They're calling her the Miracle Girl, one of the few to recover from the fever after reaching stage three. They say she's blessed. Some visitors have even come to touch her, as if she possesses the healing powers of a saint.
    Elray puts his hat in his lap and sits up. I only wanted to make sure she was okay. Looks like she's in good hands.
    Ruby opens her eyes and blinks. She looks at Elray for a long
moment, turns her head to the window and stares, reaches up to rub her face.
    Well, look what the cat drug in, says the nurse.
    Come again?
    You're waking up, she says.
    Ruby's bone- white face cringes. Where am I? Where's my baby?
    The nurse tucks her sheets and straightens her IV attachment. Your family has your baby girl. She's doing fine. Don't you worry.
    My family?
    Your father is coming to visit. He can tell you everything.
    Her eyes pink with tears. Does he have Lila?
    Honey, now you just hush and don't worry.
    I want my baby.
    Elray stands to leave, cowboy hat in his hands. I hope you're feeling better, he says. I was the one picked you up.
    Ruby rubs her face. I don't remember.
    He nods. Maybe that's good. They say your heart quit beating.
    She smiles weakly. People say all kinds of things.
    That they do.
    I guess you saved my life, then.
    It's my job.
    Saving people's lives?
    He shrugs. Well, mostly I give parking tickets. The occasional drunk and disorderly.
    Why are you here?
    He picks at the brim of his hat. To see how you're doing.
    Ruby's expression stiffens. She stares out the window. Behind him Elray feels a looming. He turns to find a tall, bearded man staring at him with a biblical squint and glower, standing too close. Elray can practically feel his body heat. He smells of wood smoke and soil, the reek of a farmer or a field worker. Elray extends his hand and offers his name.
    Lord God does not accept the gesture. He's a good four inches taller than Elray and uses his height to bend him to his will. When he speaks his voice is hoarse and slow.
    You know who I am?
    I'm guessing you're Mr. Cole, Ruby's father?
    Lord God only blinks and strokes his beard. I'm the man who fought for your freedom. I'm the man who went to war so you can eat your fried chicken and drink your beer. You look like a chicken- and- beer man to me.
    I wouldn't turn it down, says Elray.
    Tacos, too. Tamales. Lord God makes an exaggerated sniffing motion, like a hound trying to catch the trail of an outlaw. Perhaps the occasional enchilada with a margarita chaser.
    I do like Mexican food. On the occasion of every chance I get.
    It's written all over your face. That lazy hunger. A well- fed man is most likely a criminal, is what I believe. And if his fingers be slick with pork grease from tamales, he's most likely in league with the illegals. Taking payola is what I guess. And it's for you I fought in the desert overseas. For you and your ilk.
    Elray wrinkles his brow. And we thank you kindly?
    Do you see this leg? Cole lifts his pants leg to reveal his
prosthetic limb. I had my leg blown off, my eye put out. The Muslims put a bomb in the road as a welcome mat. All for my efforts to improve their world.
    Elray believes that it's a mistake to occupy a foreign country and expect its people to welcome you with hugs and kisses, especially as a Christian man carrying weapons in a country that worships Allah. He looks at John Wesley Cole's leg and says, It looks to be they have you fixed right
    Elray puts his hat in his lap and sits up. I only wanted to make sure she was okay. Looks like she's in good hands.
    Ruby opens her eyes and blinks. She looks at Elray for a long
moment, turns her head to the window and stares, reaches up to rub her face.
    Well, look what the cat drug in, says the nurse.
    Come again?
    You're waking up, she says.
    Ruby's bone- white face cringes. Where am I? Where's my baby?
    The nurse tucks her sheets and straightens her IV attachment. Your family has your baby girl. She's doing fine. Don't you worry.
    My family?
    Your father is coming to visit. He can tell you everything.
    Her eyes pink with tears. Does he have Lila?
    Honey, now you just hush and don't worry.
    I want my baby.
    Elray stands to leave, cowboy hat in his hands. I hope you're feeling better, he says. I was the one picked you up.
    Ruby rubs her face. I don't remember.
    He nods. Maybe that's good. They say your heart quit beating.
    She smiles weakly. People say all kinds of things.
    That they do.
    I guess you saved my life, then.
    It's my job.
    Saving people's lives?
    He shrugs. Well, mostly I give parking tickets. The occasional drunk and disorderly.
    Why are you here?
    He picks at the brim of his hat. To see how you're doing.
    Ruby's expression stiffens. She stares out the window. Behind him Elray feels a looming. He turns to find a tall, bearded man staring at him with a biblical squint and glower, standing too close. Elray can practically feel his body heat. He smells of wood smoke and soil, the reek of a farmer or a field worker. Elray extends his hand and offers his name.
    Lord God does not accept the gesture. He's a good four inches taller than Elray and uses his height to bend him to his will. When he speaks his voice is hoarse and slow.
    You know who I am?
    I'm guessing you're Mr. Cole, Ruby's father?
    Lord God only blinks and strokes his beard. I'm the man who fought for your freedom. I'm the man who went to war so you can eat your fried chicken and drink your beer. You look like a chicken- and- beer man to me.
    I wouldn't turn it down, says Elray.
    Tacos, too. Tamales. Lord God makes an exaggerated sniffing motion, like a hound trying to catch the trail of an outlaw. Perhaps the occasional enchilada with a margarita chaser.
    I do like Mexican food. On the occasion of every chance I get.
    It's written all over your face. That lazy hunger. A well- fed man is most likely a criminal, is what I believe. And if his fingers be slick with pork grease from tamales, he's most likely in league with the illegals. Taking payola is what I guess. And it's for you I fought in the desert overseas. For you and your ilk.
    Elray wrinkles his brow. And we thank you kindly?
    Do you see this leg? Cole lifts his pants leg to reveal his
prosthetic limb. I had my leg blown off, my eye put out. The Muslims put a bomb in the road as a welcome mat. All for my efforts to improve their world.
    Elray believes that it's a mistake to occupy a foreign country and expect its people to welcome you with hugs and kisses, especially as a Christian man carrying weapons in a country that worships Allah. He looks at John Wesley Cole's leg and says, It looks to be they have you fixed right
Similar Books
Hell in the Pacific: A Marine Rifleman's Journey From Guadalcanal to Peleliu
Bill Sloan, Jim McEnery
