A Soldier's Journey Read online

  “Your town has been selfish,” she said. “It’s...grand.”

  “Grand. I like that word,” Nate said. “It’s our gem, and we’ve been protecting it, but it’s time to share if we want Covenant Falls to survive.”

  “Everyone seems happy.”

  “But you don’t see many people our age,” he said. “Josh and Eve want to change that, although it’s damn strange, because all Josh wanted when he arrived here was to be left alone.”

  “The falls changed him?”

  “Well, I think Eve had more to do with it, but the truth is the falls seems to have some magic, and this observation comes from a very pragmatic person,” Nate said with amusement in his eyes. “Me.”

  “I don’t see you as pragmatic,” she said.

  “Why not?”

  “Your eyes lit up when I suggested Camel Trail Inn, and I think it’s more inspirational than pragmatic to reframe an entire town.”

  “We’re just building an inn.”

  “I don’t think so,” she said slowly, thoughtfully. “I think you and Eve and Josh are trying to kick this town in the ass and get it moving, and it’s going to change far more than you suspect.”

  He raised an eyebrow, apparently at the words she used. She was appalled at the vehemence with which she’d said it. Where in the heck had it come from? Why did she care? She had been here all of three days and already she felt invested.

  He chuckled. “I guess you’re right. I hadn’t exactly thought of the inn as doing that.”

  “I think Eve has,” she said. “I suspect the community center was only the beginning.”

  “I can see she’s already drawn you into it.”

  “I’ve always liked stories,” Andy said, “and Eve fed that instinct. When I was a kid, I would make them up about people I knew. They would be horrified at some of them.”

  “What did you do to them?”

  “You really don’t want to know.”

  “I think I do.”

  “I murdered some of them.”

  “Kids or adults?”

  “I was an equal-opportunity slayer,” she admitted wryly.

  “And then you became a nurse to save them,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

  Andy wondered why she had told him about her childhood fantasies about bullies. But then she knew. She didn’t have to pretend. He had seen her at her worst last night. She looked up at him, at the warm hazel eyes and the hank of chestnut hair that fell over his forehead.

  She sought frantically for something to say, to divert her thoughts from his face. It was much too attractive, too rugged. “Thanks for bringing me here. Is this what brought and kept Angus Monroe here?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know what was in his mind. Probably it was the lake. The land east of here is—or was—all dry. The lake was a draw to every wagon train and wanderer that came this way. It was a perfect place for a trading post. He made a treaty with the Utes after saving a chief’s life. He married a Ute woman and had three children. Everyone pretty much agrees on that.”

  “And after that?”

  “He became very powerful in the state and amassed a lot of land, some of it, according to various stories, by not very savory means. Original settlers filed claims for land, then he bought them out cheap. But that’s just rumor. The fact is, no one really knows a lot about his early years here, which is why the journals are important.”

  He was intellectually seducing her, and he realized she was enjoying it.

  “There’s no more?”

  “That’s why we’re curious about the journals. When his nephew mentioned the journals, Eve and Al were at loggerheads. Al headed the city council and pretty much controlled the town for years. Nothing happened without his approval. When Eve was elected, his influence was substantially reduced. They disagreed on nearly every issue. He didn’t want anything to change. Eve did.”

  “Why would he let me read them, or even talk to me, if he won’t talk to anyone here in town?”

  “He probably won’t. But there’s a chance. He’s proud of his heritage and you’re an objective stranger.”

  “Am I? I’m indebted to Eve’s husband. He’s probably aware of that.”

  “I’m sure he is, but you’re writing a brochure about his town. He certainly would want his family portrayed well.”

  “A short history,” she corrected. “A few pages for a pamphlet, and it might be terrible. I’m not a writer. I told Eve that. I’m telling everyone that.” She bit her lip. “I’m beginning to feel manipulated.”

  He shook his head. “Then, don’t do it. That’s the last thing anyone wants. There’s absolutely no obligation, and I sure as hell don’t want you to think there is. Neither would Eve or Josh. Eve just thought you might be interested.”

  She believed him and relaxed. But he was right, and so was Eve. She was intrigued. As someone who loved history, the thought of reading a journal written 170 years earlier was more than beguiling to her.

  “If I don’t get his cooperation, will you tell me the rest of the story, or at least a version of it?” She couldn’t stop a smile.

  “I swear,” he said. “On my honor.” Then he added, “I left the sandwiches in the pickup. Why don’t you stay here while I get them?”

  To her surprise, she was hungry. She nodded.

  While he was gone, she gazed at the falls, thinking about what he had said. She pictured Angus Monroe. He would have been tall, with dark hair, and he would be honorable.

  She felt a growing excitement.

  Joseph barked. She glanced up, startled, to see Nate approaching with a box. “You looked a thousand miles away,” he said. “Should I ask what you’re thinking about?”

  “Angus Monroe,” she said, a half truth.

  He put the box on the table and opened it. It was loaded with food. He took out two paper plates and plastic spoons.

  “The pie was Maude’s idea,” he said. “I didn’t know what kind of sandwich you like, so I got two ham and cheese and two roast beef. There’s lemonade in the cups.”

  “I’ll take a roast beef,” she said, “and lemonade sounds perfect.”

  The falls and fresh breeze were intoxicating, and she enjoyed every bite of her sandwich. She kept her eyes on it rather than the attractive man across from her.

  When she turned her gaze back to him, he was studying her, and she felt a sudden warmth. Then guilt struck her like a sword. How could she even think of another man? The food suddenly felt like cotton in her mouth and her throat closed.

  No. No. No. Not now.

  Joseph whined next to her and put a paw on her knee. She fought the panic. She willed herself to breathe until it came naturally again. She looked up and met Nate’s concerned expression. She took another deep breath. “It’s okay,” she said.

  “Do you want to go?” he said softly.

  “No,” she said. She leaned down and put two hands on Joseph’s head, just touching him. She struggled for normalcy, for something to say. Then she remembered what Nate said last night.

  “You said you were a medic,” she reminded him, hoping her voice wasn’t strained.

  “No, I said I had medic training, but I was just a soldier. I was with the Strykers in Iraq.”

  “You were in the middle of combat,” she said.

  “You know it?” he said in surprise.

  “I was in the ROTC in high school and college. It paid for my degree. You learn military history. The Strykers are well named.”

  She was quiet for a moment. He reached out and touched her hand. She was surprised at how comforting it felt. Human contact. She bit her lip. The guilt struck again.

  Nate must have seen it in her eyes because he dropped his hand.

  “Ready to go back?” he asked.
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  She nodded. “But you’re right. It is beautiful here. It’s a shame not to share it.”

  “I agree.”

  “Thank you for bringing me here,” she said properly, the formality maintaining a distance.

  “You’re very welcome.” He gathered up the remainders from lunch and packed them in the box.

  They walked back toward his truck. She paused just as they approached the stand of trees that framed the falls.

  The rainbow was gone.

  * * *

  NATE NEEDED A very cold shower when he returned home.

  The house was lonely. He hadn’t really noticed that before. After the bitter end of his marriage four years ago, peace had been a much-appreciated balm.

  Covenant Falls had been safe as far as any romantic risks were concerned. Nearly everyone he knew was married, engaged or in some other town. He hadn’t been tempted.

  Until now. Andy might look fragile, but she sure as hell wasn’t. Field medical personnel couldn’t be. They had to be tough physically, mentally and emotionally.

  Right now, she was in a battle for herself. He tried to convince himself that he was only concerned as one vet would be about another. But he knew that wasn’t true.

  She stirred something in him he’d thought he’d conquered. He cared. He cared much more than he’d ever thought he could again. And it could only lead to disaster. She would leave Covenant Falls, probably sooner than later.

  He headed for the cold shower to inject some reason into himself. It did nothing to relax him. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. The attraction had been immediate. It had grown even stronger today although he knew it boded no good for either of them. He was still seared by his ex-wife, and she obviously still mourned the man she’d loved and lost in front of her.

  After the shower, he buried himself in work. While the inn was the major focus of his partnership with Josh, they also did renovations for both homes and businesses. The inn was in good shape with Susan now in place.

  He studied plans for an addition to a ranch house outside town. He had purchased the materials and they should be at the ranch next week. He’d hired two other men to join him and Josh at the site. They wanted to be finished in three weeks, sooner if possible, and Josh wouldn’t be there all the time. The framing shouldn’t take long, but the electrical and interior work would. That meant twelve-hour days.

  In the meantime he was doing a pro bono job for June Byars, who lived just two houses away from Josh’s cabin. It was a good thing. No time to think of Andy, much less see her, even if they were just a few hundred yards away from each other.

  He needed another cold shower.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  ANDY TOOK A deep breath before invading the lair of the dragon.

  After Nate left Sunday afternoon, she’d spent an hour sitting on the porch, then walked out to the lake and sat on the dock. She thought about the Scottish trader and a vision that founded a town.

  The various descriptions of Al Monroe also challenged her. She had always been good with people. She’d learned how to persist while being so polite no one took offense. She’d used that tactic to get into high school ROTC. It was all guys, and they’d done their best to get her out as they had other girls. But she knew it was her best chance to get into college, and she’d taken their hazing and bullying and even disdain from them and the instructor...

  She reassured herself as she took a long hot shower and dressed in the best she had: the black pants that were a little big and a blue shirt. She added a touch of lipstick and ran a brush through her hair. Then she stooped down next to Joseph. “You have to stay here now,” she said. “I’ll be back soon.”

  She turned back to the problem at hand. How to approach Al Monroe.

  Directness had always worked for her.

  She reluctantly left Joseph inside and drove the Bucket to the center of town and parked in front of the Monroe Real Estate and Insurance Company. If she got in to see him, she would not mention the journals, only that she was trying to write a short history and needed his input.

  Andy took a deep breath, then walked to the office. Real estate flyers decorated the front window. She walked in. The bank branch was to her right as she entered. It was nothing more than a counter with a young woman smiling hopefully at her.

  Andy went up to her. “Hello. Is Mr. Monroe in?”

  “Sure is,” the young woman said. “Mrs. Stanley over there will help you. I’m Mary Reynolds,” she said. “You must be the new veteran in Josh’s cabin.”

  “Guilty,” Andy said. “I’m Andy—Andrea—Stuart.”

  “Welcome to Covenant Falls. I hope you stay awhile. We need new blood.”

  “Thank you,” she said, although she had no intentions of staying. Covenant Falls was just a way station.

  She left the counter and walked across the room to the woman staring at the computer. “Hello,” she said.

  No smile this time from the middle-aged woman. A gatekeeper, Andy thought. She’d had experience with that certain breed.

  “Would it be possible to see Mr. Monroe?” she asked.

  “Do you have an appointment?”

  “No, but I would really like to meet him.”

  “Insurance? Or real estate? Mr. Adams is responsible for insurance.”

  Maybe a small deception wasn’t out of order. “More like real estate.”

  “Who should I say is here?”

  “Andy Stuart. I just moved into Mr. Manning’s cabin.”

  The woman gave her a long stare, then picked up her phone. “An Andy Stuart would like to see you about real estate.”

  After a pause, she nodded at Andy. “You can go in.”

  Andy’s stomach churned. She had managed this far. She hadn’t allowed herself to think beyond each step. The first step was to drive here, the second to get into his office...

  I can do it. She stood and went to the door, opening it.

  She peered inside. A tall, heavily built man stood as she entered. He looked startled when he saw her. “I thought Irene said Andy Stuart.”

  “That’s me, I’m afraid,” she said. “Andrea, but everyone calls me Andy.”

  “You’re the new person in Manning’s cabin?” He didn’t sound very happy about it.

  “Yes, sir,” she said, reverting to military protocol.

  He nodded toward her hand in its brace. “What happened to your hand?”

  “A bullet.”

  “You were in combat?” He sounded surprised.

  “I was an army nurse in a combat zone.”

  “Was?”

  To her surprise, she didn’t mind the question from him. It was better than the averted glances.

  “My hand was injured. I received a medical discharge.”

  “Why did you come to Covenant Falls?”

  It was direct and even a bit rude, but she’d expected that. She sensed that frankness was the best course with him. “I needed a place to...decide what to do next. My doctor recommended Covenant Falls.”

  “No family?” he asked.

  “That wouldn’t work right now.”

  “Sit down,” he ordered.

  She sat.

  “Irene said you were here about real estate.”

  She thought about lying, then decided that would be a bad move. “Not really.”

  “Then, what?”

  “History. I want to write a short history of Covenant Falls.”

  “Why?”

  “For the community center and to tell people about the town. I want to do something to justify my use of the cabin. No one told me to. But I like history, and this town has so much of it.”

  “It’s really to promote the town,” he said with a frown. “Eve wants to bring m
ore people here. I don’t. I like it as it is.”

  “It can’t stay as it is if everyone grows old and dies,” she said. “You’ll just have another ghost town here. I know what it’s like when a town’s young people feel it’s necessary to leave to get a job.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I come from a small coal-mining town in West Virginia. About the only choices were waiting tables in the diner or...leaving.”

  “We’re not that bad,” he said with what she thought must be a rare smile.

  “I would have liked to stay,” she said, sensing an opening. “My only family—a mother and two sisters—are there, but I couldn’t support myself. It’s why I joined the army. It helped me get a degree I might otherwise not have.”

  He stared at her. “Why are you really here?”

  “I’ve visited the community center and looked through some of the newspapers dating back to 1875. I’ve heard some stories about the founding of this town. I would really like to learn more about how it started. And about Angus Monroe.” She paused. “I could probably sit down now and write some paragraphs about the town that would satisfy Mayor Manning, but I want to do something more. I want to know your ancestor. He deserves more than a few paragraphs.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “You know the mayor and I don’t exactly agree on the future of Covenant Falls.”

  “I heard.”

  “You have nerve coming here,” he said.

  She didn’t answer.

  “Give me the real reason,” he said, and she realized there was much more to Al Monroe than she’d been led to believe. She decided to answer honestly.

  “Because it’s the first thing that’s interested me in more than seven months,” she said.

  “And that should matter to me?”

  “Maybe not. But I understand Angus became a powerful man. He was one of the first settlers in the state. He has a great story and he deserves to be remembered.”