Read Online Gilbert Morris by The Angel of Bastogne - Free Book Online

bad mistake, and they both died. We were very close, my husband and I.”
    â€œAnd your brother’s a flyer also?”
    â€œOne of the best. He doesn’t fly jets, though. He flies helicopters.”
    â€œI’m sorry about your loss.”
    Charlene did not answer for a time, and when he turned to study her, he saw that her lips were set. “We had a good marriage,” she said. “There’s not a day goes by that I don’t think about him.”
    â€œYou didn’t have children?”
    â€œNo. We never did.”
    â€œAny other family?”
    â€œMy mother’s living. She has a condo in Pensacola. She and my brother get together a lot. I go when I can.”
    â€œLook, there’s a big billboard.”
    â€œWonder what it’s selling.”
    They got closer, and Charlene began to laugh. “I don’t believe that!”
    In big, bold letters, the sign said, PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE JACKRABBITS!
    Ben laughed. “Somebody spent a lot of money on that sign. Must have a real sense of humor.”
    Suddenly Charlene said, “Look, there’s a gate!” She pulled up and peered forward. “There’s the water tower.”
    Ben looked and shook his head. “Can you see that far?”
    â€œWhy, that’s not far at all. You probably need glasses.”
    â€œWell, I haven’t got eagle eyes like you. I’ll get out and open the gate.”
    â€œWatch out for that bull.”
    There were no bulls in sight, but Ben saw some large cows grazing. The road wound its way around small hills, and when he got back in the car, Ben said, “I don’t know much about ranches. I think about ranches in the movies and on TV—the Ponderosa and John Wayne. Probably not very true to life.”
    â€œI think it’s pretty hard work. I thought for awhile about being a vet, but I went another way.”
    â€œHow did you decide to become a surgeon?”
    â€œOh, I didn’t. First I was just going to be a pediatrician, but I found out that I had a knack for surgery so I went that way.”
    â€œHow did the girl do who you operated on the day we met?”
    â€œDoing fine. Makes me feel pretty good to be able to help like that.”
    She spoke of her work with pride, and Ben said, “It makes my little job seem kind of piddling, writing stories.”
    â€œWe all have something to do in this world. We just have to find out what it is. God wants me to operate on children. He wants you to write stories.”
    â€œI’m not sure about that.”
    She did not speak, but a few minutes later she said, “There’s the ranch.”
    Ben sat up straighter in the seat, and as they crested a small hill, he saw the ranch. It was surrounded by trees, and several barns with outbuildings were behind it.
    â€œWhat a nice-looking ranch!” Charlene exclaimed.
    Ben looked around. “Seems lonesome to me. I’m a city boy.”
    Ben drove up a circular driveway to the front of the house. As they got out a tall man, somewhat lanky and wearing a black Stetson low on his forehead, came out of the door. He had a coppery complexion and black eyes that glittered. His face was lined, and his high cheekbones proclaimed his Indian blood.
    â€œYou folks lost?”
    â€œNo, sir, I don’t think so. We’re looking for Mr. Lonnie Shoulders.”
    â€œThat’s me.”
    â€œI’m Ben Raines and this is Dr. Charlene Delaughter.”
    Instantly Lonnie squinted. “Have we met before?”
    â€œNo,” Ben said, “but you know our fathers.”
    â€œYou’re not Willie Raines’ boy, are you?”
    â€œThat’s me.”
    â€œWillie talks about you in his letters,” Lonnie said.
    It was the first time that Ben had known his father had kept in touch with his old army buddies. “I hate to barge in on you like this.”
    â€œNo bargin’ to it. Come on in. We’ll have