Casserine Read Online Free PDF Page B

and jumped into his arms, hugging him with all her might. “You never said a word,” she whispered. “You don’t have to do this.”
    “Yes I do, if you will allow me to.”
    She kissed him in answer, as crewmembers smilingly went aroundthem.
    “Come in,” Risling’s gruff voice said.
    Jake and Adrian walked in and saluted formally. Risling returned their salutes, and walked around to shake each of their hands warmly. “I am so glad to see you two. No troubles to report, I hope.”
    “We do have a slight problem, Colonel,” Jake informed him.
    “Well, what can I do?”
    “Marry us, Sir. The Lieutenant has consented to be my wife.”
    Risling smiled, looking at both of them a little more closely. “Yes, I believe I see what you mean. I would be honored to do it, Captain.”
    Jake and Adrian both had soup, and some tea put on their trays before finding a table to sit at. They walked and moved together like a pair of sleek panthers. Their appearance in the Officers’ mess attracted considerable curiosity. They sat together, without speaking, glancing at each other in open affection. They finished quickly and left the mess hall. Five men were waiting for them outside the Officers’ mess, with Major Peters in front of them.
    “I told you this wasn’t over, Jarhead,” Peters hissed angrily. Jake smiled at him, and looked over at Adrian.
    “I know what you’re thinking, Adrian. Don’t do it. Come on.” Jake took her hand.
    Adrian laughed, and nodded her assent. She stayed close to Jake as he tried to move around Peters. Peters reached up to place a hand on Jake’s chest to stop him, as his friends closed in. In the next instant, Peters found himself slammed against the bulkhead, held by the throat, with only his toes touching the floor. He tried, with both hands, to remove the slender hand holding him as he gasped for breath, against the wall. Byers smiled up into Peters’ stunned face.
    Jake, with one arm, swept the other four men against the other wall. He backed away, gesturing for them to stay put, as he moved next to Adrian. The other Officers stayed where they were. “Adrian, Honey, you will snap his neck if you are not careful, dear.”
    “They need us, Jake. They can fill his slot,” She replied calmly.
    “Colonel Risling would be very disappointed in us.”
    Adrian frowned, and looked sideways at Jake, who continued to watch the men across from him. “You would bring him up.”
    She released Peters, and he fell to his knees with both hands at his throat, gulping for air. Jake knelt down next to him, never letting his eyes leave the four other men. “Major, listen closely. I saved your life right now. Let this go. Adrian and I will be armed from now until we leave for Casserine. I will kill you on sight, if I so much as lay eyes on you. Do you understand Sir? Nod, if you do.”
    Peters nodded fearfully.
    “Good.” Jake grabbed his uniform front, and lifted him to his feet as if there were no gravity at all in the passageway. “Take your little buddies and go into the mess until we are out of sight.”
    Peters stumbled forward towards the mess hall, gesturing for the rest to follow him. They did not need any more encouragement. They saw death in the Marine’s eyes. When the group was inside, out of sight, Jake turned to Adrian.
    “I can’t take you anywhere.”
    She pulled his head down, and kissed him tenderly. She then pulled away and buried her head under his chin, hugging him tightly. “We can be back on Casserine before sunset if you’ll stop fooling around with the crew,” she whispered.
    “I sort of figured on fooling around with one other crewmember before we headed back.”
    The sunset on Casserine again met all expectations.

Chapter 4 
    Fuel Pirates
    “I…I’m hit Jake.” Adrian called out in pain.
    Jake fired the MAG50 launcher he carried. Frost fire shot out the back of the launcher in the heavy Casserine air. The armored air ship disappeared in a firestorm of