Chapter 69

I hadn't been in the office for ten minutes when Tiny came in and told me that they were going to set up my garage office. I asked him how he was planning on moving the gun safe with all its contents and weight. He said he had a portable lift that he could use and that he had already measured the doors so he wouldn't have any problems. When he left, I decided I better call Jeb and tell him to hold off delivering my stuff, but that I did want my truck back. When I got off the phone with him I sat back, and then Kat came in with some dry toast and coffee for me. For some strange reason, she just couldn't seem to wipe the grin off her face the whole time she was there. I, like a fool, decided to ask her what she thought was so funny. Boy did I ever ask for that one.

"Jon, you have Myrna so mad she is about to put knots on your head. What in the world did you say or do to make her so mad at you?"

I gave Kat the gist of the conversation or at least what I said, since Myrna didn't say anything back. She looked at me for a minute and I swear her hair started to move and she got red in the face.

"Jon Morgan, I told you to let it work itself out. No, you have rub salt in her wounds by threatening to move. I can't believe you would even have the nerve to say something like that to her. Jon, I love you but you're in the wrong on this one and you need to apologize to that poor woman. She loves you like her own and you had the nerve to say something like that to her. Jon Morgan, until you get this straightened out, I am not speaking to you."

She gave me that look and stomped out of the office, slamming the door behind her. Man, I thought, that will teach me to marry a redhead. Then I sat and thought about it 'till another knock came at the door. This time it was Sally who came in.

"Dad, why are Myrna and Kat so mad at you? Kat is so red she looks like she's been out in the sun too long. I went in to get a drink and got run out of the kitchen. When I asked what was wrong, I was told to speak to you."

"Sally, I think it's all a big misunderstanding, but somehow I got on the wrong side of my own big mouth."

I went on to tell her everything that gone on and I'll be damned if she didn't get mad at me too. She didn't say anything though, just stood up and glared at me and went out the door. At least she didn't slam it behind her. I sat back and ate a piece of the dry toast, pouring a cup of coffee to rinse it down with. My stomach was settled enough that it didn't seem to bother me, so I munched and sat back thinking about Kat and Myrna. I couldn't see where I was totally in the wrong like I was accused of being, but I knew I had been a little harsh with Myrna. Kat was another matter, and I had to chuckle to myself when I thought of her nickname on the island, Fire Hair.

Well, I thought, it certainly fit in this case. I knew I was in trouble with all three of the women in my life, but I still didn't know how I could fix it and still get my point across. I was saved from my own thoughts when Jeb showed up to take me to get my truck. I grabbed my forty and climbed into his car. We pulled out the gate, headed to his gun shop. He was filling me in on what had happened while I was gone when BAM, the right front tire on his car blew. I rolled out the door thinking someone was shooting at us, and when I landed it was wrong. Somehow I twisted, and when I felt the rip in my shoulder I knew I had torn the stitches out. The first thought that entered my head was; "Kat's gonna kill me for sure now."

Then the pain hit and although Jeb was laughing his head off, his eyes got big when the blood started soaking through the sling.

"Oh God, are you ok, Jon? Just stay still and I will call for the ambulance."

"No, let's just get the tire changed, and let me get my truck and go home, Jeb. All three of the women in my house are mad at me and this is really going to set them off. How the hell do you handle being married, and for so many years?"

He was trying to bust the lug nuts loose when I asked him, and he started laughing and slipped and skinned his hand on the rim of the tire. He cussed up a blue streak for a couple of minutes before he answered my question. He was laughing as he did.

"Jon, if your gonna have a happy marriage, remember one rule and never wavier from it. Learn how to say, 'Yes Dear', even when you know you're in the right. That way she's happy and thinks she has the upper hand, and you get an even tempered and happy woman who will love you regardless of your mistakes. It's worked for me for almost forty years, my boy."

I just looked at him like he was from another planet, sitting back in the seat holding pressure on my shoulder until he finished changing the tire. We finished the trip with him almost constantly asking me if I was ok. I finally told him to quit buggin' me, that I was fine, and that my wife was an RN who would take care of it when I got home. When we pulled up in front of the shop, he turned to me before I could open the door and said he needed to tell me something before I left. I knew it was serious from the sound of his tone, so I just sat still waiting for him to say what he was thinking.

"Jon, I haven't told a soul about the disks, but there have been several strangers snooping around talking to several of the church members who have started over here. They have been getting a lot of pressure from the other compounds, which seem to be having mysterious accidents and explosions. All the people here know is that I co-signed for the notes to help them. Jon, we have drained many of the accounts, but I think you need to take the disks back and hide them somewhere. We have more than enough to accomplish what we need to do, and the rest of the accounts are offshore or in foreign countries. We have no one that we can send to places like that. My friend at the body shop who fixed your truck found your little box behind the tail light and told me about it. Don't worry, he won't tell anyone else. I put the disks and the keys in the box. I hate to put this back on you, but I think it would be best if we let things settle for now, and you can get rid of the disks and keys whenever you wish. Jon, we all appreciate all you done for us and we will never forget it, but we don't want to see those disks again. I am the only one who knows about this, so the secret will go to the grave with me. Jon, what you did helped a lot of people get a new start, but we want to forget about all that happened. Considering what it has already cost all of us including you, I think that would be best. When we get out of the car in a minute this will never be mentioned again. Thank you my friend, for me and my kinfolk."