“Pretty fair. I heard you fellas playing the other day and so I dragged it out,” she said as she laid the instrument in her lap and pulled out two finger picks and put one on her thumb and the other on her index finger. “What would you fellas like to play?” she asked.
Jeffers spoke up. “Why not play Wildwood Flower. That is perfect for the autoharp,” he said.
The young woman got a twinkle in her eye. “You’re my kind of man,” she joked as she lifted the instrument and placed the back of it against her chest.
She wasn’t good, she was perfect. The music flowed from the harp-like instrument as she used one hand to play the melody and accompaniment on the strings while the other pressed the appropriate keys. The men looked at each other and grinned. In just a few bars, they had joined in. Then she opened her mouth.
In between stanzas, other members of the group played a small refrain, shaping the music and sound throughout the piece. In the end, she gave a nod and everyone slowed to a stop. As usual, everyone expressed their pleasure at the outcome.
Jeffers asked, “What’s your name?”
The young woman blushed slightly. Her name patch had been covered up.
“My name is Angie Carter,” she said.
Jeffers and Chambers sat up. “You wouldn’t happen to be a member of the Carter Family?” asked Chambers.
She smiled. “Yes,” she said sheepishly. “This autoharp belonged to my great-great grandma Maybelle.”
“Dear Lord,” exclaimed Chambers. “I guess that means you can stay,” he said with a smile. Everyone around the area laughed since they all knew about the Carter Family. They were country music legends.
Jeffers started playing the banjo part for Nashville Blues and Chambers picked up. Like always, the others fell in. Even Carter was strumming along on the autoharp. A number of others were sitting around the group, tapping their feet and just enjoying the music.
The group was about to finish up the piece when a booming voice shattered the calm. “What the hell is going on in here?” yelled Captain Donner. The music immediately stopped and everyone jumped to their feet. “Who gave you permission to bring this redneck crap aboard my ship?” he demanded.
“Just playing a few tunes after hours, Captain,” said Chambers.
“Not on my ship. If you have time to do this, you can have time for more work. And I’m not sure I like officers and enlisted doing things together. This is to end at once,” he shouted before turning to Jeffers. “And who the hell are you?”
“Lieutenant Commander Jeffers, sir. I’m on the Admiral’s staff,” explained Jeffers.
“Well, Lieutenant Commander, you just keep your redneck hillbilly crap off my ship. You stay up with your people and leave my people alone!” he growled pointing his finger at Jeffers. “If I ever see you down here with my people again….”
“Attention on deck!” someone shouted.
Admiral Hustvedt walked casually up to the group. “Please be at ease. I just wanted to congratulate you on this fine band here, Captain,” said Hustvedt. “I’ve been listening from across the way and really enjoyed their playing,” he said as he turned to Petty Officer Carter. “And you play that autoharp superbly. Haven’t heard such good music in a long time.” He then turned to Donner. “Good idea having a group like this playing on your ship. You recall Hammond had one on his ship. It was probably another reason he got his star,” Hustvedt said jovially. “You people keep up the good work,” he said as he turned to leave. Then he stopped and motioned for Donner to follow him. “One other thing,” Hustvedt said more quietly and he pulled Donner in close when away from the others. “If I ever hear you berating one of my officers or any other in front of their troops, I will personally see to it that you are shipped back home, and the only thing you will command is a detachment in Diego Garcia,” Hustvedt almost spat. “Such displays of cruelty are counter to good order and discipline and can lead to the loss of a ship and good people. I need you and your ship, but I will not abide a bully. So you keep that in mind. Do you understand?”
Donner gulped. “Yes, sir,” he choked out.
Hustvedt looked at him hard. “Good. Now I think I will go back and listen to some more of that good old American Bluegrass,” he said as he turned and walked back toward the group. Within a few minutes another song was being played.
Donner made his way back to his sea cabin behind the bridge. He didn’t have to listen to that crap. By the time he got to his quarters he had already determined to give Chambers and the chiefs some extra duties. That would teach then not to mess with their commanding officer.
After a few more songs, the group broke up and headed toward their racks. Jeffers said goodbye to his friend and joined the Admiral who was waiting.
“You okay?” Hustvedt asked.
Jeffers smiled. “Oh, I’m fine, but I wouldn’t give much for the rest of the guys. Over the past couple of days I’ve seen the Captain go off on several people. From what I’m seeing, everybody is scared to death of him,” he confided.
Hustvedt nodded. “I’ve heard the same thing. I caught a glimpse of him heading your way and decided to keep my ears open. I’m hoping this will cause him to calm down a bit. I’m sorry he was taking out his anger on you.”
“I can handle those kinds of things, but did you see Seaman Carter? She looked like she would faint,” said Jeffers.
“I saw it. That’s why I said something nice to her. I never have been able to take a bully. He may be the worst I have ever seen. But that’s my problem. I’ll keep my ears open, and if you see anything, let me know,” Hustvedt said seriously. Then his face turned into a grin. “Boy, you sure do know how to pick that banjo,” he said with a smile.
The two talked together as they walked down the hanger deck toward the door that led back to their quarters.
FM: SHAEF
TO: USS IOWA (BB-61)
INFO: CTF 55.1
CINCLANTFLT
COMNAVSURFLANT
CINCUSNAVEUR
SUBJ: REQUEST PRAYER
BT///SECRET//
1. SCAEF REQUESTS CHAPLAIN FATHER JAMES DANNER PREPARE A PRAYER TO BE SHARED WITH ALL FORCES UPON COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS. PRAYER SHOULD BE RECEIVED NLT 24 HRS PRIOR FOR DIST.
2. PERGRA TO BREAK EMCON TO TRANSMIT VIA SATELLITE ONLY.
3. IF DANNER NOT ABOARD, NOTIFY IMMEDIATELY.
4. HAMMOND SENDS.
BT
Captain Rhodes looked at the message and smiled. Danner would get a kick out of this. He would also get a kick out of Hammond knowing he was aboard. Danner and the then Captain Hammond got along famously when he was aboard. It never dawned on Rhodes that Hammond knew that Danner would never have allowed himself to be away from his flock.