Chapter Seventy-seven

 

 

…If I make it home, I’m going to marry her…

 

As the new Mr. and Mrs. Darcy stepped out into the bright sunshine under showers of birdseed and well-wishers’ cheers, the paparazzi pressed in, snapping pictures. Pushing their way through the crowd, David and Cecilia made it to the limo waiting to take them to the reception. They would spend an hour or two there before heading off to the airport for an undisclosed honeymoon destination. Georgiana smiled as she stood and waved goodbye—her heart swelling with joy. Both of her brothers were now married.

As she watched David and her new sister drive away, Georgiana’s mind again drifted to a young Marine somewhere in the world, wondering where he was and what he was doing at that exact moment. Reaching into her purse, she caressed his bundle of letters she always kept close. As long as they were with her, so was he.

Suddenly she felt an urgency to pray, as if he were in danger. Quickly she stopped and lifted him up in prayer. She wondered if that was God speaking to her as this was not the first time this strange phenomenon had occurred, and regardless of the time or place, whenever the strange feeling hit, she would pray. Then, just as suddenly as it had come, the feeling was gone. She shrugged and cleared her mind.

“Georgiana. Georgiana!”

“Benson!” she turned to see her cousin’s smiling face.

“Sorry to have frightened you. You seemed lost in thought.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just daydreaming, I suppose.”

“Shall I walk you to the car, or would you like to walk back to the hotel since it’s such a beautiful day?”

“Well, since you asked, I think I’d rather walk. It’s not too far, and you’re right. It is a lovely day,” she said with a smile. “What did you think of the wedding?”

Benson laughed, placing Georgiana’s hand on the crook of his arm. “I’m still in shock. I never thought he’d settle down, but I must admit, he couldn’t have picked a woman more suited to him.” Benson sighed. “David is married. Fitzwilliam is married. William is getting married. That just leaves me and you, Georgie.” As they walked down the steps of the church, he told his father that he and Georgiana would walk to the reception.

“Well, what about you and Cynthia? She’s a nice girl and very pretty, too. And I dare say, I think she might like you.” Georgiana squeezed his arm.

“Yes, I know she does, but I don’t know,” Benson said, as they leisurely walked side by side down Church Street. “I’ve never had David’s attitude about marriage, but I can’t say I’m eager for a ring on my finger, either. As far as Cynthia goes, well… she’s let me know in no uncertain terms that she is the marrying kind and that I needn’t expect her to live anywhere in between.”

“Umm… Benson, how did you feel about that?” Georgiana and Cynthia had been friends for years, and she knew very well how Cynthia felt about marriage and sex. She also knew that Cynthia cared deeply for her cousin.

He shook his head. “I’m not ready for marriage, and yet, I respect her. I’ll have to see. I’m twenty-seven. I have a successful job, plenty of money. I just don’t know. We’ve been dating off and on for six months, and honestly, I can’t see myself married to anyone else but her.”

“Then you have your answer, Cousin. No one says you have to announce an engagement anytime soon. Just date.”

“Georgiana,” Benson chuckled, “you don’t understand. A man needs more from a relationship than just good company. That’s why we haven’t had a steady commitment.”

“I’m not as naive as you think. I do know that if what you’ve just told me is how you really feel, then I would suggest that you tell Cynthia, and see what she thinks.” She studied him for a moment. “Benson, perhaps you are ready for marriage. I mean, what’s the point? If the two of you love each other, then why would you want to wait? She’s out of school and settled into her career. You’re one of the richest men in Britain. Figure out what you want and tell her.”

He looked down at his cousin just as they turned the corner onto Broad Street. “When did you grow up to be so smart? You’re absolutely right. I’ve played the field for years with David, but now I don’t want to be with anyone else but her, so maybe it is time we talked about the future. I’ll ring her tomorrow morning and see her as soon as we’re back in London.”

They walked in silence until the hotel came in sight. Glancing at his cousin, he asked, “What about you? Are there any prospects in your life?”

She tightened her grip on his arm. “Yes, there is someone. I met him a year and a half ago at Fitzwilliam’s wedding.”

“Elizabeth’s brother?”

“Yes, Elizabeth’s brother. We’ve been corresponding, but I haven’t heard from him since he went on special assignment. I reread his letters every night, and I pray for his safe return.”

“David told me about the way the two of you looked at each other.” He glanced at his cousin. “Georgie, I don’t want to see you get hurt. Are you sure about this? I mean, he’s a Marine. Not only is his job dangerous, but they are notorious for wild living—drinking and partying.”

She smacked his arm and laughed. “Like you and David! I’d say he’s just like any other man then, so why is it different if he’s interested in me? Why am I different?”

“Well, you’re…you’re my cousin, and—”

“I’m no different from Cynthia. That’s the trouble with brothers and cousins. You have one standard for me and another for your girlfriends.”

“Point taken, and it gives me a different perspective on Cynthia. I’ll think about it.” Turning the curve into the Lawton parking lot, he said, “Well, we’re here. After the reception, let’s take the horse-drawn carriage tour of the city. I’d like to see the attractions and talk a little more.”

She looked up and smiled. “I’d like that very much.”

They walked inside and headed towards the dining hall where David and Cecilia were waiting, along with William and Mandy and Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam.

 

Afghanistan

 

The day broke cold and miserable over the mountains as a cruel wind whipped through the camp. A small group of Marines huddled around a fire, smoking cigarettes and rubbing their hands together, trying to get warm.

“Bennett, you were careless last night. You’re gonna get your damn head blown off. What’s wrong with you lately?”

“I don’t know what your problem is, Bailey. I figure we’re even now. Last week, I picked that raghead bastard off of you just as he was about to slit your throat. You, me, and Butler—we’re a team. That’s what we do—cover each other’s asses.”

“Yeah, that’s what’s worrying me. We’ve been cutting it awfully close lately. I’m afraid one of us, maybe all of us, ain’t gonna make it back this time. The further we go up into these Godforsaken mountains, the more dangerous it gets. It’s not like it was in Iraq when we were taking out insurgents. These guys are better trained and more determined—and deadly. One of us is gonna get killed.”

Butler cut his eyes across at his companion as he took another drag off his cigarette. “Shut up, Bailey! I don’t want to hear that talk. I have a wife and a baby at home. I’m going to make it outa here.”

“We’ve been out here for six friggin’ months, Butler, and we’re no closer to finding their central command than the first day we arrived. We’ve lost two lieutenants and a half a dozen enlisted men. It’s so damned cold it would freeze the wart off a well digger’s ass in Utah. You can see your breath with every word uttered. Even the horses struggle with this bitter cold. When is this gonna end?”

“It’ll end when we get our man. He’s up there. It’s our job to find him…and find him we will. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m taking my coffee back to my tent. I’ve got some things to look over before we head out today. Have the horses saddled. We’re going out in an hour,” Bennett said as he put out his cigarette and grabbed a cup of coffee. Coffee. It wasn’t good, but at least it was hot.

Once in the confines of his tent, he pulled out the reconnaissance maps they’d gotten from last night’s spy planes. Poring over the maps, he jabbed his finger at one particular mountain range. …He’s there—there in those caves or those clefts in the rocks. I know he is. We’ve just got to find him.

As Joseph sat studying the map, his mind drifted to last night. It had been close—too close. Had it not been for Bailey, he wouldn’t be sitting here today studying this map at all. Returning to camp from a scouting expedition, he’d wandered a little further than he should have. Georgiana Darcy had been on his mind. While he’d been lost in his thoughts, an Afghan scout had crept up behind him and had been about to fire when Bailey appeared out of nowhere, putting a forty-five round right between the young man’s eyes. The cracking sound of the revolver had shaken Joseph to the core.

When he’d recovered his wits enough to get up off the ground, he’d walked to where the body lay and rolled the young man over. What he saw sickened him. It had been a boy—a boy no more than fourteen or maybe fifteen—younger than his baby brother. That was the thing that stuck in his craw. These people would use children to fight, and if he didn’t fight back, these children would kill him just as dead as if they’d been men. Sometimes, children as young as ten had attacked his group. He thanked God he’d never had to kill a child, but others had. This was war.

He shook his head. That was why he hadn’t wanted to become involved with Georgiana. She’d almost gotten him killed last night. Bailey didn’t know about her. No one knew. But Bailey did know he wasn’t his usual sharp self. Bennett let out a rough breath as he took another sip of coffee. He had to get a grip. He had to push Georgiana Darcy deep down inside of himself, or there would be no future for them. Still, before he went out today, he would pull out her letters and reread them. He smiled. …She must be praying for me. Somebody is—somebody was last night.

After he’d read the last letter, he bundled them together and tucked them safely away in his breast pocket, and then folded the map and put it back in his map-sack. Today they would scout the eastern side of this mountain range, looking for one more piece to the puzzle…one more clue.