The Soldier's Homecoming Read online

  “The government says I haven’t been,” he replied.

  “I’m aware of what the government says. What do you say?”

  “What the government says.”

  She hid a smile and changed topics. “Are you a Ranger?” she asked. She’d met a lot of them. She would bet her last dollar he was Special Forces. There was a confidence about them that was unmistakable. They were among the best and knew it.

  “Yes,” he said simply.

  “And you’re on leave?”

  “Yes.”

  He was a master at brevity. “Why are you in Covenant Falls?” she persisted.

  “Seeing a friend.”

  “One of the veterans?”

  He glanced at her. “You’re just full of questions.”

  “I’m a reporter,” she said, as if that explained everything. “Didn’t anyone warn you?”

  “Not completely.”

  His answers were frustrating. She thought from his tone he knew that and was thoroughly enjoying it. She looked out the window at the mountains looming ahead. “I find it very interesting that I’ve never heard anything about Covenant Falls, even though I lived in Denver.”

  “Maybe because the people there don’t care whether you did or not.”

  “I find that even more interesting.”

  He chuckled. It had a very nice tone to it.

  She studied the barely visible scar that turned the right corner of his mouth up slightly. It would have been a classically handsome face minus the scar. She wondered whether he minded that imperfection.

  “Tell me about the town,” she said.

  “What do you want to know?”

  “How many veterans live there?”

  “Susan didn’t tell you?” Susan had apparently told her altogether too much.

  “No. She just said there were a lot.”

  “That’s my answer, too. I don’t have numbers but it’s a small town, and small towns typically send more of their young people to the military than cities. Call it patriotism or lack of opportunity where they are. And I suppose most return to their roots after their service...”

  “How many are not native to the area?” she asked. “Susan said there were more than a few.”

  “I’ve only been here a few days,” he said. “Susan can probably help you with that more than I can.”

  He paused, then added, “Answered all your questions now?”

  She knew he was trying to frustrate her into asking fewer questions. Wasn’t working. “I’m a reporter, so the answer is no. Not even close.”

  “Can we at least have a reprieve?”

  “Five minutes,” she offered.

  “I can work with that,” he said drily.

  She bit her tongue and examined the car. Obviously a rental. It was too clean inside to be otherwise. She wanted to ask why. In four more minutes.

  Then she studied her surroundings. Since the north–south interstate ran through Pueblo, she’d driven through the city several times. It was an attractive city with numerous parks, but several miles outside the city limits, Travis turned onto a two-lane road that ran through ranch country.

  “How far is Covenant Falls?” she asked although she already knew, having done extensive research. But it was a natural enough question and she wanted to keep him talking.

  He glanced at her with a raised eyebrow and she suspected he knew what she was doing. “It’s only been two minutes,” he pointed out.

  “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”

  “About an hour and a half.”

  “Are you staying at the Camel Trail Inn, too?”

  He sighed and didn’t answer.

  Now questions were busting out of her brain. She’d rarely met such an unhelpful male.

  She knew she wasn’t pretty, with her untamable hair, a complexion that burned easily and a figure that was more stick than curvy, but she was usually interested in what guys were interested in, and easily became buddies with those she met. She was rarely in one place long enough to build a romantic relationship, though, and if one started budding, she ran as though the devil was after her. Marriage was her worst nightmare. She only knew of bad ones.

  She looked at her watch. Five minutes were up.

  “Where are you staying?” she asked. As far as she knew, the town had several bed and breakfasts, the inn and nothing else.

  “A private cabin,” he said. “It belongs to a friend.”

  “Was answering that hard?”

  “I’m not particularly fond of reporters,” he said.

  “Why?”

  “The truth?”

  “Always.”

  “It’s not you, individually. It’s just that the vets here do not want publicity. One of the reasons they’ve stayed is because people here respect that. They’re no different than the pharmacist or woodworker or mechanic. They want Covenant Falls to grow because it’s a great place to live, not because they are some kind of oddity.”

  “I can respect that,” she said.

  “Can you? Aren’t you here for a story?”

  “Won’t you need publicity if you go ahead with a therapy program?”

  “No. We would work through military sources.”

  “Is this why you came to pick me up? To diplomatically deliver a message?”

  “I don’t think I was that diplomatic.”

  She was silent for a moment. “What if I promise not to submit anything you or the other vets don’t approve?”

  “I didn’t think reporters did that.”

  “We usually don’t. Practically never, in fact,” she admitted. “But this subject is personally important to me. I want to do it. And I want to do it right.”

  He took his eyes off the road and looked at her. She expected him to ask why. He didn’t. His gaze went back to the road.

  She waited.

  “No one can force you to leave,” he said.

  “But I don’t want to run around chasing my tail either. I don’t break confidences or promises. If I did, no one would talk to me again.”

  He didn’t say anything for a few minutes. She was beginning to think he wouldn’t. He’d obviously been sent to dissuade her. What he didn’t know was how badly she wanted to do the story. She’d been clutching the prospect like a lifeline.

  Everything about it intrigued her: warriors ending up in a small town, healing, joining together to help others. It had everything...

  But only if she could gain their trust. And the first gatekeeper to get by was the obviously wary man next to her.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  THEY WEREN’T MORE than a mile out of Pueblo when Travis realized he was in trouble.

  He had been from the first moment he saw her.

  He’d tried to avoid glancing at his passenger as he drove the nearly empty two-lane road from Pueblo to Covenant Falls, but his gaze kept wandering from the road to Jenny Talbot.

  She was not at all what he’d expected when Josh asked him to pick her up. She looked younger than the black-and-white photo he’d found online. Plus, in the photo her hair had been pulled back and it looked dark. Now it was short and fiery.

  Neither had the photo done justice to the green eyes that danced with warmth and curiosity. She was medium height but looked taller, maybe because her body was lean rather than curvy. She radiated energy.

  When he agreed to meet her, he’d expected someone like his ex-fiancé—cool and poised.

  Jennifer Talbot was definitely not that. She wore worn jeans, a T-shirt and a denim jacket that looked great on her lanky figure. She didn’t try to hide the freckles on her nose. Her mouth was too wide for beauty, and her jaw too stubborn, but when she smiled, it was as if the sun just came out.

  But she did have something in common with Dinah. Persistence.


  He recalled the first time he’d met Dinah. As a commander in the field, he’d had contact with reporters and perfected the art of saying little and doing it politely.

  That talent had been noted, and while he was stationed in Georgia, between deployments, he was often asked to be a spokesman. He’d met Dinah at a news conference. She was beautiful, charming...and persistent.

  The memory of their last meeting still stung. It had, no doubt, made him leery of other journalists. But there was something different about this one.

  He’d immediately noticed the way she avoided using her right arm and liked the fact that she stated the injury from the start without elaboration or expecting anything because of it. He’d also found, and liked, several of her articles. They demonstrated that she had a real understanding of the places and people she was covering. He didn’t have much time to think about it, though. He was too busy fending off questions after his five-minute moratorium was over. She didn’t hesitate to bore in. She obviously wanted a story. But he sensed the interest went deeper. Although he was usually cautious of civilians, especially reporters, he was attracted to her positive vibes and low-key humor.

  But he was also cautious. He didn’t know what his next steps would be after this short—and virtually nonpaying—job. He was in no position to get interested in a woman. Any woman. Particularly one who was obviously consumed by her own career. Been there, done that.

  His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a loud ahem sound.

  She started her questions again, and to his surprise, he enjoyed dueling with her. As the questions continued, the car seemed to heat despite the cool air floating from the air-conditioning. He hadn’t felt it in a long time but he knew it was trouble. Chemistry? Electricity sparking between them? Whatever it was, it scared the hell out of him.

  He was pretty sure she felt it, too. A quick glance revealed rosier cheeks than when she’d stepped into the luggage area.

  Caution flags started flying. He could probably ignore the physical attraction if he wasn’t equally fascinated by the way her mind worked. Something about her was compelling, and it prompted him to say more than he intended.

  He also sensed she knew far more about Covenant Falls than he did. But then, a good reporter would do his or her research. The question was how much.

  “Tell me about the veterans who are thinking about developing an equine therapy program.”

  “I haven’t been here much longer than you have,” he countered. “It’s probably best if you meet them first.” He didn’t add that they all might go into hiding. Josh had not been enthusiastic about her interest.

  “Okay, I’ve met you,” she countered. “I know you’re a Ranger. What’s next for you?”

  “I have no idea,” he said honestly. “What are you going to do?”

  “I’ll keep finding stories.”

  “You’re lucky, then. I’m trying to figure it out.” He had no idea why he blurted that out. She had a way of digging into a person without them being aware of how deep she was going.

  “Where’s home for you?” she asked.

  “The army and wherever they send me.”

  “Then why are you here?” she persisted. “I take it the army didn’t send you.”

  He shook his head. “Does anything come out of your mouth that’s not a question?”

  “Not often,” she replied. “I’m curious. Always have been. I drive some people crazy.”

  “Just some?”

  “That’s not polite,” she said with a grin. “But probably true.” She hesitated for a moment. Then she continued, “I’m not just here for a story. I know the price you guys pay. I know you don’t like to talk about it. I don’t either. It’s important, though, that your stories be told.”

  Her voice had suddenly become determined and serious—the playfulness was completely gone. He also heard pain in it. That intrigued him far more than it should.

  “I’ve read some articles you wrote on Syria.” He didn’t add that he thought they were good. Better than good. He didn’t want to give her an opening until he talked to Josh and the others. He suspected Josh had wanted him to pick her up to get a read on her.

  She didn’t ask what he thought about them. Instead, she went back to her obvious default position: questions. That second of vulnerability was gone.

  “Tell me about the town,” she said. “How did it get so many incoming veterans? I understand what you said about small towns producing a lot of veterans but from what Ms. Hall told me you have a lot of new ones.”

  “What else did Ms. Hall tell you?” he asked in return.

  “Just that it was home to some veterans who are thinking about starting a Horses for Heroes program,” Jenny said. “The name, I learned, covers a number of equine therapy programs. I’d been reading about them and think it’s a great idea. I wanted to know more.”

  “That’s all it is now,” Travis said. “Just an idea. Certainly not ready for publicity. There’s other programs that are already active and would make a good story.”

  “But the fact that nearly the whole town might be involved is...intriguing.”

  “Is that what Susan said?”

  “Now who’s asking the questions?”

  He smiled. “It’s a request for clarification,” he replied in a smug tone.

  “Nifty answer,” she said. “But you’re deflecting. Are you connected with the ‘idea’ in some way? Or are you just visiting?”

  It was unnerving at the way she cut through to the chase so easily. Travis didn’t like lying and so far he’d avoided actually doing so. He inwardly groaned. She would find out soon anyway.

  “I’m doing some research,” he said.

  “I’m very good at research,” she said with that infectious smile of hers. “It’s how I found Covenant Falls.”

  He believed her. His silence was his answer.

  She sighed. Tried again. “You’ve been here a few days. What do you think about Covenant Falls?”

  He shrugged. “Haven’t been here long enough to think much of anything. It’s like any small town, I suppose, except it seems to have survived better than mine did.” The words escaped him before he could call them back.

  “You’re from a small town?”

  “I was,” he admitted.

  “Bigger or smaller than Covenant Falls?”

  Travis inwardly groaned. In trying to avoid one topic, he’d opened an old wound. But in this short time, he could already tell she would continue pressing him.

  “Smaller.”

  “Where?” She was like a bee buzzing inside his head, jabbing at memories he preferred to forget.

  “Midwest.”

  “What did you play? Baseball or football?”

  “Baseball. How did you know?”

  She shrugged. “There’s an athleticism in the way your body moves,” she said.

  Not anymore.

  “Yes, there is,” she said, apparently reading his mind. She changed the subject. “Susan said the town was full of veterans, even before Iraq and Afghanistan and Syria.”

  He shrugged. “Like many small towns, there aren’t many job opportunities here. The military is an option.”

  “But they come back. There couldn’t be many more options after they return?”

  “Their roots are here,” he said. He’d brought up the subject three weeks ago on his first trip. “Some of them for generations. Friends and family are here. I think some people feel it even stronger after being away for years. They’ve learned skills in the army or saved up enough money to start a small business. They do all right.”

  “What about your more recent military arrivals? The ones who aren’t natives of the area?”

  “How recent do you mean?”

  “Say, the last two years. Ms. Hall said there are several newcomers. They didn’t
have generations of history here.”

  “There’s no secret about it. Josh Manning was the first. He was also a Ranger. He was wounded in Afghanistan, was medically discharged and inherited a cabin here.”

  “And then?”

  “Josh married the mayor and became a businessman. He’s part owner of the inn where you’re staying and the cabin was passed on to another vet.”

  “Who came next?”

  “Susan Hall didn’t tell you all this?” In his mind, he was thinking that the innkeeper had said altogether too much.

  “Nope.”

  “And you didn’t ask?”

  “She had a paying guest who interrupted us,” Jenny said with a grin. “Tell me about the others.”

  He sighed and ran down the list of temporary guests at the cabin.

  “And you’re using it now.”

  “For a few weeks only.”

  “But they were all coming temporarily. Right? What changed?”

  The innkeeper again. “Why am I telling you everything you already know?” he asked.

  “But I don’t. Just bits and pieces of a fascinating puzzle. Why did they all stay?”

  He hesitated. Covenant Falls was a welcoming place, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to say that. In addition to protecting the privacy of the vets, he knew Josh didn’t want the town to turn into some weird fairy tale that attracted people for all the wrong reasons.

  He’d been incredulous himself when he’d learned of the marriages and engagements of the recent vets in Covenant Falls. Clint, whom he’d met on the previous trip, had joked that there was something in the water.

  They were nearing the outskirts of the town. Maybe a short detour would answer some questions, or deter them. He would take Josh’s suggestion and show her the waterfall. Maybe he could interest her in writing about the town and forget about the veterans. And maybe that was too many maybes.

  “Want to see the falls of Covenant Falls?”

  “The falls? That’s an affirmative. I’ve missed them where I’ve been.”

  He circled the town and took the road to the falls. They passed the Rusty Nail, with its half-filled parking lot. “I haven’t been here yet,” he said, “but I’m told their burgers are good.”