John had taken the drive back to California in stride nearly a week ago today. She found herself cleaning a house that she had left clean. Traveling daily to the base and making herself busy where she felt most at home. She was considering becoming a drill instructor. Something to keep her in the game and busy. She knew how to train them the right way. She knew what they might come against as well as the next.
But most of all she was tired of running by herself every day. She could feel herself slowing down. Each mile taking longer than it did the prior week. This was not good. It had taken her longer to rub the oil into the saddles as well. So long that the oil on the cantle was hardly rubbed in before the sheen was soaked thru in the pommel. This was not good at all. But the worst part was truly grating to her nerves. She could not stand the thought of what she had slowed down on the most. But alas, all good things must come to an end. Some idiot said that once upon a time. But she could not accept that. Not for this… not now. Not yet.
John’s sex drive had plummeted. Fallen off the face of a cliff. None of the normal keys would turn her on. She reflected on this while she rubbed her pup, Beauregard’s, head on her lap. Most women in her career would be happy right now. She had her house. Had her money. Had her pets, horses, and friends. But she needed a man again. Being alone was not how her heart was built to last. As she rubbed his ears, lost in thought, the phone began to ring. Her heart skipped the faintest of beats. It was his ringtone.
“Hey, Doe.”
“You sound excited about something…” he replied in greeting.
“What are you up to?”
“Oh nothing. Just got home. Ready to start another eventful week of doing nothing.”
John’s brain kicked into high gear. Maybe just maybe…“You don’t have to work?”
“Noooo. No work for little ol’ me…” He was still talking but she was busy scrambling around the corner to her office. The laptop was open and she drummed her fingers impatiently as the screen came on. She could hardly focus on what they were discussing as she ran her debit card number to purchase the tickets.
“Doe,” she interrupted him, “A cab will be at your apartment in two hours. You need to be ready to get on a plane. Have your bag packed, make sure you have your ID. They will print your boarding pass there.”
“Uhm… John… What are you talking about?” he was lost. Was she drinking midday again, he wondered.
“You’re coming to Cali, dear. Now go pack.” She hung up the phone and sent him a picture of his flight information. It never occurred to her that he might hesitate or have other plans. She did not care. They both wanted this… surely.
She had ten hours to get ready for his arrival. “Son of a gun!” she cursed flying down the stairs. The calendar proved her right. In ten hours she would be running with a platoon thru the obstacle course. Time to make some favor calls.
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