Nathan Jones - First Winter

The colonel abruptly chuckled and offered his hand. “I made a jibe about your age when we first met, Larson, but you do a good job. I can see why you landed this job.”

“Thank you, Colonel. That means a lot.” After they exchanged a second handshake Matt indicated the crowd, and Grimes nodded and allowed himself to be led back that way. Hopefully he’d be willing to field a few questions and make further comments.

But just short of rejoining the Aspen Hill townspeople the older man stopped again. “By the way. The initial surplus given to the town, which Major Rogers largely used as an excuse to start this mess in the first place, was arranged by Sergeant Ethan Davis, with the support of Lieutenant Dell Faraday and approval by my staff.”

“Good to know,” Matt said. The news coming now was a surprise, but he’d suspected it would be something like that back when Corporal Bryant first delivered the supplies.

Grimes shook his head. “In fact it wasn’t a surplus at all. It was provided specifically for services rendered by the town and its volunteers, as well as the loan or gift of valuable heavy weaponry and its ammunition, a captured enemy truck and fuel along with a significant stock of supplies, and finally the sale of dozens of good condition M16s and 1911s.”

That certainly seemed reasonable, although Matt’s brow furrowed. “For that last one I was led to believe we already received payment.”

The colonel smiled slightly. “As I understand it you received verbal permission for first chance to sift through the trash Sergeant Davis left behind when he rolled out. That doesn’t seem like an equitable exchange.”

“So Rogers was trying to steal our own supplies from us, and lied about how we got them?”

Grimes shook his head slowly. “In this case I believe the Major was in fact misinformed as to specific details. But basically yes.”

Matt wasn’t so sure. Rogers was a bureaucrat, specific details were his bread and butter. But it wasn’t worth making an issue of. At least now there was even better assurance the military wouldn’t be coming after their supplies again. Hopefully now the town could get back to scrambling to survive in peace.

The colonel graciously accepted the refreshments Matt brought out to make the event a proper celebration. He stayed for a half hour or so chatting with the leaders of the town, discussing the future of the US.

At one point he took a swig of his powdered lemonade and grimaced. “Some folks have started calling what we’ve got here in the Rockies the New United States.” He spat off to one side. “New what? We’re US citizens, guarded by the US Armed Forces and occupying US territory. It’s irritating enough when people talk like we’re remnants of the country. What we need is to return to our roots, not abandon them for something new.”

“Maybe a bit of both is called for,” Lucas said mildly. “I’d also prefer to call ourselves the United States we still are, but I’d say the New United States at least gives a nod to our roots.”

“That may be,” the colonel grumbled. “But when the elections roll around I won’t be getting behind anyone who uses the name. How about the message it sends to the rest of the world? This is our home, our land. If we start acting like we’re a brand new country then the Gold Bloc and Canada and Mexico and everyone else will have no problem arguing we don’t have a legitimate claim, and will come try to take a piece of us.” He spat again. “Besides, New United States just sounds stupid. Name one country out there with “new” in its name.”

Predictably, Lewis was willing to field that one. “New Zealand and New Guinea, off the top of my head.”

Grimes waved that off. “Would you really want to be a citizen of the New United States?”

“Not really,” Matt admitted. There were a few nods around the group.

“I actually don’t care all that much,” Deb offered. “As long as it’s a stable country.”

Before Grimes left he had a gift for them. Specifically, six months of supplies for the wounded veterans and the recruited refugees. “Our job is to make sure everyone has their share,” he said by way of explanation. “I don’t know what this Corporal Bryant was thinking pawning veterans off on you without supplies for them. If anyone deserves their due, it’s those hurt protecting our country. If anything they deserve more than we can give, but this’ll have to do for now.”

“It’s more than enough,” Matt said. There was no shortage of volunteers to offload the much-needed supplies.

Then the senior officer was hopping into the passenger seat of his truck with a final wave, and the convoy rumbled up the road headed back to Manti.

As Matt stood watching them go, arms wrapped around Sam, Gutierrez sidled up to watch with them. “So when the Colonel pulled you aside, did he tell you what Rogers could expect for all the trouble he’s caused?”

Matt shrugged. “I heard what you did. Dishonorable discharge.”

“So that’s it?” Gutierrez demanded, glaring after the trucks. “Rogers caused the deaths of who knows how many people, and suffering for way more. A lot of innocent people, and even the guilty might not’ve deserved what happened to them before he drove them to it. And he gets to just walk away with no more than a light scolding?”

Matt shook his head. “That seems to be how the world works. The people who cause the most harm always avoid the consequences. It’s usually the innocent who suffer in their place.” He sighed. “I don’t like it either, but for me it’s enough that he’s been booted from the military so he’s not in a position to do any more harm. In the end whether he was jailed, exiled, put up in front of a firing squad, or just discharged from his commission, the results for all of us would be the same. The problem he was causing is solved, and hopefully his replacement will learn something from his mistakes.”

The former soldier spat off to the side. “Not after watching his predecessor royally screw up and get off scot free.”

There wasn’t much to say to that. “Would you consider a dishonorable discharge scot free?” Matt asked. His friend gave him a wounded look, and he guiltily realized that was basically what had happened to the former soldier. “Sorry, I didn’t—”

“Guess I’m the pot calling the kettle, huh?” Gutierrez cut in. Mumbling something in Spanish, he stalked off.

Sam watched him go, brow furrowed worriedly. “He’s not doing so great, is he? I should talk to Mary to see what she can do for him.”

Matt blinked. “I didn’t realize they were that serious.”

His wife shrugged. “She thinks they’re getting there. I hope so… they’d be an adorable couple.”

Interesting. Hopefully that would help Gutierrez get over whatever was eating him. Still… “I’ll have a talk with him.” Matt pulled her a bit closer. “But first can we enjoy a few minutes knowing our troubles with Rogers are finally over?”

“Sounds good,” she agreed, leaning back against him with a contented sound.

The morning three days after Grimes returned with his news that the bandit problem was resolved found Matt cuddling with Sam under a blanket, listening to a book on tape from Lewis’s archives on her phone.

She’d been up most of the night, unable to sleep and bundling up to visit the latrine several times. Dr. Maggy had assured them that neither of those things were particularly unusual, but stressed that Sam needed to try to rest more. So Matt was setting aside his duties for a moment to relax with her, just to make sure she did.

It was his first chance to enjoy some much needed time with his wife for what seemed like weeks, during the day when neither of them were asleep. Which they both really could use after everything that had happened.