Beckon

George felt himself wince. “What’re you talking about?”

“I understand that over the years you’ve secured numerous government contracts for your company. I’m guessing you’ve developed your share of connections within the Beltway during that time.”

George’s frown grew deeper. “A few.”

“I’ve found that one can never have too many friends in Washington. My point is that I’d like to take advantage of your political talents. You see, I occasionally find the need to deflect certain intrusive elements of the state and federal bureaucracies. And having someone here who knows which strings to pull in Washington can be invaluable in this regard.”

George shook his head, still trying to get his mind around this new development. “I’m seventy-three years old. I’m not ready to start a new career anymore.”

Vale’s eyes seemed to sparkle at that comment. “You know, I’ve found that nothing keeps a man’s zest for life going like his career. I’ve always thought that something terrible happens when a man retires. A vital part of him dies. I think a man needs his work in order to feel like a man. He needs something to accomplish with his life. Something he can sink his teeth into and be proud of. Something he has a passion for.”

“I have a passion for warmer climates and deep-sea fishing.”

“You’re not a quitter, George.” Vale’s words became crisp. “I know you better than you think. You’re driven, competitive, and demanding—not unlike myself. And you created a nice little empire during your life. However, as you and your wife are without any heirs, you must be wondering what will happen to everything you’ve built when you’re gone. I imagine that thought must gnaw away at a man like you.” He leaned forward. “I’m giving you the chance to fold your life’s work—and yourself—into something greater. To become a part of something bigger than yourself.”

The words struck a chord with George. His business had been his life’s passion for the better part of forty years. But after Miriam’s diagnosis, he had begun to gain a new perspective on the company he had created. Life was short, after all. Shorter than he had expected. One minute he was a young entrepreneur with a beautiful wife, a big house, and the world at his doorstep, and the next thing he knew, he was on the brink of retirement and his wife was slowly dying from Alzheimer’s.

George had struggled with Miriam’s illness from the start, hating it and raging against it like an old sea captain fighting through a squall. But he knew this storm offered no peace for him in the end. In the end, Miriam would be gone. And the worst part was that he knew those final years would be especially painful. He had denied it at first, but he knew at some point he would actually look forward to Miriam’s death, when she would have relief. And that thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.

The truth was, he felt beaten and at the end of his rope. He had weathered her slow demise for the last four years, and now he was growing weary, like an aging boxer being pounded into submission by a younger, stronger contender. And his heart had begun to ache with brief, forbidden thoughts, fleeting wishes that perhaps something tragic might happen and she would die quickly, sparing him the torment of having to watch her die slowly. For even though Miriam was still with him in body, her mind had left him months ago.

And part of him just wanted it to all be over with.

“I understand what you’re saying,” George said and rubbed his eyes. “I really do. But unfortunately there comes a time in a man’s life when he has to accept the inevitable. He has to learn when it’s time to step aside gracefully and let the next generation have its day in the sun.”

“Gracefully?” Vale scowled. “Grace has nothing to do with this. A man fights and claws for what he can get in life and then… what? He has to give it all up? Who made those rules?”

“It’s just a fact of life,” George said. “You’re still young, so I don’t expect you to understand. You’ve got plenty of years ahead of you. But I think when you get to be my age, you’ll see there comes a time when you get tired of the fight. And stepping aside doesn’t seem like such a bad thing anymore.”

“Not likely,” Vale laughed. “But the fact is, your services are nonnegotiable. I’m afraid that’s just part of the deal.”

“So none of this was about my wife at all? You just wanted to get my money and turn me into some kind of… indentured servant?”

Vale shook his head. “I think you’re underestimating the value of my proposition. There are considerable fringe benefits you might find appealing. You and your wife could have your own private suite or your own home if you like. I’ve also managed to put together a rather extensive library and media center. Plus, you’ll still have the freedom to travel. Albeit on a limited basis.”

George continued to pace. Now Vale was sounding like a cheap time-share salesman. A huckster. The whole scenario was too bizarre to even be believable.

But he seemed to have them over a barrel. George had no idea what this perilium was or where to get more. And now Vale expected him to move here? To sell all of his other properties and move to this isolated town in the Wyoming mountains? George turned to the windows and stared out at the countryside. Would he be willing to do that, even for Miriam?

He couldn’t help feeling like he’d been lured to this town for some ulterior reason. He felt trapped, and now each turn he took was only getting him further entangled in their web.

Chapter 24

Shortly after noon, George returned to the suite to see how Miriam was progressing. His mind was still buzzing with the events of the last few days but more specifically with the news he’d just been given by Thomas Vale.

In less than forty-eight hours, his wife’s health seemed to have been completely restored, but just when he thought their lives would return to normal, Vale’s additional news had turned everything upside down again. Now George and Miriam would need to make plans to move to Wyoming for good. That meant selling their homes along with most of their possessions to prepare for an entirely new life here in the mountains. Vale’s home was magnificent to be sure, but it was still hard for George to get his head wrapped around the idea. More than that, he wondered, how would Miriam respond?

He opened the door to find her in the bathroom, dressed and running a brush through her hair while singing softly to herself. It had been years since he’d heard her sing. She saw him in the bedroom and came out, smiling.

“Hi, sweetheart.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a long, passionate kiss.

At first, George tensed. It had been so long since she had kissed him at all, let alone kissed him like that. But then he relaxed and pulled her tight to himself, savoring the soft, moist touch of her lips, the scent of her hair, and the gentle press of her slender body against his. It cast his mind back to their honeymoon in Bermuda, standing on a moonlit beach with the waves sweeping up the sand to their bare feet. And he suddenly lost himself in her kiss, forgetting everything else.

Miriam finished the kiss with a soft nibble at his lower lip and pulled her head back, grinning. “Don’t ever leave me again.”

George cleared his throat, regaining his composure and running a hand through his thinning gray hair. “No worries there, my dear.”

Miriam giggled and turned back to the mirror to finish brushing her hair. She looked positively radiant to George, more alive and effervescent than she had in years. And there was something else about her that looked different as well, something he couldn’t quite place.

She made eye contact with him in the mirror. “Dr. Henderson said I should get some exercise. He said there are trails around the estate. Let’s go for a nice long walk.”

“That sounds like fun,” George said. “Actually, it’ll give us a chance to talk. We need to disc—”

Miriam turned and held a finger to his lips. “But first, I’m starving. Do they have room service here? Or do I need to fix something myself? Where do we go for something to eat?”

“The kitchen’s downstairs.”

Miriam grabbed his hand and tugged him out into the hallway. “Lead the way.”