Chapter 65

My body alarm was going off, making me wonder what I needed to do.

Oh yeah, sunrise. I looked at the clock and realized I should get up if I was going to get to see it all.

I moved from the bed to the nearby chair and slipped my peg, shorts, and a T-shirt on. I used the bathroom for a quick pee, tooth and mouth cleaning, and a shave.

I saw the sliding doors to the porch were already open when I went to the kitchen. I looked outside and saw Dewey and Steve with a chair between them. On the table in front of them were at least six glasses of Dewey's good morning treat. I was grinning as I sat between my two buddies. Dewey said, "Good morning, Grasshopper. Are you ready for the show?"

"Ready, Master. Let Mother Nature's entertainment begin."

There was a slight glow that precedes the false dawn on the far horizon at that exact moment.

John came out of the house and sat down after grabbing one of the tall drinks. He said, "Chuck told me how great the sunrise was here. I watch it at home, but this is a perfect view."

We watched the glow spread and Sam walked out and looked at us before the streaks began. He looked at the drinks and sat next to Dewey. Dewey leaned forward, took a glass, and handed it to Sam. "You need this in the morning around here. We will ruin your liver if nothing else. If you think you have a problem with firewater, we'll cure it by drowning it. Now watch the show."

Steve and John chuckled as they watched Sam take a drink of the morning treat.

We five sat spellbound by the beauty of the day's beginning. Each step of the sunrise was special and we were able to watch it and analyze/absorb it as it happened. All five of us took in a breath as we gasped when there was a green flash as the sun first peeked over the horizon. The surprise and beauty it created with the streaks of color through the scattered clouds was magnificent. Dewey said, "Did you see that? It only lasts a second or two, and you need clear, calm air and an unobstructed view of the horizon, but when everything comes together like it just did, the atmosphere refracts the sun's light like a prism and you get that quick green flash. I'm told that you can make it last longer if you're at altitude flying west in a fast airplane at sunset."

When the sun was completely above the horizon and began to shrink in our vision, Dewey said, "We need to check out the new resort construction again and take a look at the new restaurant at the clothing optional resort. The new bigger restaurant now has room for a big band or performing entertainment like Merlin. We'll have to see if it will bring in enough to justify big acts, but we can try."

Sam said to us, "I want to spend a lot of today with John and Chuck. At least two of us have some decisions and plans to make as to how we're going to survive in this world."

Steve saved us by saying, "You guys spend all the time you need to figure things out. We're here for a week or two and have plenty of time to wander around looking at properties."

That's when John asked me, "Are you a part of these other properties, Chuck? How did you get involved in resorts here in Hawaii?"

I told John the story of how the wrestler that Bobby had taken off with had attacked me and paid me a lot of money. What was even worse was he did it again and paid me even more money. That gave me the money to invest with Steve and Dewey. We had an Irish investor, but he wanted out, so now the properties are owned by the three of us.

Steve said, "Don't forget how you became a billionaire on the Riviera. You are going to be amazed if you guys ever get to watch this guy gamble. Chuck knows a winner before it happens and wins almost every hand of cards, roll of the dice, or bounce of the ball when playing roulette. People who don't know him challenge him and he wins and wins. I watched as he gave two ten million dollar debit cards away to help the New Zealand folks recover from that horrible earthquake they suffered. I'd bet he's still using some of that money for things he does for people."

John said to the group, "I contributed to the man's wealth because I helped him buy that monster sailboat he was on when he won all that money. Shoot, Chuck didn't need help; he could have bought that boat without my help. The man is lucky and is lucky for those around him. Just look at me, I'm living like a king with my lovely women on Key West. Chuck gave me a boat that we've taken to the islands and South America. I hope you're letting Chuck guide you and enjoying life the way I am, Sam."

Sam told us, "I had already stashed some of the proceeds from what I was doing the same as you and Chuck have when I first met Chuck, but I stumbled into more than I'll ever spend when I finished the job here in Hawaii with him. I had to act like I was a gambler who had won a bunch of money. More good things kept happening to me when I moved in with Chuck. I met Maria, and that was the best thing that ever happened to me. She is such a loving mother and wife. She feels guilty that she isn't working while we live in DC, but I tell her to just be a mother and care for our kids. Now I think I might want to be away from the distractions of DC. That place is full of disasters waiting to happen."

"That's why I'm gone, Sam." John said this as he was working on his second Dewey special. "Those people will hammer on you until you just can't take it any longer and want to do away with all of them. If you think you got the truth from any of them, you have to check what they say three different ways to believe them. Now, I'm kicking back, enjoying the sun, walking on the beach, drinking good liquor at the beach bars, and enjoying my women. I'm set."

Sam was smiling, "Maybe I should find a place to live that would be like where I grew up. I don't know if Maria would like Montana, but that is where I'd love to live again. I can afford to have a home this time, instead of living in a cave the way I did before I left."

I told Sam, "You know I bought a farm where Etta lived up in Montana, didn't you?"

"Where at up there?"

"Cut Bank."

"That's a ways from where I grew up, but there is a pretty big tribe that is around there.

That's good country. How big a farm did you buy?"

"Three sections, a little over two thousand acres. There isn't that much good grazing land, but enough for some cattle. Some of the land is tillable and is in a garden as well as cattle and horse feed. I have some of the tribal people working as mechanics, some as cowboys, and some doing the farming and maintenance on the buildings. I want Steve to build a solar panel plant up there so the town and tribal people can have jobs. Those people will work at reasonable wages and the plant will be successful if we teach them Steve's way of making it perfect."

Sam told me, "You should hire me to manage that plant. Maria will have to get used to the brutal winters up there, but the kids can enjoy the snow and ice."

Maria had come out and was standing behind Sam. She told him, "I will be wherever you are, Sam. If you want to be in Montana, I will be there too. Just because we met in a warm climate doesn't mean we have to stay there. Where we live in Virginia isn't that warm in the winter anyway."

Sam was nodding as he listened to the love of his life and thought of what could be a more pleasant existence.

The man looked at me and asked, "Do you have anyone who could take my place? It was your recommendation that gave me the job, so if you have someone who could take over, that would quickly resolve that problem."

"Maybe, Sam. I'll have to think about this one. The man is young with only a little hostile experience, but he seems willing to do whatever is necessary. The reason I would recommend him is his analytical ability. He seems to be able to quickly process information and make decent decisions. We both know life experiences are the most important, and he doesn't have enough of those."

Sam groaned as he said, "We may have to look around for someone else."

I told Sam, "There's a station in Sioux Falls, South Dakota that has a Native American as the Station's Deputy Assistant Chief. The man, Thomas Crowfoot, is really good, but is somewhat of a country bumpkin. Put him in with the snakes and dragons of D.C. and he'll probably come out smelling good. The man knows how to handle people. Your job would be a leap for him, but he would be good."

"How do you know him, Chuck?"

"I had a problem up there and met him as he was tending to business there. The ACE wasn't doing his job, so I promoted Thomas to the position. The Station Chief was in recovery for chemotherapy, so the man had everything dropped on his shoulders, but he didn't hesitate. I liked the way he handled himself and the way he accepted the promotion. A guy like that could be your answer to who can handle the job. My next choice would be Bud Anderson, but I'm not sure he would be good with people. He might hide from a lot of them instead of either kissing their butts or burning them, either way."

"You're not giving me this guy because he's an Indian, are you?"

"He's not an Indian, he's a Native American. I like the guy and think he has a future in management. He'll be a good administrator by the time he loses the lace around his panties."

"You are so crude, Johnson," John said, while Sam grimaced.

Sam added, "Shit, no one believed the clown would recommend an Indian for the job, so that's why I was given John's job. Now the important question is will Thomas Crowfoot buy my house?"

John called our favorite Marshal and discussed the promotion of Thomas Crowfoot and the exit of Sam Nightfox. John recommended the Marshals take my recommendation as so far I was giving them the right kind of man. John told the Marshal that I would go talk to Thomas to make sure he would make the change.

I called the Sioux Falls station to find the same clerk still there. We chatted a few minutes so she could tell me she now had her private pilot's license and was working on her instrument license. When I asked if Thomas might be in the office she said, "He just walked in. He's been training a new Deputy. You know the Station Chief put in for his retirement don't you?"

"Good to know, see if Thomas will talk to me."

The call was answered, "Crowfoot."

"Hey, Thomas," I began, "I might have something for your next step up within the Marshal Service."

The man said, "I'm ready to be a Station Chief. I've read everything available and know everything I need to be doing."

"Well there's more, Thomas. Can you fly to Hawaii and visit with me and Sam Nightfox? I think you will want to do this. If you're married and or have kids, bring them too. I'm going to give this call to Brandy, my secretary, and she will work with you to get you here. This is important and a great opportunity, Thomas. Come, listen, and see if you think you will fit."

Brandy took my phone, talked to Thomas, and then began making calls to the charter service and the airlines. She came to me when she was done and said, "He doesn't have a family yet but we're still going to have to put him in an apartment over the garage. Believe it or not, we're almost full up here in the house."'

I told Brandy, "If everything works out the way I think, he'll be out of here in a couple of days. I'll make a decision on whom to replace him with after his visit."

Steve was watching and listening before told me, "You are so smooth with people. I wanted to fly here and find out what you were offering after listening to you. I'll bet that guy is having all kinds of thoughts."

Sam asked me, "If I can make this trade, can I move into your place up in Montana while we look for our own?"

"Of course, Sam. You'll like the couple and their little guy who are living there when you meet them. You're going to be pushed toward the church that's in Cut Bank because we're involved helping them with food and money for housing the homeless. Maria may want to go to the Catholic Church if there is one there or near there."

Etta was with me, enjoying the sea breezes, and told us, "There is a little Catholic Church there. Pastor Carlman is good friends with the priest of that church. Our congregation feeds their homeless and hungry the same as the ones who go to our church."

Sam told us, "Maria doesn't ask to go to church, but wanted to go before we moved to D.C. She thought she should go to church and pray for it to be a good move. The local priest in Tampa married us, but told me that even though the marriage was legal and fully sanctioned by the Church, he wanted me to do some classes so I could become a good Catholic. I don't think so since those were the people who pushed us around on the reservation and then abandoned us when we had the flu epidemic. At least Maria understands how I feel."

Sam was feeling talkative and said, "My mother always believed in God and used to pray for all of us. She said God would guide me and help me bring game home to feed us and the others who were needy. When she was so sick with the flu, she told me to always believe in God as he would provide. She told me that God would show me the way through life and to always think good thoughts with him in mind. I think those words from my mother gave me the fortitude to find a place to live and to finish school so I could join the Marines."

Steve, John, and I felt the kinship with Sam. We had all come from situations that required us to be independent. We had moved on in life and become different people, but we still had those mental ties to our family and past.

Brandy came to us and said, "Thomas Crowfoot will be picked up in Sioux Falls by a passing charter and catch a connecting flight on a golf tour plane out of Seattle. He will be here tomorrow evening."

Sam said to us, "Now we need to have a good presentation so we can sell him on taking the job."

I asked Sam, "Do you think we're forgetting a part of this? Don't you think we need at least one Marshal to be here to interview Crowfoot? How about we get hold of three or four Marshals and have them fly here on a golf tour flight and stay in our resort for a couple of nights. We'll tell them to bring their golf clubs and you can bet they will be on the first available flight. How many Marshals should we invite?"

John laughed as he said, "You know those guys so well, Chuck. You offer them some resort time with golf and you know they are going to be here immediately and will be willing to do whatever you want."

I told John, "You know, you taught me how to deal with these men when you had me put on that dog and pony show in Branson. What those men learned was important, but it was as if we hooked them up with IVs and injected them with the knowledge. You were the one who taught me how to treat the big shots."

John chuckled, "Yeah right, you put it all together and invited me to be there."

Dewey thought our charades were funny. He told us, "My people know how to handle me. They make sure I fly first class, feed me good, and have good booze. I'm usually in a good mood if they do that." That made the rest of us laugh.

I told Sam and John, "Call the Marshals you think will come on request, but call the others as well. When you get everyone who is coming, give the names, telephone numbers, and locations to the Fanatic Five in there, and they will get them flights and resort accommodations. We might have to have a dinner with them, but what we want is their approval of Thomas Crowfoot."

Sam thought this was funny and was almost giggling. "You do everything so off the wall Chuck, that I'm always amazed how it turns out. I know you haven't had that much experience dealing with the hierarchy, but you always seem to have them eating out of your hand. Every time one of them wants to blast you, you come to town and pacify them as if they are one of your kids. They all leave happy."

I told Sam, "Get with John and call all the Marshals to see how many will come. Have them bring their wives so they will be making points with their spouses while on a business trip with golf clubs."

Sam told me, "Ah, that's a tall order. There are 90 U.S. Marshals and another five vacant posts right now. Do you really want to invite all 90 here?"

"We need to try but I'm sure at least half of them are on some form of vacation or out of the office for a week or so. We need to have this decision to be agreed to by the majority so get your list and begin calling. Those who can't come can vote via e-mail to give the Crowfoot approval. List who and where so the girls can make connections. Give the girls a list of Marshals to call if you need help, and let them do the inviting. I'll call around to the resorts and find blocks of rooms that we can use."

Sam went into the house office and pulled the list of Marshals. He handed the sheets to Brandy after printing them, who then divided them up with the others of the Funny Five, plus Taiying and Sing. The girls went to the big table and began calling using cell phones. I began calling our nearby resorts to find rooms. I asked each to see how many rooms they could separate for me. The man who had assumed the overall management of all of our Hawaiian resorts and restaurants said he would organize the rooms for me as soon as I had the total needed.

Two hours later, we had a list of twenty-eight Marshals who would be coming, with another fifty-two wanting to vote by e-mail as soon as they had the information to decide. I called the Sioux City station again and asked the assistant to dig up any information she could that wasn't in Thomas' file. She said she had known Thomas all her life and would list all of his community activities and accomplishments. She said she would e-mail them to my office.

I called Wanda and told her what we were doing and what she needed to watch for. She sounded a little huffy that she wouldn't be present for something as important as this. That made me think that maybe she could get John to find a way for her to get here. I called Wanda back and told her, "Call John and tell him to get you and him to Hawaii pronto. Set the office up so we can access everything remotely and tell the girls you will be gone for at least a week. Now get it happening and get here."

Wanda's voice changed to her business style, but without the cutting edge to it. I can be so dense sometimes.

I called the General Manager of the resorts to give him the quantities of people who would be coming. He said it would be easy to put them up in the newest resort as the entire bottom section of suites was available since I was willing to expense them. I almost wanted to move the family to the resort as that was the one where we had stayed so often. I was envious of the men and families coming as those quarters were the most lavish.

Brandy was constantly nearby, often carrying our son, Dan, with her. She was handing me papers while carrying Dan in a front sling as she nursed him once. The little devil was gently sucking the life giving milk from his mother as she went about her business of organizing this meeting. I asked her where we should put Thomas Crowfoot, and Wanda and John. Brandy asked, "If you think the threat here is over, put the four pilots in the apartments over the garage. We'll have Thomas stay in the house with the other men, and Wanda and John can be here with us. I'll talk to the pilots and I'll bet they will enjoy the privacy of the garage apartments."

I was smiling as I went back out to the porch to join the men talking there. Sam was excited that he could go back to his roots with his wife and children, especially to be more than just another Indian who was on the dole. Steve had already called Tiny to see if he could begin getting together how to open a solar panel plant in Cut Bank.

I somehow knew this was going to require capital that Steve possibly didn't have available. I wondered how much money I still had in debit cards, but I knew I had money stashed in the American Virgins, the British Virgins, Costa Rica, and also a couple other accounts that we could import from. The man who knew what to do was Ben, so I called him.

"Hey, Ben, I won't ask what's happening and just ask how much cash you think I can import to build a plant for Steve's solar panels?"

Ben laughed and said, "I should have known that it was going to require shifting money from one place to another when you guys get together. Do you have any idea how much it will cost to open a plant?"

I turned to Steve and asked, "What kind of money does it take to open a solar panel plant; one number from the bottom up, and the other to take over an existing building?"

Steve took the phone from my hand and talked to Ben before handing the phone back to me. Ben told me, "You have a ton of assets in various offshore banking entities, but we want to introduce them into the USA in a way that won't cost us half again as much to get it here. You find out what you need and I'll begin shifting."

It was then that I asked, "Would you like to come and visit with Beth for a week here in Hawaii? Bring your golf clubs and play some of the courses at the new resort."

There wasn't a hesitation, "I'm ready. I do miss my Beth. From whom do I find out how to get there?"

I told him, "We have some others on the way, so get a bag packed, and head out toward the patio or the Airpark."

Ben was sounding a lot gentler than usual and said, "Thanks, Chuck; Beth and I need some quiet time. We both have been too busy and need some time together. I'll see you soon."

Brandy had been standing nearby to talk to me, and said, "I'll make sure he gets on something going to the west coast and I can get him here from there. While I have you though, have you made arrangements for where these people are going to stay? If we put them up in the fancy resort, should I reserve a conference room to meet in? This little vacation sure has turned out to be busy."

I hugged the woman who loved to plan and organize events. I knew that as soon as she had the details of who was coming and when, she would have everything planned for a good meeting. I went to Sam to talk to him about how we would present this to the Marshals. His first response was, "I'll tell them what's going to happen, what I've planned, and when I'll be leaving. I'm out of there, Chuck. I want Maria and my kids to know something other than D.C. or Virginia. I want them to know the wildness of Montana and the upper northwest. I want them to know nature, to walk in it, to talk to it, to listen to it. I want them to have the same feel for life that I did. I'm so excited about this move that I can't wait for it to begin. My older kids are going to be able to enjoy the outdoors right away, and my little guy is going to learn from the time he can walk better and understand. Thank you, Chuck. I know I don't need to worry about money, but I do need to be concerned about where I keep my family. Your place will be perfect until I can find something of my own."

Steve came to me and asked, "Are there any buildings in Cut Bank that can be used for a factory? Building solar panels is not necessarily high tech, but it does require a lot of space."

I told Steve, "Let me call my attorney up there. He'll know of any available good space."

So my next call was to Ralph. Luckily he was available and I was able to describe what I wanted. Ralph told me, "If you can use a whole lot of space, Boeing has a huge building and hangar that could be converted into anything you want. They finished the project they were working on and pulled out about five years ago. Let me do some inquiring and I'll get back to you."

"Good deal, Ralph. This is important for several reasons. This will be a solar panel manufacturing plant, as well as possibly being a plant for other manufacturing. See what you can find out and we'll do some negotiating."

I told Steve what I had found out at about the same time as Dewey said it was time for us to begin our midmorning spirits imbibing. I really was too wound up to begin sipping mind altering beverages, but I humored Dewey by telling him, "How about holding off for a while until we get all the current affairs settled. I think we're working on enough projects that we need to keep a clear head."

Dewey told me, "You guys are moving too fast for me. I'm listening and learning. You've figured out how to get a few dozen men here to approve this Thomas guy, and how to open a solar panel plant, including a good manager in only a couple of hours. We don't have all the players here yet, but your people are working at it. You know that you should be a CEO somewhere, not some grunt Deputy Marshal or Ops Agent, Chuck. Then you get your guitar out and have us spellbound with your ability to entertain. I love you for it, Chuck, but I still don't know what to think of you."

Each of the Frantic Five, along with my Chinese duo, checked in with me as they finished with their objectives in calling and confirming the reservations. They were also arranging for transportation between the airport and the resort while they were doing that. Everything was working so far.

Lisa came to me and asked, "Are you going to bring all those Marshals out here? Do you really want to show them your hideaway?"

I had to think about this. I didn't know enough of them to know whether they would flap their gums or keep our privacy. It was enough to make me think it would be best to keep them away from our haven. I cautioned everyone about letting anyone outside our group know about our village. Others might find out about our home, but they would be disappointed when they tried to gain access to it. Hopefully, no one would try.

Lunch was busy with talk about which Marshals were coming and when Thomas Crowfoot would get here. Beth was enthusiastic about Ben getting here as well. Steve came to ask me, "We might be taxing the charter company's ability to respond to flight reservations. How about we use the 737 I flew here in to go get the Marshals, Ben, and your Thomas Crowfoot."

"Good idea, Steve. I'm sure the pilots are tired of not doing anything. I think my two special ops pilots can probably go back to their base now. The threat is over and I think we're cruising now. Our guys should have a second crew, and John may be able to bring another rated pilot to spell our guys."

I went to the two Special Ops guys and asked them what they thought. Red Dog said, "You don't need us now. You really didn't need us when the shit hit the fan. Mouse and I were here but you led the others to negate the problem. We'll call in, and I'm sure they will want us to return."

The CS&S pilots were in favor of doing something other than nothing. I called the CS&S charter office and talked to DeDe. She was happy she could keep more airplanes on the mainland rather than flying to Hawaii. The only question so far was whether or not Thomas Crowfoot would accept the job.

Jane was hanging around as if she wanted to talk to me, so I took her out to the porch and sat with her. The small Hawaiian female hugged me and said, "I'd like to visit with some of my friends while Mom and Dad are here. Would you mind if I stayed with them a night or two?"

"Of course not, Jane. I'm sure you have many friends you haven't had time to visit with for a long while. Do you want one of the other women to go with you?"

Jane was going to blow that off, but then asked, "You know, I'd really enjoy Lisa and Tina to be with me. I know this sounds funny, but those two have been my special companions throughout the time I've been connecting to my new family. Tina is the one who knows the score about babies, and Lisa is the one who makes me weak in the knees when I'm waiting for my turn with you. I promise to bring them back, Chuck." We hugged and she gave me a kiss with a lot of promise for our future.

Lisa came to me and asked, "You don't mind that Tina and I go with Jane, do you?"

"No, I'm fine with it. Go, have a good time. You can't spend a hundred percent of your time waiting for me to join you."

Lisa told me, "Visit with Bonita in the studio if you have time. The other kids aren't as enthusiastic about learning and recording every minute of every day the way she is. You two might be able to get something together that will be spine chilling." We kissed and she had my hand caressing her now rounded baby bump. Lisa leaned close to me and told me, "Cassie needs to talk to you. She thinks there may be something wrong with her. She thought she was pregnant, but has had a very strong menstrual cycle after having skipped two. I know she was all over you with Maria this morning, but she isn't pregnant if she just finished her cycle. Tina thoroughly examined her and told her there was nothing wrong with her not catching right away when she thought she should."

I told Lisa, "Cassie not having a baby is no reason for her to feel she's not a part of the family. She's important to all of the families because she has been instrumental in continuing the kids' home schooling. I'll talk to her to make sure she knows her status with us is secure."

I thought of sweet Cassie and the darling Izzy as Lisa left. The two of them were a part of the family. I sometimes don't have a super solid opinion that a woman is exactly right for us, but Cassie was so strong in her desire to a part of the family that I let the ladies absorb her into us. Could it have been that Cassie wanted herself and Izzy to be a part of a loving family so much she ignored everything else in her life? Izzy really wanted the attention we all showed her and seemed to thrive in our environment. She was now talking in two, three, and four word groupings, and wanted to be potty-trained the same as the other little girls. She was easy to hug and hold on your lap. I'd make sure to get some time to talk to Cassie.