“It turns out Aaron Short, Julie’s boyfriend, had been dealing drugs for the Supreme Riders for a year and owed them money for a batch he swears was stolen. The party was just a way to make some of that money back while also letting the Supreme Riders victimize whoever they wanted.”
“Fuckin’ assholes. Did they do time? Did Aaron?”
“Not really. Aaron Short’s parents are loaded, and their lawyer got him off the hook faster than it takes to play eighteen holes of golf with a judge,” I said. “They didn’t have enough physical evidence on one of them, and the other one, Delbert Fisk, aka: Boneyard, was sentenced to fifteen years in prison, but was released due to overcrowding after serving only three years.”
“I shouldn’t have left you outside the Saddle Rack all alone, I’m sorry.”
“I’m a big girl, ya know? I can be in public all by myself.”
“Of course you can, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that you were my date, and I should have taken bettercare of you.”
“You know, for a nomad, you sure seem to care a lot about the well-being of virtual strangers.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, first there was Granny and now me. You haven’t known Granny for very long and yet you’re there any time she needs you, even if it’s to provide her with a little company. And now, you’re fighting off drunk assholes in the street to defend my honor.”
He chuckled. “You make me sound like a knight.”
“You’re the closest thing to a knight I’ve ever seen, that’s for damn sure.”
“Yeah, well my days on the battlefield are over.”
“You were a medic in the army, right?”
“That’s right,” Snarl replied softly.
“We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” I said, sensing sadness in his voice.
“It’s alright, I don’t mind you asking. Especially after everything you just shared with me. Besides, you’re so easy to talk to, I feel like I can tell you anything.”
“So, you’re not this friendly with everyone, huh?”
“Friendly, yes. Like this,” he said, motioning to our entwined naked bodies, “No.”
“You’re right, you know?” I said. “You can tell me anything. I spend most of my time observing animals and wondering what they’re thinking. It’ll be nice to hear what’s on the mind of the hairy beast currently before me for a change.”
Snarl laughed. “You sure you want to hear about my life?”
I leaned in and kissed his chest. “Positive.”
He cleared his throat. “Alright, then. I was in the Army for almost seven years. Ten weeks in basic training, another eighteen training as a medic. Three, fifteen-month tours of active duty in Afghanistan, and eleven months in the brig.”
“The brig? Like prison?”
Snarl nodded. “For almost a year, I was a guest of the United States Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for violating Article 90 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer in a time of war.”
“You disobeyed orders?”
“Goddamned right I did. And five soldiers are alive today because I did. It should have been seven. All seven would be alive if I had acted faster.”
“I don’t understand.” I settled my chin on my hand resting on his chest and met his eyes. “If American military lives were saved because of your actions, why were you sent to prison?”
“Because they were only saved because I directly disobeyed my superior officer, Lt. Snodgrass. He gave specific orders for our unit to sweep and clear a sector I believed to be perfect for an enemy ambush. I tried to explain my position to the lieutenant, but he ordered me to shut my mouth and do as I was told. He said, ‘Solders don’t take orders fromnurses,’ and to sweep the assigned area as ordered. Corporal Chavez was on point with Private Dixon just behind him. I was ten paces behind Dixon, leading the majority of the team through the sector. Sure enough, as soon as Chavez and Dixon came into range, they were cut to shreds by enemy sniper fire. I didn’t hesitate to turn and lead the rest of the team to a retreat back to the rally point. Lt. Snodgrass was furious. Accusing me of insubordination and dereliction of duty. He was screaming that Chavez and Dixon were dead because I’d failed to back them up properly, and that he’d personally see to it that I faced charges.”
I gasped. “I can’t believe you went to jail for protecting your team.”
“I was sentenced to fifteen months, the maximum sentence for insubordination, but was released early due to the corroborating testimony of my team. All charges were eventually thrown out and Lt. Snodgrass was persuaded to retire early.”
