Semper Fi (11 page)

They were Marines.

A week later they climbed off the train at New River, North Carolina. The flat, tree-covered expanse of marshland, dotted with wooden huts, seemed to stretch to infinity under the fading light of day. Here they’d learn their fate, and prepare to ship off to wherever the war should take them.

They marched to one end of a rectangular hut, waiting for their names to be called. Once men went in, they must have exited the other side, as none returned. As darkness settled in, Cal wondered if he’d ever see them again.

“Bennett!”

Jim gave Cal a nervous smile, and in that instant, Cal wanted to grab onto him, dig his fingers into Jim’s flesh and hold him close. Instead he extended his hand. “Good luck.”

Squeezing his palm, Jim nodded. “You too. Maybe we’ll see each other once in a while, huh?”

“Maybe.” But they both knew they were being fed into the war machine, with countless companies within regiments that would be spread out across the Pacific. “Take care of yourself.” He still had Jim’s hand in his grasp.

“And you.” Jim looked like he wanted to say something else, and opened his mouth.

“Bennett! James Michael Bennett!”

He pulled away and double-timed it to the hut, disappearing inside. Cal took a deep breath, reminding himself that he’d known they’d be parted. They’d probably both get killed within a year anyway. As the minutes passed he told himself it was for the best not to have a good friend in his company. Just gave him more to lose.

“Cunningham!”

Inside the hut sat a number of desks, each with a man interviewing the arrivals. Cal was pointed to a desk at the far end, and sat in the chair opposite it. Not even glancing up, the man barked a litany of questions: name, serial number and personal details. Cal spoke, and the man recorded his answers, pen scratching across paper.

“All right. First Marines.”

Cal went through the door at the end of the hut, and a sergeant shone his flashlight in Cal’s face. “Well?”

“Uh, First Marines,” Cal answered.

The flashlight beam swung over to a transport truck. It was a cloudy night, and Cal could barely see as he made his way over. There were other trucks and clusters of men, all being sent off to their new companies. He squinted, trying to catch a flash of Jim’s golden hair.

As he neared the truck, the engine roared to life, and Cal hurried to clamber onto the back. A hand reached for his, pulling him up as the truck plodded away over potholes. “Hey, thanks.”

“Anytime.”

Cal blinked as he peered into the darkness. “Jim?”

In the black, he could just make out the gleam of Jim’s teeth. They both laughed, slapping each other on the back as they lurched and dropped onto the wooden bench. Jim leaned in close, and Cal tried to ignore the flare of desire that skipped up his spine. “Looks like you’re stuck with me after all.”

“Looks that way.”

As the truck lumbered off into the night, Cal couldn’t wipe the grin from his face.

Groaning softly, Cal touched himself with a firm grip. A growing callus on his palm gave his strokes a rough edge that sent a shiver up his spine. “Fuck,” he muttered.

He woke almost every morning hard as a rock, aching for Jim. He couldn’t even consider getting up before relieving the pressure. Some nights he couldn’t sleep without jerking off either. He felt like a schoolboy again.

Sitting on the side of the bed with his legs spread, Cal closed his eyes. In his fantasies, Jim came to him with an easy smile and endless kisses. Cal went to his knees for him, sucking him off and swallowing every drop. Jim bent over and took Cal inside, begging for more as Cal slammed into him, hip deep, claiming him. Cal would make Jim scream and swear a blue streak.

Then in the jumble of Cal’s fevered mind, it would be Jim fucking him face to face, Cal’s legs up as Jim kissed him with his thick cock so hot and hard inside. Jim would stretch him, rocking in and out as he took Cal’s dick in his spit-slicked hand, stroking in rhythm with his hips as they pistoned, driving his cock deeper and deeper and—

With a strangled gasp, Cal came over his hand, spraying the wooden floor at his feet. He slumped back on one elbow as he caught his breath. The last time he’d had sex was a few days before leaving New York. He’d met the man in Central Park. No names—quick and mechanical, up against a tree.

Perhaps he needed to go home for a weekend visit and fuck some of the tension away, because at this rate there was no way he’d last until harvest without throwing himself at Jim and ruining everything.

He wiped up his mess with a cloth and rinsed it out in the wash basin he kept on his armoire. After dressing quickly, Cal went downstairs, where Adam was facedown on the kitchen floor, screaming and banging his fists. Jim stood watching, his shoulders slumped.

Cal had no idea what to do. He bent over and awkwardly patted Adam’s back. “Hey, buddy. What’s wrong?”

Adam just wailed louder, squirming away from his touch.

“He wants his mother.” Jim’s voice was flat.

Jesus. “I’m sorry.” He didn’t know what else to say as he stood next to Jim.

As Adam continued screeching, tears streaming down his red face, Jim shook his head and spoke quietly. “He doesn’t understand. I thought maybe…it was bad at first; he was always crying for her. Then he seemed to forget. But there’s nothing I can do.” He took a shaky breath, glancing away. “Not now.”

“There was nothing you could do when it happened either. It was an accident.”

Jim was silent, his arms crossed over his chest.

Cal squeezed Jim’s shoulder. “You listening to me? It wasn’t your fault.”

After running his hand over his face wearily, Jim nodded. “Sorry about the fuss.” He motioned to Adam’s prone form. “He just needs to scream it out when he gets like this. If I try to talk to him or hold him, it just makes it worse.”

“Jim, he’s a kid. This is what they do. Stop beating yourself up—you’re a great father.”

Jim snorted. “If you say so. It doesn’t feel like it much these days. Just look at my son, and Sophie’s…” He shook his head.

“I’ll go talk to her. Don’t worry, I’ll give Mabel a wide berth. And stop feeling guilty for that, too, okay?”

“I just don’t know what I’m doing half the time. Ann made it look so easy.”

“Hell, you’re doing a lot better than I would be. I’d probably give the kid a beer and hope that would quiet him down.”

At this, Jim smiled. “I might consider it in a few minutes.”

With Adam’s howls receding as he walked to the barn, Cal steeled himself to face Sophie. Jim had marched her into Cal’s room to apologize for not teaching him the proper way to milk, and Cal had told her all was forgiven. Since then she hadn’t been rude as she’d been before, but wouldn’t meet Cal’s eyes and clearly tried to avoid him.

Inside the barn, Sophie milked Mabel with practiced ease, her head resting against the cow’s flank. Finnigan lounged nearby, and his tail wagged when he spotted Cal. Sophie was lost in thought, and Cal cleared his throat. “Good morning.”

She leaped up, knocking over her stool. Mabel mooed and Finnigan barked sharply. Cal smiled. “Careful. Don’t want to get on Mabel’s bad side.”

Eyes on the hay-strewn floor, Sophie asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Just thought I’d come down and see how you’re getting on. Your brother’s having a bad morning.”

After a few moments of silence, she spoke. “Oh.”

“Look, I know we got off on the wrong foot, but I’d really like it if we could be friends.”

She glanced at him, her brow furrowed. “Why?”

“Why do I want to be friends?”

Sophie nodded.

“Because you’re my best pal’s daughter, and I’m going to be living here for months. I like you, and I think you’d like me if you gave me a chance.”

“But…”

“Aw, I’m not so bad. I promise.”

“But I am.”

Cal blinked. “What?” He took a few steps closer, and she lowered her head. “You’re not bad.”

“I am!” With her shoulders hunched, she took in a shuddering breath.

“Hey, hey. It’s okay.” Standing before her, he wasn’t sure what to do. “Uh…” Finally he crouched down and tipped her chin up so she’d look at him. Her eyes swam with tears. “Please don’t cry.”

“I was mean to you. But I never meant for anything bad to happen. I swear, I didn’t.”

“I know. Heck, when I was a kid, you should have seen the stuff I pulled with my new nanny. I liked the old one a lot more, and I tried every trick I could think of to make the new one leave.”

She sniffled. “You did?”

“You bet I did. But you know what? Pretty soon I realized she wasn’t so bad. In fact, she was pretty great.” Actually, the woman had been insufferable and cruel, but Cal kept that part to himself.

“You really want to be friends with me still?”

“I really do. So how about we just forget all that other stuff and start over.” He extended his hand. “Hi, I’m Cal.”

After a moment, she put her little hand in his. “I’m Sophie.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

Sophie smiled tremulously. “You too.” She swiped at her eyes. “Do you want to help me milk? The right way this time?”

“I don’t know. You think Mabel will be my friend, too, or do cows hold grudges? Can you put in a good word for me?”

Giggling, Sophie nodded, and they went to work.

“Grandma, Grandpa!” Sophie raced across the paddock and clambered over the fence.

Shading his eyes from the sun, Cal watched the rusted old pickup truck rumble up the drive. Ann’s parents climbed out, wearing what had likely been their Sunday best for a decade, a dress and suit now rather threadbare. They must have been fairly young when Ann was born, as they couldn’t be much older than fifty. Both had stocky builds and worn faces, and their dark hair was neatly combed.

From astride his horse, Jim waved. Adam sat before him, one of Jim’s arms wrapped securely around him. Cal had just shuffled down for his morning coffee when they’d arrived back from church, and they’d quickly changed and headed out for some time with the horses.

Cal walked over and reached up for Adam, swooping him through the air and making the boy squeal before carrying him outside the paddock and setting him down on the ground. Jim dismounted and gave the horse a pat before going to greet his in-laws. Sophie chattered excitedly to them as they approached the paddock.

“Lorraine, Ron. Nice to see you.” Jim pressed a kiss to Lorraine’s cheek and shook his father-in-law’s hand.

Ronald grunted, and Lorraine’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Thank you for the invitation. Always wonderful to visit our grandchildren.” She bent and hugged Adam tightly.

“You know you’re welcome anytime.” Jim smiled and nodded to Cal. “This is my old friend Cal Cunningham. Cal, this is Lorraine and Ronald Shelton.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Cal shook with Ronald and nodded to Lorraine. He had a feeling kissing the back of her hand as he’d do with his parents’ female friends would seem quite forward to the Sheltons.

Lorraine smiled politely. “And you. We’re glad Jim has some help around the place again.”

“Don’t you have something better to do than farm apples?” Ronald’s voice was gruff.

Cal laughed awkwardly. “No, sir. We’ve been working hard, getting ready for the growing season.”

“Grandma, Grandpa, I made lunch. Are you hungry?” Sophie asked.

At this, Ronald smiled. “That sounds real good, honey. What did you make us?”

Sophie led the way into the house, and Cal glanced at Jim, who wore an apologetic expression. Cal hadn’t expected Ann’s parents to be particularly happy folk, not with their daughter’s death so recent, but there was an unmistakable tension in the air he couldn’t quite get a read on.

They sat at the formal dining table with Sophie playing hostess, albeit with Jim’s help. Lunch was slightly crooked roast beef sandwiches and a potato salad Cal suspected Mrs. O’Brien had made the day before. He took a bite of his sandwich. “Mmm-mmm. That’s delicious, Sophie.”

She beamed as everyone chimed in with their agreement. Truthfully there was too much mustard and not enough tomato, but Cal ate his sandwich and reached for a second one. He addressed Lorraine. “Do you have far to come?”