Threads of Love

by Frances Devine

  “Julia, let me be. This is what Danni wants, and I’m letting her have it.”

  “Like you did twelve years ago?”

  He shoved another set of ACU pants into the bag. “Two months wasn’t exactly enough time to know if I really loved her or not. Besides, we were young and had a lot of growing up to do.”

  Her sigh sounded more like a growl. “You’re both so blind to what’s sitting right in front of your noses.” She stomped to the stairs, paused, and twisted around to jab the air with her finger again. “Don’t you dare let her leave without knowing how you feel. Man up, Staff Sergeant.” And with that, she marched up the steps.

  Trace sank onto the edge of the bed and gaped at the empty spot where Julia had stood.

  Lord, she’s right. Danni is good for me. I can’t let her go.

  Chapter 10

  At the heavy clomp down the hall, Danni peeked over her coffee mug. Trace entered the kitchen in uniform. The sight of him in his ACU’s made her stomach jump. She averted her gaze and sipped some coffee, burning her tongue.

  He poured a cup and leaned against the counter. “When do you want me to drop you off at the Broadmoor?”

  “Whenever is fine.” A funny tingling took control of her midsection. “What time do you have to report to Fort Carson?”

  “Around noon.”

  “Eleven’s fine then.” Danni nearly choked on her words.

  They were separating again. But she didn’t know how to tell him she was willing to take him up on his offer. After talking longer with her mom last night, Danni realized a few days wouldn’t cut it. They needed to mend their relationship. And her mom hoped to do the same with her remaining sisters. What Grams wanted in the first place.

  Once she finished talking with her mom, Danni had called her volleyball partner. They both agreed she could give her knee a few more weeks of physical therapy. Her partner would take care of things for Danni in San Diego until she returned.

  Now to let Trace know.

  He brushed past her on his way to the breakfast bar, the musky scent of Stetson stirring her senses. He settled on a barstool and rotated the morning paper to face him.

  Biting her lip, she stared at him. She could do this. She could tell him her plans.

  He opened the paper, and the rattling unnerved her. Forget it. There was no way to tell him when her stomach was tied in knots and her brain ran rampant. Besides, this was a conversation best kept between them. Any moment now someone in his family could come barging in.

  Maybe in the truck on the way to the Broadmoor.

  Yeah. Danni took another sip of coffee. No one to interrupt. Just the two of them. She glanced at the clock. Seven thirty. About three hours until they headed into town. Three agonizing hours to kill before she dropped the bombshell. She winced at the analogy. Maybe using the word bombshell around someone with PTSD wasn’t a good thing.

  The paper rattled again, and her gaze darted to him. Trace held his mug near his mouth and sipped as he continued to read. His clean-shaven face looked odd after being scruffy for the past three days.

  “Danni.”

  Their gazes clashed.

  “Yeah.”

  “Could you stop tapping your foot? It kinda reminds me of gunfire.”

  “Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize I was doing it.”

  He gave her a lazy smile. “It’s okay.”

  Danni’s heart turned to melted chocolate. When she’d left him in the barn, she sensed the frustration rolling off him in waves. Today he seemed different. Calmer, more reassured.

  Oh no. What if he decided that he didn’t love her, that it was a mere infatuation? What would she do then?

  Good thing she wasn’t staying in Colorado Springs for a bit just for him. After all, she and her mother needed the time together. And Danni wanted to meet the guy who’d claimed her mother’s broken heart.

  Did Trace claim Danni’s? Did she love him or not?

  “Danni, you’re doing it again.”

  “I’m just …” She looked around and zeroed in on the sliding glass doors. “I’m going outside.” She made her escape and slipped onto the deck.

  Cool musk-laced air buffeted her heated face. She drew in a long breath and released it slowly. The tension drained from her body. Better. She peeked through the windows and saw a grin played out on Trace as he shook his head. Well, at least her mindless tapping amused him, instead of immobilizing him.

  Danni drifted to a deck chair and eased onto the seat. Birds chirped in the nearby trees. Off in the distance a horse whinnied. She loved it here on the Bryant ranch. Hopefully the peacefulness of the ranch helped calm some of Trace’s nerves. Once he was discharged, he’d return here.

  The more she thought about it, the more she realized she could help him with his PTSD. A few calls and meetings with some people in the mental healthcare industry could help her know what to do to work with his recovery.

  Lord, as long as You’re in charge, we’ll be all right.

  The doors squeaked open. Danni looked up and flashed a weak smile.

  Trace closed the door and joined her. “Didn’t mean to scare you off.”

  She shrugged. “I’m not usually this jittery.”

  “Yeah.” He gave her a peculiar look. “Got something on your mind?”

  Too soon. Now wasn’t the time. Her mom. She could tell him about their conversation last night.

  “Actually, I do. I talked with my mom. She’s getting married.”

  Trace rocked back in his chair and gaped at her. “Seriously?”

  “Took me by surprise, too.” Danni focused her attention on her coffee. “We had a good talk. Something that hasn’t happened in a long time.”

  “That’s a good thing.”

  “It is.” She rubbed the side of the ceramic mug. “I think I finally realized why Grams wanted us cousins to get together. This meeting is the first step to get our mothers to reconcile.”

  “Do you think it’ll work?”

  She leaned into the chair backrest. “We’ll have to wait and see. Mom sounded like she was willing.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  Silence fell between them. Danni finished her coffee, trying to quell the nerves that wanted to overtake her.

  Trace braced his hands on his knees and pushed to his feet. “What do you want to do until we need to go?”

  A thought hit her. “Are you packed and ready?”

  “I am.”

  “Let’s head into town. There’s a place I want to visit.”

  He eyed her. “And where’s that?”

  “I’ll let you know when we get into town.”

  “All right, we’re in town.” Trace stopped the truck for a red light and looked at Danni. “Where are we going?”

  A gleam passed through her eyes, and she smiled. “The sand volleyball courts.”

  Gripping the brim of his field cap, he lifted it off his forehead and scratched. “Why there?”

  “You’ll see.”

  Cap settled back in place, Trace glanced at the light. Still red. He turned to study Danni. “What are you up to?”

  “Trace, just go. It’ll make sense when we get there.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  On green he turned left and headed for the city’s recreational fields and courts. Occasionally he’d take a peek at Danni, but she kept her attention focused out her window. She’d been preoccupied by something this morning. Her constant foot tapping had reminded him of rapid gunfire from an M4.

  The admission that her mom was getting married couldn’t be the whole reason. Or was it?

  “Are you okay with your mom remarrying?”

  Danni looked at him. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Before we went to the barn last night, you were really upset. Is that why she called you? To tell you?”

  “She did.” Danni let her head rest against the seat. “After I cooled off and thought it over, I called her back. Mom’s happy, and that’s a good sign.”
<
br />   The large grass fields peeked through the orange, red, and yellow foliage. Trace slowed the truck. “But are you fine with it?”

  She sighed, a smile drawing up the corners of her mouth. “I am now.”

  He drove past the soccer fields and turned into the parking lot next to the sand courts. It was too early for any activities. The silence was nice. Choosing a spot, Trace parked the truck and killed the engine. He twisted in his seat to face Danni, one arm draped over the steering wheel. “Now what?”

  “We get out.” She popped the door handle and slid out of the cab.

  Trace followed, joining her at the front of the truck. She grasped his hand. This was a first. Her taking the initiative. He allowed her to lead him through the maze of courts to the one he’d first seen her play on. Together, they sat in the grass on the edge of the court, letting the morning sun warm them.

  “Remember those days you’d ask me to bring you out here and teach you a few volleyball fundamentals?” Danni braced her elbows on her thighs and bent forward. “And the nights after games when we’d sit here and talk?”

  Trace let those good memories soak in. “Every night of every deployment.”

  A startled expression crossed Danni’s face. “Every night?”

  He took her hand and squeezed. “Most nights.”

  Danni closed her eyes and tilted her face to the sun. Trace chuckled.

  One of her eyes opened and she looked at him. “What?”

  “You act like you don’t see the sun much.”

  She bumped her shoulder into his. “I just miss the mountains and the feel of autumn.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “Along with a lot of other things.”

  Warmth spread like a wildfire through him at the contact. What was she doing to him? Setting him up for more heartbreak?

  “Trace, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.” Her arm encircled his and she hugged it to her body. The cloth of his uniform jacket rasped against her skin. “A lot about your request last night. About me staying for a while.”

  His heart quickened. Was this it? Where she told him she was out of his life forever?

  “Trace.” She met his gaze. “I’ve worked it out with my partner. She’s taking care of things back home in San Diego. I’ll stay here in Colorado Springs until you’ve discharged.”

  Someone hit him with a mortar round. Stunned and speechless, he tried to latch onto what she said.

  “Did you hear me?”

  He cleared his throat. “Perfectly.”

  “But you’re shocked.”

  The feeling wore off. “Wouldn’t you be?”

  She shrugged. “I guess so.” She hugged herself. “I don’t want to walk away, put miles between us and know I gave up a good thing. Again.”

  It was too good to be true. For years he’d hoped she’d come around. He’d kept her memory alive, and it kept him going when the world wanted to implode around him. And now she uttered the very words he thought he’d never hear her say.

  “What changed your mind?”

  “Mom.” Danni reached out and caressed his cheek. “And you.”

  It was like she’d ripped his tongue out of his mouth and held it for ransom.

  “Are you okay?”

  His gaze jerked to her. “Uh, yeah.”

  Deep lines furrowed along her forehead, and she frowned. “Isn’t this what you wanted?”

  “Yes.” He caught up her hands. “It’s what I wanted.”

  “So why are you—”

  Trace pressed his mouth to hers. No way would she get out of this. She stiffened momentarily then her lips turned soft and yielding. He pulled her closer and kissed her thoroughly.

  When they broke contact, she was breathing heavy and her face flushed pink. “So, you are happy.”

  “More than you know.” He trailed a finger along her jawline. “Julia gave me the riot act last night.”

  “About what?”

  “Losing you again. Seems Misty has her heart set on making you her aunt.”

  Danni smiled. “She does?”

  Trace reached into his pocket and grasped the folded sheet of paper. “Do you want to be her aunt?”

  A perplexed expression masked her face. “Maybe. What’s that?”

  Opening it, he held it out. Danni frowned and took the sheet. Her eyes scanned the document, widening as she finished. She gaped at him.

  “When did this happen?”

  Removing his field cap, he ran his fingers through his hair. “Yesterday. Before I took you to the VA I made some phone calls. The director there in turn made some phone calls and pulled some strings.” Trace heaved a relieved sigh. “Once my enlistment is up, I’m headed for a special VA program in San Diego that works with guys like me who have PTSD. In return, I provide physical therapy for amputees and injured vets.”

  “You’re moving to San Diego?”

  Taking the paper back, he folded it up and returned it to his pocket. Then he grasped her hands and scooted around to face Danni. “Hopefully to be with my wife.”

  Danni’s face paled. “Trace, I don’t—”

  “Whoa.” He smiled and squeezed her fingers. “When I asked you to stay for the next six weeks, it was for you to get to know me better. I think deep inside you do love me. You weren’t sure. ‘Course last night you didn’t give me the chance to say so.”

  “Oh.” She blushed and dropped her gaze. “I was a bit hotheaded and stressed after getting Mom’s call.”

  Tucking his knuckles under her chin, he tipped it up. “I do love you, Danni. And I’m still going to San Diego whether you want me to go with you or not.”

  “You’d do this for me?”

  “For us.”

  Her eyes shimmered, and a weak smile appeared on her lips. “You make it hard not to love you, you know that?”

  He wrapped her in a tight hug and soundly kissed her. Pulling away, he leaned his forehead against hers. “Are you saying you do love me?”

  She brushed a kiss against his lips. “Yes, Trace, I can honestly say I do love you. Despite my stubborn independence and pride, God managed to stitch us together, after all these years.”

  Winter A. Peck is a storyteller at heart. Her first vivid memories are of summer family reunions spent listening to stories of the past. Winter leans heavily on her midwestern roots, her love of the Old West, and the rodeo, weaving each aspect into her books. When she’s not writing, she’s busy coaching junior high girl’s volleyball, staying active in her church, and juggling the active life of a military wife. She’s the mother of three boys and one cowgirl in training. Currently, Winter and her family live in north-central Illinois.

  DESIGNED TO LOVE

  by Marilyn Leach

  “Be still, and know that I am God.”

  PSALM 46:10 NIV

  Chapter 1

  Eve Kirkwood scanned the magnificent five-star Broadmoor Hotel from the window of the idling cab.

  “Oh yes,” she breathed. “The next fourteen days are going to be bliss.”

  She paid the driver a generous tip. The valet who opened the car door for her gathered her oversized luggage and escorted her through the grandiose portico painted with heavenly designs. He passed her bag to a bellman, who led her directly into the grand reception hall.

  Eve’s eyes widened as she gazed at her surroundings. She was suddenly glad she’d worn her fashionable wool sweater and black dress pants.

  This early-twentieth-century hotel, with marbled floors, opulent ceilings, and fine sculpted stairway, swept Eve into the grand expectation of a relaxed and pampered holiday.

  “The stuff dreams are made of,” she whispered, adoring the carved angels fluttering above the concierge.

  Brisk voices ricocheted their urgent-laden language all through the room. Two men wearing blue windbreakers with gray dress pants hurled their way through reception, ear pieces in place. They were hardly guests. A tall, handsome man was in the lead.

  “Enforcement personnel at their best,” Eve sa
id to the bellman.

  He grinned and nodded. “They keep the hotel safe and sound.”

  Eve smiled. “Safe and sound is acceptable. At the top of their game is best.” She knew all about efficiency in law enforcement. In fact, in her job as a PA to an assistant police commissioner, she manufactured it. She decided that just now her greatest concern was to slip into a hot, swirling bath with fragrant bubbles and then wrap herself in a fresh hotel robe. Oh, yes. She knew this holiday would break the bank. But at this moment she had no affinity for glue.

  After check-in, the bellman, a short jolly sort and almost elf-like, carried Eve’s bag alongside her to her room.

  Eve could feel the fellow stare at her as they walked the designed hallway. Her ivory skin and pale green eyes were not especially rare, but when topped by thick ashen-black hair, the uncommon combination often drew stares. She directed her eyes to the elf. He smiled and redirected his gaze.

  A special bell tone sprung from Eve’s pants pocket. “Sorry,” she said to the bellman. “It’s important.”

  “Hello Dad,” she greeted.

  “Hello kitten, you’ve arrived?”

  “Yes, no fear.” Her father had become overprotective when her mother, a successful negotiator for an international legal firm, began to travel with her work. Her career was demanding anyway, but the past three years she hadn’t spent more than four months collectively at home. Though Eve could understand his doting, she didn’t especially appreciate it. In fact, sometimes she could just barely deal with it.

  “Now, Eve, get that box in the hotel vault as soon as possible.”

  “I’ll get the box in the vault as soon as I get settled in.”

  Eve put her free hand on her hip.

  “Don’t wait too long. I want you to be safe. Get it locked up.”

  “I will, Dad. Stop worrying. Most people wouldn’t even know that old thing is valuable. And besides, it’s what’s inside that’s priceless.”

  A rather official-looking woman in black approached Eve and the elf.

  “Gotta go. Bye, Dad, love you.” Eve put the phone in her pocket.