A Soldier's Journey

She kept turning the pages. The wedding, four months later, of Josh and Eve Manning. Then the arrival of chopper pilot Clint Morgan last fall was duly reported.

Andy closed the paper. This was getting her nowhere. She wanted to go farther back. She wanted to know Covenant Falls when it was little more than a trading post.

She checked the other bound volumes of papers, but none went back farther than 1919, unless there were scattered editions in the pile of boxes lining the room.

Then she found what she was searching for: a box marked “Early Years.”

She wished she had a computer. She hadn’t bothered with one in the hospital or the months of recuperation. The purchase of a cell phone after her release from the hospital had been a big deal.

Note to self—laptop computer. It would take a bite out of what little money she had, but it was necessary. Not only for this task but for day-to-day living now that she’d decided to be a functioning person again. She opened a box and started prowling through it.

CHAPTER SEVEN (#ulink_79853d64-e840-5f61-8648-b5a540222a41)

WHAT DO YOU wear when meeting your landlord and a bunch of strangers while dining at the house of the mayor?

Eve had said it was casual. But there was casual, and then there was more casual. Unfortunately, she didn’t have much of a choice. Her wardrobe was limited, and that was an understatement. Her predeployment clothes had been much too large by the time she left the hospital, and she hadn’t had the heart, desire or reason to buy more than basic necessities.

That translated into three pairs of jeans, one pair of black pants, two sweaters, three T-shirts and several shirts, including two pullovers. Her choice of footwear was a pair of lace-up walking shoes, a pair of sandals and one pair of well-worn loafers.

She chose the best pair of jeans and a blue-gray shirt with long sleeves. After running a brush through her hair, she added a touch of lipstick, then stared at herself in the mirror. Really looked for the first time in months. Her hair needed a cut. Badly. She was thin, too thin. Her cheeks were hollow.

Joseph watched every movement, following her from room to room as if afraid someone would snatch her.

“It’s okay,” she said. “You can come with me.”

The doorbell rang. Joseph barked. “It’s a bit late for that,” she told Joseph. “You’re supposed to bark before the bell rings.” She hurried to the door and opened it. Nate stood there, a rueful smile on his lips.

“Hi,” he said. “I’m really not stalking you.”

“Are you sure?” she asked with a slight smile.

“Nope, I swear. Eve will vouch for me.”

He wore jeans and a casual blue pullover cotton shirt with short sleeves that showed off muscled arms and a fit body. A shock of unruly chestnut hair fell over his forehead.

“Tell me about the other people at the dinner.”

“Josh is a former loner who finds himself surrounded by people and animals and can’t quite figure out how it happened. Clint is the opposite. He’s never met a stranger and could charm a rattler. Clint likes to tease Josh about his current zoo and a wife with a finger in a hundred pies.”

“And you enjoy standing back and enjoying it.”

“Guilty. But then Stephanie and Clint are interesting, too. Clint’s the outgoing one, and Stephanie is all practicality.”

“Should make for an interesting evening.” Andy turned to Joseph. “Let’s go.” Then she glanced back at Nate. “Eve said it was okay to bring him.”

“I would be shocked if he wasn’t invited,” Nate replied as Joseph picked up his leash and brought it to her.

“Eve will be impressed,” Nate said as he opened the door for her, then the screen porch. “Her dogs never do that.”

She’d expected the pickup but instead he led her to a middle-aged Buick sedan. “My mom’s car,” he said. “I thought it would be more comfortable.”

“She lives here?”

“It’s one reason I came back. She’s getting older.” A shadow crossed his face and she realized there was probably more to the story. But she knew better than to probe. She didn’t want anyone to probe into her life.

Once they were on the road, he turned to her. “Everyone who’ll be there tonight is good people. Really good people. They’ll understand if you need to walk away. Just nod at me, and we’ll leave. Okay?”

She swallowed hard. He understands. She hadn’t been around more than a few people since...waking up. She’d refused group therapy. No way could she talk about what happened.

“Thank you,” she finally said.

He turned on some jazz in the car and they rode in silence.

Nate drove to a parking area in front of a one-story ranch house. A screened-in porch, much like her own, stretched across the front. A boy—maybe ten or so—opened the door and approached the car. He waited as Andy stepped out of the car.

“Hello,” he said.

“Hello to you,” she said with a smile.

“I’m Nick. Mom told me to bring you inside. She said you might have a dog. I have four. They’re inside because Mom says they can be too much for a visitor.” He hadn’t taken a breath between all the sentences.

“I think I can handle a few dogs,” she said. “And I do have one in the car. Would you like to meet him?”

Nick nodded eagerly.

Nate had walked around the car, and he opened the back door.

Joseph jumped down and stood protectively next to Andy.

“Can I pet him?” Nick asked.

“I think he would like that.”

“What’s his name?”

“Joseph.”

Nick knelt and rubbed Joseph’s ears. “He’s a fine dog,” he said.

“Every dog is a fine dog to Nick,” Eve said as she walked up. “Welcome. The guys are around at the grill in back. Would you like to come in and have a glass of wine before joining them?”

Andy nodded. “Sounds good.” She followed Eve inside while Nate strode behind the house. Joseph was at her heels, and Nick at his.

She stepped inside the porch. “Looks familiar,” she said.

“Josh built the one at the cabin and liked it so much he added this one after we were married. He’s great with his hands.”

They went inside to the kitchen. Eve poured two glasses of red wine and handed one to her. “Bill Evans said you stayed at the museum until late.”