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Explorer
973 Posts |
 Posted - October 10 2006 : 7:08:01 PM
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Challenger had left his flight gear in India, save for his revolver and boots, so he had to be outfitted before the mission. Tom signed out a car and driver and they went out to the base and got Arthur equipped. Then they drove to the officers' club for dinner and arranged temporary quarters, with a message to be wakened in ample time for their departure. They brandished a letter from the Supreme Commander and his Deputy, which opened all doors with alacrity, and were shown to the flight line to inspect the Mustangs as they arrived from wherever they had been requisitioned. The ferry pilots were cheerful men who shared some, "And, there I was..." tales with the others as the ground crews refueled the planes and checked the guns and the cameras. Both men had flown over the front the day before, and said that flak was intermittant, and enemy fighters were few. Sporadic small arms fire was a real danger at low altitude, though.
"I don't think we're gonna have many new aces in this war, y'all," drawled a pilot from Georgia. "I got 15 kills, myself, but don't know that I'll get many more, and these boys just arrivin'...they're gonna be lucky to shoot down any. The Luftwaffe just isn't sending up many planes against us except when we escort the bombers. And, that's a mixed blessing. You really gotta watch it, or some damned flak burst they aimed at a B-17 can blow your own butt to hell and beyond! I'd sure rather be flying fighters than be stuck in one of those B-17's or B-24's, with enemy planes and all that ack-ack comin' right at you. And those bombers have to hold tight formation, too, in their "boxes". It makes them vulnerable to flak, but they can interconnect their gunners' fields of fire, and rake the Luftwaffe fighters something awful. I'd hate to be one of those Kraut pilots attacking a bomber formation. But they shoot down a lot of our planes. Say, Colonel, aren't you that guy who won the Medal of Honor in Burma? I saw that in, "Stars and Stripes" and it was on the radio. Might I have your autograph, Sir, if that's an okay thing to ask?"
Howard took out his pen and a notebook and obliged both men and signed a few other autographs for their commander and a few of their friends. He felt foolish and like a Hollywood star. But it gave him the idea to catch Doolittle in a good mood and ask for HIS autograph. With luck, the general wouldn't think him too shallow, and would understand that he was a historical figure, and grant the autograph. Tom wanted to show that to his family someday.
After the mechanics and armorers announced that the planes were fit, the pilots trooped off to get some sleep. Tom had gotten his gear at the Barclays' earlier, telling the family that he wouldn't be home for a day or two. So, that was taken of.
By six AM, they had eaten at the officers' mess and been driven out to their planes. They settled on a code word for their unit, Recon Green Flight. As senior officer, Challenger was Recon Green Leader.
Now, the ground crewmen pulled out the wheel chocks, and the men pressed their starters. The Rolls-Royce Merlin engines groaned, caught, and the four-bladed propellers began to turn. Exhaust fumes coughed out the pipes, and the Merlins' pitch rose to a roar. They slid the bubble canopies shut and radioed the tower for takeoff clearance, arranging their parachute-fitted bodies in the seats, buckling in, and and getting the oxygen masks ready.
Clearance came, and the two P-51D's rolled forward and accelerated in tandem down the wide runway. The tail wheels lifted, then the main wheels, and they retracted their landing gear. They circled the field, took compass bearings for their target area, and were off, climbing to 16,000 feet.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
973 Posts |
Posted - October 10 2006 : 8:41:26 PM
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They were over the Channel now, and made a few manuevers to be sure sure how the planes handled. Tom liked the way the Mustang turned almost as well as a Spitfire, but rolled and dived even better. His previous reservations about the guns jamming on the earlier models had been rectified on the P-51D, and it had six guns to the P-51B's four. The bubble canopy gave a wide, clear view, and the response when he tried the stick was quick and eager. This lighter plane would officially go 437 miles per hour to the Thunderbolt's 425, which wouldn't hurt. That, and the manueverability helped to compensate for the less rugged construction, and the Mustang was still a tough aircraft.
He and Challenger turned their eyes toward the coast as they approached Europe. Now, they could go well inland before German fire was a factor. Scant months before, just passing over the coast would have netted volumes of flak, the shells reaching up to destroy them, if possible.
Now, the Ardennes were ahead, and the cold snow and the trees hid friend and foe alike. Tom was glad that he wasn't an infantryman freezing on the ground below.
They decided that they were in the right area, found some landmarks, and Tom stayed high to offer cover as his friend went into a dive and rolled on his left side to activate his camera.
The run completed, Arthur rolled upright, and they went to the next objective. Again, they made the pass sucessfully, but on the third run, they saw German tanks below, and machinegun bullets rattled along his fuselage and flashed trails of tracers past his cockpit. He made his run and climbed, tracer tracking him as the Mustang rose in maximum climb.
Other runs produced waves from British or American troops, and Arthur rocked his wings in return.
Finally, Arthur activated his radio. "Recon Green Leader to Recon Green One. I have the snapshots, Tom. Lets head for home and see if that lot have got any tea hot for us."
"Recon Green One. Suits, pal. Come on up and lets' do it."
As Arthur climbed, Tom swiveled his head, ever alert for enemy aircraft. So far, the only planes they had seen were ranks of RAF Typhoons waiting for a call from ground troops to attack German armor or roadblocks. A few Spitfires and Mustangs had swept by in the distance, and once they had swung wide of a box of B-26's en route to ruin a railway marshalling yard.
Now, Tom saw a line of specks coming up rapidly behind them, a finger-four formation that was clearly single-engine fighters. Something about the way they flew made Tom uneasy, and he watched them carefully, beginning to climb in case he needed altitude. He called out to Arthur, warning him of suspicious aircraft.
Arthur had a better view from below and caught the silhouttes as the planes came out of a cloud. He started and grabbed his microphone.
"Recon Green One!", he shouted, "Drop your auxilliary tanks and prepare to attack. Bandits! Those are FW-190's!"
The Luftwaffe Schwarm leader had identified the Mustang in front of him, but not seen Arthur slicing up from below. He turned his nose toward Tom, cooly preparing to attack. Oberleutnant Hans Richter was a veteran of two years of aerial combat, and a highly skilled fighter pilot. Due to recent losses, he was now Staffelkapitan of his squadron, and was flying today with another very experienced man and two new pilots who hoped to learn enough from their peers to stay alive until the war ended.
Tom dropped his spare fuel tanks and rolled over and roared back into the teeth of his attackers. This startled them, and the four broke, scattering, one diving toward Arthur, who promptly lined him up in the gunsight and gave him a two-second squirt from his .50 caliber guns.The radial-engined Focke-Wulf flew right into a hail of lead, his engine bursting into flame as the canopy shattered and the pilot rocked spastically as the big bullets hammered into his head and chest. Arthur saw the other man's canopy burst, and swerved right, pulling his Mustang up tightly into a climb to help Tom as the dead German's plane flashed by 30 feet below him.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
973 Posts |
Posted - October 12 2006 : 01:37:35 AM
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The fighters swirled and roared about the sky, each pilot trying his best to avoid being killed while slaying the enemy. Tom found a Focke-Wulf hot on his tail, and half rolled into the tightest turn that the Mustang could manage, pressure snatching at his wings. The German spun out while trying to follow,, and Tom recovered to turn the tables, getting on the FW-190's tail and firing two short bursts to bring his guns on target. Then, when he saw the tracers smacking into the foe, he held the trigger down for a three second burst, the .50 caliber bullets thundering into the fuselage and right wing root of his target until it burst into flames and spun out of control, the pilot probably dead, the plane rotating downward in a spiral, trailing smoke down the sky as it became a fiery funeral pyre for the dead pilot.
Howard heard bullets pinging into his own left wing, and turned hard to port, the Staffelkapitan flashing past. He tried to outclimb the American, to make an Immelmann loop and regain the advantage. But he was too late, Arthur Challenger having closed the distance within firing range. The Group Captain pressed his trigger briefly, and the FW-190 shuddered briefly, the canopy flying off. The pilot rolled over, dropping free of the cockpit, and Arthur forced himself to hold his fire as the man escaped.
The lone remaining German pilot turned and ran for the Fatherland as fast as his engine would rev. He had just seen three of his fellows shot down within two minutes,and he had no desire to join them. The horror stories that he had heard of the nimble Mustang and its skilled pilots were true, and he wished desperately to avoid these two veterans who worked so well in tandem.
Howard saw the parachute open below and ran down alongside, staying far enough out so as not to collapse the canopy from his prop wash or the disturbance of his passage. He waggled his wings, shocking the German, who had been afraid that he would be shot up, swinging beneath his 'chute. Now, he grinned reluctantly and saluted the American as Howard turned off and climbed.
"Bloody showman. We should have shot that sod," grumbled Challenger. "He'll likely get into another plane and kill one of our mates tomorrow."
"Yes, but what a tale to tell our wives and the little nippers when they arrive: the day that Daddy didn't blow someone away and instead acted chivarously."
"What little nippers?," demanded Challenger. "What have you been doing with my sister, Thomas, my lad?" But Tom heard his chuckle before Arthur released the microphone switch.
The Mustangs pulled up alongside one another and turned again for England. They saw no more aircraft on the way home save for a half- crippled Mosquito that had smoke trailing from the starboard engine. They fell in with it, accompanying it home, the pilot and his assistant waving their thanks for the armed escort.
Back on base, the film off to the lab, they apologized to the ferry pilots as all looked over the holes in their planes. Challenger and Howard narrated their escapades, each witnessing the other's kills.
The ground crews said that they could patch up the planes and the U.S. pilots said that their own men would finish the work more professionally.
The film was processed as they had a drink at the club after changing out of their flying clothes, and they were off to London in a staff car, to deliver the pictures to Eisenhower. Theirs had been a stimulating adventure!
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
973 Posts |
Posted - October 13 2006 : 5:59:52 PM
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On reaching London, both officers reported to the Supreme Commander's headquarters and were passed into his situation room, where both Ike and Tedder were conferring with Gen. Omar Bradley and Gen. Sir Harold Alexander. Eisenhower accepted the film, and thanked the pilots.
"I understand that you fellows managed to get into a dogfight in spite of my admonitions," Ike observed. "But you got back, and that's what counts. Congratulations on your new scores. How many does this make for each of you?"
"Sir," said Howard, "I believe that the Group Captain has 26 kills now. I got lucky during that session with the Japanese in which I won the Medal of Honor, and today's was my 28th. Arthur?"
"Yes, 26. But the war isn't over yet. Maybe I'll catch up. I think I have a better chance of seeing more combat than you have, chum."
"Well, look after yourselves. I'll try to arrange for you two to have some time off for the weddings as soon as possible. Check with your fiancees and let me know when you need it. That was some good work you did in getting these photos. Now, we have to finish up here, if you'll excuse us. Return to your normal duties for now." And Eisenhower took the film to the technician who would run it in the darkened briefing room after the pilots had gone.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
973 Posts |
Posted - October 13 2006 : 6:21:43 PM
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The German offensive was gradually reversed and Tom and Arthur were able to find time to have dinner one night at La Content, where their women were ecstatic about seeing them. Astrid had been staying with her future in-laws, at Baroness Challenger's invitation, and she and Caroline were getting well acquainted. She especially loved riding with the other ladies, and was charmed, if somewhat overwhelmed, as she learned what it would mean to become a Challenger bride.
The Baron was friendlier to Tom, having come to terms with Caroline's longing for the American. He loved his daughter, and had grudgingly conceded that Finn was right in pointing out that Caroline would move away whoever she married, and that she would still visit several times a year, about all that might be expected, unless she married someone local. And the only young man she had really liked in the area had died in the battle for North Africa...
The family sat with drinks after dinner, warmed with companionship, good food and the fireplace. They decided on Jan. 18 as the wedding date, and exchanged presents that they had been unable to give at Christmas, as the grooms -to- be were unable to get away from London then.
Caroline eventually excused herself, saying that she wanted to show Tom the library. That wasn't all that she showed him, and the couple were soon breathless.
"Baby, I've missed you so much that they'd have to create a new word to tell how much. Nothing in the thesaurus will do my emotions justice. I checked, I swear I did. Caroline, I was scared to death of committment, but with you, I feel like we were meant to be, and just waiting all our lives for one another until we met." Tom held her close, and she ground her pelvis into his, kissing him like there was no tomorow. For them, with the war on, she knew that there might not be! She had been proud of him and Arthur and their flight over Belgium, but was glad that she hadn't known until they were back that it had happened.
Now, they sat in one anothers' arms, talking softly until Finn knocked tactfully on the door before pushing it open to inquire whether they had found any good books. It was obvious from her grin that she hadn't really thought they were doing much reading. Tom decided then and there that he liked his future mother-in-law much more than he had expected to.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
973 Posts |
Posted - October 13 2006 : 6:59:19 PM
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On Jan. 12, the Challengers and the Roxtons drove into London to attend the ceremony when Eisenhower presented the Distinguished Service Cross to Tom Howard. The reception room at the embassy was full of dignitaries, and the media were excited to have the story of an American hero who had now received both of the top honors that his nation could present for gallantry in battle.
After the ceremony, in which he had also presented several other medals to recepients, Eisenhower came over and met the Challenger clan. He already knew Arthur, of course, and wanted to make the acquaintaince of the family, aware that this would ease his constant burden of getting along with the British, some of whom resented the numbers of Americans whose help they had needed to suppress Hitler. The complaints of the ordinary man, that the Yanks were overpaid, oversexed, and "over here" were less a problem for him than the egos of the leaders with whom he had to interact, while keeping things on track to win the war. Montgomery wasn't the only prickly general with whom Ike had to contend, and it said much for the future President that he coped as well as he did. Being photographed with the famous Challenger family and Lord and Lady Roxton made him seem more acceptable to the British public and his military peers, and they were witty, charming people. The Barclays had also been invited to the ceremony, the parents, at least, and the general promised Astrid and Caroline that he would do all in his considerable power to see that their present wedding plans weren't disrupted. He thanked Lord Barclay for his efforts to raise funds for the war, and for his work with the rationing board, and excused himself. "I hate to run," he explained, "but the war won't wait."
The Barclays hosted the entourage in their home, where they had access to some things that it wouldn't do to be seen consuming in public, in times when rationing made life hard for most civilians.
Finn and Marguerite had contributed preserves and honey from their estates, and Tom was glad to get the honey, that being a culinary weakness of his. He managed to spirit Caroline away after lunch and they enjoyed an hour alone until the visitors had to return to their homes. Caroline had made him wear the Medal of Honor during dinner and she touched it and the DSC gently as they parted. "I'm not as impressed with our DSO, " she announced, "Even my brother has one of those!" But Arthur took it well, just threatening to pull her hair if she didn't show more respect for the high award. And then, they were gone, travelling in two Rolls-Royces and the family chauffeur taking Arthur to his quarters in the Barclays' Bentley.
Lady Barclay came to stand beside Tom as he watched the Challengers leave, and asked gently, "You love Caroline so very much, don't you, Tom? It shows, you know. Well, soon, she will be yours for all time, and I wish you two the best of everything. Charles and I are honored to have had you share our home, but I know that no home can compare to the one that you will make with that young lady." She was right of course, and Tom felt empty as he watched Caroline drive off.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
973 Posts |
Posted - October 16 2006 : 1:42:43 PM
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Finally, the day came. Wedding! Tom was attended by a friend from the embassy, acting as his best man. Tom joked that he needed a "best man", for his nerves were such that he certainly wasn't at his best. The best man, who was an OSS agent named John Bowen, posing as a cultural attache, laughed and told him that most grooms probably felt that way. "I certainly did when I married three years ago," he confessed.
They got him ready, in "pink and greens" dress uniform, with his Sam Browne belt. He had never bought a U.S. sword, and wore his RAF sword, purchased when he had flown for Britain before American entry into the war. It was made by Wilkinson Sword, the best purveyor of such things, and was a prized possession. He had made Roxton, who was Arthur Challenger's best man, promise to have a cloth and water handy, followed with an oily cloth to wipe down the blade after he had cut the cake. Arthur thought that this was "a capital idea" and told Roxton to be prepared to clean off two swords. The Victoria Cross winner and multimillionaire lord had agreed, amused, yet impressed that these men loved and cared for their equipment.
Tom had shined his boots and belt to a gleam, polishing his brass insignia, too. He was, of course, expected to wear his decorations, and he was proud when he looked in the mirror to see the Medal of Honor on its starred blue ribbon, and the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and his other American awards on one side of his breast and the white cross of the Distinguished Service Order of Great Britain on the other. The eagle on his cap shone, and he touched the silver pilot's wings on his coat with affection. "Here I go again," he mused, "Off into the wild blue yonder, but this time, the quarry is different. I hope that girl loves me as much as she seems to. I certainly feel incomplete without her, and that's a first for me. I guess that's love, not infatuation, but I'm pretty infatuated with her, too. I just hope that feeling lasts a lifetime."
Arthur came into the room they were using in the Challenger manor, and checked him out.
"You look presentable, Old Chap. You've even shaved. Caroline said to be sure that you had; she doesn't want to be kissed at the altar by some man whose beard scratches her." He chuckled, aware that Tom was invariably well turned out.
"Arthur," he replied, "the altar isn't where your sister needs to be be careful of my beard. That's more likely to be a factor tomorrow morning when I wake her and see whether she wants to enjoy wild passion before breakfast."
Arthur cleared his throat and looked uncomfortable. "Hmpf. Fair enough," he allowed. "Perhaps I shouldn't have raised that particular issue. I know the girl is besotted with you. Aunt Marguerite told me so. See here, Howard, I expect you to look after Caroline well. She and I razz one another rather a lot, but that woman is my sister, and I love her dearly. Do well by her, will you?" And he seemed sincerely concerned.
Tom reached out and touched Arthur on the shoulder and said that he would indeed look after Caroline, and that she meant the world to him. Roxton had come in and said now that he felt that he knew Tom well enough to know that Caroline was getting a man worthy of her, and that Arthur could trust Tom as he could few others.
"Hey, Arthur," jibed Tom, "I even look after you when enemy fighters try to clobber you, and your sister is a lot better looking than you are. Don't worry: I care very deeply for her. She's in good hands, or will be, as soon as that preacher or priest or whatever you call them officially announces that she's mine."
Arthur thought briefly, then nodded, and extended his right hand, which Tom shook. Both men smiled, satisfied that they understood the love that each had for the same woman, and that she was indeed going to be in good hands. "The sun rises and sets on Caroline," Tom declared.
"Ah, now that's not quite so," chuckled Roxton. "Her parents have preempted that honor. " And he told, with amusement, the tale of how the elder Challengers had had a running joke between them on that remote Plateau where they had met. George had told Finn that she was of "celestial importance", for the sun rose and set on her. She, in turn, had insisted that he had it backwards, and the sun's movements and radiance revolved around him. "It was very touching, " Roxton laughed, "but the rest of us were relieved when the two of them finally decided that the sun shone on them as a couple, and that each of them activated its rays or whatever happens when the Sun rises and sets on someone. Arthur, have you heard that story before?"
The men made small talk for awhile, and the OSS man produced a bottle of excellent cognac and some snifter glasses. "You grooms feel like some liquid courage?", he teased, and all four men took a snifter and raised their glasses in a toast. "To marriage. I hope." offered Arthur, and they drank.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
973 Posts |
Posted - October 16 2006 : 3:33:10 PM
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Caroline and her mother were putting the finishing touches on her gown and makeup when Astrid and her maid of honor, a girl from a neighboring home, came in. This maiden, Sienna Hampton-Reeves, had gotten to be good friends with the Dutch lass, and Sienna had made Astrid promise to toss her the bouquet after the wedding. "I could use some of that luck in snaring a man for myself," she observed. "I think I'm fairly decent looking and bright enough and I know how to make a man happy, but they'll all off having their war, and the pickings here are slim. Maybe if I catch that bouquet and go into London with it..."
Caroline and Finn snorted and told her that with her looks, about which she had been modest, she would have her pick of men, bouquet or no bouquet.
The women looked one another over and Sienna produced a bucket with a bottle of chilled champagne in it and had a maid bring in some crystal flutes.
"Just one glass each, ladies, " cautioned Finn. "I have an idea that we'll have our sobriety tested quite enough at the reception here after the ceremony. I don't want to embarrass my husband by having to lean on him to stay upright at our childrens' wedding."
They giggled, and passed around their glasses, with Sienna making the rounds with the bottle.
"That gown looks lovely, Caroline," razzed Sienna. "But it has rather a lot of hooks. Are you sure that Tom will be able to figure out how to get it off of you?"
"Never you fear," Caroline shot back. "You know how innovative and technically skilled the Yanks are. Anyway, if Tom has any trouble, I'll help him. Oh, what that man does to me...Uh, sorry, Mum. I guess that wasn't awfully ladylike of me." She blushed, taking a sip of champagne to hide her embarrassment. The ladies tittered, and Finn shook her head, smiling. She remembered her own wedding, which was different in a sense, for she and her groom had already lived together for several years in a wilderness, and knew each other so intimately on all levels that they sometimes seemed to communicate by telepathy. But she had been nervous, all the more so because of the news stories about her having "lived in sin" and produced a child by her lover before they had even known that his prior wife was dead. Those memories still wounded her, for her love was no less pure or intense than that of a virgin, and was a lot more informed.
Astrid asked about this now, hesitantly, wondering if Finn had had bride's nerves on her wedding night. Finn saw that all were listening carefully, so she told the truth, saying that she had indeed been shy, because the ceremony was imposing, even if she had given her heart and her body to George Challenger long before she was allowed to be his legal wife. "I'm the only bride I've known who had to arrange for a babysitter before her wedding," she admitted, "for we had had Arthur on that Plateau. But everyone close to us was so kind, and George himself made sure that I knew that he treasured me more than ever, and that helped so much. Your father is a wonderful man, Darling, not just a genius in the lab. He also knows how to make a woman feel really valued. When I met him, I was pretty torn up inside and had some bad dreams from the life I'd lived before I was rescued by him. He's made me so glad to know him and to just be alive, being who I became, that I want to dance whenever I think about him. I hope that Tom will have that effect on you."
Caroline nodded soberly. "He already does, Mum. When he looks at me, I feel like I was being lifted onto that pedestal thing that Daddy made for you. Look, Astrid doesn't know how hard it was to overcome public opinion and get Daddy's barony. Will you tell her? I love that story." And she looked pleadingly at Finn, who agreed to tell the tale.
The ladies gathered around, and Finn narrated how some moralists had railed against the idea of a barony when it had been proposed. For a time, it looked as if the offer would be withdrawn, and there had been some ugly letters to editors and a few malicious headlines, for the Challengers were notorious as well as famous. In the end, Winston Churchill, then out of office but a confidant of King Edward VIII and a friend of the Challengers and the Roxtons, who had supported him politically, had gone to the King. He had reminded His Majesty of the malice that some bore him for his love of the American divorcee, Wallis Simpson, and the King, his sympathy aroused, had made it clear that there would be no further speculation. He had created the first Baron Challenger within the week. Fortunately, when Edward had abdicated to marry the woman whom he loved, no resentment of the Challengers seemed to have carried over in the Royal Family when George VI had unexpectedly ascended the throne as his elder brother stepped down to become the Duke of Windsor.
"That is an astonishing and impressive story, Baroness," spoke Sienna. "I was very young then, but I recall hearing my parents talk about it. You and the Baron were somewhat notorious, true, but you were also widely admired, and many loved the two of you for your adventures, which your books and films made so real for us. And your union, if unorthodox, was so romantic! Much like that of Sir Samuel and Lady Baker! My mother adored you, and still does. But you must know that. She'd never have let Caroline and me become best friends if she hadn't respected you."
They heard the butler clear his throat from the bottom of the stairs beyond the room. "Ahem. Baroness, the car is ready."
"Right, ladies, " said Finn. "Lose the glasses and cork that bottle. We're off to get my children married. And, Sienna, thank you for saying that. Your mother is one of my dearest friends, but it is good to know what you said." She brushed a tear from her eye and looked for her gloves and coat. Mother of the bride AND the groom, that's me, she thought.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
973 Posts |
Posted - October 21 2006 : 9:05:37 PM
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The vicar stood at the front of the village church, secretly thrilled to be performing one of the most socially important weddings of the year. He adjusted the seam of his cassock, and turned to talk with parishoners who spoke with him as they filed into the cathedral. Many were lords, ladies, even an earl, for this region of Kent was the home of many of Britain's most desirable families.
Now, a member of the congregation asked why there were soldiers in red caps and white pistol belts sudenly in the parking lot. The vicar shrugged off the question, saying that the grooms were officers, and that the Military Police were doubtless there to watch the cars of the wealthy guests. Now, though, he was mystified by two men in dark suits who came to him and whispered things that caused the minister's eyebrows to shoot toward the vaulted roof of the church. Such things did not often happen in rural parishes, and this came as a surprise. He listened carefully to their instructions, answered a few questions, and waited to see what would come to pass.
The guests had nearly all been seated, when the door was held open for a couple that he recognized as the Prime Minister and Mrs. Churchill to enter, Mr. Churchill holding his famed bowler hat in hand. They stood just inside, obviously waiting for someone, then stepped forward and greeted...Her Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth, the heiress to the Throne! Clementine Churchill and other ladies nearby curtsied, and the gentlemen bowed, awestruck at the presence of the Sovereign's daughter in this chapel! Princess Elizabeth spoke softly, with little affectation, then led the way down to the reserved seating that had been set aside for the Royal party. The princess was escorted by a young naval officer, and had with her three ladies- in -waiting, her personal detective, and a secretary, as well as the Prime Minister's party.
People on all sides stared, whispered, and drank in the sight.
Now, the time for gawking passed, the minister rose to speak. He addressed the assembly, commenting only briefly on the honor the presence of Her Royal Highness and the Prime Minister brought to the ceremony, then began a brief summary of the events to unfold, about the double wedding of Baron and Baroness Challenger's two children and a note of how much the presence of the Challenger family in his pews had meant to the church over the years.
Then, the grooms came forth, were welcomed, and their best men stood by them.
The rest was fairly routine, although very impressive, given the identities of the participants and the elegance of the gowns and the floral arrangements.
Tom Howard and Arthur Challenger got through it well, and then the audience sighed and gasped as the orchestra played the wedding march and the brides came down the aisle. Baron Challenger escorted his daughter, and a nobleman of the parish, Sir Garrick Malory, escorted Astrid van Rijn, whose last name was about to change.
The rest of the ordeal, as Tom thought of it, went well, and he and his friend and battle companion got through the responses to the vicar's, "And do you, Thomas Alan, and you, Arthur John George, take these women, Caroline Elizabeth Marguerite and Astrid Birgit, to be your lawfully wedded wives, to have and to hold, to cherish and to honor, and to cleave unto them only, throughout sickness and in health, throughout your natural lives?"
They did, the best men produced the rings, and the grooms dutifully slipped them onto the brides' fingers. The vicar droned on for a bit, the usual things that reverends say in the Protestant church on such occasions.
The time came to kiss the brides, and Tom looked into Caroline's eyes, and saw stars there. He felt ten feet tall, and knew a thrill beyond that of aerial combat or of seeing an immense buck on the opening day of deer season. And he felt an immense peace within his soul. This woman is the one for me, he realized, more fully than ever before. He lifted her veil, and smiled into her eyes before he tenderly kissed her lips. The audience sensed the deep devotion and tenderness and there was an audible sigh and whispers.
Beside them, Arthur and Astrid kissed, and she reached out and hugged her new husband. The realization that he was now married struck Arthur and he trembled within. Gad, dead so young, he muttered mentally. But then, he looked at Astrid, and thought, well, I died game, and look at what I got! If I had to marry, I chose well. He winked mischievously as he leaned to kiss her. She, startled, grinned back and enthusiastically received his lips, perhaps a little more vigorously than the vicar had been accustomed to seeing, for he looked mildly disapproving, had anyone bothered to notice his expression.
The wedding concluded, the brides and grooms left the church, walking beneath an arch of blades as officers at the entrance drew swords and raised them for the couple to pass beneath.
At the reception, they cut the cake. Lord Roxton smiled as he cleaned off the swords and returned them to their owners, the couples offering bites of the cakes to their new spouses.
Cameras flashed, and the couples posed for both private and press photographers, for not only was the wedding an event of marque, the grooms were highly decorated officers, one due shortly for knighthood. Tom was mildly surprised to see US newsmen, but recalled that as a Medal of Honor winner, he was news. The ceremony was international news also because the Challenger family was well known for George's inventions and for Finn's books. And the doings of billionaires and their offspring tended to attract notice...
The Princess Elizabeth and the Prime Minister and Mrs. Churchill shook hands, received fawning and adoration from the guests, and then announced that official duties called them elsewhere. But they first personally greeted the married couples and the Challenger family. Tom was very impressed to shake Her Royal Highness's hand and that of Winston Churchill, and a little awed that this wedding had attracted such distinguished guests. One of the Princess's ladies-in-waiting turned out to be a childhood friend of Caroline and Arthur and Tom was again struck by the prominence of the family into which he had just married. Oh, well, he reasoned, if you're going to do something, you may as well do it on a grand scale.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
973 Posts |
Posted - November 03 2006 : 01:47:41 AM
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The honeymoons were abbreviated due to war needs, and the couples planned to take more leisurely ones after peace had come, if the men survived. And it looked as if they might be able to remain in desk jobs for the most part, although this rankled, given their martial spirits.
Arthur and Astrid went to Scotland, to an inn that Arthur knew that was located strategically to let them tour much of the historical areas.
Tom and Caroline chose a hotel in London for their first night together, then went to a hotel in Surrey, hoping to avoid some of the worst winter weather in years. They warned Arthur and Astrid, but the other couple were firm about the Scottish journey, and Tom soon relented, not wishing to alienate his brother-in-law.
A car from the Challenger estate dropped them in London, and the concierge at the famous establishment greeted them effusively, for they had been in the news, and were recognized. The manager personally saw them to their suite, and ensured that they had a bottle of good champagne and any other creature comforts that his celebrated house could provide.
Left alone finally, Tom and his bride unpacked only as much as they might need during their stay, as they wanted to keep most of their things ready to grab and run if German bombs or rockets started a fire or caused the building to fall. The odds of a direct hit on this hotel were slim, but Tom was a survivor, and Caroline readily saw his case, having been in perilous situations before in wild countries.
He took the bottle from its iced bucket, pouring them each a glass, and they revelled at the taste of it, the tiny bubbles lending an effervescence to their companionship. They began to recover from the stress of the wedding, the snowy ride in from Kent, and of meeting the distinguished guests. Tom took off his sword, tie and shirt.
They sat on the bed, touching, talking quietly as it fully dawned on them that they were now man and wife.
She was shy initially, but his skilled probing of her lips with his own, and his wonderful hands sliding over her face, neck, back and hips aroused her passion, and he soon had her dress off. He told her to stand in front of him and remove the petticoats and the rest of anything that hindered his view. He untied his shoes and set them under a bedside chair and leaned back to watch her disrobe.
Caroline blushed scarlet. "And who do you think I am, Col. Howard," she demanded. "A striptease artiste from some club that you and your mates frequent?"
"No, baby, you have more class than those girls do, and I plan to be your only customer. I just want to see your beauty revealed to me, area by lovely area. You can do this, Caroline. You look even better than those strippers do, and you're a princess compared to them. Have confidence, Honey. I may applaud what I see, but I won't embarrass you or criticize your technique. I just want to watch as you show yourself to me completely, for the first time."
She complied, hamming it up a bit as she got into the act, humming a risque song that she knew THOSE sort of girls danced to, and Tom's face broke out into a grin so wide that she was inspired and gave it her all. She knew that he was appreciating not only the view but her sense of humor and parody, and that seemed to make this performance a lark, rather than something sordid. Another deep sip of the champagne helped matters along, too. She recalled something that she had once heard Lord Roxton say, about champagne making girls want to dance and drop their pants. Apparently, he had known what he was talking about, for she realized a growing desire to relax and let nature take its course as she revealed herself. I'm not really going to drop my "pants", though, she resolved. I'm going to make Tom take them off me. For some reason, I've dreamed of that, wondered just how he will do it...
But when she had divested herself of her petticoats and stood in a bustier, she couldn't manipulate the multiple hooks, and he had to unfasten her, pulling her down onto his lap, and kissing her ears and neck as he flipped the hooks loose.
Ohmigosh, thought Caroline. I was joking when I told Sienna about how the Yanks handle tough engineering jobs. This man DOES know his way around getting a girl naked! Then, the bustier was off, and he tossed it aside, drawing his fingers across her nipples, first on one side, then the other. She jumped as the effect hit her, and she recalled the sensations that he had unleashed when caressing her breasts in India, behind that Jeep in the jungle and in the Garden of Desire in the palace. What he had had limited access to then, though, was his to have and to hold fully tonight, and he took total advantage of it.
Caroline moaned and ran her fingers through his hair, feeling him unsnap her garter belt (suspender belt in her language). He undid each strap's clasp, easing the stockings off, careful of them, for good hose were rationed, and not easily replaceable in the wartime economy. Then, he slipped the garter belt free of her panties, and threw it on the chair.
Tom stood, walked over to the chair, and draped her stockings over it, then took off his trousers and folded them on the seat. He turned to face Caroline, and she gasped slightly as she saw the size of the erection within his shorts. Can THAT actually fit insde me, she wondered, for she was nearly a virgin, despite having done much else in foreplay with other admirers. Her only prior lover was the young officer who had been so dear to her, killed in Tunisia. Caroline had admitted this to Tom before she had accepted his proposal, knowing that honesty would be the best policy with this man. He had shrugged it off, something that many others would not have done, given the moral temper of the times. Perhaps he knew that the war had loosened the degree of maidenly virtue that many girls would have maintained in peace. Or, maybe he just wanted her and knew that a former affair shouldn't prevent this twosome from becoming a couple. Besides, she was quite sure that HE had had previous lovers, and she didn't even want to know how many. Of course, for a man, it was different...however unfair that was.
She lay now on the bed, dressed only in lacy white knickers, moving to his touch as he lay beside her, reaching for her trigger points, toying with her, moving her hand away from the lamp switch when she tried to hide in darkness.
"No, Caroline, " he murmured into her ear. "I want to see you. So lovely, so fine, so classic a beauty. Oh, Baby, you are what all women wish they could be, what men dream of, if they have taste and discernment. I want to look. "
And he stood, taking in the length of her body, having her place her hands behind her head, despite her protest, that he might see her from the top of her head to her toes. Tom sighed appreciatively.
Then he had her cross her ankles, and lifted her feet, reaching for the waistband of her knickers. He had her stripped before she had completely reacted to what he was doing, and now he pried her arms off her breasts as she sought to cover them.
"You don't ever have to hide anything that beautiful, Caroline," he told her. "I want to see it all, to marvel at your lovliness. You are so hot, Honey, I can't take my eyes off of you. Oh, more champagne? I forgot that bottle, and we have the glasses right there on the nightstand."
She smothered a giggle. Dom Perignon, at a time like this, when she was trembling for his continued touch? "Lets save it for later," she suggested. "We'll be more relaxed then, and I don't want to interrupt your present train of thought." She realized how that sounded, and she did giggle. Maybe I HAVE had enough "bubbly" for awhile, she mused, but I don't have to worry about the effect making me drop my pants, thank you very much, for I know precisely how my husband chose to get them off of me. He certainly didn't waste any time doing it, either!
Tom took her to him, plying her with his hands and lips until she felt that she would explode before she registered that he was tossing his shorts onto the chair and she saw what they had hidden. Caroline took in her breath audibly, and Tom grinned, a leer of masculine pride. He moved her hand to his erection, and she took it and stroked it, admiring it as he cautioned her to be careful lest she achieve something with her hand that she might prefer to accomplish with another portion of her anatomy.
She lay open, feeling him at the entrance to her body, then she took the head of his member and eased it into her nether lips, gasping as he entered. He was careful not to tax her, moving in slowly as she expanded to receive him, touching and whispering endearments as she responded to his body and his words. She found both very appealing and gasped with passion as they began moving in unison.
Later, she would remember the lust that they had shared, recalling each delicious motion as they moved together. He had driven her to the brink of explosion three times before she finally orgasmed, her legs wrapped around his waist, holding on as if for life itself! Later, he had made her kneel, head low, as she had fantasized in her room weeks before, and taken her from behind, after the manner of such couplings on the walls of ancient Indian temples and in Roman frescoes. She had sneaked looks at her parents' copies of the Hindu and Sanskrit erotic books, and now, she led Tom into some of the positions she had seen, telling him how she knew of these matters, lest he wonder where she had gained the knowledge.
After, spent, he had held her and told her how wonderful she had been, and how much he had enjoyed her willingness to try that which she had seen in those volumes and on those walls. She sighed inwardly in relief, for she had been afraid that he might think her a whore to even know of such, although she knew that Sienna and a few of her other friends had seen similar things and discussed them with her, girlish laughter and speculation rampant as they wondered whether they would themselves do these things with a man. Well, she had, and there was more to come when they again coupled, for years to come. Good luck in doing as well, Sienna, she thought. I suspect that I have been very lucky in choosing a fellow with an open mind in this, and we will probably find ourselves much less bored in marriage than most.
Tom kissed her, mumbling how much he loved her. She finally managed to turn off the lamp, and pulled the covers over them. He held her and they slept. She ran her hand along his body, toying with his manhood, excited at what they had done, and wondering whether they would do this again before they rose in the morning. I hope so, she decided. My heart is strong; I can do that. She snickered as she stretched, totally at peace with herself and the world.
Then, she heard the rumble of a V-1 passing overhead and the sound of an air raid siren in the distance. She stiffened, but Tom woke, pulled her into his arms and told her to sleep. "I'll protect you, Sweetheart," he assured her. "I take very good care of all my treasures."
She whimpered slightly, then got control of herself and smiled. "Am I one of your treasures, then, Fast Worker?"
"Baby, you are the ultimate female treasure of all time. I'm just the man lucky enough to have you as his own. I'm going to take even better care of you than I will of that rifle that the Maharajah gave me. And, yes, from me, that is a major compliment! Now, get some sleep. I plan to wear you out in the morning before we get up. You'll NEED breakfast after I'm done exploiting your amazing body!" He chuckled, and she smiled, happy now, and hoping that Hitler and Tojo would soon surrender and let the rest of the world get on with their lives and with their young marriages. If we get along in other ways as well as we do in bed, I really think that Mum may be wrong, and it may be my marriage that's the ultimate one instead of hers. Either way, it's nice to know that the ultimate marriage is a thing that one or another of the Challenger women have. It's good to have that in the family. She stretched again, snuggled next to Tom, and slept.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
973 Posts |
Posted - November 04 2006 : 09:20:29 AM
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Three weeks later, Tom and Arthur, their brides, and the Challengers and the Roxtons stood in a room at Buckingham Palace, talking quietly with the families of others who had been summoned here this day to receive the high honors of the Sovereign.
Tom wore the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, his Air Medals, and the British Distinguished Service Order, making him the most decorated hero in the room. Few men in history, if any, had achieved that combination of awards, and he was sought out and conversed with by many of those present, including two holders of the Victoria Cross, not counting Lord Roxton, whom he of course already knew.
He wore his best dress uniform, and had made a point of buying a correct sword, the Model of 1902 For All Officers, made by Wilkinson's, who made many foreign swords as well as the official British patterns. Caroline was resplendent in a charcoal dress that came just below the knee, and her coat was dark brown wool, with mink collar, for it was January still, and the weather was frigid.
Arthur also wore his newest uniform, and his shoes and sword belt gleamed with polish. The golden hilt of his sword, capped with a pommel shaped like an eagle's head, set him off well. His height, tall for a pilot, made him look all the more distinguished, and Astrid thought that he was wise to wear his mustache, which made most people take him more seriously than they might, given his youth. He was very young to be a Group Captain, and now...a knight! She wore a dark rose dress, and camel coat with golden mink trim, and could hardly believe her good fortune. From being a refugee from the Japanese so short a time ago and a working nurse, she was now the daughter-in-law of Baron Challenger and she reveled in standing near him and the Baroness, whom she had found to be a fine mother-in-law with a keen sense of humor. Finn had made her welcome in the family, perhaps remembering her own youth, when she, too, had been a refugee from troubled times, and so grateful to have become the companion of one of history's most talented scientists.
Finn smiled now, and reached for Astrid's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. She told the young Dutch girl that she looked splendid, and how proud she was of her son's wife. Astrid smiled back, feeling a sense of belonging that almost overwhelmed her. She looked at Arthur and nearly cried with joy as he playfully tugged at her hair and grinned.
Caroline Howard noted this interplay and looked to see if her husband was taking it in. He was, and leaned over and kissed her cheek, pulling her to his side.
Lord and Lady Roxton saw, and looked at one another and nodded. They had talked about the new couples and decided that all would be well, and that the spouses had chosen one another wisely. Lady Roxton had told her husband, though, that Caroline had confided in her "Aunt" Marguerite that perhaps she, Caroline, had the ultimate marriage, rather than her mother. She was joking, but Marguerite had pretended to bear a burden, having yet another Challenger woman tell her that her union was more perfect than her own, by inference. John Roxton, thinking the whole thing rather silly, had replied that perhaps their union wasn't perfect, but that they were perfect for one another. This answer had pleased Marguerite, who had told him how sweet that was, and then kissed him. Roxton thought that was the best possible outcome, and smiled smugly now as he recalled that exchange of a week ago.
Finally, an equerry entered and ushered everyone into a well appointed room, with a throne at one end. When all were seated, protocols being followed to ensure that those most senior were suitably honored, Arthur and three other men were left seated in red plush and gilt chairs,in a special section ahead of the others.
Soon, the hushed tones of, "Pomp and Circumstance" were heard from a band down the hall, then, the notes of, "God Save the King", and George VI, King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Emperor of India, Defender of the Faith, etc. walked in, attended by his equerries and six Yeomen of the Guard. With them were bearers of the Sword of State and other official regalia and the awards to be presented.
Tom was a bit overwhelmed by all the ceremony, and watched raptly as the King was seated on the throne and an aide read the names and achievements of those being honored that day. Then, he called out the name of a general who had distinguished himself in North Africa and Italy, and that worthy came forward, knelt and heard His Majesty pronounce him a knight.
Arthur was next, and Tom noted that the King didn't use the large Sword of State in dubbing him, but a Royal Navy sword, that being the uniform in which the Sovereign was dressed for the occasion, with an ermine-collared purple robe over the uniform.
He listened for the magic words, "Rise, Sir Arthur", and felt as if he was watching a movie or was somehow involved in a fairy tale as he saw his friend and brother-in-law receive the King's blessing and warm handshake. This monarch was dearly beloved by his people, and had shown much courage in keeping the Royal Family in London during the war, despite the danger. He had visited areas bombed and talked with the common people. He and Queen Elizabeth were much admired.
Next came two men who had been chosen to receive the Victoria Cross, the highest award for military gallantry that their nation could bestow. One had been a captain in an armored unit in France, and Tom had read in the news about his daring deeds. He limped and used a cane, for he had yet to recover from wounds received during the action in which he had so distinguished himself that he had been singled out for this exceptional honor. The other was a Ghurka first lieutenant (Subadar) who had attacked a German pillbox in Italy, although seriously wounded. Using a revolver and his big khukri knife, he had killed 11 men and occupied the pillbox, turning its machinegun on the enemy, stopping the advance of a company-size force about to overrun his decimated platoon. He was on crutches, but presented a proud image of a fighting man. He had the admmiration of everyone in the room.
The awards given, His Majesty asked that the honorees join him briefly on a wide balcony, where he would wave to the crowd, and all would then view a parade in a courtyard below.
Tom and Caroline and the guests heard the roar of acclaim as the King appeared and waved to his subjects, and envied Arthur the vantage of standing next to the ruler as he surveyed the masses. That must be a heady experience!
In the courtyard, bands played, and the Household Cavalry trotted past, the silver helmets of the Life Guards and the Blues, their drawn swords and gleaming breastplates making an example of pageantry that Tom would never forget. Then came the Grenadier Guards, in their famous slow march that looked so dignified and stately. It being winter, they wore long grey coats over the red tunics, but the bearskin shakos lent the occasion the atmosphere it demanded, and the sight was wonderful to behold.
Finally, the Royal party withdrew into the palace and the King made a brief address, congratulating those whom he had presented with such distinctive honors, and apologizing for having to leave for other duties.
As he left the hall, someone began singing, and the whole room joined in:
"God Save our gracious King,
Long live our noble King,
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign o'er us,
God Save the King.
The party gradually broke up, some lingering to talk with others, and Baron Challenger being greeted by several prominent officials among the scientific and political dignitaries present. Tom noted that they showed deference to Finn, also, she obviously being a great favorite among them. The Baroness took this well, and thoroughly charmed the men while avoiding alienating their ladies. She even autographed a few books brought in by their owners, who might otherwise never meet the author.
In time, the Challenger party managed to leave, returning to La Content in limosines from the estate. Tom joined them, having taken leave for the occasion. His boss had granted this readily, saying, "I may be dumb sometimes, Howard, but I am not dumb enough to tell a man who has been invited by King George that he can't attend a Royal function. Just try to smuggle me a drink and a piece of cake." He had actually been enthused about Tom attending the event, representing the United States.
That night, Tom and Caroline lay in bed in a guest room at her parents' home, and talked about the day and about their marriage to date. Tom joked that the whole day had been surreal to an American, and called Caroline his fairy tale princess. She blushed and smiled and said to keep that up and she would grant him a magic wish. He told her what he wished for, and she knelt in front of him, cheeks rosy as she administered what he had requested. She had overcome her initial embarrassment at this act for the most part, and she knew, from overhearing her mother and Aunt Marguerite talk, that Finn had been known to do this to the Baron often from their early days. She joked that George would never leave her because he'd never find another girl who could do that for him so well. If that was true, Tom Howard was in for a long marriage, Caroline decided, for she was determined to give her own man every bit as effective a job of it as her mother ever could. Caroline had even begun to revel in the pleasure that she gave Tom this way, and although she still flushed pink when she knelt and took him in her mouth, she felt a sense of pride and feminine fulfillment at his reaction. She felt naughty, but delighted at the power she derived from this act that seemed to mean so much to men. They were really fairly simple creatures, she knew. Keep them happy, unnagged, and well fed, and with luck, they would make their women equally content. Caroline felt very content in her relationship with Tom, and couldn't wait to see his home in Texas and to meet his family.
Before long, he lifted her and they rolled in ecstasy for an hour, panting when passion had drained them. He told her that she was his portable planatarium, and she asked why.
"Because I see a whole galaxy of stars in your eyes in this dark room, Baby," he teased.
She kissed him and they embraced again, talking softly, and Caroline thought of how her mother had spoken so fondly of lying in her husband's arms, speaking like this of anything and everything, and how much that had always meant to her. "Marry a man whom you enjoy talking to, Caroline," Finn had admonished her several times over the years, and Caroline knew that she had taken her mother's advice well.
The secret to wedded bliss, then, seemed to be a combination of celestial sex, intimate, lively conversation, keeping stars in her eyes when she looked at Tom, and probably, going fishing with him. I think I can handle that, she thought amd laughed. In fact, I can't wait to stand on a streamside with him and cast flies to trout or whatever fish they have in America. But I think I've already reeled in the biggest catch of my life, and he's a "keeper"! She nuzzled his ear, and swung a leg across him, snuggling against him.
She told him of her parents' onetime mock squabble over which of them the sun rose and set on, and said that this might be a problem for them, too, for she knew that it rose and set on Tom.
"No problem, Honey, " he answered. "In our marriage, I'll be the Sun and you be the Moon. Neither is complete without the other, like you and me. Now that I've got you, I wonder how I ever managed without you. Together, we're going to conquer the world, or that part of it that we'd want." Then, he held her and in time, they slept.
As she drifted off to sleep, Caroline thought back over the months since she had left to sell her mother's books in India. That seemed forever ago, and now she would live a whole new life. At least, I chose the right man to live it with, she reflected. I think this life is going to be very, very good.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
973 Posts |
Posted - November 04 2006 : 7:34:16 PM
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EPILOGUE:
Autumn, 1946: Central Texas, the Howard ranch...
The dinosaur lay on its left side, they knew now, having excavated much of the upper portion of what had turned out to be a Gorgosaurus, a huge tyrannosaur. Nearby, workers were busy excavating the remains of a Trachodon, a Cretaceous era duckbilled dinosaur. Most were volunteers, with a few scientists from the Dallas Museum of Natural History.
Tom and Caroline Howard stood together, his arm around her shoulder, and she leaned into him, reaching quickly to smack his cheek with her lips.
"We have that duckbill almost done," Tom reflected happily. That Gorgosaur is deeper and the encrustment is harder. He may take us another year to finsh digging out, but it's fun. Want to grab lunch from the truck and go have a picnic?"
His wife nodded enthusiastically, and they excused themselves from the others and went to a secluded spot on a shaded hillside, for the September sun was still warm, and the leaves had yet to fall from the trees. Many were tropical -looking mesquite, anyway.
The land was beautiful, but had its dangers. Yesterday, Tom had drawn his Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum from its handcrafted Myres holster and blasted a Western Diamondback rattlesnake that had encroached too closely on their group. Watching for snakes had become second nature for Caroline, who had often been in similar circumstances in her travels. It just added a bit of spice for her, and she regarded venomous serpents as an ingredient of a life that was worth living. This land was fertile and beautiful, but was not unforgiving to the careless. She preferred that to a boring, sheltered existence.
Caroline unpacked the basket as Tom laid out a heavy red and white-checkered cloth on grass free of ants, another hazard of this place.
She extracted cheese, chicken and ham sandwiches, pickles, and a bottle of Chablis, the last ordered through a specialty merchant, for Texas in that day was yet to become a wine drinking state of any consequence.
Tom opened the wine with the corkscrew on his folding German hunting knife, which offered that vital instrument, along with spear and saw blades. He had also made a point of buying a couple of Swiss Army knives when in Europe just after the war, having seen the one so treasured by his mother-in-law, who had used it on that remote Plateau where she had met the Baron. Hers had red plastic handle scales and some tools not on the knives that he had found. Finn had been somewhat evasive about just where she had gotten the knife, telling him that she wanted to wait awhile before discussimg certain things about her early life with him. He had told her that he presumed that she had originated in Heaven, returning there to obtain her daughter. That would explain their looks and charm. Finn had blushed and smiled with great radiance, as had Caroline, who punched Tom lightly with her elbow, teasing him that her mother was, after all, a married woman, but to feel free to flirt all he wanted with the daughter. "I already do that," he protested, and both women had laughingly assured him that they had noticed. Still, he wondered about her. Being Brazilian (although genetically Anglo) wasn't what she was hiding. The world knew that: the love story of Baron and Baroness Challenger was legend. Someday, with her growing trust, his mother-in-law might reveal herself more fully. He had an idea that what she would say would prove very interesting.
"Penny for your thoughts? " offered Caroline, as he studied the beautiful grain of the stag antler handle scales of his knife before returning it to its pouch on his belt.
He told her, and she squeezed his hand. "Mum will tell you in time, I think, and even I don't know all that brought her and father together. They've promised to tell Arthur and me one day, and I'll make sure that you're included. I think they'd like that; they've grown very fond of you. I'm sure that the story will be remarkable, but Mum and Father are remarkable people. Now: chicken or ham?" And she passed him a glass of the chilled wine as she gestured to the sandwiches.
An hour later, they lay near a small stream, watching a turtle swim in the clear water. Fish darted back and forth, visible over the limestone bed. The breeze was cool and the shade pleasant. Tom played with her ear and ran his fingertips around her right nipple, the sensation just strong enough to be felt easily through her shirt and lace bra. Caroline took his hand and moved it the way that she wanted it to wander, then opened her shirt and inserted his fingers. That was indeed better, and his magic manipulations soon had her gasping and arching her back as she reached for his lips with hers. She snuggled closer and enjoyed the gentle carresses, her leg draped over his, her boots off, her toes tracing a path down his leg. Life was good.
They discussed the impending visit of her brother and his wife, the lovely Dutch girl who enchanted everyone who met her. It would be their second visit to Texas, and Tom looked forward to taking Arthur hunting, for both quail and deer would be in season by the time the Challengers arrived. Caroline and Astrid had planned a shopping trip to Austin, something that the distaff side of the family naturally regarded as essential. And Tom wanted to show the visitors the state capitol, the mightiest of their nation. Afterward, they would journey to Houston (more shopping) and to the nearby battlefield of San Jacinto, where the Texans had defeated a Mexican dictator to create their Republic that had eventually become this state. Britain, Tom had pointed out, was not the only land rich in its heritage.
"Want to watch stars tonight? See how many constellations we can find?", Tom asked. "None will be as bright or as lovely as those in your eyes, but I do enjoy looking at the sky."
Caroline snickered and told him that he didn't have to keep flattering her. She held up her left hand, the appropriate finger of which sported the magnificent ring provided by the Maharajah of Rammalapur. "I'm your wife, Tom. I'm what one of your pals called a 'sure thing'. If you want my jeans off, just say so, and crook your finger. I'm always putty in your skilled hands, anyway. But it is rather nice to hear all that blarney. Maybe you shouldn't stop using those lines, after all. It is wonderful to feel appreciated. But, yes, I would love to watch stars on the patio tonight. That's so soothing, so restful, yet an adventure of sorts. I used to do it as a child, and had half forgotten how wonderful it can be, especially with the right companion. That's you, buster: the right companion." She kissed him.
He held her face, hearing the breeze waft the branches of the tree, the croak of a frog in a pool just downstream, the drone of some insect, the trill of a mockingbird in the next tree. He looked deeply into her eyes. "Baby, I don't just say that stuff to get your pants off, although I know it probably helps. But I say it because it's true. I do see stars in those eyes, and when your heart beats under my hand, and you lie there looking like the inspiration for the finest sculptor in the world wanting to create the image of the most desirable woman of all time, I just want to tell you how magnificent you really are, how much you mean to me. I'm a published author now, and a pretty good wordsmith, but I feel wholly inadequate to express what you mean to me, how you fill my soul and my heart and my life. I see now why your father used to insist that the Sun rose on your mother. He must have felt the same way, and felt the same inadequacy in telling her what she meant to him. Still does, I imagine. You can almost see the energy flow between those two, even at his age, which I hope to achieve. Caroline, thank you for marrying me. All those 'lines' and flattery are flirting, sure, but I mean it, too. You have made my life Heaven on Earth, and I want you to know that I never take you for granted. I'm going to make you one of those pedestals like your Dad made for Finn. And I'll probably find some reason to set you on it, at least weekly. Probably not daily. I don't want you to get TOO accustomed to it. But you deserve to be up there on a pedestal a lot, and I want you to know it. I love you, Caroline Howard. Don't you ever forget that, for even a moment."
She had listened to this with amusement, then emotion overcame her, and she hugged him, trying to press herself into him, to become one with this man she adored. She mumbled how she never did forget his love, and then, words left her, and she could only sob with joy into his shoulder, repeating his name.
Finally, they parted slightly and lay kissing, embracing, staring into each others' eyes. The content of their gaze passed language, communicating itself on a more primal level, as each rejoiced in the arms and in the love of the other.
A car raced up the hillside, and a palentologist leaped out and sprinted up the slope, brandishing a dinosaur tooth that proved the cause of death of the Trachodon was predator attack by a Tyrannosaurus. "I found it," he yelled.
"So have I, brother, and I'm never going to let it go," murmured Tom. His wife laughed, told him that he was, "impossible" and kissed him so thoroughly that the scientist stopped short of them, stared for a moment, and withdrew. There are some things that not even a live T-rex could take people's minds off, let alone a fossil tooth.
The stars that night were superb.
The End
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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"Thunderbolt Over Burma!"
