Cooper Wyse took a long slow drink from his beer as Brando raised his head to look at him, seemingly also awaiting the answer to the question Reese had just asked.
“Yeah, about eight years ago. Came in through Canada - wasn’t easy but I did it. Found a relative of Arlene’s parents. Her dad’s brother who lived about ten miles from their house. It was funny, I just showed up in the evening and knocked on the back door. He opened it up, took a look at me and just said, ‘It’s about time you got here.’
“They had been expecting me to show up eventually. We talked for a little less than an hour, and then he told me I had to go. They were worried they were being watched. Everyone down there was worried about that. It was just like those movies I would see as a kid about the Cold War – the Soviet Union.
“He said a bunch of the homes around the area had been bombed at the same time the encampment was eliminated. A crew went around and collected any remains that were found and they were all just thrown into a mass grave and covered up. Arlene’s uncle knew someone who had been a part of that work and he confirmed that Arlene, her parents, and my son and daughter, what was left of them…were thrown into that grave.
“Made my way back here to my home and I waited. I waited for a chance to do something. To fight back. To destroy the thing that had taken from me everything that meant anything. So now here you all are. I have my chance to help you out, to get you to that priest in Churchill, Manitoba. To get you to the weapon that’s supposed to help destroy the New United Nations.
“I aim to do just that.”
Dublin called from the kitchen that the meal was ready. After the telling of his story, each of them had come to realize that Cooper Wyse had suffered just as much if not more than even the former residents of Dominatus had at the hands of the New United Nations. Cooper was welcomed into their group. He had become one of them.
Mac leaned forward in his seat, his eyes narrowing as he looked back at Cooper.
“We’re glad to have your help, Coop. I sincerely mean that.”
Seated at the Wyse dinner table, the four men ate the meal of steak and potatoes with considerable enthusiasm, pausing only briefly to thank Dublin for preparing it. Within twenty minutes, all of the meal was gone, as was the beer Cooper had brought in. Bear was the first to make his way to a bedroom for sleep, followed soon after by Reese and Dublin, and then Cooper Wyse.
Mac stayed back in the main room, seated next to a window looking out into the clear night sky. His cough returned momentarily, breaking the silence within the near complete darkness of the home’s interior. Mac heard Brando approaching in that darkness, the Doberman’s long snout finally coming to rest on his thigh. Looking down, Mac could see the dog peering back up at him as if to ask if he was going to be ok.
“You think I’m a used up old man too, don’t you? Maybe you’re right. Hell…probably are. I think I got another round left in me yet though, Brando. Just one more mission to see if I still got a little bite left in this old bark.”
VI.
Mac, who had slept on the largest of the leather couches in Cooper’s living room area, woke early, as was his long standing habit. To his surprise, he spotted Cooper already outside saddling the horses as Brando sat watching near the barn’s entrance.
Taking a moment to stretch his muscles, Mac walked out of the home and made his way toward the barn and Cooper Wyse, who gave Mac a greeting with the tip of his cowboy hat.
“Morning, Coop – surprised you were able to get out here without waking me up. I’m normally a very light sleeper.”
Cooper gave a slight shrug and continued to check the saddle straps, the supply bags, and the overall condition of the horses.
Mac had not been so close to a horse in many years, and found their size to be somewhat intimidating, though he had no intention of letting Cooper know that.
“Which one will I be riding?”
Cooper stepped over to one a horse that was a mixture of white and black colors , with a long slender neck and head.
“I broke every one of these, all a mix of this and that. Yours is a good old girl named Chess. She’s got quite a bit of Thoroughbred in her. Used to be very spirited, but she’s a real easy going lady now, but can get you somewhere in a hurry if you need to.”
Mac moved slowly alongside Chess and ran his hand along her neck.
“Well hello there, Chess. I’m Mac. Just don’t throw me off and you and me will get along just fine.”
Brando had moved over to Mac’s left, and was nuzzling his other hand.
“Well hello there, Brando! I see you’re up and ready to go as well!”
Cooper Wyse tilted his head slightly as he noted Brando’s attention to Mac.
“Never seen that dog go out of his way to be nice like he’s done for you, Mac.”
Mac leaned down and placed both of his hands around Brando’s head and scratched behind the Doberman’s ears, to which the dog responded by nuzzling Mac’s neck. Cooper shook his head and smiled.
“Hope you ain’t turning my dog soft, Mac. He’s supposed to be a touch more intimidating than that.”
Mac stood up, coughing slightly as he attempted to clear his throat.
“Oh hell, I’m pretty sure old Brando there would prove himself as mean as he needed to be. Those are some serious chompers he’s got inside that mouth of his.”
Seemingly understanding what Mac just said, Brando pulled back his lips to reveal his teeth in a both frightening and amusing snarling smile.
Mac pointed to the dog and then looked over at Cooper, his eyes widening in shock.
“Did your dog just smile at me?”
Cooper Wyse waved a dismissive hand toward Brando as he continued to check over the horses.
“He’s done that for years. It’s a common thing Dobermans do. Means he’s happy.”
Mac looked back down at Brando’s grinning snarl.
“Well I’ll be damned…”
Bear’s heavy footed approach could be heard making its way down from the front porch. He came to within ten feet of the horses and remained there, his arms folded across his chest and his eyes conveying more than a fair amount of suspicion at the idea of riding atop the back of an animal.
“So you really don’t think we could just use an ATV or something? Seems like it would be a hell of a lot faster.”
Cooper stepped from behind the largest of the horses and looked at Bear silently for several seconds before responding.
“First off, I told you that anything mechanical gets the attention of the drones. That’s why I had you walk all the way here. That’s why we can’t be firing up some machine and crossing the border. I’ve made the trip hundreds of times already. It’s my way or no way, big man. Besides, I’ve got you sitting on Ben here. He’s a big old fella. You two were made for each other. Trust him to get you there and that’s what he’ll do.”
Bear glanced at the large, solid brown-colored horse before glaring back at Cooper.
“It’s gonna take us forever on these things.”
Cooper turned back to the horses as he responded to Bear’s dissatisfaction.
“Not really, and we can get places on a horse we never could riding some machine. Trust me, Bear, once you get the hang of it, you’ll understand. It might take you a bit, but you’ll get there. And this horse, Ben, he’ll prove himself to you. He’s the hardest worker you’ll ever find, and he likes to please. Just tell him where to go and he’ll do it.”
Mac stepped next to Bear and gave him pat on the back.
“I’m pretty sure between the two of you, that horse is getting the worse of the deal, Bear.”
Bear’s still constant glare now turned toward Mac.
“This ain’t funny, Mac. I don’t like those things. I’ve never been on a horse in my life.”
Mac laughed.
“I think it’s just a matter of you not liking to be next to something that’s bigger than you. And you grew up in Texas, right? How in the hell have you not ever been on a horse?”
Bear set his jaw, his words barely escaping between his clenched teeth.
“I don’t do things I don’t want to and I never wanted to get on a horse. I told you – this isn’t funny. I don’t like horses.”
Mac’s demeanor quickly turned from friendly to fierce as he placed himself directly in front of Bear and looked up into his face, pointing at the large man as he made clear his frustration at Bear’s negativity.
“You can either get yourself on that horse when it’s time, or walk your ass back to Juneau. It’s gonna be one or the other, Bear. And I don’t want to hear another goddamn word about it.”
Bear’s eyes flashed dangerously down at Mac.
“Get that finger out of my face, Mac, or I will break it off.”
Before Mac could respond to Bear’s threat, Brando did so first. The large Doberman lunged toward Bear while unleashing three loud warning barks. Bear took several steps backwards as Brando placed himself between Bear and Mac, the hair on the dog’s neck beginning to stand up as his eyes locked onto Bear’s slightest movement.
“That dog takes another step toward me and I’ll kill it.”
Bear’s voice made clear he meant it.
The unmistakable sound of a revolver hammer being clicked into place was the first thing to answer Bear’s threat as Cooper Wyse emerged from among the horses with a classic Colt Frontier Six Shooter pointed in the big man’s direction.
“Oh…I don’t think so, Bear. My dog is just protecting Mac. No need to be making those kinds of threats. We’re all supposed to be on the same team here, right? Now I get you’re afraid of getting on a horse. It’s actually a common fear plenty of people have. I’m gonna help you through that and in a day or two, you’re gonna be just fine with it. Until then, I can’t have you threatening my dog like that. Just don’t sit right and frankly, well…I consider it just plain rude.”
Mac’s attention was already focused on Cooper’s choice of firearm.
“How old is that thing, Coop?”
Cooper kept the gun pointed at Bear while he replied to Mac.
“1926 - have a pair of them. Got an original ammo belt and everything. Very Old West…that’s how I like to roll.”
Mac looked from Cooper’s gun and back to Bear, and then back to Cooper.
“Oh for God’s sake, put down that gun. And Bear, you calm the hell down. No need to go on acting like such a damn fool. Now tell Coop here you’re sorry for threatening his dog.”
Bear’s jaw dropped at the suggestion.
“What?”
“You heard me – tell Mr. Wyse here you’re sorry for threatening Brando like that, so we can move on from this and get ready to head on out.”
Cooper Wyse un-cocked his gun and lowered it.
Bear’s expression transformed from one of rage to hurt.
“All we been through, Mac and you’re taking his side?”
Mac rolled his eyes at his former Dominatus neighbor.
“C’mon, Bear, it ain’t about choosing his side. You’re in the wrong and you just need to apologize and we’re good to go. So man up, and let’s move on.”
Cooper shrugged at Mac.
“He don’t need to do that, Mac. No big thing. I don’t need any apology.”
Bear growled back at Cooper.