Read Online Options Are Good by Jerry D. Young - Free Book Online

takes to see to it that this group stays safe and sound.”
     
    “Oh no you don’t, Angus!” Bob chuckled slightly. “No check grabbing this time. You and I will split the costs. Everything that young Hawkins here has shown and told me makes me believe there are many things I need to do to ensure a safe future, regardless of this Colin and his militia.
     
    “I realize now that some of the uncomfortable feelings I’ve had lately are due to the situation in this country… The whole world, actually. Time for me to stand up and take care of business I should have already seen coming.”
     
    It was Ana-Bella that spoke first. “This affects all of us. We’re in this together and will deal with it together. Our two families have been working together for five generations, all the way back to Georgia.”
     
    “Well said, Ana-Bella,” said June. “I agree totally. We might have started the process, and brought your family into it, but we will do everything we can to make sure everyone in both families gets through this unscathed.”
     
    Ana-Bella noticed the look on Bandy’s face at June’s last statement. He obviously believed that getting through unscathed might not be possible. She felt a shiver go down her back.
     
    “I agree totally,” Magdalene said. She stood up gracefully and headed for the door of the study. “Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes.”
     
    That broke up the meeting, as such, and the other women left to see to the dinner. Bob took Angus and Junior out to see one of the new stud horses he’d just acquired.
     
    Bandy declined to go with them and opened up his laptop and began typing. A few minutes later Ana-Bella stepped into the room and simply stayed silent and watched him work for several seconds.
     
    He suddenly looked up and saw her watching him. Bandy turned slightly red. “I guess I should wash up. Get ready for that wonderful smelling Thanksgiving dinner.”
     
    “Still a few minutes,” Ana-Bella said, stepping the rest of the way into the study.  “You are worried about some of us getting hurt, aren’t you, Bandy?”
     
    Bandy knew there was no point in lying. Ana-Bella would see right through it. “Yes. Yes, I am. This will get dangerous at some point. I aim to see that no one does get hurt, but I can’t guarantee it.”
     
    “No one will ask you to, Bandy. And I’ll make sure the others do understand your concerns.”
     
    “I can…”
     
    “Better if I do it,” Ana-Bella said, interrupting Bandy. “I think it will hit home better if I let my fears be known to them. Coming from you they might think you are just being cautious. Don’t worry about that part of it.”
     
    “If you really think so…”
     
    “I do.” Ana-Bella turned around when her name was called. As she moved back to the door of the study she told Bandy, “About five more minutes.”
     
    Bandy nodded and began to shut down his computer.
     
     

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Everyone was able to put the Militia out of their minds and enjoy the dinner. Despite Ana-Bella’s attempts to dissuade her parents, and even Angus and June, when the four rather keyed on Bandy and finding out all they could about him. And his interest in Ana-Bella.
     
    Bandy was able to sidestep the one question that came up about his time in the service, but Ana-Bella and Magdalene both saw the way his eyes changed slightly and the momentary pinched look on his face. But Magdalene quickly changed the subject and Bandy was right back in the flow of conversation, handling the parents and family friends of the woman he knew he was already in love with smoothly, and with great patience.
     
    This time, apparently a tradition in the household, the males cleared the table, put away the left overs, and loaded up the dishwasher while the ladies retired to the living room for a few minutes to rest up before they tackled the rest of the cleanup.
     
    The men and women switched places, with the large entertainment center TV