“Not just yet, kiddo,” Leo said. “We got to go through boot camp. Ten weeks training, then we’ll be sailors in the U.S. Navy.”

Emaline was so angry she bit her lip. “Bobby, you are absolutely not going into the navy. You go back there and tell them it was a big mistake. I am still your legal guardian. I forbid it.”

“Aw, Sis, it’s too late to change things now. We’re already signed up. I turned nineteen and Leo is twenty, so we don’t need nobody’s consent to enlist. We didn’t plan it, we were just walkin by the recruiting station and we started talkin it over and pretty soon we were gettin sworn in. C’mon, Sis, be happy. Leo and me, we’re goin to see the world!”

“I can’t believe this, Bobby. Mama would be so disappointed. She wanted you to go to college.”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t goin to college. It’s only that I’m goin in the navy first. We signed up for a three-year hitch, then we’ll come home and go back to school.”

Emaline turned on Leo. “And what about you, you big lug? Have you told your father about this?”

Leo grinned. “Nope. I figured I’d make it a birthday surprise.”

“You did, you big fool? You’re going to ruin his birthday. You know you’re the apple of his eye, don’t you? What if you get hurt or killed?”

“Aw, we’ll be fine. The United States aint at war with nobody. Pop is so busy, he won’t even notice I’m gone.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong. Eli dotes on you. He’s going to miss you terribly. What about you, Bobby—did you think about that at all? What if you get hurt?”

“How can we get hurt? It’s peacetime.”

“It is now. That can end in a hurry. There’s fighting in Europe and everybody is worried about Japan and… oh, how could you be so stupid. You’ve never even seen the ocean, either one of you. We’d better get going or we’ll be late for the party.”

When they got to the ranch, Leo and Bobby rushed in and told Juanita first because Eli was still out with the horses. When he came in and Leo told him the news, Eli sat down and took a deep breath before he said anything.

“Look, I raised all my kids to make their own decisions and think for themselves. I’m proud of both of you for tryin to help your country. But dammit, you ought to told us first so we could talk things over. You don’t go off and do a thing like this without speaking to us.”