The kitten was awake, making small noises, and Emily started whining and pacing. “Easy, Em. What’s her name?” Bruce carefully lifted the towel and the kitten from the box.
Grace rested her chin against his shoulder as she watched him. “Francis Emily Hogess Burnett.”
“Francis will do. Ten minutes home and I’m feeding a baby. Is this a harbinger of things to come?”
“What a nice visual.”
He leaned over and kissed her again. “You look good, Grace. Better than your picture.”
“I colored the gray hair.”
He smiled. “I noticed.”
“Wolf, he’s calling me old.”
Her cousin reached over and ruffled her hair. “You gave me plenty of gray this trip.”
Jill sat down on the other side of Bruce and wrapped her brother in a hug. Bruce returned it. “Welcome home.”
“What do you have planned for tonight?” Bruce asked Jill.
“Nothing elaborate. We’ve got dinner waiting at your place.”
“A nice start.”
“I thought I’d make Wolf take me to a movie.”
“Back row, popcorn, and some of those squishy rubber fish?” Wolf asked.
Jill leaned against his knee. “You’re never going to grow up.”
“Don’t plan to.”
Grace glanced at Bruce. “Do we dare join them?”
Bruce smiled. “We’ll stay home and take care of the baby.”
“Fine with me and Emily.”
“I was afraid the duchess was going to die of old age while I was gone.”
Grace looked down. Emily had stretched out across Bruce’s feet with a comfortable sigh. “She’s glad you’re home.”
“I can tell.”
“Really. That’s her content expression.”
“Come here.”
She leaned over and he kissed her softly. “I’ve got a few months to make up for,” he said, smiling. “Dog tags.”
With a laugh Grace tugged them from her pocket. “I put them on a longer chain since the one I wore would have strangled you. Duck.” She slipped the dog tags on him. “There you go.”
“They’re pink,” he said, shocked.
She giggled. “I would hate to be thought of as just one of the guys.”
He stared at them.
“Okay, I did have them specially made.”
Wolf started laughing.
“You think this is funny?” Bruce asked, doing his best to keep a straight face.
“Yes.”
Bruce carefully handed Grace the kitten. “Hold Francis for a minute.”
“He’s my cousin.”
“It’s a Navy and Air Force thing,” Bruce replied.
“Oh.”
Bruce stepped back, and with an abrupt move caught Wolf in a headlock. “Where’s the baby bottle?”
Grace laughed and reached for the camera instead.
“Come on, guys, let’s get out of here,” Jill said. “This deployment is over.”
* * *
Bruce took Grace to the beach after dinner. All the letters, phone calls, and pictures in the world would never make up for this. He’d missed her face, her smile, the sound of her laugh.
She tilted her head and smiled, aware of the inspection. “What?”
“Just enjoying the scenery.”
She dropped her eyes but her smile blossomed. He rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand. “This deployment was rough.”
“We survived it.”
“Can you handle more of them?”
Her hand tightened on his.
He’d been waiting months to ask her, and the timing would get no better than the present. He stopped and settled his arms around her. “Will you marry me?”
She didn’t answer. He rested his chin against her hair.
“Yes.” Her voice had choked.
“I love you, Grace. I’ve been thinking about you ever since Ecuador.”
“A dog, a house, a wife. It was a good list.”
“I wondered if those two words made the letter.”
She leaned back. “They did.”
“So what do you want to add to that list?”
“We’ll start with a kitten. And a long honeymoon.”
“I like that second suggestion.” Emily barked and Bruce smiled. “And the duchess approves of the plan. When?”
Grace laughed. “Soon.”
From the top of the steps to the beach someone whistled. Wolf stood there with Jill. He gave a salute.
“Grace, I was meaning to ask you,” Bruce commented as Wolf and Jill headed down the beach toward them. “Wolf had this suggestion of a double wedding. . . .”
Author’s Note
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading this book. The military is a demanding world that forges wonderful heroes: friendships go deep, loyalties are strong, jobs are tough, families are close. I couldn’t ask for a better background for a love story. I hope I was able to take you into Bruce’s and Gracie’s lives to show what it is like to take on one of the toughest jobs in the world.
I wrote this book to remind us our God is sufficient no matter what the circumstances. Relationships matter—the military teaches it like no other profession. And in Bruce and Gracie I got to explore a love story unlike any other I have written.
There are real men like Bruce “Striker” Stanton wearing the uniform today. This is my tribute and thanks to them. They are indeed heroes.
As always, I love to hear from my readers. Feel free to write me at:
Dee Henderson
c/o Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
351 Executive Drive
Carol Stream, IL 60188
E-mail: [email protected]
or stop by online at www.deehenderson.com
Thanks again for letting me share Bruce and Gracie’s story.
Sincerely,
Books by Dee Henderson
The O’Malley Series
Danger in the Shadows (Prequel)
The Negotiator
The Guardian
The Truth Seeker
The Protector
The Healer
The Rescuer
Uncommon Heroes Series
True Devotion
True Valor
True Honor
Kidnapped
The Witness
Before I Wake
True Valor Page 29