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Jack cracked out a big laugh He put an ar he couldn’t help but wonder was how his life ht have been different if he’d met his Melinda when he was sixteen They’d be broke and have twenty-seven kids by now But he said, "Iraq What shit is that?"

"It’s just the usual I’ll be fine"

"Of course you will There are so else And I want you to er brother He’s slated for West Point Daddy’s a retired Arer than you Good kid Sharp He’s been seen around with Brenda Carpenter this whole past year"

"Brenda? No kidding"

"You two--you should in River will always be your base, you know?"

"Yeah, Jack As long as you’re here," he said

"I hooked you up with some wheels"

"Yeah?" Rick asked

"Mel’s not able to work yet, which leaves Doc the Hu idle He says it’s all yours"

"Perfect," Rick said "I think I’ll check in with irl I s first, Jack"

By noon on Friday the first of the marines arrived in the person of Joe Benson from Grants Pass He had hooked up Paul’s fifth wheel as his home away from home for the weekend and walked into Jack’s with rolls of parchrin on his face He had prelie and Preacher, Mike and Brie, sketches for Paul and Vanni Tables were pushed together, coffee was poured and plans were spread out

Only Preacher and Mike were available to scan the drawings as Brie was at Jack’s helping Mel with the babies and Paige was sharing Christopher’s nap

"How’s Mel doing?" Joe asked Jack

"She’s doing great, but she hates being stuck out at the house all the ti her and the little ones over later on, once ets tired real easy--and you can iine how that pisses her off," Jack said "Wait till you see her She doesn’t look like soo I’ll tell you what, buddy That about did me in"

"Bad, huh?"

"Boy howdy, as she would say"

By two, Paul came into the bar and the reunion continued For Joe and Paul, who hadn’t seen each other in at least a feeeks, there was a hearty eure to see you until much later," Joe said

"There’s a maid of honor at the house," he explained "I was told I was in the way Which suits eneral and Tommy will be kicked out pretty soon, too"

Next to arrive, Josh Phillips and To up in a nice cushy RV, a new purchase for Tom Finally, Zeke, whichin a no-show," Jack explained "He’s got a baby co in a couple of months and has to save his ti that boy"

Beer was set up and at about four, Paige caht under her husband’s arm Zeke was the first to spot her and sent up a whoop of exciterin on his face "Whoa, baby, look at you! Da hand over her belly "Preacher, you dog--you did fine work here!"

"Yeah, I sure did"

"You’re about to pop, girl"

"Pretty soon," she said, grinning "How’s your wife doing?"

"She’s great," Zeke said "I thought I could sneak one more kid by her, but she says I’-up is We only have four You think four is enough?" he asked Paige

"I think that’s hed "I don’t kno you tricked her into that htin’ my fire for almost twenty years now--since the first ti outfit" He whistled "Those po of that short skirt," someone supplied

"And those itty-bitty panties," soruh she couldn’t help but laugh Joe was next, hugging her, checking out the stoe said "One at a tiuys," she happily admonished This crowd of men, each one of them ould be called a , hunting, fishing and the like, loved woht It was uncanny And treeneral and Tom finally came in Jack pressed a beer into Toeneral asked with aiving it away," Jack said "In fact, when this crowd’s here, I end up giving away the bar!"

"Hey, where’s Rick?" someone asked

"He went over to Eureka to fetch Lizzie," Jack said Then he grinned and added, "Wednesday"

The place was soon throbbing with the noise of e ht The barbecue was lit, the party spilled out onto the porch when Doc’s old truck rumbled into town and stopped in front of Connie and Ron’s corner store across the street A hush fell over the crowd The athered there as Rick got out, helped his girl out to go visit her aunt and uncle, but not before pulling her to him for one last kiss The moment their lips met, the marines sent up a wild cheer

The couple bolted apart in surprise Rick saw the and jeering continued and with his ar her against hiave her a little pat on the rump and sent her into her aunt’s store

Tom leaned toward Paul and said, "I hope Brenda stays indoors until these whack jobs leave town"

"Aw, don’t worry, Tom They wouldn’t do that to you"