Melanie Bacon

Welcome Home, Major Bearclaw Melanie Bacon

All Major Ernie Bearclaw wanted was a clean house, an attractive spouse and a little respect. But when he returns to the States for powwow after his Mideast deployment he finds chaos on the rez, in his home, and in his bed. Ernie speaks up. And then he's shot. Now Ernie?s in a coma and his family, enemies and grateful nation are trying to figure out who shot him and why. There are a lot of suspects, because the war hero is not a nice guy. The tribal chairman hates him for blabbing to the media about misuse of casino funds. The Army thinks an Iraqi treasure smuggling cartel is after him. An old girlfriend, furious at his survival, stalks the hospital corridors hoping to unplug him. His wife fantasizes about how kindly people will treat her at his funeral.   Back on the rez, the elders squeeze time between bingo and the buffet to plot their recall of the council and run the unconscious Ernie for tribal chairman. Many crows roost on the hotel roof, a sign the mischief isn?t over. Welcome home, Major Bearclaw.