“Do you still like country music?” Magic asked.
“Yeah.” That was random.
“There’s a concert on in Rapid City, in Founder’s Park. I’ve got two tickets if you want to attend.”
“I’d love that, but I don’t think I can leave the kids alone right now.”
“How about some adult babysitters?” Magic suggested.
“Who?”
“My girls, Bunny and Alice, and their husbands. Shitheads, both of them, but they’ll do it,” Magic said.
“Your adopted daughters?”
“They’re not legally mine, but they are by this.” Magic thumped his heart. I melted inside at his heartfelt emotion.
“Magic, I desperately need some adult time,” I admitted, and Magic nodded like he understood.
“Then I’ll call Bunny and Alice,” he said. I agreed; a night out sounded good.
???
“What’s this place?” Jesper demanded as we drove into a parking lot.
“Don’t know. Magic just told me to bring you,” I replied.
“Why?” Oskar asked, getting out of the minivan.
“I’m not repeating myself.” I saw a square, flat-roofed building and headed over. The children trailed behind me, none too happy. On entering, a man turned to face us, and I instantly recognised his stance as military.
“Jody?”
“Yes, I was told to come here?”
“I’m retired Lieutenant-Colonel Jacob Reeves, and this is my facility. Magic called and stated you’ve some teens and pre-teens who need to burn off energy.” Jacob eyed Jesper, who was bouncing on his feet. “Guess you’re one of them.”
“What is this place?” Lars asked suspiciously.
“Follow me,” Lieutenant-Colonel Reeves ordered. “Jody, call me Jacob. Kids, address me by title; I earned that respect.”
I hid a smile at the look on their faces, which erupted into a full-blown grin. “Oh, wow.”
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Jacob said, as I gazed at the vista before me. “We’ll start with easy.”
“That’s easy?” I gasped, and Jacob grinned.
In front of me were several assault courses, each with different equipment and varying levels of difficulty.
“There’s more than this. We have a ground assault course, a firing range, a fully equipped gym, and combat training. A lot of armed forces personnel come and train here,” Jacob explained. “Good, you’re already all in gym gear. See that red line? I want you all to start jogging and follow that route. Stick together, no man gets left behind.”
“Or woman,” Laila quipped. She didn’t look thrilled at the idea of a workout, but I knew she’d try it.
“Go. Today I won’t time you; I’m going to get a feel for your level of fitness,” Jacob said and blew a whistle. The kids stared, unsure if he was joking. “Run!” Jacob bellowed, and they began jogging.
“I’m trying so hard not to laugh,” I admitted. As expected, Lars and Oskar raced ahead, leaving the others behind. I knew Laila could catch them, but she held back.
“The girl listened; those two will regret that,” Jacob promised.
