The Horse Soldier: Beginnings Series Book 10 Read Free Page B

their point. He could be really mean…and loud.” Henry shook his head with a loud breath. “Boy, could he be loud. How about when he would yell over the radio? He’d yell a lot but that was just Frank.” Henry looked at Johnny who sat in the same row as Ellen. Johnny’s head was down as he stared at his hands. “Johnny, when I look at you, all I see is your father. You should take pride in that because your father was someone to be proud of.”
    Johnny lifted his head and smiled a sad smile at Henry. Joe reached over and grabbed Johnny’s hand.
    “Your father saved my life more times than I can count. He saved a lot of our lives and he did it with style. He did it without regards to himself or to his life. It didn’t matter who it was, Frank’s life played second to whoever he tried to help.” Henry’s hands held to the podium. “I forever will be grateful for having known him, loved him, and been his friend. I will never forget him. I will make sure, for the rest of my life, no one ever forgets Frank Slagel.”
    Ellen watched Henry sadly step from the podium and back to his seat. She saw Robbie standing up through the corner of her eye. Her hand grabbed his as he slid from the pew and walked to the front of the chapel. She thought how strong he looked and handsome he was dressed in a grey shirt and black tie. His hair was combed neatly instead of spiked up and tossed about.
    Robbie swallow ed before he said anything. He held his hand up a little above the podium. “I remember,” Robbie closed his eyes, “when I was six, my father let me walk to the store for the first time, but I had to walk with Frank. I can still hear my father yell out the screen door. ‘Frank, hold Robbie’s hand’. I didn’t see it, but I’m sure, knowing Frank, he winced. But I didn’t. I was so little for my age, and Frank, he was so big for thirteen. My little hand was so lost in my big brother’s hand.” Robbie stared at his own hand. “And I loved it. I was so proud to be walking with my big brother. I felt like the coolest kid in the world, thinking, ‘hey, look at me. This is my brother Frank.’” Robbie snickered. “And it’s funny, isn’t it. I still feel the same way when I would walk with him, proud to be seen with him. I guess every kid who has a big brother looks to them with pride. I always looked up to Frank. He has gotten my butt out of trouble for as long as I can remember. Man, the shit he could do.” Robbie swayed his head with a smile. “To work with him, to fight side by side with him, and to even stand next him are the greatest privileges I will ever know. Yeah we had our ups and downs. We’re family. But from kids on up, I wanted to be like him.” Robbie grew very serious and his words gasped with emotion. “He’s been my hero since I was three years old.” Biting his bottom lip, Robbie looked forward, stepped away from the podium, and walked straight out of the chapel.
    Through the silence of the chapel, Ellen stood up, slipped past Dean, and followed Robbie out. He stood in the quiet empty street with his back to the chapel.
    “Robbie.” Ellen walked up to him and laid her hand on his back.
    “I know . . . .I know he’s out there , but he still needs us, El.” He turned around. “I don’t think I can ever remember a time where Frank really needed help. He needs our help.” Robbie closed his eyes as he spoke with passion. “If I have to give my life to do it, I’m making sure he comes back. I want him back.”
    Ellen, with no words to say, stepped to Robbie. Her arms went around his waist and her head fell to his chest. While the service finished inside without them, Robbie and Ellen stayed on the street in their own emotional embrace.

CHAPTER TWO

Bowman, North Dakota
    Hal’s stomach grumbled in anxiousness. He just wanted to get it over with. He knew it was going to happen. It was just of matter of when. Like a bomb going off, Hal waited for doomsday to arrive.
    “I like the