The Horse Soldier: Beginnings Series Book 10 by Jacqueline Druga

stood up. “Let’s throw the first game then get them to bet something really big and kill them.”
    Jason snickered. He liked that idea. He thoroughly enjoyed the arrogant laughs of Danny and Henry as he totally missed the dart board on his first throw, knowing full well his mind was thinking up things he wanted from the wiry pair.
    ^^^^
    Very seriously, Dean stared in his cup of coffee as if answers would somehow float up to the surface of the cream he had added. His hands gripped the cup. Occasionally he would look to Jess who sat with him.
    “Look at your home, Dean. Look.” Jess spoke so seriously. “My God, you have it all. A home, a woman, kids. This is the perfect Ozzie and Harriet set up. Why are you being so dumb about this?”
    “I told you.”
    “O.K.,” Jess said. “You told me your reasons. What makes you so sure that Ellen is going to go through with the annulment after all is said and done?”
    Dean chuckled in ridicule. “Jess, you’re new here. Trust me , it’s the same old cycle. If you realized how many times I have been wrapped up in her and then lost her to Frank, you wouldn’t say that.”
    “But from what I understand, that hasn’t been the case recently. I’m talking before I arrived and before all of this went down.”
    “Why do you care?” Dean asked. “Why are you so concerned with this?”
    “I’m concerned with Robbie. Dean, when everybody else treated me like an alien because I was once a member of the society, Robbie did not. He saw who I was and he befriended me and trusted me. That means a lot. I want to be trusted. You could say I’m indebted to him. He took me in and he shares his home with me. We’re friends. I’m seeing my friend getting involved, no matter if this marriage is real or not.”
    “It doesn’t mean anything when it comes to Frank. Trust me. Ellen chooses Frank.”
    “Oh, does she?” Jess asked with arrogance. “Ever heard of the third party syndrome? Ellen chooses a third party so there are no more pulls between you and Frank. And how do you know, that this so called friendship between Ellen and Robbie can’t blossom? How do you know she just may not have that third party syndrome with Robbie? Or . . . things may just actually work. There’s a chance on that. You know that.”
    “I know that ,” Dean said.
    “Is that a chance you’re willing to take? Robbie will treat her like a queen. They never fight, them two. Ever. You may just end up losing a chance you’ve wanted for a very long time.”
    “Yeah, but it’s not time for that chance, nor are the circumstances right.”
    “Make them right. Make it the time. Do something about this. Whether Robbie believes it or not, it will tear him and Frank apart if he marries Ellen. Real or not. Trust me, there is nothing worse than a woman coming between two brothers. I know.”
    “Been there?” Dean asked.
    “You can say that. Robbie loves Frank. It will kill him if he doesn’t have Frank as his brother.. Robbie will go on if he doesn’t have Ellen as his wife.”
    “I think we’re worrying too much.”
    Both of them turned their heads to the window when they heard Ellen and Robbie’s voices nearing. They were laughing and talking.
    Jess looked at Dean. “Worrying too much? Really?”
    ^^^^

Binghamton, Alabama
    George had to prepare. He wanted to look official when he arrived at the hospital to see Frank. The last thing he wanted Frank to see was a man who just climbed out of bed, half asleep. George combed his hair and even shaved his five o’clock shadow. Fully dressed in a nice shirt and dress slacks, George walked into the hospital. Dr. Morris waited for him at the old nurses’ station.
    “Doctor.”
    “President Hadley.” Dr. Morris looked pleased.
    “He’s awake?” George asked with some excitement.
    “Yes, sir he is. He’s sitting up in bed. He feels fine and . . .” He saw George walk away. “Sir, there’s something you should . . .” George didn’t answer. “