G Hopf: Sanctuary

Gordon couldn’t control his emotions and he began to cry loudly. “Oh, my baby girl, how I’ve missed you so much,” he whispered as he kissed her face and head.

“Daddy, I’ve missed you so much!”

“I’ve missed you too, honey.”

“Why didn’t you come home sooner? I needed you!” she said, holding his face in her little hands.

“I’m sorry, sweetie, but Daddy had to do something,” he said softly, the tears streaming down his face.

She rubbed the healing wound on his face and said, “What happened, Daddy?”

“Oh, I got cut, that’s all.”

The mention of his face brought back memories of Hunter. He pulled her in close again and continued to cry.

The door opened and Samantha stepped out to the emotional scene. She took a step but stopped herself. She wanted to go to them both, but she knew that Gordon and Haley needed this moment. Tears began to flow from her too as she watched them both hold one another.

“Daddy, how did Hunter die?”

The question shocked him, but it was an honest one and needed to be answered.

Samantha heard the question and now took this uncomfortable moment to step in. “Haley, sweetie, it’s cold and you don’t have a jacket on.”

“No, Sam, let me answer her question.”

“Really?”

“Please, she has a right to know,” Gordon implored.

“I don’t think this is an appropriate topic,” Samantha scolded him.

Ignoring her, he looked at Haley and said, “Haley, sweetheart, your big brother died bravely. He was strong.”

“I miss him every day,” Haley whimpered, tears now coming to her eyes.

“I miss him too,” Gordon said, and pulled her in close again. Just as he hugged her he reached out and grabbed Samantha’s hand.

At first, she flinched from his touch. He reached again; this time she allowed it and knelt down.

He looked at her and said, “I love you, Samantha, so much. I can never say I’m sorry enough for all the pain I’ve caused you.”

She touched his face. His warm tears ran through her fingers. “I love you too, Gordon.”

Dylan ran into Conner’s office unannounced.

“Mr. President, good news!”

“It better be with that kind of entrance.”

“Vice President Cruz is alive and well. He’s in Boise, Idaho.”

“Boise?”

“I don’t know the specifics, but I just got off the phone with the governor of Idaho and they’ve sent troops to his location.”

Conner interrupted Dylan and said, “I don’t care about the details, send a few helicopters to bring them back here. Go get them!”

“I thought you’d say that, so I gave the order to Baxter. Helicopters are on the way, sir!” Dylan exclaimed, then left the room as fast as he had entered it.

Conner swung around in his chair and stood up. He made a fist and raised it in the air. “Yes!”

The news was very good indeed. Having Cruz back would be a big morale boost. He missed his old friend and was excited for the future. He knew together they could rebuild a future in Cheyenne.

The one major obstacle was the PAE. But with Barone aligned, and additional ground combat elements close by, they could challenge Pablo and his mercenary army. But today wasn’t a time to think about those challenges. Today was a day to celebrate, and that is just what he intended to do. He jumped up, grabbed his coat, and headed out the door.

He saw Dylan, who was dialing a number on the phone. He interrupted him and said, “When you’re finished with the call, meet me downstairs, let’s go celebrate. I hear Pat has a damn good Irish coffee!”

With a smile from ear to ear, Dylan joyfully responded, “I’ll be right down, sir!”

Conner walked into the hallway and again fist-pumped the air with excitement. After weeks and weeks of bad news, this was a bright spot. Cheyenne had so far proven to be a bold and successful move and now he’d have his friend and colleague back. He wasn’t optimistic enough to think that more bad news wasn’t around the corner, but he decided to enjoy the brief respite that came his way today.

“What the hell happened here?” Sebastian gasped as he pulled up to the gates of Eagle’s Nest.

“I don’t think we should go in,” Annaliese cautioned.

“That last Gordon sign pointed to this place right here. I have to check it out. Slide over and get behind the wheel,” Sebastian said as he stepped out of the truck.

Dead bodies were scattered everywhere.

Sebastian walked by each one to make sure they weren’t Gordon or anyone else he knew.

He moved a few out of the way so Annaliese could pull in without running over the corpses.

Once in the neighborhood Sebastian jumped back in. “Let’s drive around.”

The neighborhood seemed empty until they saw a small group of people huddled around a Humvee.

“Over there, that looks promising,” he said as she pulled up to the house.

Everyone around the Humvee stared at the truck as it pulled in. Gordon didn’t know who it was and was on alert. They didn’t think Truman’s group would be back, but they could never be sure. He kept his hand on his gun, just in case.

Sebastian looked at Annaliese and said, “Stay here and keep the truck running.”

Gordon’s grip on his pistol tightened as he saw the passenger door open. Wilbur too had her gun at the ready.

When the door opened, Gordon couldn’t believe his eyes. There in front of him was his brother, Sebastian.

“Sebastian?!” Gordon asked, elated. His eyes lit up.

Sebastian squinted and noticed his brother. “Gordon!”

“What the hell!” Gordon exclaimed.

Cruz looked astonished at what seemed like an endless parade of reunions.

Sebastian ran up and hugged his brother.

“What are you doing here?” Gordon asked.

“I was heading to McCall when I saw the signs.”

“Same here! I saw the signs with my name on it.”

“What do you mean?” Sebastian asked, confused by Gordon last comment.

“I only arrived here a little before you did.”

“I don’t understand.” Sebastian looked at him oddly.

“It’s a long story; we’ll have plenty of time to share.”

Annaliese opened her door and exited.

“Who’s this?” Gordon asked.

Annaliese walked up to Gordon, and just before she hugged him, Sebastian said, “Gordon, this is Annaliese, my wife. Annaliese, my brother, Gordon.”

“Wife?”

“You’re not the only one with long stories,” Sebastian joked.

“Uncle Sebastian!” Haley squealed when she saw him from the house. She ran from the house and right into his arms.

Sebastian held her tight and squeezed her. He didn’t want to let her go. Holding her, he realized how much he had missed her and Hunter. “Where’s Hunter?” he asked, looking toward the house where Haley had appeared from.

Gordon looked down and couldn’t quite say it.

Haley didn’t have that problem. She said, “Hunter died.”

A grim look wiped away the joy he had. “What? What happened? Oh my God. Gordon, I’m so sorry, brother.”

Gordon didn’t answer right away. With a slight tremor in his voice he said, “Let’s talk about it later.”

“Sure thing.”

They all had so much to share.

The remainder of the daylight was spent removing the bodies of Truman’s people and preparing the corpses of those in their group. With the ground frozen, Gordon had ordered that Truman’s group be burned. Mack, Scott, and Frank’s bodies would be buried aboveground. The numerous granite rocks that littered the surrounding area would be used to cover their bodies until the spring.