The Soldier's Promise

The Soldier's Promise
Patricia Potter

Here today, gone tomorrow? When former army ranger Josh Manning comes to close-knit Covenant Falls, he knows he won't be staying long. As soon as he's renovated the cabin he's inherited from a late fellow soldier, he and his ex-military dog, Amos, are getting out fast. That is, until Mayor Eve Douglas drops by.Eve, a young widow, has a precocious son and a band of misfit pets. Definitely not his type. Besides, she deserves much more than he can give. Unless, against all his instincts, he's ready to make one more promise.

Here today, gone tomorrow?

When former army ranger Josh Manning comes to close-knit Covenant Falls, he knows he won’t be staying long. As soon as he’s renovated the cabin he’s inherited from a late fellow soldier, he and his ex-military dog, Amos, are getting out fast. That is, until Mayor Eve Douglas drops by.

Eve, a young widow, has a precocious son and a band of misfit pets. Definitely not his type. Besides, she deserves much more than he can give. Unless, against all his instincts, he’s ready to make one more promise.

“I don’t stay in places long.”

“Maybe it’s time you did.”

Josh touched Eve’s face again, this time letting his fingers linger and trace the line of her jaw. His body ached with longing. He wanted to dig deep under that calm serenity and ignite the fire he felt in her. But he couldn’t. “I’m a wanderer and you’re a nester, and I would bet everything I have that you’ve never had a one-night stand, or one-week stand, and that’s all I know. All I want. No complications.”

He was lying. He did want more, he just hadn’t known it until now.

But it wouldn’t work. He would leave one day, and it could break two hearts. Maybe three.

He stepped back.

She gave him a long, steady look, then nodded. She started to turn, then stopped. “About Nick?”

“You can bring him over tomorrow afternoon.” Bad decision, but the boy would be here with his mother. No temptation then. At least that was what he told himself.

“Thank you,” she said softly, and as he closed the door he wondered exactly what she was thanking him for.

Dear Reader,

Most of my story ideas come from today’s newspaper headlines. Life often holds more wonders than a writer’s imagination.

All my writer’s bells rang when I read a New York Times story about military dogs being retired because of post-traumatic stress disorder. Many are adopted by their handlers or the general public.

There were also news stories about veterans returning with PTSD and successful programs matching these vets and dogs rescued from the street. The matches often worked miracles for both.

My writer’s “what if” mechanism shifted into high gear, and Joshua Manning immediately strode into my mind. He was a throwaway kid who’d raised himself and saw the military as the family he never had. But when a wound meant leaving the service, he had no idea of what to do or where to go. None except saving the military dog handled by a friend who’d died saving Josh’s life.

And where better to heal than Covenant Falls, a fictional small town with a big heart and a lady mayor with an even bigger one.

Josh and his Amos, and Mayor Eve Douglas, her young son and their motley crew of rescues climbed into my heart and wrote their own story. I hope they will touch you as they did me.

Patricia Potter

The Soldier’s Promise

Patricia Potter

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Patricia Potter is a bestselling and award-winning author of more than sixty books. Her Western romances have received numerous awards, including an RT Book Reviews Storyteller of the Year Award, a Career Achievement Award for Western Historical Romance and a Best Hero of the Year Award. She is a seven-time RITA® Award finalist for RWA and a three-time Maggie winner. She is a past president of the Romance Writers of America.

Besides writing, Patricia has a passion for accumulating dogs, specifically rescue ones. She’s learned that you don’t choose dogs, they somehow find you. She currently has two rescue Australian Shepherd sisters with two distinctly different personalities, but both overflowing with love.

In addition to dogs and books, she also loves travel and recently visited the magical, history-seeped Adriatic Coast, Spain and France.

To our returning veterans and the dogs that protect them.

Contents

Chapter One (#u35a84cf1-2f4d-5869-b648-dd12b99cd7e3)

Chapter Two (#udec7ccd1-c8d6-5e10-8db9-af42734c7009)

Chapter Three (#u1b28df13-59e2-5753-b9ec-d80ace8ce7bd)

Chapter Four (#u1ad3102d-4ded-5b13-918f-c8dcc64492eb)

Chapter Five (#u215a4438-1a5d-5c48-aa3c-6a8c099de387)

Chapter Six (#u4c37e0a6-f67a-583a-b23c-3821839006ad)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)