Renewing Lost Love Read Free Page A

traits that
made him an excellent sniper in the Marine Corp.
    As he is following Eric across the ranch yard
to the Drake Security office above the barn an almost forgotten
memory flashes across his mind. Pinky had shared a heart breaking
story with him during a time when Barry was very depressed because
Melanie wouldn’t accept his love. It was about a girl Pinky loved
that had been eaten by an alligator in the swamps of Louisiana. He
wonders if it is possible this might be the same girl.
    Eric leads Barry and his Mom up the stairs to
the Drake Security office where Damian is still looking through the
files of pictures. When Eric walks back in the office he says,
“Damian, can you bring back up that picture of Pinky and the pretty
red headed girl in the long green dress?”
    Damian asks, “Sure, Eric, but what is so
important about that picture? Why did you run out of here
earlier?”
    As the picture appears back up on the screen
Eric says, “See Mom, It is Jasmine!”
    Melanie looks at the picture of the beautiful
young girl with shoulder length auburn hair and green eyes and
gasps, “Yes, that’s definitely Jasmine! I wonder where and when
that picture was taken. She doesn’t look more than fifteen or
sixteen years old.”
    By this time Stump, Scoot, Goose, and Bear
have all gravitated to the office and are staring at the picture of
Pinky and the beautiful young girl. None of them have ever seen
Pinky look at a woman in that loving way either and they are all
fascinated by the picture. It is obvious to the group that the girl
meant more to Pinky than just the average prom date.
    Pinky, who has just returned from an
assignment in Washington DC with Goose has been refueling the
helicopter and strides into the office while everyone is still
looking at the picture. “Hey, guys, what’s going on? What has all
of you so fascinated?”
    Barry looks up at Pinky questioningly and
asks, “Pinky, is this your Senior Prom picture?”
    Pinky walks over to the computer and glances
briefly at the picture, “Yeah, it was a long time ago. I don’t know
why I even still have it.”
    Barry questions curiously, “Is the girl’s
name Jasmine?”
    Surprised, Pinky looks at Barry and asks,
“Yeah, but how did you know?”
    Barry states as a matter of fact, “Melanie
and Eric knew her at the compound in Idaho.”
    Stunned, Pinky sinks down on the sofa shaking
his head in disbelief and says, “No man, that’s impossible. Jasmine
died in the swamp nearly fifteen years ago, a gator got her.”
    Eric excitedly says, “No Pinky, I’m positive.
She was at the compound with us in Idaho.”
    He looks at Eric, his eyes full of sadness,
“I don’t think so Eric. I personally killed the gator. He still had
her hair wrapped around his snout.” A tear slides down his cheek
and he angrily brushes it away with his hand. Why can’t he get over
Jasmine? She’s gone damn it! It must be that damn curse!
    All of the guys are staring at Pinky in
stunned silence. He is showing more emotion over that picture than
they have ever seen in him.
    Melanie sits down beside him on the sofa and
gently lays her hand on his arm and pleads, “Pinky, please, you
have to listen to me. Eric’s right. Jasmine, the girl in that
picture, was my best friend at the compound in Idaho. She was alive
and well as recently as two years ago. That’s when she and James
Bixby left to move to a different compound.”
    At the sound of an almost forgotten name,
Pinky snaps back from the deep sadness that had overtaken him. He
looks at Melanie and says, “Bixby? She is with James Bixby?”
Pinky’s heart is pounding in his chest and his breathing is
shallow. Jasmine is alive? Can it possibly be true? He feels a
little light headed and he takes a deep breath to clear his
head.
    Melanie answers, “Yes, do you know him
too?”
    A dark rage flows through Pinky’s veins and
he feels the flush of anger spreading across his face. He takes a
few deep calming breaths and answers