I returned to Vietnam with you on my mind. We went out on a mission upon my return and on the way back to base our helicopter ran into some mechanical problems and we crashed in the jungle. The pilot, co pilot and I were unhurt but hopelessly lost in the jungle.
We stumbled upon a remote village in the jungle. I knew the language so I told them we meant them no harm. They welcomed us into their village where they shared their food and water with us. One of them even guided us through the jungle to where the birds without wings would find us. That was what they called a helicopter.
Any chance we got we would return to their village bringing them supplies. At the time, they were far enough away from the front lines so it was somewhat safe to do. I realized these people had shown me compassion just as my adoptive parents had at home. These people of this village became them to me. They also gave me my own compassion back.
I wrote grandma asking about you and your lovely baby Michelle. I wanted to right my wrong of that night. In my next letter to her, I was going to confess what I had done to you and confess my love for you and for Michelle. However, she wrote back that you had remarried once more.
“Men are not punished for their sins, but by them,” Jack said to me lowering his head.
The punishments for my sins were I was not to hold you or be a father to Michelle. The girl I loved and the baby I had given her would never be mine. After reading that letter, I could only think of you and dream of being with you and raising her together.
Jack removed a bit of bandage from his left arm to show a big scar. He explained there used to be a tattoo of the devil there as it was the mark we all wore as Devils. I removed that mark as I cut it from my arm with my knife. I swore that night I would right the wrongs I had placed upon this earth here in Vietnam and back at home.
This war had changed me once maybe it could change me again. I ran into Daniel and his men as they were doing missions from our base some that I had been their cover fire on protecting them as they withdrew from the jungle. I informed them I was no longer one of them and told them to find a new leader. I explained a girl and her sweet child had purged my soul and I could no longer be an Devil.
Daniel had no problem with that, as he had wanted to be the leader of the Devils in the first place. The other members were not pleased about me leaving as I knew what these men had done. I even heard talk the Devils wanted me dead but I took it as just talk and went on with my duties. Daniel and his men went out on a mission with another group of soldiers one day.
Daniel had wanted us to fly his group and be their cover if needed as well as to pick them up however I talked our pilots in taking the other group in instead as I wanted nothing to do with the Devils ever again. When we returned to pick the group up, they radioed us saying it was a safe zone. The only team or people in the jungle were Daniel’s group waiting for their chopper to come for them.
I felt three bullets tearing into my back and exiting my chest that day getting into the helicopter. It was only when I was in the hospital and my pilot and co pilot came to see me that they gave me this. Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a smashed bullet round.
He told me it was an American issued round. He explained there was a chance it had been friendly fire or maybe even a Devil had shot him. He was not for sure. However once out of the hospital he checked around trying to find answers. That was until he was told to just forget it as revenge was something best served cold.
Jack told me most of the Devils had finished their time in the service and got home before he did. Bob had written to Jack asking about a group of Vietnam vets who called themselves Devils who had been causing some trouble in the city. Jack wrote back to Bob telling him the story of how the Devils had came to be upon this earth.
When Jack got out of the army the first place he went to was Phil’s bar. Jack had heard that Phil needed a bouncer and he was the man for the job. Jack knew that eventually the Devils would be walking into his bar someday. Captain Bob had warned him of them tearing up different bars in neighboring cities, as he knew Jack used to be part of that outfit. Jack turned to me and looked deeply into my eyes.
“I was going to see that the Devils reign of terror was stopped and finally send them to hell where they belonged, even if it meant I had to join them in Hell,” Jack said looking at me.
“Jack, I don’t know what to say,” I said to him wiping the tears from my eyes.
“Say you love me and that someday you will become my wife,” Jack replied.
“Jack, are you asking me to marry you?” I asked.
Jack slipped from his bar stool and got down onto one knee. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box. He flipped the ring box open showing me a lovely diamond engagement ring as he asked, “Ann will you marry me?”
With tears streaming down my face I replied, “Yes Jack I will marry you.”
Jack slipped the ring upon my finger and took me into his arms. He kissed me deeply and with passion. I returned his kiss as those bells and whistles went out in my head. When we broke our kiss, we heard cheers from the few people and Susan who were present in the bar.
Jack had Susan get him a bottle of champagne. He popped the cork and filled glasses for everyone. With me at his side, he held his glass high as he said, “Here is too righting the wrong of one night and to giving three a future this night.”
I might have been the only one in that bar who knew what he meant by that. However, to me it was the sweetest toast I had ever heard. I clicked my glass to his.
“I love you Jack,” I said to him.
“I love you Ann,” Jack replied then we drank.
Jack told everyone he hates to drink and run but it was late. I looked to the clock to see that it was almost two in the morning. Jack told me to leave Janet’s car and he would drive her to pick it up later. Jack walked me to the passenger side of his truck and opened the door.
“You ride I will drive,” I said to him taking the keys from his hand.
Jack and I left the parking lot and headed home. We had only gone a few blocks when red flashing lights appeared in the rear view mirror. I told Jack I might have been speeding as I pulled over to a stop. I looked to see Captain Bob getting out of the cruiser. Captain Bob walked up to the driver’s window.
“Out kind of late aren’t you Miss Ann?” Captain Bob asked. He looked to Jack as he said, “You mind getting out of the truck Jack. “
Jack got out of the truck as Captain Bob told him to place his one good hand onto the front of the truck. I asked him what Jack did. Captain Bob told me to never mind and to join Jack at the front of the front. I got out and joined Jack with both my hands on the front of the truck.
Captain Bob walked to the front of the truck and he said, “Both of you turn around and face me.” Jack and I did as he asked. Captain Bob took Jack‘s hand and shook it as he said, “Son, it is about time you settled down.” He looked at me as he added, “Congratulation Miss Ann, Susan at the bar told me the news and told me I just missed you two,” “I sort of figured I could catch you two before you left town.”
“Thanks Bob,” Jack replied smiling. Jack then asked, “How about you being my best man at the wedding.”
“Son, it would be my honor,” Captain Bob replied shaking his hand again. Captain Bob looked at me as he added, “You have a good man here Miss Ann you take real good care of him you hear.”
“Oh I will Bob, real good care of him,” I replied as I threw my arms around Jack bringing him down to my level as I kissed him deeply.
“You two have better get on home before I have to arrest you,” Captain Bob said. “Oh by the way Jack, Daniel stopped in tonight and turned himself in for shooting you,” “But we know it was just an accident and I turned him loose after he told me about his meeting with you tonight,” Captain Bob added.
“You won’t be seeing the Devils no more as their souls have been purged as well as another wrong made right this night,” Jack replied as Captain Bob walked away leaving Jack and I standing there.
Jack and I got back into the truck and we drove home. Once at home we walked up the stairs and into Michelle’s room. She lies fast asleep in her bed.
Jack bent down and kissed her forehead as he said, “Daddies home for good little one.”
Jack and I went from her room to ours. We opened the door and turned the light on to find Janet asleep in the bed. Jack turned the light back out as I told him lets not wake her. Jack and I undressed and we climbed into bed. Jack rolled over to me as a buzzing sound filled the room.
“What the hell?” Jack said with a puzzled look on his face.
He looked at me and I told him it was not me. Jack reached under the covers beside him. He pulled a long plastic vibrator from the bed. He turned it off as he shook his head.
“Janet gets tense when she is filled with stress, it helps,” I said to him smiling.
We kissed and Jack held me as I closed my eyes with my head upon his chest. The alarm clock woke me in a couple of hours. I was still in his arms. Jack turned the alarm clock off as he got out of bed.
“Where do you think you are going?” I asked him.
“The horses have to be fed,” Jack replied as he slipped his jeans onto his body.
“JACK,” was all I got out before his lips went to mine. I was going to tell him he needed to rest. Frank and I could feed the horses.
Jack broke our kiss as he said, “A little hard work never hurt anyone.”
Jack was dressed before I was and waiting on me. He was not dressed all the way, as he could not figure out how to slip a tee shirt on over his arm sling. He finally looked to me as he asked if I could help. I took his tee shirt and ripped it at the shoulder and arm sleeve making it a little bigger. It slipped right over his sling.
“WILL you two go feed the horses already, some of us are trying to sleep,” Janet mumbled out in a half asleep voice.
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