He handed him the box with the new insignia, and then took another box out of his pocket.
“The President is supposed to make the formal presentation, so you’ll have to give this back to me,” he said, “but I thought I’d make sort of an unofficial one myself. On behalf of a grateful government, I’d like to present you with the Medal of Honor.”
The others stood up and applauded.
“You’ll all be formally decorated with the Medal of Honor by the President,” said Forrester, “just don’t let him know that I’ve quietly usurped the privilege. I’m proud of each and every one of you.”
Scott stared at the medal and shook his head. “I… I don’t know what to say.” He looked up at Forrester. “Yes. I do. I’ve got something for you too, sir.”
He went over by the door, where he’d put down a small corduroy kit bag. He reached inside and took out a twin-shoulder holster rig, holding a matched pair of engraved and silver-plated, pearl-handled Colt Single Action Army. 45’s.
“For your collection, sir,” he said, handing them over. “That is, if you think they’re suitable.”
Forrester took the guns and smiled. “I will treasure these above all the other artifacts,” he said. “Thank you, Lieutenant. Thank you very much.”
“I’d like to propose a toast,” Delaney said. He held up his glass. “To the soon-to-be General and Mrs. Lucas Priest,” he said, turning to Lucas and Andre. “No time like the present!”
They all grinned at the old Temporal Army in-joke. “No time like the present!” they all echoed,
They drank, but one of them was thinking there was no time like the past. Scott Neilson turned and stared out the window at the lights below, but he was. seeing another time and another place. He was thinking of a beautiful young girl with long blonde hair and powder blue eyes. And of another life that might have been.
If only they had not run out of time.
