“The goats. They were running…playing. You have to make a decision.”
“The goats are running. What do you see, Jeff?”
“The kids…they’re playing with the goats. You have to make a decision.”
“What’s happening with the kids?”
Tears began to run down his cheeks. “They’re chasing the kids.”
“Jeff, it’s a memory. You’re safe. Who is chasing the kids?”
“They have machetes. I have to make a decision,” he sobbed. “They’re trying to hack the children. They’re screaming and trying to get away. We’re shooting. One by one, they are dropping. More are coming.
“A little girl. She fell. He’s got the blade over his head. Dean…he dives on top of the girl. I shoot… He drops. Two more grab Dean. They’re dragging him away. There are so many. We are outnumbered. Twenty of them. Four of our eleven are dead. Four more are injured.
“They had Dean. I had to make a decision. They tied him to the back of their Jeep. Dean’s screaming at me to shoot. I had to make the decision. ‘Pruet, shoot me.’ I fired. I killed my best friend.” Pruet dropped to the dirt.
Eleanor dropped to her knees beside him, her own tears falling. When she opened her arms, the large man crawled into her embrace. She had no idea how much time passed until Wes and Tuck walked out to them. “Jeff, these are my friends Wes and Tuck. I don’t know about you, but my butt hurts, sitting on the cold ground.” She offered him a soft smile.
Jeff looked up through glazed eyes. His shoulders slumped over his chest as a small tremor ran through him.
“I’m Wes.” He offered his hand and helped Jeff to stand. Tuck helped Eleanor.
Wes had cleared the area of people. Slowly, he and Tuck walked Jeff to the medical clinic. Eleanor followed, handing off Linus to Aaron Bain. On her way, she made a decision.
