The Soldier and the Shopkeep

Untitled Part 1

10/26/16 19:26 PM: Today my team and I went to the market. It's been six months to the day since the last time we've seen or heard anything from the American Government, except, of course, the monthly "paychecks". Even those are processed through about a thousand different companies in America and here in England, to make sure there's no paper trail.

To be honest I don't even know what this market looks like. Today was the very first time I ever went. The past times the team went it was only one or two of us. I, being the leader, had to stay and make plans for the next phase in our mission, which is looking pretty hopeless right now. We haven't even heard from the British government, who are the ones who sanctioned this mission anyway.

The men who normally volunteer thought it'd be a good idea to go all together to the shops. Turns out I was the only one who had not ever been there. Everyone at the market knew who my team was, but they had no idea who I was. It was enjoyable meeting people. Then I saw Miss Wilkins. Channelle Wilkins. Her family has been in Hartholm for almost five hundred years, after the king at the time, ran them out of London during the British Civil War back in 1642. I wonder who was even king back then. She was, quite literally, the most captivating women I've ever talked to, though most of the women I talk to are in the military and are rugged. Never, in all 23 years of my life, had I thought that I would ever fall in love with someone as fast as I did with Channelle.

10/27/16 09:24 AM: I get the courtesy to go back to the market. Apparently I forgot something there that we need for dinner tonight while I was busy talking to the townsfolk. Hey, I'm not even mad, because I get to see Miss Wilkins again. I'm thinking of asking her out on a date. I'm free this Saturday for sure. Wait a minute! I'm always free unless the English Military calls.

10/27/16 15:16: So I went to the market and got what we needed. I wondered where she was. I didn't see her anywhere. I had to ask the older gentleman at the booth she normally runs. He told me she had off of work today. Dang. I thought today was my chance. It is only Tuesday, so I guess I have time.

10/30/16 10:49: Wow! Time takes so long when you're waiting for something to happen. Today is the second time we need to go to the market. I hope Channelle is there today. I can't stop thinking about her long blonde hair falling down the back of the chair when she sat back down to read, after helping a customer.

"She apparently likes old literature from like 400 years ago. Like Shakespeare and Tolstoy. I saw her reading War and Peace the last couple times we were there" mentioned one of my men, who were playing poker with some of the other men in the corner. He obviously noticed my day dreaming about Channelle's bright blue eyes.

"Good to know. Thanks Jo, but William Shakespeare and Leo Tolstoy lived in completely different times. Shakespeare wrote in the 1500's and Tolstoy in the 19th century. Just so you know." Joseph Rodgers has been my best friend since basically birth. We were born next door to each other in the Republic of Texas Hospital. Surprisingly our parents had never met until I walked right outside and walked down to the park. It just so happened that he also walked down to that same park the same day. After that the Rodgers and the Youngs watched the both of us like hawks, especially when we were together. When we turned eighteen we both joined the United States Special Forces. We both quickly jumped the ranks (we could have sworn it was impossible how fast it happened) until we led our own team: The Dessert Hitmen. That's what we do. We have done countless missions over the past three years. What's funny is that we've never killed a single contract. They are just presumed dead by their companies and/or countries. We're that good at our job!

"Well whatever. You always were better with books than I was, Freak."

Finally! It's almost time to go back.