The Colonel
Copyright© 2026 by happyhugo
Chapter 4
It was the last dance of the set; my foot was aching, and I was keeping time with my fingers on the table. I wasn’t paying attention to Bonny when suddenly she grabbed my hand. “Jim, dance me across the room as quickly as you can. Brad is giving Molly some trouble.” Bonny took my hand and steered me backward, keeping her eye on her husband. It took a few minutes because the dance floor was covered, and I couldn’t see Brad or Molly.
Molly saw Bonny coming, but Brad wouldn’t release her hand. They were on the edge of the dance floor, pretty much out of the way of the other dancers. Molly looked at us with relief. We heard Brad declare, “Molly, I still love you.”
Bonny came up to Brad and just hauled back and slapped her husband as hard as she could. She pushed him between the tables and against the wall, away from the crowd.
“Brad, I have loved you ever since I met you. I wanted you after Molly dumped you, and I got you. I’m beginning to think I made a mistake. Molly and Jim are partners in a piece of property, and I can see that someday, it may be more. You promised to be my partner for life, but I am disillusioned with you when you tell Molly you still love her. I’m not sure if we can continue as we are. Your answer to everything is to get drunk. So get drunk and don’t come home until you can be the husband I deserve.
“Molly and Jim, can you give me a ride home? I’m not riding with Brad tonight.”
I left this for Molly to answer. I wasn’t getting into a husband-and-wife spat. I could tell Molly didn’t want to either. She turned to me, “Jim, okay if we give Bonny a ride? I think I have had enough dancing for tonight.”
Tears were running down Bonny’s face. Brad had gotten drunk once too often. I answered, “Of course.” Brad heard this and staggered out of the barn. We waited just a few minutes talking with Bonny about her husband.
“Molly, I should have known what Brad was like and why you dumped him. I’m just not good enough to take his mind off you. He is good most of the time. Brad only acts dumb when he sees you or loses his job. It is happening all too often, as it did today. I hate to divorce him because I still love him.”
Molly said, “I don’t know what to say.”
“That’s okay, not your problem. I hope Brad doesn’t try to drive. I should have insisted he give me the keys. If the sheriff doesn’t knock on my door, I’ll hope for the best.”
Brad and Bonny Kendal lived in the opposite direction from us. Back in town, I pulled up in front of Maggie’s house and let Molly out. She sat for a minute before getting out. “Not a spectacular date. Don’t get out, Jim. I know your foot has to be hurting. Perhaps you should rest up tomorrow, just as I am. I’m not even going out to the ranch tomorrow. Jim, can we go on another date?”
“I was planning on asking you before I let you go. We’ll make it for next Saturday night.”
Molly laughed, “I’ll put it on my schedule for things to do.”
Would Molly let me kiss her? She would, for she leaned into me and raised her lips. “Goodnight, Jim. Going out with you was wonderful until Brad and Bonny came along. I should have turned him down when he asked me to dance. I’m sorry. The dinner was perfect, though. Thank you and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight to you, too, Molly. I had a great time.” I watched her walk into the house. I did have a good time tonight. I was awake because my foot was giving me pain. I felt sorry for Bonny and could see her disappointment in her husband. The motel I stayed at was just a few places down from Maggie’s house. Instead of pulling into the parking spot, I kept going.
I drove back down the road to where the dance barn was. I went right by and slowed down to watch the sides of the road. I had seen soldiers come out of beer halls and head for their barracks all my life. I had the feeling that Brad would be walking home. The vehicle ahead slowed, tooted the horn, and continued. Brad was sitting on the bank beside the road. He sat head down, his thumb out, not looking at the cars passing. I pulled up before him, “Brad, need a ride?”
“Yeah, I fucked up again, and my wife left me and went home when I was dancing with another woman. I guess I can’t blame her.”
“So, what’s your problem?”
“Well, I was going with this other woman for several years, and I do stupid things when I’m near her. I remember the good times we had together. She doesn’t bother me, except when I have had a few. I should know better.”
“Get in. Where do you want to go?”
“I can’t go home until my wife, Bonny cools off, that’s for sure.”
“I live in a motel. Do you want to park on the couch for the night?”
“Sure, I guess so. Who are you anyway?”
“Right now, I’m the person who is going to let you sleep in his motel room. I saw you earlier at the dance. I guess your mind was on the women there and didn’t notice me.”
“I guess.” Brad slumped down next to the door and fell asleep.
When I returned to the barn where we had danced, only a half dozen vehicles were showing in the dance lot. One had to be Brad’s. The bar in front was still doing business.
I got back to my motel, and I dumped Brad onto the couch. I took his shoes off and got ready for bed myself. I looked at my foot, and the bruise from using the shovel had spread. The whole foot was black. I should have used my footbath, but I was too tired. I’d use it when I woke up if I could fall asleep.
I woke up and went to the bathroom at eight-thirty. Brad was still snoring. I went back to bed but couldn’t get back to sleep. I got my footbath out at ten and began soaking my foot. Brad rolled off the couch and went into the bathroom. I looked up when he came out.
“Who are you, and where am I? I remember my wife telling me not to come home last night.”
“My name is Jim Thorpe, and you are in my motel room here in town. I’m hungry, and you can see I’m soaking my foot. Go over to Maggie’s and get us some breakfast.”
“I ain’t got no money.”
“Well, get my wallet from my pants. I want three eggs, a double order of bacon, and a bagel. Get a jug of coffee, and whatever you want to eat. You don’t need to mention where you are staying to anyone. I’d like to hear about your problem while we eat. I may decide to help you.” I handed Brad a twenty, and he went out the door.
Fifteen minutes later, someone knocked on the door. “Come in.”
Molly stood there and saw that I was soaking my foot. “Oh, Jim, how bad is your foot?”
“Sore, but I think it will be okay. Soaking it helps alleviate the pain. I’m resting it today.”
“Can I do anything to help?”
“Not really. I have ordered breakfast, and someone is bringing it over.”
“I had breakfast earlier. I should have thought about bringing you something. Would you lift your foot so I can see it?”
I did, and Molly came and examined it closely. “I should never have asked you to go to the dance last night. Your whole foot is black.”
“That’s from the shovel. Not the dancing.”
“Bullshit. Why didn’t you say something?”
I looked Molly in the eyes. “Yeah, and I gave up a few chances to hold you in my arms? I don’t think so.”
Molly looked back. “It was nice. It has been a long time since someone held me. Remember, though, we’ve known each other for less than a week.”
“I know that. Great start, don’t you think?”
Molly grinned, “I do.”
Just then, the door opened, and Brad backed in, pushing with his shoulder and his hands full. Molly stared at him. “Brad, what are you doing here?”
“Molly, what are you doing here? Do you know this guy?”
“Of course I do. You met Jim last night, and you made an asshole of yourself.”
“You know almost as much about this as I do. I don’t know how I got here either. All I know is that I woke up and was told to go get us some breakfast.” Both turned.
“Hey, you two, Molly and Bonny, said Brad was a pretty good guy when he wasn’t drinking. His wife said she still loved him. We need someone for labor at the place. I can’t do much, but I’ll take a chance to keep Brad busy until his wife takes him back.”
“What about Brad being my ex-boyfriend?”
“What about it? I trust you, and Bonny trusts you. The best way to get over someone is to be around that person and realize they aren’t for you. He has a beautiful wife. It will allow Brad to make it right with the two women in his life. I plan to offer Brad a job as a laborer so he can retrieve his tools. Will you be his boss until I can get around better than I can for a couple of days?
“Molly, will you go to the ranch tomorrow and get him started on whatever needs to be done? Remember, the man who will be working in the fields will be starting Monday. The Colonel will be out there, too, and he can help. I will cover the cost of the RV, and we will pick it up on Wednesday. I’ll want to ride in it when they deliver it. Amelia will call to let you know when to meet her at the airport. That’s on Tuesday. Brad can do any of a dozen things, so use him.
“Brad, does Bonny, need your vehicle to get around in?”
“Yes, she needs it to get to work.”
“Well, call her and ask her to get someone to pick it up. Does she have keys for it?”
“Yes, a spare set.”
“What do you need an hour for pay?” Brad thought he should get at least ten dollars. I agreed on eleven. He would keep track of his time and turn it in on Wednesdays. I gave him an advance. He could use either the Subaru or Molly’s pickup to get around in.
Finally, Brad and I had a chance to eat. I sent him over for more coffee because Molly had drunk some. As soon as he left, Molly lit into me, “Jim, you’re frigging crazy, and having Brad working for us won’t work at all.”
“Molly, do you have feelings for Brad?”
“No, of course not!”
“You said he was a pretty good guy.”
“He is, but why put him near me? It will cause trouble with Bonny.”
“Well, call her and explain my reasoning. I could be jealous of Brad being close to you, but I’m not. It won’t be long before he and his wife will be back together. Just make sure she knows he has a job after getting drunk and losing the one, he had. It will look like Brad is trying to make amends, and having work after just one night apart will help.”
Molly left, shaking her head. It was only a few minutes before she returned with the coffee. “Jim, he is using my phone to call Bonny. I didn’t need to hear their conversation. Christ, what are you, a head doctor?”
“No more of a, heart doctor. During my service, I had to talk to many men who had family problems back in the States while they were away from home. My advice works about half the time, but I find it worthwhile. Are we good?”
“Jim, we are good if you will keep off that foot as much as possible. I’ll truck you around. Having you bunged up is slowing our project down.”
“Not really. You know what the farm was like and what you want it to look like when it is finished. I want to spend time with the Colonel telling us how we can make the place profitable after it is fixed, so we can. I have a few ideas, but I’m not sure if they will work. You can help me in making the final decisions.”
“Jim, fair enough. I’m taking Brad out to the place and seeing what he thinks. Did you have a thought on what should come first?”
“Well, we will need a water line from the barn to the RV parking spot, and I think rather than moving the RV every time we need to dump the waste, we should run an underground pipe from the RV to the septic tank. We’ll talk again after we’ve found a place to live. It would be nice to have some income, and we’ll discuss that then.”
Brad came back in as I was drying my foot. Some of the soreness had subsided. I hobbled to the couch to sit. I asked, “Where are you with your wife?”
“Bonny gave me one more chance. I told her I was working for the Colonel. I hope that’s okay. I swore I was over Molly and on the wagon for the rest of my life. I’ve made that promise to both Bonny and Molly. I’m making the same promise to you. I will not bother you anymore, and when I think of a woman, Bonny is the one.”
Molly didn’t know what to say, but I did, “Brad, you must remember what the farm looked like before the house burned. Molly and I will recreate what it was and make it better if we can. That’s to make the Colonel happy if possible.”
“Jim, how is it again that you are in this? I have never heard of you before. I know you have said who you are, but I have been somewhat puzzled since I met you. Even now, my head aches terribly.”
“That’s one more reason to give up drinking. I’m the Colonel’s grandson. I left here when I was four years old. I’ve been in the service and have just retired. The Colonel left his property to Molly and me, and we are working on this together.”
“Fair enough, you have a goal in life, and I’ll help you. I hope Bonny will see it your way and let me. She is a wonderful wife. I didn’t realize it until I almost lost her. So, Molly, I guess I’m in your hands until Jim gets well.”
Molly had more. “Jim, I’ll take Brad and Grandpa to the ranch. We’ll let him decide where to park the RV so it has access to both water and sewer.
“You rest your foot today and make it to Maggie’s for dinner tonight. I suspect Bonny will be coming after Brad before the day is out. Tomorrow, Billy will begin mowing the pastures, and you can talk to Tad about cleaning the cellar hole if he is around. I’ll have the Colonel decide and mark the route for the sewer and water lines. I’ll ask Tad if he can do that work, too.”
“Okay.”
I was frustrated at being sidelined and not able to do much. I persevered and changed the water three times in my footbath. I had some Epsom salts to put in the water. That was Mother’s answer to getting over sore muscles, and it did help.
Someone knocked on the motel door. “Come in, the door is unlocked.”
Bonny peered in before entering. “I heard at Maggie’s that my wayward husband was with you?”
“He is working for me. I sent him and the Colonel to the farm to do things for me. Before you ask, Molly is my manager. I can tell you that Brad is regretful about last night. As for where he has been since you left him, he has been here most of the time. I brought Molly home, and then I thought about Brad. I went back to the dance hall last night and found him beside the road. He made some promises this morning, and he will make some for you when you see him. I believe him.”
Bonny stared, not saying much. Then, “I trust him with everyone but Molly.”
“I think you can trust him now. I find I’m interested in Molly. She and I own the horse farm together. I have the money to return it to its original state, and I have given Molly the job of recreating it. She’s excited about it. I barely remember what it was like when I was four when I left here as a child.
“The Colonel is ten years younger than I, and I have only been here a week. He’ll have Brad excited about what Molly and I are trying to do. I suggest you listen to the promises Brad will make and love him to the fullest. It probably wouldn’t be wise to threaten him about you leaving. He has a job, and I’m paying him laborer’s wages. I’ll pay him more when he retrieves his tools so he can be of more help to us, who have decided to make the Colonel happy.”
“Who are you that Brad is making promises to you, and why will you believe he’ll keep them?”
“I was an officer in the service until I was injured. I was sometimes in charge of leading men who often had marriage troubles. I would decide to send them to a chaplain who would advise them. Sometimes, there was no one other than me to talk to them about their troubles, especially if we were in a battle zone. Sometimes mail calls brought happiness, and sometimes they brought trouble to those at home.”
“I’ll bet you were good at what you were doing.”
“I like to think so.”
“So, what is the story of you and Molly?”
“There is not much of a story yet. I have a friend coming to live with me. Molly was very concerned and jealous, but that went away when I told her my friend was in her early seventies. I hope Molly and I will become more than just partners, or even a couple. I have some money, and she is close to my grandfather. She wants to return the horse farm to its former state before the fire. I love the old guy, so we are making it happen.”
“I still don’t like Brad being around Molly all day.”
“That’s because you are jealous.”
“You saw what he was like when he was dancing with Molly. He was all over her.”
“Yes, he was, but if you had looked at her instead of him, you would have realized she wasn’t having any of it.”
“Well, how should I have handled it?”
“Well, I can think of a couple of ways. You could have asked Molly to help get Brad into your car. When you had him buckled in, you could have started for home. If he was bitching, you could have stopped somewhere, unzipped him, and given him a blowjob, and then said, “There, that will hold you until I get you home. When we get home, you should be ready for round two.” He might have been interested enough in your ministrations to make him forget about Molly. But then I don’t know what Brad is like, and you do.”
“That’s nasty!”
“Well, it was an option, and you didn’t think of it, so we will never know, will we?”
“You’re weird.”
“I’ve been called that before. Remind Brad occasionally that Molly dumped him and that you love him. Do it by showing him. You must know how.”
Bonny sat there thinking, and then she said. “I should get out of your room. If I’m not careful, Molly will hear I was here, and she will be jealous.”
I smiled, “I was wondering how I would get rid of you. Why don’t you let me get my foot dressed and walk over to Maggie’s? I’ll sit there until Molly brings the Colonel back. You must have friends here in town to visit. Alternatively, you can stay there until mid-afternoon, visit the horse farm, and retrieve Brad if he hasn’t returned yet. I’ll have Molly pay him for a full day, anyway.”
Bonny dried my foot and bound it up for me. I could do it; but and it could be done, much better, by someone else. When we got to Maggie’s, Bonny didn’t come in and left me saying, “I have enjoyed talking to you. Molly will love you if she hasn’t fallen for you already.”
“Thank you.”
I saw Molly and the Colonel pull up outside. They parked and then entered. “Hi Jim, Bonny came out to the horse farm, and I let Brad leave with Bonny a little early. She said she had talked to you, and you told her where Brad was. What are you doing here? You said you were going to keep off your foot.”
“Someone in the restaurant told Bonny where my room was, and I might know where Brad was. She came over to the motel. Before she left, I had her wrap a bandage around my foot. It feels almost as good as ever. I’ve been sitting here since morning.”
“Bonny didn’t get to the farm until after three. Where was she?”
“I have no idea. Bonny said as long as Brad was working, she wouldn’t bother him until late afternoon. I guess she did that.”
I turned to The Colonel, “Sir, how did it go today?”
“Good. Brad used to work for me sometimes when he and Molly was a couple. He is a good worker when sober, so we accomplished a lot. Are you going out there tomorrow?”
“Nope, Sunday isn’t a day of work. Molly, do you know anyone who would rent a horse? I want to explore the riding trail east of the farm. You told me once there used to be an entrance to it from the farm.”
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