The Soldier's Homecoming

CHAPTER FOUR (#u3f120706-64dc-59f2-88d9-8304b88e84b8)

“YOU HAVE TO be kidding!” Travis exclaimed.

“Afraid not,” Josh Manning said over the phone.

Three weeks after Travis’s first trip to Covenant Falls, he’d finally moved into Josh’s cabin.

He hadn’t known at first whether he was the right person for the job. He liked the ideas he’d heard at supper that first night. He liked Jubal Pierce and his business partner, Luke, and their commitment to an equine therapy program. He’d seen enough vets in Walter Reed and rehab to know how debilitating the aftermath of war could be.

But he’d wanted to do some research on his own first. He’d spent three weeks back in Washington on his laptop, getting to know equine therapy programs available for veterans. Some received grants, some fees from the VA and some public support. Still, there was more need than availability.

Jubal, though, was impatient. He wanted to get moving. Riding and a horse named Jacko had helped him survive the rough months after leaving the SEALs. He was determined to do the same for others. He’d read about and talked to providers. He knew the need.

Jubal’s commitment to hire Danny was the deciding factor. The kid had been uncertain, having never lived in a small town nor worked with horses. He wasn’t sure what he could do with one leg, and he didn’t want to let Travis down. Travis felt it was the other way around. He didn’t want to let the kid down.

So Travis was there to work on the details, and Danny had moved out to Jubal’s ranch and was now helping to build a bunkhouse of sorts for single participants in the program. Other vets in town had pledged to help, and Danny would learn about construction, as well as horses.

Danny had been awed by working with a SEAL, and Jubal had been pleased with his work ethic and eagerness to learn. For the time being, he used a spare room at Jubal’s ranch, but would move into the bunkhouse once it was finished. The job offered a small salary, as well as room and board.

Everything seemed fine until Travis received the phone call from Josh.

“I have some news,” Josh said, sounding unhappy.

Travis waited for the other shoe to drop.

“A reporter called my wife, as well as the manager of our inn,” Josh said. “She’d heard about Covenant Falls and the veterans here. She wants to do a story.”

“A reporter?” An image of his ex-fiancé skipped through his mind.

“Yeah. I checked on her, and she’s pretty high-powered. Jennifer Talbot. She works for several news agencies. Did some reporting in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.”

“I know the name,” Travis said. “Concentrated on soldiers and civilians more than tactics. But why the interest in Covenant Falls? It’s peanuts compared to what she’s been doing. We don’t even know if there will be an equine therapy program yet, much less what it might look like. It’s a hell of a long way from being a reality.”

“Eve told her, but she was insistent. Long story short, she wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“Dammit,” Travis said. He’d had contact with reporters before. Many went for the headline, not the meat of the story. And too many got the meat wrong.

“My sentiments exactly. It’s much too early. But she made a reservation at the inn. Indefinite stay starting on Thursday.”

“What is she doing back here in the States?”

“She didn’t say. Susan was too busy answering the reporter’s questions. I gather this Jennifer Talbot is interested in doing a story about veterans coming here, and Susan mentioned the equine therapy project and Jubal’s name. Talbot apparently seized on it.” Josh hesitated, then added, “Talbot then called my wife for more details. Eve was cautious. She knows how we feel about our privacy and that Jubal definitely does not want this project to be about him. One reason he moved here was to get away from the publicity about his captivity and escape. He went through hell, and he doesn’t want to live through it again in the newspapers.”

“It might be hard to avoid it now,” Travis said. After a moment of consideration, he added, “Publicity would probably help bring in donations.”

“We don’t want that kind of publicity,” Josh said. “First of all, we don’t even know if we’ll go ahead. Second, if we do go ahead, the wrong kind of publicity could scare vets away. We’ll want word of mouth through the military community. We don’t want it to be about us.”

“Got it,” Travis said.

“Maybe you can talk to her. I think you might be more diplomatic than the rest of us, you being an officer and all,” Josh suggested. “Tell her to come back in a year or two.”

“Not going to be easy. A missing SEAL who suddenly reappears out of the jungle to open a therapy program, not to mention the army nurse, chopper pilot and you,” Travis said. “Even I know it’s a great human interest story.”

“And a spotlight would be on any program we come up with. We’re thinking about applying for grants, not spreading it all over newspapers.”

“What do you suggest?” Travis asked.

“Pick her up at the Pueblo airport,” Josh said. “Susan apparently offered. She would do anything to make the inn a success, and I’m usually all for that since I’m a co-owner. Except this time.”

“I don’t think that’s in my job description,” Travis said wryly.

“You’re a hell of a lot more diplomatic than I am. As your staff sergeant, I saw you manipulate superior officers and make them think your idea was theirs more than once.”

Travis couldn’t really deny that. He’d gotten Josh out of several scrapes with superior officers.

“I’m just not sure what I can do.”

“Take her by the Falls. Get her interested in the town rather than the veterans.”

“I’ve only been here a few days,” Travis protested.

“But you’ve had a crash course. I tried to get Andy, but she had previous commitments.”

“I still don’t understand why she can’t drive herself here. Must be a prima donna.”

“Susan offered,” Josh said.

Travis knew ambitious reporters. After all, Dinah had been one. He knew her obsession with a good news story. There was little she wouldn’t do to get an exclusive.

Handling another reporter was the last thing Travis wanted to do, but he understood the danger this posed to the program they might develop. Veterans were fighting enough demons without having a spotlight on them.

He wanted to say no. He was still very aware of his own injuries and scars, but he had to get over it sometime. And he was a part of this now.

“I can’t guarantee results,” he warned.

“Understood,” Josh said. “You’ll meet her at the airport then?”

“Reluctantly,” Travis said. “I would call it hazardous duty.”

Josh chuckled on the phone. “Why don’t you come to our house for dinner tonight?”

“A bribe?”

“Now, would I do that?” Josh asked in a wounded tone.

“Not two years ago. I’m not so certain now. This town has corrupted you. Remind me not to stay long.”

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