"Would it matter if I disagreed?" Lane Yancey asked, smiling.
"Of course not." Sheldon Caldwell winked at him. "Because I'm the chief instructor."
Lane Yancey burst out laughing. "Your personality is exactly like your mother's—just as direct, just as domineering."
Lane Yancey was actually one of Winter Sullivan's high school classmates. At school, their friendship had been purely platonic; they respected each other but didn't interact much, so they hadn't kept in touch over the years.
But Sheldon Caldwell replied in all seriousness, "I'm doing this to prove what students from regular universities are capable of. With the right training, they can hold their own against military academy cadets. It also sends a message that if they're willing, they too can join the military and serve their country."
Hearing this, Lane Yancey said with a note of admiration, "You're right. Everyone needs some fire in their hearts. What you're doing is a great thing. I support you."
