father was a Senator. Look where they all are now.”
“Where?” one of the two guys asked.
“Caleb Burrows, Jr. is dead, when he messed with our parachutes he packed his like he always did and it never opened. We jumped from a plane, while Ramos was fast in repairing ours mid-flight, he did nothing to his, thinking he was always right. We slammed into the side of the mountain, he landed flat on the ground. They literally had to shovel the dirt around him to pack him in the body bag.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah, he was an entitled little shit that is now dead because of that way of thinking. His father is in prison, and god only knows where his mother is. Thank God she got away when she could. I hope she’s happy now that she’s not married to that asshole any longer.
” Tony looked at Shay with a raised brow.
“No clue, my priority was you and Ramos, I dealt with that, while the authorities dealt with Burrows and the after effects.” They nodded and after Tony gave the two guys instructions on what to finish packing, and the bed to be dismantled, he and Shay went to get the rental truck.
Later that afternoon, ten more men had arrived and that was when Tony realized the two men had called and had the others in their National Guard unit come over to help.
Apparently, Tony and Marcia were some sort of legend that survived what they did, and the men wanted to get to meet him.
Tony could only shake his head thinking that he was no hero, nor was he a legend.
He was just a man that had done his job the correct way, and some entitled little shit came along and fucked it up for everyone.
Now he had to deal with the consequences of that entitlement.
His only hope was that once he arrived in Colorado, all his medical issues and challenges wouldn’t cost him a job before he even started it.