Courageous: A Novel

  Adam stole glances at Victoria and Dylan as he made his pledge.

  “I will be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her

  And be willing to lay down my life for her, as Christ did for me.

  I will teach my children to love God with all their hearts, minds, and strength.

  I will train them to honor authority and live responsibly.”

  When Shane Fuller took his place, only his son was there to witness the promises he made. Shane gazed into Tyler’s eyes and spoke the words of his commitment.

  “I will confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.

  I will pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.”

  When his turn came, Javier Martinez proudly stepped forward in the first new suit he’d owned. He was proud to face his family and vow always to be the man they needed him to be.

  “I will work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.”

  David Thomson felt honored to stand among these older men. No family was there with him, but for a fleeting moment, David imagined a woman and her daughter there, loving him and looking to him for leadership.

  “I will speak truthfully and keep my promises.

  I will forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.”

  Each man repeated the entire Resolution in an air of seriousness and dignity.

  “I will learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.

  I will seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.

  I will courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this Resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.”

  Finally, on behalf of all, Adam spoke the Scripture he’d written beneath the Resolution: “‘Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’”

  After the five men finished making this declaration, they moved as one to the printed Resolutions at the table. Each picked up an attractive wooden pen Kayla had selected. Each signed. Nathan was last, weighing every word before putting his name to paper. He looked longest and hardest at one particular statement: “I will forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.”

  William Barrett said, “Now that each of you has committed to live by this Resolution, I bless you in the name of the Lord. May His favor rest on you and give you strength and grace.”

  The men relaxed, thinking the ceremony was over, but William spoke again, and everyone snapped to attention because of his serious tone.

  “But I also have a warning. Now that you know what you are to do and have committed before God and these witnesses, you are doubly accountable. You may have confidence in your resolve now. But be assured, to keep it will require courage. And you will not be able to remain courageous without the help of God Almighty.”

  Back home at their kitchen counter, Adam asked Victoria to talk.

  “Pastor Rogers said he didn’t think we should keep the Resolution to ourselves. He said other fathers might want to sign it.”

  “I think he’s right,” Victoria said. “Anyone who witnessed what I saw today would feel the same.”

  Adam considered. “We won’t be able to fulfill these promises without God’s grace and power. And without each other’s help. But it sure means the world to have my wife support me.”

  “It’s true; you don’t deserve me.” Victoria drew him near.

  She pointed to the Resolution. “Well, are you going to hang this?”

  “Actually, I’d like to hang it right now—where it will be a reminder to me and you and Dylan.”

  “Today it felt like you were repeating your marriage vows. Only this time I think it meant more to me.”

  “Why?”

  “We were sincere when we said our vows. But I don’t think back then we understood what they meant. ‘For better or for worse’ covers a lot of ground, doesn’t it?”

  He nodded.

  “Sometimes I’ve thought, ‘If Adam had known what marriage was really like, he wouldn’t have made that commitment.’ But you’re doing this now with eyes wide-open. You’ve chosen to recommit yourself. I don’t know how to say it, but . . . I guess you’ve made me feel loved. Thank you.”

  “I’m sorry I’ve been a selfish jerk and you had to doubt my commitment to you.”

  “Well, you haven’t always been a selfish jerk.”

  “Thanks!”

  She put her head on his shoulder.

  Adam called for Dylan and pointed to the Resolution on the table. “This is what I want to do, Son. This is who I want to be. Sometimes I’ll fail. When I do, please forgive me. With God’s help I will be a better father. Would you sign here at the bottom as a witness to my commitment?”

  Dylan signed.

  Adam sensed his son’s cautiousness about whether this was a real change.

  Fair enough. He has the right to wait and see. Time will tell.

  “Victoria?”

  She signed it, then raised her eyebrows. “Does this mean I’m supposed to remind you of this commitment when I think you’re not living up to it?”

  “Yes. Preferably with respect and gentleness. I’ll need your help with this. So I really do want you to remind me. You too, Dylan.”

  They agreed.

  “Let’s get it in this frame, and I’ll hang it.”

  “You’re putting it on the wall?” Dylan said.

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Where? There’s no room.”

  Adam took down a prominent wall hanging, then pointed to the space he had created. “Right there.”

  Dylan looked wide-eyed. “You’re retiring Steve Bartkowski?”

  “We’ll just have to find a less prominent spot for Steve.”

  “Where?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Can he move to my room?”

  Adam started to say no. Then he said, “Sure, buddy. Steve would be honored to hang in your room.”

  Dylan smiled and immediately left with the photo.

  “Smart kid,” Victoria said. “He didn’t give you time to change your mind.”

  “Actually, I feel pretty good he even wanted it. Bartkowski was my hero, not his.”

  “Keep it up and he may have a new hero.”

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Anticipation was high at the Hayes home as a feast of enormous proportions was prepared in honor of William Barrett and Nathan Hayes. Jackson, though too young to understand, caught some of the excitement of a day that would shape his life. Five-year-old Jordan just knew his mother was happy, that she was fixing a fancy dinner, and that his sister worked with her in the kitchen, too busy to be bothered if Jordan played with her things, which took the fun out of it.

  Kayla was overjoyed to welcome Nathan’s mentor into their home. She realized yet again that the greater part of her life as she knew it was due to this man’s influence.

  William Barrett had always reminded Kayla of her own father. So she decided to prepare an old-fashioned Southern dinner like her mama used to fix. Kayla shared her cooking secrets with her assistant chef, Jade, who enjoyed the experience but didn’t admit it.

  Kayla put ham hocks in the pot and poured in some bacon grease.

  “Boy, oh boy! Those smells are enough to make me think I’ve died and gone to heaven.” William Barrett and Nathan Hayes inhaled deeply. This delighted Kayla, but true to tradition, she snapped a dishrag at the men, shooing them out of the kitchen.

  Kayla showed Jade how to wash and cut the greens just like Aunt Flora used to do. Kayla mixed the cornmeal, then at the right time added the greens to the pot of ham hocks and bacon grease. Water drops sizzled, the grease started soaking up, and the scent was sensational.

  When Kayla saw Nathan and William peek in again, she took up her mother’s role. “Nathan Hayes, I declare! And William Barrett, what kind of example are you? Get your man pa
ws out of my kitchen, and stop torturing yourselves!”

  William Barrett grinned like a little boy. It pleased Kayla that he was so obviously enjoying himself. Kayla had prepared just about every food William loved best. She watched as he breathed in the aromas with conspicuous delight. Nathan’s history of black Southern cooking had been shorter and not as rich, but she knew his mouth watered nonetheless.

  When all was ready, Kayla paraded into the dining room with Mama’s dressing, loaded with onions and peppers and celery, and positioned it in the center of the table. One by one, big plates filled the table—collard greens, butter beans, and crowder peas.

  William Barrett leaned over the table. “Mm, mm, MMM!”

  “Now there’s a man with convictions,” Kayla said.

  Jade brought in a large side of macaroni and cheese, then candied yams. Kayla brought in a plate heaped with fried catfish, then smaller bowls of okra and corn.

  William Barrett said, “This reminds me of Jackson, Mississippi, where the sign at Mama’s Kitchen says, ‘When You Can’t Go to Mama’s, Come See Us.’ But, Kayla, my dear, this smells even better than Mama’s!”

  Nathan looked at his wife and smiled. The mention of Mama’s made him think of his. She had died too young, worn-out from raising all those boys on her own. She’d have been proud of Kayla and her grandchildren. And delighted to know that William Barrett was still her son’s mentor. He knew she had thanked God this man had taken an interest in Nathan. Mama had often said she wished there had been a William Barrett for each of her sons.

  “Now, I went small on the fried chicken and pork chops,” Kayla said. “But there will be plenty for you to take home, William. Hope you all like this meal because you’ll be eatin’ it the next four days!”

  William looked like a kid in a candy shop. “Just fry it up and you can’t go too wrong, Mama always used to say.”

  “Wait, I forgot something.”

  She marched back in with a basket, which she handed to Nathan.

  “Hush puppies! I’m in hog heaven!”

  Kayla stood at the table like it was a pulpit. “Now, when a Southern woman goes to the trouble of fixin’ up a meal, you eat it till it’s comin’ out your ears, and when she asks if you want more, you say, ‘Yes, ma’am,’ and that’s all there is to it.”

  They held hands, and Nathan thanked God for the beautiful ceremony and prayed that he would be a better husband and father than he’d ever been.

  Then he asked William Barrett to pray. “O great God and Father, thank You again for the Resolution and for all it means. May it change the lives of these families. Thank You for my son Nathan and his commitment to his beautiful wife and children. And thank You for Kayla and Jade and their hard work preparing this food. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

  After he loaded up his plate, Nathan picked up corn bread and mixed it with his fingers into the collard greens. The salty, grease-soaked greens attracted stray crumbs like a magnet draws iron filings. He licked his lips. This was eatin’. Then he looked at Kayla and mouthed, “I love you.”

  She looked back at him, and he saw in her eyes a love and loyalty so fierce that it nearly took his breath away.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Adam and Shane walked up the front porch steps of a small, run-down house in southwest Albany. Nathan and David parked in the back. Nathan stood at the rear left corner of the house, and David stood in his line of sight at the right corner, at the bottom of the back porch steps.

  “You ready this time?” Nathan asked into his radio, only half-joking as he remembered the Holloman brothers’ house.

  “That won’t happen again,” David whispered his reply, eyes riveted on the exit point.

  Adam knocked on the front door. No one answered. He tried the knob and the door slipped open. He pushed it slowly, looked inside, then walked in cautiously. Shane followed close behind.

  “Sheriff’s department. We have a search warrant. Sheriff’s department,” he repeated. It helped in court if you could swear you clearly identified yourself twice.

  Silence. He looked around the living room and noticed rectangular holes in the matted orange carpet where heating vents belonged.

  Shane eyed the front and back doors.

  A newspaper covered something on the couch. Adam removed it. An open shoe box held about ten small plastic bags of white powder.

  “693c to S.O., we need an inspector at the 400 block of Wayland. House 419, narcotics.”

  “10-4, 693c.”

  Adam continued through the house; its few pieces of furniture looked like thrift store rejects. He approached the bedroom, prepared to point his weapon and shout a warning. All he saw was a dirty mattress, a worn blanket, and strewn clothes. He glanced to his left and right, then went out the back door to where David waited at the base of the steps.

  “Seems to be clear,” Adam said.

  “You sure?” Shane said over the radio. “It doesn’t feel right. I say they wouldn’t leave the dope on the couch unless they were nearby.”

  “I checked, but I’ll double-check,” Adam said.

  He stepped back into the house; Nathan waved David to follow.

  Adam walked into the bathroom and cautiously approached the drawn shower curtain. A movie scene came to mind. Seemed like eerie music should be playing.

  Dreading a reverse scene from Psycho, Adam took a breath, then flung open the shower curtain.

  Empty.

  David walked in the living room and looked down at the shoe box on the couch.

  “Don’t touch it, Rookie,” Shane called. “Gotta photograph it first.”

  “Cocaine?”

  “Yeah. I still say they wouldn’t leave it out unless they’re nearby.”

  “You guys checked everywhere?” David asked.

  David reached for the hall closet door. As he opened it, something pushed back with great force, knocking him against the wall. A huge muscular man lunged out, grabbed David, and flung him down the hallway. David immediately jumped to his feet. He stood between the man and the door.

  “I’m gonna tase you,” Shane warned and fired the Taser just as the man pushed David back into the couch. The confetti with the Taser’s ID numbers on it flew freely, but only one of the two probes hit, making it worthless.

  The attacker grabbed a chair and threw it at Shane, who ducked, then loaded another Taser cartridge and fired again. He gave him the full five-second ride. But it just made the guy mad.

  Adam jumped on his back, forcing him into the wall. Adam tried to put him in a headlock, but the man spun around. Adam’s legs smashed into an old recliner.

  “Tase him! Tase him!” Adam shouted. David drew his Taser, locked in, and fired just as the man turned. The tase hit Adam, confetti flying again.

  Adam writhed in agony. “Not me! The other guy!”

  The assailant knocked Shane onto a table, breaking it.

  David fired his second tase, this time hitting him optimally, in the middle and upper back. Stunned, the man lunged at David and shoved him into Shane. All three hit the floor. The man screamed but got back to his feet and headed for the front door.

  Nathan charged in and tackled him to the floor. The two wrestled, but when he broke free, Shane applied his Taser directly to his lower back and performed a drive stun. He spoke his warning right as he fired the Taser. The man screamed and hit the floor on his stomach.

  Nathan jumped him, pulling his Taser. “Put your hands behind your back. No more movements or we’ll tase you till the cows come home!”

  The man scrambled to get up. Nathan squeezed the trigger and zapped him, sending him back on his stomach. This time he didn’t move.

  While Shane pulled one wrist back and Adam the other, David applied his handcuffs quickly.

  “We got him?” Adam asked breathlessly.

  “He should be a UFC cage fighter.”

  “I think he is.”

  “He could probably bench-press 350.”

  “Better get those est
imates up.” Shane leaned against the couch. “It took four of us to subdue him.”

  David nodded. “I’d say 450.”

  Adam grimaced.

  “You okay?” Nathan asked.

  “My back’s out. The only thing worse is my neck. Where your partner tased me.”

  David used a chair to pull himself up. “I got the guy on the second round.”

  Nathan rose to his knees and reached for Adam.

  Adam took his hand but moved gingerly. “Easy. Give me a second.”

  Suddenly Sergeant Bronson exploded through the door, a millisecond before his cigar odor.

  He stopped and gave them a once-over. “What are you ladies doin’ on the floor?”

  “We had a fight,” Adam said.

  “You lost. Bad.”

  “We’re not the ones in handcuffs.”

  “Looks like a Main Street parade with all this confetti. You the grand marshal, Mitchell?” He looked at the various confetti groupings. “Three Taser rounds? Four?”

  “Four, I think,” Shane said, groaning.

  “My advice? Try one Taser, and if it doesn’t work, warn him, and if he resists, shoot him in his center body mass. Tell yourself, ‘I’m goin’ home tonight.’ If they make it a civil case, so be it. I’d rather be tried by twelve than carried by six.”

  “It would take more than six to carry him,” Shane whispered.

  Bronson put his fingers on the felon’s neck, checking his pulse.

  “This is quite a house you chose to have your little tea party in.” He touched the sheetrock. “You could throw a cat through these walls. Maybe I better take this guy in, to be sure he gets there.”

  Adam shook his head. “No way are you getting credit for this bust.”

  Bronson knelt to examine the drug evidence spread out on the floor behind the couch.

  Shane raised his eyebrows at Nathan. “We’ll tase you till the cows come home?”

  “An old expression of my mother’s.”