The Crimson Fall (The Sons of Liberty Book 1) (3 page)

The sun had already turned the wispy clouds to red, and long shadows were stretching far across the wide valley by the time they had reached the ranch. The home at the end of the long dirt road was an old-fashioned craftsman situated twenty minutes outside of Durango, Colorado. It had been built years ago to replace the log home that had been in the family for generations. At the age of eight, Adam had accidentally started a small kitchen fire late at night that had quickly grown out of control. When the shrill cry of the smoke alarms began, his parents had rushed to get the family out before they lost anything that couldn’t be replaced. He still had the vivid memories of his father running out of the house with black smears on his face and his younger sister in his arms as the roof collapsed behind them. Adam was never scolded or chastised for his mistake, but even all those years later, he couldn’t help but think of how close he had come to killing his family, even if by accident. After the fire, much of his life had been devoted to extinguishing the out-of-control firestorms other people created, and he hoped he could help quench whatever blaze was now threatening Joe.

Adam parked his new truck in front of the garage and sat there for a few moments as the electric engine whined down, wondering how to approach his wife and family with the announcement that he would be leaving come the morrow. He knew his wife, Sarah, would be livid when he told her he had to depart early from the one vacation he had taken all year long, but he also knew he had to help Joe. After a minute or so, Adam realized Judah was waiting for him to say something.

“Why don’t you let me do the talking when we get inside? You and I both know Mom isn’t going to be happy. Besides, your grandpa is really going to pester you about the hunt and I think it’s wise to let me handle him. Sound good?”

Staring at the dashboard, Judah quietly muttered back, “Sure.”

Adam let loose a sigh and got out of the truck. They grabbed whatever gear they could carry and walked in through the side door.

Sarah was in the kitchen cooking up a bountiful feast with Adam’s mother, Judi. Adam’s dad, Rick, was lounging back in his leather recliner in the vaulted living room, watching the Denver Broncos in what looked like a real nail biter.

“We’re home!” Judah announced.

Sarah and Judi turned around and lovingly greeted the two. Hugs and kisses were exchanged before they let Adam and Judah set their gear down in the mudroom. Rick walked into the kitchen, stopped, and looked straight at Judah with his arms held out and a fun-loving curiosity in his eyes.

“Okay, Grandson, let’s see whatever monster you were able to bag. I know this was the year.”

Before Judah could answer, Adam spoke.

“Actually, we didn’t get anything. It’s my fault too, you know. We saw the most amazing elk I’ve seen in years. I know this was Judah’s hunt but I thought it was too far away for him and I didn’t want to risk it. So I took the shot and missed it by inches. Lost an amazing trophy, a great arrow, and a good amount of my pride.” Adam looked over at his son who couldn’t help but give him a little grin of gratitude.

“Well, you should have let him take the shot,” Rick said. “I teach him how to shoot while you’re gone twenty-four seven and when his time comes you don’t even trust him. You know you don’t have to do everything. It was his hunting trip after all. I mean, give the boy a chance for pity’s sake.”

Adam shrugged off Rick’s pestering. Keeping things lighthearted was something he had really come to love about his father. Instead of responding to his dad, he looked toward his son.

“Judah, why don’t you go upstairs and say hello to your little sisters.”

Judah raced down the hallway and up the stairs without a moment’s delay, undoubtedly wanting to avoid sticking around for the lively conversation that was about to ensue. Adam, wanting to get it over with as well, turned to his wife and parents.

“I got a call from Joe on the way home.”

“Yeah,” Rick said, “and how’s the traitor doing?”

“Rick, just leave it alone,” Judi said. “Joe told us ahead of time that he couldn’t come and that’s that.” Adam’s mother turned and looked at her son. “So how is Joe?”

“Not good,” Adam said. “He said . . . he needs me to meet him in North Carolina tomorrow.”

Sarah stepped back with her hands planted firmly on her hips. “Not funny, Adam.”

“And you said no, right?” Rick demanded at the same time.

Adam paused to take a breath, already on the verge of flinching from the onslaught he knew was about to follow.

“I said I’d fly out in the morning.”

Rick threw up his hands and unleashed his rant. “You see, that’s the problem with politicians now days. You guys can’t take one lousy break.”

“Rick, just let it be,” Judi said.

“No, I won’t let it be. And you know something, I remember when I was growing up and we didn’t have sat phones, cell phones, the Internet, or pagers. We didn’t have those . . . those damn things buried in our eyes and ears sounding off anytime someone needed anything whether it’s important or not. And we turned out all right. We even managed to end a damn near nuclear war and break the Soviets when I was barely out of college. The world didn’t fall apart at the seams, as far as I can tell. But you act as if it will if you take a vacation. You have satellites blanketing every square inch of the country so you can have your precious phone signal wherever you go. And heaven forbid you get one week to yourself and your family. You can’t get away or hide anywhere from anything or anyone, even if just for an hour!”

Adam looked at his wife expecting anger. What he saw instead was a painful look telling him that she had realized he wasn’t kidding. She turned around without a word and continued her dinner preparations. Adam knew the conversation with Sarah would be hard enough, but he first wanted to calm his dad down.

“I wouldn’t be leaving if I didn’t need to.”

“Oh please,” Rick said. “Don’t give me that crap. What is it, Adam? Tell me. Is it us? Are you just unable to bear spending time with your second-rate family?”

“You know that’s not true,” Adam said. “Look, he was really strange and sounded worried. I’m not leaving ‘til the morning so can’t we just enjoy tonight?”

His earpiece began to chime softly again, and he instinctively raised his hand to his ear to answer it. The display in his eyes told him that Joe’s secretary was calling. He quickly ignored the call. He knew he would be in even deeper trouble with Sarah if he retreated to his work right now and decided whatever it was, it would have to wait. Rick had turned and started walking back toward the living room.

“Come on, Dad, where are you going?”

“I’m going to sit down in my damn chair and watch the damn game while you go ahead and answer that damn thing. Might as well be tattooed on your forehead. Mark of the beast if you ask me. Damn politicians. And did you hear what our great commander-in-chief did yesterday? That idiot boss of yours just replaced the Director of the Secret Service—an old colleague of mine from the Air Force I should add—with some unqualified kid barely old enough to shave. John-something. No rhyme or reason, just flat out let the old guy go. Chambers probably fired him because he took a vacation or some sacrilegious thing like that.” Rick turned and began walking toward his chair.

“First of all, just because he’s the president doesn’t make him my boss,” Adam replied. “Or anyone’s boss, for that matter. He works for us, not the other way around. And secondly, he can’t let people go with no rhyme or reason. Whoever the new guy is, I’m sure he’s more than qualified. Lukas is probably bringing in close those he trusts, just like every other politician in Washington. And lastly, don’t call the president an idiot. You might not like him, but he’s a good guy for all I can tell.” Adam, pausing to decide if he should throw out his own dig or not, went against his better judgment. “Besides, you voted for him.”

“Oh don’t give me that,” Rick countered harshly. “I didn’t vote for that man.”

“Sure you did,” Adam said. “You voted for him when you kept voting for the status quo over the last forty years.”

“Now don’t bash it too much, sonny boy. You’re part of that status quo.”

“Both of you, enough. Please just let it be,” Judi said. “Rick, why don’t you settle down and watch the game. I’ll be in there in a bit.” Judi looked up at her son as Rick walked away, muttering to himself.

“Thanks, Mom,” Adam said.

“I’m certain Joe is fine,” Judi said reassuringly. “When are you leaving?”

“I don’t know. I’m going to look at flights here in a few and get something set up for tomorrow. Joe’s secretary just called so I’m sure he is already pestering her to book my travel before I change my mind.” He paused for a moment before adding, “I’m not running out or anything.”

“Oh I know. Despite what your father might say, he’s a recovering workaholic himself. If he devotes himself to something, he gives it all or nothing. Even in retirement. Lucky for us we didn’t have a lot of what you had when we were your age. Otherwise, I don’t know if you would have ever seen him.”

“I just hope it’s nothing too serious and I can head back for the last few days the kids are here,” Adam said. “Maybe we could come back out for the holidays.”

“You mean Christmas?” Judi asked, with a grin that begged for conversation.

“No, Mom,” Adam said with his own defiant smile, “I mean the holidays.”

Adam had given up calling it Christmas when he had given up his faith back in his twenties. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to believe God actually existed. On the contrary, Adam desperately wanted to believe and be part of something greater than himself. He simply couldn’t accept blind faith as the only evidence to justify a Christian belief when everything else he found contradicted God’s very existence. On top of that, he had become upset with his church when he watched the local poor suffer and starve as the pastors and staff remained comfortable in their own walled-off suburbia. Eventually, he saw the church as nothing more than a tax-exempt country club whose members were too afraid to step outside of their protective cages and help those who really needed it. That was what ultimately pulled him into politics; it was a profession where he believed he could truly help the helpless. Sarah had taken it hard when he told her he was done calling himself a Christian five years ago, but she had continued to believe and attend church with the kids. His mom, however, had never failed to pester him about it all, though it had not changed the way he felt. In fact, the only thing he did believe was that his beliefs would never change unless God himself showed up.

Wanting to avoid a religious debate, and still trying to save his skin, he went back to more cheerful talk.

“Who knows? Maybe I’ll bring Joe back with me in a few days.” Adam laughed uneasily to mask his worry, though he could tell his mom saw right through his front. He was concerned for Joe, and he figured he wouldn’t be coming back until Joe was out of whatever trouble he was in. “I’ve never really heard him upset like that. He’s usually so upbeat, you know?”

“Well, I’m sure everything is going to be just fine. Now, I’m going to go in the living room with your father and make sure we don’t have to watch football all night long.” Judi rose up on her tiptoes and kissed her son on the cheek.

Adam walked into the kitchen and approached his wife as she quickly cut up a handful of peppers and cucumbers. He could tell she was trying to ignore him from the way she focused on the food instead of her husband behind her.

“Sarah, whatever it is I’m sure I’ll be back soon,” he said. “I really think he needs me.”

She set the knife down gently, a subtle move that spoke louder than if she had slammed it on the tiled counter, and turned around to face him.

“Adam, I don’t want to berate you or anything. I decided long ago I wasn’t going to be that kind of wife. I want to support you and I believe in what you’re doing for the country. But what about us? What about our kids? Don’t you think we might need you every now and then? I don’t want you to miss out on their childhood, and if this is what this type of career is going to look like, then I don’t know if it’s worth it. I love you and I know you have a sense of duty for your job and your brother and so many others, but you also have us.”

Adam’s earpiece chimed and the twitch of his arm gave him away once more. Irritated, Sarah rolled her eyes.

“I’m sure you need to get that.” She turned back around and began to focus on dinner once more. Sarah was a kind and loving wife, and Adam knew she was right. He ignored the caller again.

“Sarah,” he started, though Sarah kept her back to him. “I love you. I love Judah, Eva, and Grace more than anything in this world, and we’re not going to be like this forever. I can figure out a way to be the father and husband I need to be and still do my job. I’m not going to—”

His phone began to ring again. Frustrated with Joe’s secretary, Adam finally tapped his earpiece furiously, answering the call.

“What, Heather? What? What is it that can’t wait? I’ll find a ticket myself. I’m trying to—”

“Adam,” the woman’s weak voice interrupted, “your brother is dead.”

Time slowed and numbness set in. Her words rang between his ears like a thousand fiery gongs, crashing around in a thunderstorm of sparks and embers that set fire to his core. Suddenly, the room felt like it existed entirely in the heart of a raging inferno. Even as her statement echoed through his mind, Adam refused to believe what he had heard.