EPILOGUE
THE
Crow Indians scouted for Custer, and it was odd and kind of neat that it was Crows who allowed Charlie and Fila's wedding to be held on their land, below the National Monument, on the very ground where part of the giant encampment had stood. It was nice for the guests to see the couple in U.S. Army dress blues, like half the wedding party, with the other half in white buckskins. After the Special Forces chaplain pronounced them husband and wife, it was also neat to see them mount up on two beautiful white Arabian geldings with eagle feathers tied in their manes and tails and ride where Charlie's ancestors rode.
While the attendees watched, they cantered along the Little Big Horn River, by the cottonwood groves, and the two geldings sensed they were showing off. They tossed their heads around, their long manes flying from side to side, and lifted their tails up in the air, curling off to one side. Charlie and Fila rode around imagining the circles of teepees and thousands of happy people surrounding them. Fila looked at the Arabian horses and thought about the beautiful horses like these she had seen in Iran.
Pops leaned over to Weasel and Custer and said, “Did you two hear about Major General Percy Rozanski today on the news riding over here?”
Custer said, “No, sir. What happened?”
Pops said, “The son of a bitch got arrested today, because of that big exposé in the big New York City newspaper. They say he dipped into his unit fund for thousands he spent on hookers and Internet porn.”
Weasel said, “Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy, Boss.”
At the reception, Kerri Rhodes presented the couple with a large engraved silver bowl from the President and First Lady.
She looked at Fila and said, “Okay, now since nothing is ever going to happen between us, can I give the groom a kiss?”
“Sure,” Fila said, and was glad that worry had disappeared.
A young lady approached the couple. She was shy and backward, a little overweight, wore glasses and braces, but her smile was a mile wide, as she meekly spoke to them.
She said, “Sergeant Strongheart and, uh, Sergeant Strongheart. I am so very honored to be here. I did not want to bother either of you, but I wanted to thank you both so much for buying my airline ticket here, and taking care of my hotel room and meals. This is so wonderful and what a romantic wedding.”
Fila said, “Samireh Ahoo?”
“Yes, ma'am.”
Fila swept her up in a nice warm hug and said, “You saved my husband's life. I will never forget you, Samireh.”
Samireh had tears in her eyes and said, “I will never forget you. You both saved my mother country and our world from another madman. There are many there who love Americans, but they must hide it.”
Fila had tears in her eyes, too.
She smiled warmly and said, “Samireh, I know. It is my mother country, too, but now I have a new country that I love so much more than any place I could ever live.”
Samireh said, “Oh, I know. I love it so much here in America. I want my children and grandchildren to grow up here. If I ever find a man.”
Fila said, “Just be patient. Good men are hard to find, and good men who are also real men are even harder to find, but they are there.”
Charlie, who had gotten Fila a glass of punch, handed it to her with a kiss, turned, and said, “Samireh, will you do me the honor of dancing with me? I think peace in the world begins with music, dancing, and lots of smiles.”
Titles by Don Bendell
CROSSBOW
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The Criminal Investigation Detachment Series
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DETACHMENT
BROKEN BORDERS
BAMBOO BATTLEGROUND
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DETACHMENT DELTA