Valley Of Hope -- Chapter 38

2008-10-1 13:23:00

Valley Of Hope

by Ted Dewey

Chapter Thirty-Eight

The Christmas tree at the home of the Bowers was a glittering sight. Julie stepped back and looked it over with a critical eye. "What do you think Henry?"

"I think you had better quit. If you put any more decorations on there we won't be able to see the tree."

Julie laughed. "I agree with you. Enough is enough." She walked back to the couch and sat down beside her husband.

Henry glanced down at the gift wrapped packages under the tree.

"It is beginning to look like Christmas," he murmured. "I wish that everyone in this old world was as happy as we are."

"Me too." A big smile came to Julie's face. "Both of us have been sleeping like babies since we returned from Phoenix."

Henry grinned. "Eating good as well."

"I thought we would never get that guy cornered. He was as slippery as an eel."

Henry chuckled. "He sure took off like a scalded cat. Bet he hasn't stopped running yet."

There was a knock on the door. Henry got to his feet. "That will be Oran and Rodney. I invited them over for a couple of 'Tom and Jerrys,' being as how it is Christmas Eve."

Henry swung the door open wide. The two men their arms full of packages stepped inside. Suddenly everyone began shouting those lovely words... "Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!"

Julie took the packages from their outstretched hands and placed them under the glittering tree. In turn, she selected two from off the floor and handed them to the two men.

Henry seated their guests. Julie retreated to the kitchen, and in a few minutes came back with a tray full of steaming Tom and Jerrys. Everyone took one and held it high. Once again those beautiful words: "Merry Christmas!"

"Welcome back," said Oran Thomas. "We had began to think that you wouldn't make it home for the Holidays."

Rodney nodded. "We had began to worry about you."

Henry grinned. "We got delayed. Had a little business to take care of."

A slow smile crept around Julie's face. One eyelid dropped a little in Henry's direction. "A funny thing happened," she said. "When we got ready to leave the flying service had bad news for us. They said the chopper pilot had vanished."

Rodney nodded. "Something damn funny happened down there. Last week two incoming flights didn't show up at all. One was a small job, another the big freighter. We began to get worried. Finally, the small one made it in. And flying it was a new pilot, one that we had never seen before. We complained to him about the poor service we were getting. He said he didn't know what had happened."

"We were quite concerned about you two," said Thomas.

Rodney nodded. "Oran and I talked it over. We decided that we would find out just what in the hell was going on, so I boarded the chopper and went on in." A puzzled look came to his face. "I raised hell with the boss down there but he stuck to this stupid explanation. Both pilots that fly choppers in here had literally disappeared into thin air! Didn't even pick up their last weeks pay. Did you ever hear of anything so ridiculous? Looks like they could of come up with a better story than that!"

Rodney set his empty cup on the table then turned to Oran. "We had better take off if we are going to make the rounds."

Henry was speechless as he held the door open for the two men. He turned slowly around and faced Julie who had a look of wonder on her pretty face.

"Did you hear what that man said?"

Julie nodded.

Slowly Henry began pacing up and down the room. "Sounds like we got one enemy that we didn't know we had!" he muttered.

"I think we killed two stones with one bird," Julie giggled, "or something like that."

"I couldn't have said it better myself."

"I hope they never come back."

"Me too."

Henry walked over and put both arms around his pretty wife. He drew her close and kissed her soft red lips. His voice was low and gentle. "Boy, are you something. What a woman! I love you darling, and a very Merry Christmas to you."

"And the same to you, my love. And may you never have another restless night. Merry Christmas!"

The End.