The Uvalde Raider by Ben English (great books for teens TXT) 📕

“Thank you, sir,” replied Micah. “But no, I guess I’m just not geared that way. That would mean moving to a much bigger community and I’ve always kind of liked my elbow room.”

For the first time since Micah had walked in, he saw the colonel smile broadly and shake his head in understanding. “Well, can I ask what your plans might be after the dust settles on this?”

Micah shifted his weight and sighed. “Well sir, I don’t have much further to go before I can retire, and I figure the next year or so will be spent on what happened at the Albright’s. Plus, Uncle Zeke didn’t have any surviving closer kin than Abby and I. According to his will, we are the sole beneficiaries.”

The head of the DPS cocked an eyebrow in obvious surprise. “You mean that you are inheriting Templar Aerospace?”

“I don’t know about that” replied Micah thoughtfully, “maybe some of the proceeds from it. Running a company like Templar Aerospace is something I know absolutely nothing about, and have no real interest or time to learn. But there are some smart people who worked for Uncle Zeke and they still share his vision, so there is talk about them buying it.”

“Then your life is probably going to change in more ways than first thought,” mused the colonel.

“No sir, not like you might believe. You see, business slowed way down after the Apollo missions. That was their bread and butter, and after the rest of the program was scrapped Templar Aerospace had to scramble in some different directions. As explained to me, that process is still going on.”

“But it still should add a hefty bottom line to your retirement check. Micah, I would say you’re a lucky man but I won’t, you’ve paid too high of a price for the privilege.” The colonel stopped before adding kindly, “is there anything special you might want to do?”

“Well sir, have you ever heard of a spot called Alamito out in the Big Bend?”

“I know a little bit about the Big Bend,” admitted the DPS boss. “But I can’t say I have ever heard of… What did you call it? Alamito?”

“Yes sir. If you drew a line between Marfa and Lajitas, and then an intersecting one between Alpine and Presidio, you’d end up real close to Alamito as well as Plata, which some think as being one and the same. Both sites have been abandoned for decades now but there is land available nearby. I’ve been watching a small place that’s come up for sale, bordering Alamito Creek.”

Micah explained further. “Most folks don’t want something that remote, however it suits us just fine. The ranch house is small, but nice and Abby really likes it. It has some shade trees, decent fencing and good grazing between the creek frontage and when the rains come. If all goes well and the Good Lord is willing, we’ll be able to afford that place and what comes with it.”

The director looked quizzically at the highway patrolman. “You really do like your peace and quiet, don’t you?”

“Just as peaceful and quiet as I can find, and still be in Texas. I want someplace where someone’ll have to work to locate me, and after looking around awhile likely not stay for long. Somewhere where I can look in any direction and see nothing but miles and miles of more nothing. And nobody.”

“I suspect you have a reason for that,” commented the colonel.

“Yes sir. I do, and more than one,” revealed Micah. “The world is changing even as we sit here talking, Colonel, and not for the better. I wasn’t blowing smoke up Wadley’s skirt when I told him that I do a lot of reading, and pay attention to what’s happening around me.”

Micah paused to better collect his thoughts. “Sir, you heard what Eggers said today and I know what we locked horns with on the Albright. My gut is telling me that was only the beginning, and we as a country are not near ready to meet what’ll follow. It’s like some gigantic storm brewing, and when that storm breaks loose it won’t be anything like we’ve ever seen before.”

The highway patrolman addressed the colonel in dead earnest. “I don’t know how many other Qassams are out there, but I reckon more than a few. And every one of them hates us and everything we stand for with a temperament nigh impossible for most Americans to understand. They’re going to try again, and as many times as it takes. They’re not stupid and one of these days, they’re going to get lucky. God help us all when they do.”

“So you are going to retire, move out to some remote spot on the map and let it happen?” asked the director bluntly.

“And what can either of us really do to stop it, Colonel?” questioned Micah. “We can both holler and wave our hands and kick dirt until we drop from exhaustion, but it won’t make any difference. Like I said, the average American can’t understand that kind of evil and don’t want to hear about it. It conflicts with all those more pleasant things they’d rather enjoy, and how they want to see this world and their lives in it.”

“There are changes coming in our Department, Micah, to meet these challenges. You could stay on and promote, and be a part of them.”

“It’ll be too little, too late, Colonel” replied Templar, “and we both know it.”

Micah Templar eyed the other man, weighing his words before adding. “Let’s just say I plan to pick my ground real carefully from here on. So far I’ve lost an uncle, a good friend, and nearly got myself killed. Both of my sons are in the Marine Corps, and it don’t take a genius to figure