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“Yes, I’ll be catching a flight in a couple of hours to go to California. After the service there, I’ll take possession of Birdman’s body and bring him home.”
“You’re on the same flight as us,” Riggs announced, and almost the same moment Gunner asked.
“They hold funerals for the dogs?”
“Just like any other –” She glanced at her beeping phone. “Hold on.” She answered the call. “Yes, sir?”
Oakley cut her eyes at the men as she listened. “Yes, sir. Thank you, Sir.”
She tucked the phone in her pocket. “You're welcome to return to Lackland for the service.”
“I’d like to attend,” Gunner replied.
“Same here,” Riggs agreed.
“Count me and Charli in, if that’s permitted,” Grady added.
“It is.”
Oakley didn’t know if their interest was in honoring Birdman because he was part of a SEAL team, or they were supporting her. Maybe she just wasn’t thinking clearly at the moment. It was hard to hold it together when she had to attend a funeral. Having people around who knew her in her personal life made her feel a bit self-conscious.
She nodded. “I have a ride coming,” she directed her comment to Grady. “Can it set down on your land?”
“Helicopter?”
“Yep.”
“Sure, anywhere there’s no cattle or horses.”
“I’ll make sure of it.” She looked at Gunner. “Give me a ride to Grady’s?”
“Yep.”
“You can ride back with me and Charli,” Grady offered.
“I want to check on the pups and talk to Naomie about keeping an eye on them while I’m away.”
“Okay, ready to ride?”
“Yep.” She looked at the others. “Thanks. See you soon.”
Both men nodded, and she turned away with Gunner by her side. They were a good five miles down the road before Gunner ended the silence. “Tell me about a K9 funeral.”
“Pretty much the same as any other fallen soldier, except that all trained dogs on base attend.”
“How many is all?”
“It could be between fifty and several hundred. We have nearly nine hundred in various stages of training.”
“I’m guessing they each have a handler.”
“Until they’re seated at attention, the handlers assume a position behind all the dogs.”
“That must be something to see.”
“It is,” she agreed, wondering if the ceremony would affect him and if so, what would have the most impact on him.
“This is hard on you, isn’t it?”
