The Soldier's Promise

by Patricia Potter

  His arms went around her and she snuggled into them. It felt very good there, like she belonged.

  He wanted her. In every way possible. He wanted to come home to her, and he wanted to see her lean over Nick and make him feel safe. He wanted to see her smile at her cat and brood of dogs. He even wanted to be part of the world of caring she’d built in Covenant Falls. This was one lioness who roared with a soft voice and huge heart.

  “I think I fell in love with you that first day I met you,” he said. “I didn’t want to. You scared the hell out of me. I’d never met anyone like you. You turned everything I thought I knew upside down. I never realized how empty my world was, or maybe I did and thought I didn’t deserve more.”

  She looked up at him with her wide, beautiful eyes that always seemed to look inside him. Her lips trembled as she leaned up and kissed him with a tenderness that cracked his heart. “I love you, you idiot,” she said when she drew away. “I think there’s always been a very nice man in there waiting to pop out. It just took a dog to rip off the hard-ass mask.”

  He chuckled at the word picture she drew and a phrase he thought she’d probably never used before. “A dog and you.”

  “Not me, we,” she corrected.

  He liked that “we” part. He even liked the thought of growing old and gray with her. He suspected she would always keep him on his toes, always surprise him.

  And then he realized he was actually thinking of the future. With her.

  With Nick. In a small town in Colorado with a household full of animals and a woman everyone depended on. Dave would be more than a little amused.

  “What are you thinking?” she asked, her fingers stroking the back of his neck. “You have a very odd smile on your face.”

  “Odd?”

  “Maybe thoughtful,” she amended.

  “Thoughtful is odd?” he teased.

  “You’re avoiding the question.”

  “Dave,” he answered. “I was thinking about Dave.”

  “I think he might be smiling up there,” she said.

  “It’s still a puzzle why he held on to it,” he said. “Why he didn’t sell it long ago? I left a message with his attorney, asking if he knew the answers to any of those questions. As far as I know Dave had no family left. That’s how we became friends. But also because we didn’t ask questions. We didn’t want to open each other’s Pandora’s box.”

  “What would I find in yours?”

  “A lot of ugly stuff,” he said. “But now I can put it away.”

  “I’ll always be grateful to him for sending you to Covenant Falls,” she said softly. “But can you be happy here?”

  He hadn’t been sure. Not until the past few days, when he realized he had been looking for a home all his life. That was why he’d carried that damn picture of a cottage so long. That was why he kept finding reasons to stay. He suspected Dave had known that. “I would be happy wherever you are.” He paused. “But maybe...this is too fast....”

  She shook her head. “I knew something was happening the first time you glowered at me. Then I brushed against you and bells rang like crazy. I didn’t understand why or how, and I fought it, but...but I knew life would never be simple again.”

  “Do you want simple?”

  “Not anymore,” she said, looking immensely kissable. If Nick hadn’t been in the next room Josh would have carried her to the shower and made mad, passionate love to her there, and then taken her to bed, where he could love her slowly and tenderly. He didn’t want just bells, he wanted a symphony.

  But Nick was in the other room, and they were both exhausted. It wasn’t fair to either of them make promises, or decisions, tonight.

  “I should go and let you get some sleep,” he said. “We can talk more tomorrow.” He kissed her again, lightly this time. She nodded and he helped her up. “When can I see you?” he asked.

  She leaned her head against his shoulder, obviously as reluctant to leave him as he was her. “I want Nick to sleep late tomorrow morning. But I suspect he might be up for a picnic at the falls later. It’s his favorite place, and there’s not many people there earlier in the day.” She didn’t add that it was her favorite place, as well.

  “But there might be some people?”

  “Maybe,” she said with smile that hinted at amusement.

  “And you don’t care?”

  “No.” She grinned. “I rather suspect that after yesterday the town thinks something is up between us.”

  Of course they would. They hadn’t been exactly discreet during the roofing and the later search for Nick. He grinned. “What time?”

  “About one.”

  “I’ll pick you up.”

  “Amos is invited, too,” she said.

  Amos barked.

  “I think he likes the plan,” Josh said. “Take care,” he said softly, then left before one of them started something they couldn’t finish.

  * * *

  EVE WATCHED THE door close behind him. She wanted to run after him and beg him not to leave. But he was right. Nick was in the next room, and she needed to concentrate on him. Through the window, she watched him limp to his Jeep with Amos at his side. He turned, looked at her and gave her a crooked smile before climbing into the Jeep.

  She took a long hot shower and washed her hair. He was right. She was exhausted, but she still tingled all over from his touch, from being so close to him. And her heart soared as she rewound the past hour in her mind.

  He loved her. She knew she loved him. And he seemed willing to stay in Covenant. If he hadn’t, she knew in her heart she would go with him. How could she lose that crooked smile? Or the magic of his kisses? Or the easy way he had with Nick.

  How could she lose the splendor he had brought into her life? Her fear of loss still ran deep. Until now, there had been no relationship strong enough to overcome it. Now there was. She had to take a chance.

  Tomorrow. Maybe Josh would regret tonight, the words he’d said.

  Maybe, as he’d said, they were both too emotionally spent to think rationally. Maybe by noon tomorrow, he would be headed out of town.

  She turned off the light but didn’t think she would sleep well.

  * * *

  NICK MADE HIS way into the kitchen after eleven. Eve had slept only a few hours and, full of nervous energy, took care of the horses and started preparing food for the picnic.

  Nick moved on crutches almost as quickly as he ran. It had taken her much longer to learn when she’d fallen from a tree when she was eleven.

  “I’m hungry,” he said.

  “That’s a good sign,” Eve said. “You can have some cereal.”

  He made a face.

  “You don’t want to eat too much since we’re going on a picnic with Josh and Amos. If you feel well enough.”

  The frown turned into a wide grin. “Cereal will be great.”

  “I thought so.”

  Nick peered at the pan on the stove. “What are we having on the picnic?”

  “Fried chicken, potato salad and coleslaw. And your grandma’s cookies. Finish your cereal,” she said. “I’m going to change. You had better take a bath, then get dressed. Clean jeans and shirt.”

  She watched him gulp down the rest of the cereal, pick up the crutches and hurry into his bedroom, the dogs following him. Her little Pied Piper of dogs.

  How close she had come to losing him.

  She looked through her closet for something to wear. She remembered the last time, when she’d purposely selected plain jeans and shirt. Now she wanted something more.

  She found a full skirt of various hues of green and a white peasant blouse. Simple and comfortable but feminine. She selected a green silk scarf and tied her hair back with it. It was their first official date, other than th
e impromptu dinner, and he had never seen her in anything but jeans and slacks. She finished with a touch of lipstick and just a little blush. When she finished, it was twelve-thirty and she went into the kitchen and packed the picnic basket. She added a bottle of wine and several fruit drinks.

  The phone rang and she picked it up. It was Abby.

  “Mission accomplished,” she said. “We went to the early service. Lots of concern about you and Nick. Lots of questions about Josh. Is he going to stay? Any chance he would join the church? Everyone had good words about him. No one said much about Sam. Al’s still too powerful, but he wasn’t there today, and you know that’s highly unusual.” Sympathy tugged at Eve. She hated the fact that Sam had been forced on her, but he was Al’s only heir and she knew this had to be a huge personal blow to him.

  “Thanks, Abby,” she said, then hesitated. “Nick is up and about. He’s fine. Josh and I are taking him to the falls for a picnic.”

  “Marilyn asked whether you and Josh are an item. I merely asked her why she would think that and left. But are you two serious?”

  “I think so,” she said. “I didn’t plan it. I don’t even know how—”

  “Eve, don’t worry about us. We knew, even hoped you would find someone. You’re a young woman. You need someone to love and who will love you. I saw how Josh looked at you yesterday. And Jim and I like him. Nick obviously adores him. Whatever you want to do, you have our blessing. And that’s all I’m going to say. Have fun and give my love to Nick.” She hung up.

  Eve stood there for a moment, still holding the phone.

  “He’s here! Josh is here.” The door slammed behind him.

  Her heartbeat raced. She watched as Josh stepped out of the Jeep and approached the house. Nick swung himself effortlessly on the crutches toward him, followed by the dogs that jumped and yelped with excitement at seeing a new friend. Even Braveheart approached him.

  Josh stooped down to say something to Nick. She couldn’t hear, but Nick beamed. Josh scratched Braveheart behind the ears, then he was at the door and she opened it.

  He smelled of soap and aftershave. He was dressed in his usual jeans, but they looked new, and a blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He looked incredibly handsome to her, especially when he smiled.

  “Good afternoon,” she said. Her voice seemed warmer to her.

  “I think it’s going to be a splendid afternoon,” he replied, his deep, rich voice like warm syrup.

  His gaze slowly ran over her and his smile widened. She didn’t think she had seen that particular smile before. “Damn, but you’re pretty,” he said.

  “You look pretty good yourself,” she replied. Their gazes locked and he held out his hand. They had slept together just two nights ago, but this afternoon was different. They had said things last night that neither had expected. The feelings had been there, but so was the fear. The fear that it wouldn’t—couldn’t—last.

  But now as she looked at him, she knew that what they had was far deeper than she imagined. So much for love being a process of growth. They had a spurt, a big one. Okay, a huge one.

  She was suddenly aware of Nick standing expectantly next to Josh.

  “There’s a basket on the table,” she said.

  Josh looked at the basket and peeked inside like a small boy. He sniffed appreciatively. “You did this?”

  “Mostly. Abby’s cookies.”

  He looked at her with a question in his eyes.

  “She approves.”

  Nick ushered the dogs back inside the house and hopped on the crutches to the Jeep. He climbed in the back with Amos.

  “No ill effects, I see,” Josh observed. “He’s the most resilient kid I’ve ever seen.”

  “He’s excited about today. I didn’t take him to church. Too much curiosity.”

  “And you?”

  “I asked Abby to say nothing could be disclosed since the whole matter is under investigation by the state, and Nick is just fine. Tom is saying the same.”

  “That’s enough?”

  “Not by half, but it’s all anyone will get.”

  “Tough woman.”

  “Well, this tough woman is hungry.”

  * * *

  SURPRISINGLY, THERE WAS only one family at the falls and they were preparing to set off on a hike.

  Josh unpacked the basket while Nick found a stick and threw it for Amos. To Josh’s surprise, Amos chased after it, his tail wagging furiously. He noted that Nick was careful not to get close to the edge and threw the stick toward the woods. He was completely absorbed in Amos and Amos in Nick. A sense of contentment filled him.

  He took Eve’s hand and they walked to where they had the perfect view of the waterfall. The sun was bright overhead, but the rainbow wasn’t there. It didn’t matter, though; he had his own rainbow.

  Her fingers tightened around his, and she leaned against him. He felt her softness and her strength. “We were tired last night,” he said. “And emotional.”

  “Emotion can be good.”

  “I thought I had turned it off long ago.”

  She looked up at him.

  “But obviously not,” he continued. “Because I want you as much today as I wanted you last night. I want you tomorrow and next week and next year and all the years after that.” His grip tightened. “It’s been damned quick, and I know it’s probably too soon for either of us to promise anything, but I want you to know how I feel.”

  From him it was a magnificent admission.

  She took his hand to her lips and kissed it and snuggled closer to him. “That’s good,” she said. “Very good. But I warn you, I don’t believe in long courtships. It would be a source of constant speculation and gossip by my constituents.”

  He laughed. “That’s one reason I love you. You never equivocate.”

  Her heart jumped as high as the sky. He’d said it. She looked up at him. “I love you,” she said. “Nick does, too. I feel like I’ve known you forever, that I’ve been waiting for you all this time.” She paused. “Do you... Could you be happy here?”

  “I’ll be happy anyplace you are. I already have some ideas. Maybe start a small construction company with Nate. I’ve discovered I rather like fixing and building things.”

  “What about your cabin?”

  “A curious thing happened this morning,” he said.

  “A lot of curious things have been happening,” she replied.

  He nodded. “This morning I had a visitor.”

  She waited for him to go on.

  “I told you last night, I’d called my attorney, Dave’s attorney, asking if he had any information about David he could give me. Apparently it was a request he’d been waiting for. He said he needed to deliver it personally and that he was going on vacation Monday morning. He couldn’t reach me yesterday, then he heard the news about Amos and me and the search for your son. So he called first thing this morning and drove down. I understand now why Dave trusted him. He’d been a close friend of David’s father in law school.”

  “And?” Eve asked.

  He took a folded letter from his jeans and gave it to her.

  She unfolded it and started reading.

  If you are reading this, you’ve probably decided to stay in Covenant Falls. I hope so. You once told me when you were very drunk about a picture of a cottage in the woods. You probably don’t even remember, but I did.

  You most likely have heard there was a mystery about the death of my uncle. If you are going to stay, you deserve to know, and perhaps I need to tell someone.

  I was always happiest at the cabin. Both of my parents were workaholics. My dad was a famous attorney who worked all over the state. He was out of town more than he was in, and when he was home he was usually working. But when we came to Covenant Falls, we were a
family. When Mom and Dad died in a private plane accident, my uncle was named guardian. Knowing how much I loved the cabin and lake, my parents left the cabin to me in a separate trust along with enough funds to take care of taxes and upkeep. That trust was to be administered by my dad’s friend, Mr. Mabry. They also created another trust with my uncle in control of the funds. That one was meant to pay for my expenses, including college, until I was twenty-two, then the remainder would be split between my uncle and me. I understood there was nearly a million dollars in the account.

  To make a long story short, he had a gambling habit and stole money from the trust that he controlled and lost it all. One afternoon he did the unusual: he suggested we go fishing in our boat. It was late fall, and the fish were biting. When we got out to the middle of the lake, he said he wanted me to petition to dissolve the trust involving the cabin. He was desperate. He had lost everything in the trust account and owed a hundred thousand more.

  I was stunned. I’d had no idea. I’d trusted him. He was one of those people everyone liked. I was eighteen and planning to go to college and he was telling me he’d stolen that money and now wanted the cabin, as well.

  He said I owed it to him for him taking care of me. I said no. The cabin was mine. He’d stolen most of my inheritance, but he wasn’t going to take the cabin. I called him a liar and cheat. I said I was going to report him to the authorities.

  He attacked me. I think that was his plan B if I refused to help him. I dodged at the last second and he went over the side. I sat there for a minute, maybe more than a minute, then went in after him. I was a good swimmer, but I couldn’t find him at first. Apparently he’d hit his head on the way over, and the cold water took him straight down.

  When I did find him he wasn’t breathing. I left him in the water and swam back to the cottage. After an hour, I called the police and reported him missing. They suspected me of murder, but they couldn’t prove it. I knew I would always be suspected. And perhaps I was guilty. I could have saved him if I’d acted sooner. Part of me was so angry I wanted him dead. I left Covenant Falls that summer and joined the army. But I never forgot those happy days with my dad, and I couldn’t quite force myself into giving up the cabin. I always thought someday I would come back.