Page 40 of Keeping Amanda
“He really does loveStar Wars, so that’s definitely part of it, but apparently when he went to the recruiting station, the recruiter was trying to say his first name. He said, ‘Obi-What?’ There were other guys in there signing up, and they thought he said, ‘Obi-Wan.’ Two of those recruits happened to be in hisbasic training platoon, and they introduced him as Obi-Wan to everyone.”
“It stuck,” Obi-Wan said, with the same huge smile on his face. Then it faded. “Are you guys all right? I did my best to persuade the colonel here to let me do some flyovers with the FLIR to find you, but apparently that first flight we did ruffled quite a few feathers over in Venezuela. He was told if another helicopter crossed into their airspace without prior approval, it would be considered a declaration of war.”
“Fuck,” Buck muttered.
“Exactly. But I wasn’t about to leave without you. I knew you’d make it out of that jungle, just had to give you some time. I’m sure Colonel Burgess will appreciate you not getting captured and making him have to do a shit-ton of paperwork to get your ass home,” Obi-Wan told Buck.
His friend was joking, but Buck could hear the concern and worry in his voice. He clapped a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry,” he said in a low voice. “I’m sorry I left you to deal with everything back here.”
He shook his head. “Not a problem.”
“And I’m sorry I forced Nash to leave you and the kids,” Mandy said.
“I heard about why you ran off. Have to say, I was pissed at the time, couldn’t imagine what the hell you were thinking. But after hearing the entire story, I get it.”
“I put Nash in danger. I puteveryonein danger.”
Obi-Wan shrugged. “You’re here now. Safe. I’d say it all worked out in the end, and that’s all that matters. Sometimes the path to get where you want to be is full of twists and turns, but all that’s important is that you keep going until you get there…which you did.”
Buck appreciated his friend being diplomatic and not making Mandy feel worse than she already did about her actions.
“Now, I’m guessing you both want to take showers and eat.Your room is in the same place it was, Buck, and I think they have a bunk for Amanda right down the same hall. I can meet you in the cafeteria in about an hour? Is that enough time to scrub off that jungle rot I can smell on you?” Obi-Wan asked with a grin, letting them both know he was kidding.
“Perfect.”
“And there’s a firepit around here somewhere, I’m sure, where we can put those clothes. I think they could probably stand up on their own at this point.”
To his relief, Mandy chuckled.
“Come on. Apparently Obi-Wan’s been practicing his stand-up comedy routine—don’t quit your day job, buddy—and we’ve got a date with a hot shower.” Buck still had Mandy’s hand in his, and he didn’t feel the least bit self-conscious about it. They’d been through an intense ordeal together, and he didn’t give a shit what others thought about the obvious display of affection. He wanted Mandy to know that he was serious about seeing her when she got back to Virginia.
Besides, the thought of being separated from her was…unsettling. They’d spent every minute of every day together, except for when he checked his snares, and it felt strange to even think about being away from her now.
“Whoa, is that adog?” Obi-Wan asked incredulously. “It looks like a cross between a wolf and a sloth or something.”
Buck couldn’t believe he’d forgotten about Rain. He’d been so excited to see and talk to Obi-Wan that he’d gotten out of the transport car and hadn’t even thought about the poor dog.
Turning, he saw Rain was sitting in the middle of the parking lot right next to one of Mandy’s suitcases, which they’d grabbed from storage at the school, looking a little lost.
Mandy let go of his hand and crouched down. “Come ’ere, Rain.”
The dog immediately trotted over, allowing her to pet him.
“That’s Rain,” Buck told his copilot. “He kind of found uswhen we were in the jungle. Decided we were a better choice than the asshole rebels who were obviously abusing him. And the olives we kept feeding him while they lasted didn’t hurt.”
“We can’t leave him out here,” Mandy said, sounding stressed. “He won’t understand. And he might wander off, feeling rejected.”
“Of course we aren’t leaving him. He’ll come inside with us. That won’t be an issue, will it?” Buck asked his friend, communicating with him nonverbally by opening his eyes a little wider and raising a brow.
Obi-Wan immediately shook his head. “You’re kind of a sensation around here, Amanda. Especially when everyone heard what you did because you thought a child was missing. If you wanted King Kong himself to move into your bunk room, I’m sure no one would say a damn word.”
Buck could see Mandy visibly relax when she heard she wouldn’t be separated from the dog who’d played such a huge role in their ordeal.
“He saved our lives, you know. Prevented us from being recaptured,” Buck told his friend.
NowObi-Wan’sbrow lifted.
“It’s true. We were headed straight into the path of two rebels who were patrolling the border, in case their suspicions were correct and there was someone who hadn’t reached the chopper. Rain pitched a fit and made us go in a different direction. He knew they were out there, and if he hadn’t insisted we turn, we would’ve come face-to-face with those men.”
