They looked into their eyes. And he felt old. She was so young
and perfect, he says he thought, and he just felt it was unfair to her.
        Jess wasn't feeling that, though. She was really very happy. She
was learning one hell of a lot. She was loving what they were doing
and everything about him. But she was a little worried about what
they were headed into. And he hadn't talked to her about making
anything permanent between them, though she thought that he was
plenty serious about staying together as long as she wanted. But she
felt that she didn't totally know his head. And, yes, he was old. But
he made her feel like no one else ever had and maybe ever would,
she thought as they stood there holding each other and Flece. And his
body was still pretty darn well in shape. So she had her answers. At
least for then. And she felt revered, loved and all those other werdz.
        "We should get going," he said quietly and started walking them
over to the bed, their arms still around each other, and resumed the
packing, got clothes back on and took everything out to the Jeep.
        They started making their adioses and vaya con Dioses to
everyone who had come up for fiesta, slowly moving toward siesta,
as they loaded everything in. Kit called Josh, who told his Dad that
he would be at the airport for them. The tugs on each seven hundred
and forty seven million nerves of their solar plexi (multiplied up from
the words in the Tibetan Book of the Dead, Kit reported) were many
and strong for our adventurers that night. And, after those heartful
hugs and kisses, shakes and pats with all their familia, our six were
on their way.
        Evan drove them out the trail and forest road on gogs, then in
and out of the campground and on down the Pecos as they listened
to and sang along with the songs on the radio - new songs from the
Valley. And they headed on toward "Bood-que", singing, talking and
all away. And they all did a "hit" of speed from Kit's bag. "To stay
awake for the flying," Kit explained.
        They were worth what? The question had come from Stef,
just feeling like she and Evvy should offer to give some money back.
Well, even Kit didn't know. Puter did. But he was deep in love and
on the cell with Cy, "while your humans are jumping into the frying
pan," Jess sassed the computers.
        The girls were working with his Puteness, so Kit came up with
a ballpark figure for Stefi, which she "Jeezuzed". Meanwhile, the
wigs were getting tried on everyone, and everywhere, for laughs.
        Jess detached for some moments and thought how it was just
the beginning. They were just befuckinginning. And a major test of
their ability to stay ahead of the suits was coming right up. And she
was wondering if Kit was planning to leave her safely behind at
home. He was way too quiet. She worked some more on her speech,
feeling like it was going to be given to Kit and Flece and her growing
family more than her fellow graduates. It was all coming together
inside her beautiful head. And she felt awesome, realizing herself.
Then her mind went back. Yeah, he was old, she thought again, but,
dam, was he ever there for her. And God she did love him. And she
thought that if he was thinking of leaving her at home, he had another
brain coming. And they were going home. O God Lord. All the balls
to juggle, she thought, and wondered again what Kit was thinking
about, so whispered that question into his ear.
        He looked at her with that sad puppy look and kissed her so
passionately that it put tears in both their eyes, and she knew.
        She whispered again into his ear, "nuh unh, Hoter. No. You are
not leaving us at home. No way. No how. We're here to triumph
together. Remember that? You can't do it alone." She drew back,
looked in his eyes and gave him a determined look to emphasize the
point, planted one hot scrumptious osculation on his lips, then
whispered once more into his ear, "and you can't give this loving up."
        He nodded in agreement, looked in her eyes and began
recommitting his being to that plan. Yep, they were most definitely
in love. Everyone in that four-wheeler knew it. But felt in some way
or another that edge that their pards - and they - were climbing out
on.
        Puter was telling them that two agents were being assigned to
follow them from graduation, unless they could be spotted at an
airport. Jess wouldn't be letting down her family, friends and
classmates was the suit consensus and scenario, mostly via Cincy.
"Fuck, Code, how does he know this shit?" Jess wondered.
        "I guess the question more is why, darlin'," he answered.
        The report continued - the suits were supposed to find out
whom the old man was, and whom he and Jess could lead them to,
and were ordered to detain the duo, or trio, when they go for their
airplane to leavc, unless the agents had a plane and pilot ready to
follow them. Cincy was still waiting for his requisition for plane and
pilot to come through, having a tough time explaining what it was
for and what kind of plane they might have to be chasing, though
guessing a jet, with all that Gold money, but wondering what the
trick with the 310 was going to be.
        Well, our guys had their new used plane. And they were three
couples with identity tricks. Elaine had faxed the needed purchase
papers and wired the money, they got the keys to 3-1 Fox and got
into the air. They could make it non-stop to Kentucky in their
250-MPH, 6,500-pound ship in cabin style.
        "A real liner!" Jess cheered, loving it to heck, flying it like a
pro. Kit could even scoot out of the right seat and let Jess train the
others while he worked with Pute on the plans and such back in
the cabin.
        They touched down at Greater Cincinnati out in Boone
County, Kentucky around 5A. Putey was giving Kit the run down
from Cy over the cell as they taxied in. One agent was there.
        The girls donned the wigs after darkening up their eyebrows
to match the wig colors, Flee even having fake glasses, and put on
different jackets. Kit took out his contacts, put on his glasses, left
his hat off, put on another jacket too, and got the Beretta ready.
        They all hoped for the best and piled out. The agent watched
from his car as our six met Josh, waiting at his new used deep red
Jeep wagon, and hopped in as Kit stopped in at the FBO desk to
handle arrangements, then joined the rest and they got out of there
while the agent stayed parked there in the lot.
        The hugs, shakes, pats, kisses and words for Josh were tender
and plentiful as he drove them to the trailer he was renting near the
airport. Pute reported that they had gotten away with it - the agent
reporting their arrival to the head suits, but saying it wasn't them,
giving all the details. Cincy wasn't sure, though, that they hadn't
just missed their first chance.
        The guys all celebrated as they talked and caught little naps at
the trailer, both Kit and Jess trying to get Josh to take their half-
million dollar check for him. Felecia was becoming attracted to Josh
right away, as much as she was to Julio, O my, revealing her
predicament quietly to Jess in the bathroom. And Ev was passing
around puros that Kit, Jess and Flee layed off of, well, pretty much.
And Kit offered speed to anyone who felt the need.
        Graduation was to be at noon. They breakfasted at the trailer,
went over plans again, played a little poker, napped or worked with
Puteronimo, then Jess got on her White House tux, wowing all the
guys. She and Flece called school to finalize seating arrangements
for family and friends, then headed outside for Jessy's Jeep that
Josh had gotten there the night before with the help of best friend
Zac, and stashed the wigs under the seats. She and Kit hugged hard
before getting her in, then the guys piled in Josh's wagon and
followed Jessy and Flee up the road.
        They arrived at school minutes before the ceremonies were to
start and the excitement passed through the student body - and all
the bodies there - as the word rushed around that Jessica and Felecia
were there!
        "Figuring out what we want to do with our lives..." Jessy began
her valedictorian, "...is the most important work we have now. And
the hardest is facing what the answers might demand of us...."
        She was the almighty sight itself up there on the dais on the
stage standing behind the podium. Her golden hair dropped into the
gentle breeze when she took off her square black graduation cap and
shook her head, a la Joni in early concert at the piano, then shed her
gown to show her tux, to all the whoops and cheers. Woo!
        She spoke from her few written notes, but it was all from her
heart and soul, and said things like, "...grab hold of love, though first
learn what it really is...and you'll find peace and happiness..." looking
just glorious there in the midday sun, shaded some by the huge old
oaks all around those grounds.
        Kit and the boys and Stef were standing in back. Jess would
look their way, but couldn't let on. The agents were standing back
there too. Kit had picked them out and was staying out of their lines
of sight, back behind a side of one big oak.
        Mari, Jul, Es and the others were in the row behind the girls'
families as Jessy's and Flee's guests of honor. Ginny, Craig, David
and the family were first row behind the grads, extremely proud of
their girl and happy as hell to see her again. Flee's family was right
next to them.
        "Love is the greatest gift, and greatest power in life..." Jess
went on, looking at Kit and all her familia and at Ginny and Craig
and family and all around, "...and impeccable trust is the most
valuable commodity..." and got another look at Kit smiling at her.
"And greed is from emptiness of spirit..." almost choking on that
last word as she thought she saw Lion Eagle and Swan standing
behind Kit and was trying, though unsuccessfully, to give him
enough nod to look behind him. She finished with beautifully
eloquent words on pursuit of dreams, peace and happiness and
ended with, "...now on to MONUMENT VALLEY!" to the
thunderous applause, cheers, whistles and all.
        She and Felecia stayed around their families at the reception,
there on the grounds, surrounded by all the guys wanting to talk
with them, including Jess's ex, Evan, whom Jess gave a little kiss on
the cheek.
        The agents were watching from their car in the parking lot. Kit
was wary he would be noticed by them or seen by Ginny, who knew
what he looked like without a beard, so stayed as hidden as he could
manage.
        The girls took their folks over to Maria and everyone and
introduced them as their new great friends from New Mexico, their
gracious hosts during all the volunteer work for Monument. And Ria
told Ginny how they were so taken by the girls - and Jessica's ability
to find things that they hadn't noticed before - that they just had to
come in to see them graduate and hear her speech. They were all
sorry they couldn't tell the parents the truth but, then, it was a little
fun too.
        Then Lion Eagle and Goldenswan, dressed in casual, though
elegant, Native garb, came up to them out of the crowd around the
girls. Jess caught just enough breath to introduce them to everyone
as their wonderful friends from Monument Valley. Lion volunteered
a nice comment about her speech and complimented the folks on
how well they had raised their girls and added how much help they
had been out at Monument, but said they had to go when Ginny
invited them back to the farm. And Jess and Flee contained
themselves as well as they could as they watched the spirits walk
away.
        "Very nice people, Jess," Craig commented.
        "Uh, yes, Daddy...you wouldn't believe how nice...."
        Well, Mari, Jul and the gang were invited to the folks' farm for
the party. They had worked out with the girls the eve before, back at
the hacienda, all the answers they might have to give, so they were
still sailing along with plan A. And Julian and Ri had their jet and
pilots ready in case the girls, Kit or all of them had to get out fast.
And they loved being involved in a little part of the "thing" they knew
Kit and the lovelies were working on.
        The agents had followed Jess to the farmstead and were parked
down the highway within sight of her driveway, reporting to Cincy,
who was over at Lunken. None of them had any idea where the old
guy was, or if he had even come in with her.
        The guys and Stef had left the school right after the girls, having
made sure that the agents didn't try anything there despite all the
entourage around the beauties. They had gone back to Josh's trailer to
wait for Jessy's call.
        Everyone at the farm was staying to party on as night came.
Jess and Flee took their cellphone up to her room and called Kit,
talking in their code, to tell him they were ready and it was still plan
A.
        "Was that Lion and Swan with you?!" he asked.
        "Yeah! Isn't that incredible!?"
        "I don't believe it! They wouldn't even say hey to me."
        "Jeez, I thought they had. I saw them standing right behind you
during the speech."
        "God. What did I do to them?"
        "Aw, sweetheart, I bet they're just playing a joke on ya."
        "Man," he came back. She blew him a kiss and they hung up.
        Kit, the boys and Stefi were on their way to the airport within
seconds, Kit checking with Puter if there was surveil on Fox. There
wasn't. It was on Romeo, and Cincy was still trying to find out how
they got into town, though wondering again about that Navajo. He
had checked out the Lear that had come in from Albuquerque, but
learned that the girls had not been aboard.
        The guys dropped Kit and Stef off at the airport and drove on
to the rendezvous point. Kit paid the bill and got Fox ready as Stef
monitored Pute's monitoring of the suits' com, Kit ready to call the
girls or boys if there was any news.
        Julian, Ri and them bid their good bys back at the farm, took a
cab to the airport and would wait in the Lear for their cell call.
        The girls started leaving a little after them, upsetting the family
royally. They told the folks that they were needed back at Monument
Valley - and didn't want to foul up their opportunity - and had to
leave right away because they were driving Jessy's Jeep back. It was
one of the riskier parts of the plan, they knew. Their grandpas,
uncles, brothers and all insisted on driving them. Ginny took the girls
aside and into the kitchen and asked for the truth, telling them how
hurt she was that they were lying to her, but just wanted to know
that they were safe, first and foremost. "At least let me know as
soon as you can trust me," she finished.
        Jessica loved her Mom so much. She relinquished a little: "OK,
Mom...we're flying back out...but we can't have anyone at the
airport...I wish I could tell you everything, Mama...but we just can't.
Not yet. I'm sorry. But we're safe and fine. And as soon as we can
tell you, you have my word, Mother."
        Ginny was able to accept that, barely, and would keep the
secret, she promised, relieved that her daughter would let her in at
least that much. But she asked, "are you involved with someone?"
        "I can't tell you now, Mom. I'm sorry." She hugged Ginny
tightly and they had some joyful tears, and Ginny knew the answer.
        So the girls soon lit out from the farm after pleading with the
men that they wanted to drive across the country themselves and
that's the way that was going to be, and Ginny backed up the girls.
        The agents started following the Jeep as Jess pulled them out
onto the highway from the farm driveway. Kit got her advisory call,
again in their code, and he called on to the boys and Julian. The
agents were good, hanging back enough that the girls weren't sure
if they were being followed or not. But Pute was confirming it, and
Kit called it on.

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