No Man Left Behind: A Veteran Inspired Charity Anthology

by Elizabeth Knox

  “I bought this when I bought Thunder.” He pushes it toward me.

  Inside is a simple ring with diamonds. Not flashy. Just my style.

  “What?”

  “I knew I wanted to marry you that day in the hallway. When I bought Thunder, I got this. I’ve held onto it for twenty years waiting for you to come home,” he says, and I am speechless. I don’t know what to say to that.

  “Sienna?”

  “I don’t deserve you.” I start crying silent tears.

  “It’s the other way around,” he says and wipes them away.

  “Yes.” I nod and he chuckles.

  “I’ll kiss you after dinner.” I wipe the tears.

  He’s the first man that has ever touched me, or hugged me, or kissed me. I never even kissed my husbands. I mean I did, but it never felt like anything, not like kissing Bear. Kissing Bear is like life.

  He’s the one. Thunder showed me that.

  Thank you, little buddy. I hope you’re running around heaven causing trouble.

  Epilogue

  Sienna

  Two years later . . .

  I married Bear Franklin in the meadow of wildflowers, Thunder’s favorite place. My bridesmaids were Bug and Mystic. Chance was Bear’s best man and my father walked me down the aisle to my husband.

  Bear is a patient man. But I didn’t make him wait too long for sex and it was worth the wait.

  There are days where I shy away from him, lost in my head. But he always finds a way to get to me and bring me back to the present.

  The ranch is thriving. I have several classes for veterans.

  Hawke and Mitch have been a great help. Even Ava comes out every once in a while. I’ve forgiven both of them, and they do come out for dinner and I make sure to send leftovers home with them.

  Bear thrives on his own with our dads’ log cabin company.

  Cade and Bear are a great team, designing lob cabin homes to envy. Bear sketches and Cade builds. They’ve done so well that a few famous people have asked them to design homes for them. One time a famous football player came to stay at the ranch while Bear sketched up his house, the veterans loved that. The man was kind enough to sign autographs and take pictures. I have one of him mucking stalls with Bear.

  Cade thought I should do therapy sessions with a licensed doctor and I found one that comes out and does an hour group session two days a week. I even attend one session with Cade.

  I never really got to know Cade when we were in, just knew he was a good soldier.

  I’ve learned a lot about him now and know I was never his type. He and Chance are an item, been together for a year. They’re our roommates. We all work well together and it’s like our own little family.

  I love having someone that understands what I’ve been through. When Bear can’t get to me when I withdraw, Cade can.

  Chance and Bear even showed Cade how to be a rodeo cowboy, though he seemed like he held a lasso before. He won his first rodeo the other day for bronc riding and we all were there to cheer him on.

  Two years it’s taken for me to feel whole.

  I miss Thunder and Bug every day. Yeah, Bug passed away last year. I didn’t eat for a few days and got sick from missing her.

  Valentine’s Day this year I was gifted a puppy from the guys, a pug/Boston terrier puppy. Just like Bug. I cried like a baby in misery and happiness all at the same time. Winter is a good dog and Mystic loves him as well.

  Thunder and Bug will always be in my heart. I have pictures of them everywhere, all over the house and in several scrapbooks because I want to remember them. I started one for Winter and Mystic has her own, though she runs when she sees me with a camera in my hand. Jerk.

  The love of a pet is unconditional, it gave me something to look forward to. To love and cherish.

  I always will. They needed me, but I needed them. They were my rocks when I needed them and they led me to my other love.

  Bear. Without him, I don’t know where I would be. Probably lost.

  He smiles at me as he hangs the picture in the barn. A huge picture of my babies. The three original fur babies. The barn is now called the Thunder Barn in honor of the horse that started all of this.

  I look to the rafters and beyond, praying that Thunder is happy with Bug in heaven. Thank you, buddy. I hope you’re happy. This is where you probably wanted me to be.

  I’m here and in love, thanks to you.

  “How’s it look?” Bear asks as he jumps down the ladder and takes me in his arms so I can gaze at the beautiful picture.

  “Perfect.” I turn in his arms and look into his eyes, kissing him lightly.

  “Your turn for dinner.” He smirks and I roll my eyes.

  “I always cook,” I fake whine.

  And this is how my life was meant to turn out, fake whining with the love of my life and helping others find that the love of a horse can help heal all wounds.

  Coming Home

  TK Lawyer

  For my dad, Army Veteran, Sergeant Philip Sterling Lawyer, the inspiration for Sterling. I love you.

  Chapter One

  Sterling stumbled over his words while attempting to understand the disturbing news his best friend had just relayed to him. He squeezed his knees through his Army fatigues as he spoke. “So, you’re telling me you don’t want me to come home?”

  He gritted his teeth, in an attempt to keep from blurting out something hasty or nasty in retort. Taking back his words was impossible and he was too far away to make amends if things turned sour. He stared at her through the camera on his laptop. The Zoom app, once a great idea, helped them to stay connected. Now he considered disconnecting the feed.

  He couldn’t believe his ears at his best friend’s advice yet she was the sole person he turned to with decisions like this. The ending of his contract dangled over his head and the sweet temptation of returning home to familiar, comfortable stomping grounds called to his heart. He’d been gone for far too long. The idea of peace, happiness, and freedom to do as he wished beckoned him to say good-bye to military life, board a plane, and return home. He missed his dad and Gunner but mostly he missed her.

  Abby’s smiles always brought a sloppy, cheesy grin to his face. Her sunny laughter warmed through him. A caring, smart, spirited woman, Abby was beautiful . . . and . . . she waited. She understood and appreciated the importance he placed on serving his country. Following in his father’s footsteps was a high honor for him, even if it came at an inconvenient time.

  Emotions rolled through him like waves, tugging at his heart strings as he recalled his mom’s passing a little more than three years ago. With the exception of a short trip to attend her funeral and a quick check in with his dad, he hadn’t set foot in Gary, Indiana in years.

  Today, he faced a life-altering decision. One in which he wanted to shove aside for the opportunity to re-join his best friend and their dog. Gunner was owned by him and Abby, the woman who had claimed his heart more than four years ago but didn’t know it. He swallowed down hard the disappointment of her cautious yet sincere words and tensed his jaw at their unexpected impact. Instead of excitement at the prospect of his return home, she advised him to continue his Army career, maybe to retirement.

  Sterling looked forward to their conversations. Sometimes the only thing that kept him sane was the soothing lull of her sweet voice at night. Whether Abby knew it or not, she’d saved him from his rankling thoughts that had nothing to do with reality but everything to do with accumulated fear. In the four years Sterling had given to the Army, he’d seen much—subjects he chose not to discuss or mull over with anyone but her. Only Abby knew all of his secrets.

  And now, Abby didn’t want him home.

  Abby’s tone softened, “I didn’t mean that.”

  A small dagger sliced through his heart as words tumbled out of his mouth. “But you still want me to stay.”

  “Sterling, it’s up to you what you want to do. I’m just telling you those who end up retiring from the
military seem to have a really good life, afterward. I mean, they don’t have to worry too much about money or benefits. They do well while some of us struggle to make ends meet. I don’t want to see you end up like that when you have an opportunity in your hands to help you in your future.”

  Abby’s words made sense. Still, he missed her and Gunner. He hadn’t been present for several of Gunner’s milestones and he couldn’t wait to reunite with the adorable, protective German shepherd. Dogs were a natural remedy for stress and anxiety, both of which he’d accumulated a wealth of during his years of service. He needed Gunner and, whether she knew it or not, he needed her.

  After brainstorming countless names, Abby was the one to ultimately name the puppy. Since Sterling was heading out in a few weeks, they decided Abby should name the dog since she’d essentially serve as the primary caretaker for him while Sterling was away. Adopting a dog together when he was leaving seemed crazy to their friends. Yet, they did most things together, the plan seemed logical, at the time, and Abby was fine with taking care of their dog until Sterling came home.

  Sterling enjoyed spending time with Abby. He looked forward to every second he spent with her, lengthening their time together by hours or even an entire day, when possible. Yet, what he especially delighted in was snatching her away before her current boyfriend created any plans for them.

  The men she dated all seemed like losers. None of them were good enough for her. She only had to look in front of her, into his earnest eyes, to find true love. Yet, she never did. Sterling waited but the opportunity never came for him to reveal his true feelings. But now his service contract was nearly over and he was determined to head back home and sweep her off her feet before anyone else did.

  Abby leaned into the camera with a worried look in her eye. “Sterling? Are we okay?”

  “Yeah. We are always okay. Why would you ask?”

  “You didn’t answer me.”

  Lost in his thoughts, he must’ve forgotten to respond. His gaze swept over Abby’s soft, delicate features. Although he spoke to her nearly every day, he longed to be with her. He couldn’t wait to have her in his arms again.

  “You look good in your uniform.” She lowered her eyes and paused for a few seconds before she continued. “Sterling, I don’t want you to stay if you’ll be unhappy. Come home, if that’s what you want.”

  Her words washed over his tense nerves and tightened muscles. He needed no further reassurance. He’d call it quits, collect his DD-214 and head back home. To Abby.

  Grabbing his army issued duffle bag off the carousel; Sterling headed toward the front entrance when his phone chimed in his hand. He placed it up to his ear, turning his head left then right as he spoke.

  “Hey. You here? Where are you?”

  “I’m right here, silly. Look in front of you.”

  He looked straight ahead, past a small crowd of people gathered and grinned wide when he spotted her lovely, familiar face. Abby waved frantically, darted past the boisterous individuals between them, and sprinted toward him. Dropping his duffle to the ground, he grabbed her seconds before she slammed into him, wrapping her straight into his arms, and swinging them in a wide arc across the polished floor. He chuckled into her hair, his heart bursting with overwhelming joy at the sight of her. He breathed in her magical scent, groaning with pure happiness at his good fortune. Abby was amazing and more breathtaking than he remembered her. There was no woman in the world like her.

  She laughed as he twirled her about and giggled when he set her feet back onto the floor. With her cheeks flushed and her genuine smile crinkling the corners of her eyes, he knew for a fact he had never seen a more beautiful sight in his life.

  She grabbed ahold of his upper arm and playfully squeezed it. Her animated voice and the sparkle in her eyes tugged at his heart strings. “I can’t believe you’re finally here. I’ve missed you so much.”

  He picked up the duffle and threw it, casually, over his shoulder. “You missed me? We talked every day.”

  She curled her hand in the crook of his arm and led the way. “It’s not the same. You know it’s not.”

  He nodded. “You’re right. It’s not.”

  They walked for a long while. She reviewed all the latest town gossip while he watched her, admiring all the traits he’d silently treasured over the years. He had to tell her. She needed to know how unique and truly special she was. Before he had the chance to open his mouth and attempt to reveal all that was in his heart, she stopped in her tracks. He looked over at her, noticing a curious tilt to her eyebrows as she tugged hard on his jacket.

  She chewed on her bottom lip and lowered her eyes for a second, seemingly unsure about something. “I hope it’s okay. Phil wanted to come.”

  Sterling followed her pointed finger over a range of faces, some in small groups while others, alone. His gaze stopped at a smiling buffoon, standing less than ten feet, in front of him. Phil? Why in the world was he here?

  She lowered her voice to a whisper, “I meant to tell you. We got back together a week ago.”

  Sterling’s jaw slackened and his heart dropped into his stomach. His grip on the bag faltered. Re-adjusting his fingers, he grabbed ahold of the bag before it fell to the floor and winced as the woven material grazed across the palm of his hand.

  In the meantime, Phil stuck his hand out in front of him and smiled. “Hey, Sterling. It’s nice to meet you. I hope you don’t mind that I came along for the ride. I wanted to spend as much time with Abby as possible. When she said she was meeting her hero best friend at the airport, I had to come along.”

  Sterling unclenched his jaw, hiding the tension from their interaction from becoming a dead giveaway to Phil regarding his true feelings about him. He recalled numerous times when Abby cried in front of him as she recounted a selfish or rude act Phil did to shake her confidence. Still, when dealing with the enemy, it was, almost always, best to strategize and attack at a better time.

  Rather than taking Phil’s hand to shake it, he nodded at him, instead, and then tilted his head toward the bag as an excuse. “Got my hands full. Hope you don’t mind.”

  Phil threw his hands up in the air. “Oh yeah. I understand. You need any help there?”

  Sterling grinned, displaying perfect white teeth. “No. I’m good. Lifted more in the Army.”

  Phil chuckled. “I bet.” He grabbed ahold of Abby’s hand, an action that sent a stinging pang of jealousy through Sterling’s heart. “Come on, babe, let’s get to the car,” he said as he dragged Abby toward the exit. Abby glanced back at Sterling several times and mouthed a protest to Phil, yet Phil continued his long strides toward their destination.

  Sterling sighed. Why was Abby back with Phil? He knew why Abby didn’t tell him and it wasn’t because she forgot. They shared everything with each other. He was almost certain the reason she kept Phil a secret was because she knew he’d be against the idea. Sterling never liked Phil. Giving a doomed relationship a second chance was like watching a hamster spin its wheel. It was useless, pointless and it would, eventually, end up as it did before—with a heart-broken Abby sitting on the sofa eating a pint of her favorite, rocky road ice cream.

  Still, if Abby wanted to go down that path again, Sterling would wait on the other side of it, with two pints of ice cream and a nice, comfy lap for her to sit on. He’d hold her in his arms while she cried all night and then kiss her tears away in the morning after declaring his love for her, somewhere in between.

  “I’m sorry,” Abby mouthed as she held the trunk open for Sterling to set his bag in. Phil slipped into the passenger seat, ignoring them. “He was at my place and I couldn’t very well kick him out so I invited him to come along, if he wanted to. Unfortunately, he took me up on my offer. I’m so sorry. I just wanted it to be the two of us but he wouldn’t leave.”

  Sterling gave her a wry smile. “It’s okay.” He drew her into a hug, sighing into her hair with the feel of her soft body against his when a loud honk jerked him out
of his fantasy.

  Phil yelled through the open window, “Hey. We got to go. There are others behind us wanting this space.”

  Sterling glanced over at Abby. His eyebrows drew together while he tamped down the increasing urge to ask her, “You couldn’t do any better than him?”

  Slamming the trunk closed, she rushed over to the driver’s side and slipped behind the steering wheel while Sterling took the seat behind her. As Phil’s legs were longer than Abby’s, making little room for whoever sat behind him, it made sense for six foot-four, Sterling to sit behind Abby’s seat. Yet, his preference remained to sit beside his best friend than behind her.

  Sadly, Sterling’s preference for watching Abby beyond her notice, taking note of the loveliness of her delicate cheekbones or the perfect arch of her neatly trimmed eyebrows was, immediately, foiled with Phil’s untimely presence. Still, there was an advantage to sitting behind Abby that he wasn’t previously aware of. From his vantage point, he was able to keep a wary eye on Phil and his maneuverings throughout their car ride. Sterling hid a wicked grin. If Phil tried anything, Sterling could put an immediate stop to it.

  Sterling lifted his arms to his sides and settled back into his seat. “Where’s Gunner?”

  “Back at the house,” Abby replied.

  He glanced out the window as they departed from the airport drop off. “I can’t wait to see him.”

  She smiled at him in the rearview mirror. “He’ll be excited to see you too. You want to stop by my place before I take you to your dad’s, so you can see him?”

  Sterling caught the meaning behind Phil’s sideways glance and then grunted. The boy wanted time with his girl and that meant Sterling had to go. “No, I think I’ll just head home. I’ll come by sometime tomorrow, if that’s okay.”

  “You sure you want to wait?”

  He swept his gaze back at Phil and found a smug grin plastered to his face. Apparently the man was pleased Sterling would be nowhere near his girlfriend tonight. “Yeah.”