The McEllis Boys

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty

Friday night found everyone in the living room, cuddled up and watching a movie. Madeline had long since went to bed and the movie they were watching was based on a war called Vietnam. The McEllis brothers had never seen anything like this. Fighter jets, helicopters, huge bombs dropped from miles in the air and blowing apart their targets.

"I've never seen war like that," Andrew gasped, shoving a huge hand full of popcorn into his mouth and staring at the television with wide eyes.

The movie was a bit too bloody for Cavanaugh's taste. Blood brought back memories he'd rather not remember but Nicole seemed to like the movie and so did his brothers so he didn't vocalize his complaints. Instead he just held Nicole close, buried his face in her hair and dozed off and on.

"What about the Civil War?" Leslie asked.

Bethany shook her head, "They would have been too young."

Cavanaugh saw that Ian and Andrew were too engrossed in the battle on the talking picture box to pay attention to the conversation, so he spoke up, "Andrew was only about five when it started and Ian was seven so they were too young. Neither one of them was much taller than a rifle," he grinned at the memories of the past. "I was fourteen and could have gone but mama and pa insisted I was too young and I wasn't real keen on going and getting blown up so I stayed. By the time it ended, I had already met Leah and was settling down. Jamison was sixteen when it started and I think what kept him from going was the fact that pa was sick and he was the man of the house."

Leslie snuggled deeper into Ian's arms and thanked God that he hadn't been old enough to fight in that war. Survival rates hadn't been very good from what she could remember from history class.

Suddenly Ian threw his hands up and snorted, "What an idiot!" he exclaimed, which earned him a swat from Leslie.

"Madeline's asleep." she reminded him.

He gave her an apologetic grin, "Sorry, it's just this movie pissed me off."

"Why?" Cavanaugh asked, looking at the screen to see some guys looking emotional as they walked out of a bad situation, minus one or two men.

"That idiot just died for his friends. He could have got out!"

"Yes but then they would have probably died," Nicole countered.

"So? He'd be alive," Ian insisted.

"They say it's an honor to die for someone else," Cavanaugh informed his brother.

Ian snorted. He had a strong self preservation instinct and staying alive meant more to him than anything else. There had been plenty of times he could have jumped in front of bullets to save other men, but why? They'd be alive to be stupid and get killed another day and he'd be dead.

"Bull shit. It's stupid is what it is. I wouldn't die for anybody." Silence followed Ian's statement as everyone turned to look at Ian and Leslie. Leslie was staring at Ian as if he had just slapped her but Ian seemed oblivious that anything was wrong as he wrestled Andrew for more popcorn.

"Well I think it's time for bed," Cavanaugh said quickly as the end credits began to roll.

Nicole nodded, "Yes, we have to go to the parade tomorrow morning. We'll have to leave here around eight-thirty."

After a quick goodnight everyone went to their separate bedrooms.

Madeline was sound asleep on her soft bed of blankets in the corner of the room and Ian smiled at her before sliding under the covers and snuggling up against Leslie's back. He had hoped they could make love quietly while Madeline slept just as they had the last couple nights but Leslie was as still as stone beside him.