Two Hearts In Accord (Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Book 7)

by Tamara Ferguson

  Because of his promotion, they would be moving from Montgomery, Alabama to Texas over the summer, and apparently, Dad was planning on having her remain at home after they moved. Anna had never been as disappointed in her dad as she had when he’d brought up the name of a local junior college in Texas at dinner one night, after she’d decided to bite the bullet and mention where she’d already been accepted.

  At that moment, the door from the hallway swung open, and the man walking through the doorway gave her a warm smile.

  Anna started to extend a hand.

  “Hi,” he said. “No need to stand up. I’m Phil Verdun.”

  Anna smiled back as he reached across the table and shook her hand. She’d been filled in about a few of the instructors who would participating in the program. “Nice to meet you Captain. I’m Anna Drummond.”

  “Lieutenant. It’s nice to meet you. I hear you’re here permanently?”

  “I am.” Anna rolled her eyes when his hand went into the air. “No need to salute. Just take a seat—let’s keep this casual. And yes, I’m really looking forward to getting started.”

  “Me, too.” He sighed, taking a seat at the table and laying down a laptop. “I’m still trying to review all the information since I just volunteered a few weeks ago.”

  “Don’t mind me, if you need to work. I’m still considering several things I need to discuss myself.”

  Opening his computer, he began to type, and Anna glanced outside through the window at the lovely view across the lake, escaping once again into her thoughts.

  Her family had lived in Alabama a little longer than anywhere else, so Anna had quite a few friends in town. When her boyfriend Brent suggested they both enlist, she’d been hesitant at first. But her father was dating someone seriously, and Anna wouldn’t be surprised if he remarried before their move to Texas. Maybe it was time to spread her wings and take control of her own life since Dad didn’t seem to have the time or the patience to listen to Anna? What she’d wanted was the academy, but it wasn’t going to happen without some help from Dad. Plus, if he didn’t want her to enroll, she knew he had enough influence to be able to stop her.

  When Dad had been ready to make the move to Texas with his fiancé, Anna and Brent had enlisted. Anna had previously made arrangements to have her things put in storage and had paid for a year in advance out of her part-time earnings from working at a local climbing gym Brent’s parents owned.

  She hadn’t had the courage to tell her father. Plus, truthfully, she’d been a little afraid that he would try to stop her. It’s not like there hadn’t been a lot of love amongst the members of the Drummond family, but the laughter had definitely died along with Anna’s mom.

  So she’d surprised Dad the night before reporting to base, with a kiss on his cheek as she said goodnight. The only possessions left in her bedroom were furnishings, and they would go along in the moving van the following morning.

  Dad was expecting twenty-year old Brent to drive Anna to Texas, while he would begin the trip later in the day with his fiancé Sharon. After loading the Drummond home furnishings, the moving van would pick up Sharon’s belongings from her condo.

  Although training had been grueling, Anna had never regretted her decision despite very little contact with her family afterward. Flying had come fairly easy, because Anna had spent hours in the air since it was actually something her father hadn’t frowned upon when she’d wanted to take lessons. Of course, she had a sneaking suspicion her brother Jeremy had something to do with that.

  During the next few years, she and Brent had become closer. Although they were often split up for different assignments, eventually they’d become engaged before ending up together on tour in Iraq.

  But something startling had happened to Anna on her second tour when their squadron had been in trouble. When insurgents had targeted the air base they were soon to depart from, instinct had her running across the field, reaching for the rifle that’d been dropped to the ground by a member of base security when he’d been hit.

  She’d taken aim, and one, two, three strikes brought each of them down.

  Her actions had won her a commendation, along with an upgrade in rank and promotion.

  Anna would serve as a sniper. She’d never had any desire to handle weapons, and she wasn’t particularly fond of the job. Although her shooting skills hadn’t been anything she’d worked hard to perfect, Anna was a natural according to her brother Jeremy, who’d watched in amazement when she’d been allowed to shoot at the target range as a teenager.

  It had been all about trying to keep up with her brothers, Anna had realized, growing up. Her dad had been so proud of each of them, and she’d only wanted him to be proud of her too.

  And as much as she hadn’t wanted the job at the time, someone had to do it. She was calm, cool and collected, and Anna had the mindset to determine what was necessary, closing herself off from others as much as possible, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to do what was required.

  After an apparent moment of shock, Airman Neil Harrison had appeared to reassure her before chaos had ensued at the airbase in Kobani nearly four years ago.

  When she’d returned home to the U.S. after that mission, she’d ended her relationship with Brent. She’d been planning on making it work until she’d seen his reaction, his jealousy, upon learning of her commendation and promotion. And two years later, when she’d run into him again, this time wearing her prosthetic, she was even more relieved that she’d broken off their engagement seeing that look of revulsion on his face.

  She’d made a decision back then. No more serious relationships for her. Besides, who would want her now? All she saw when she looked in the mirror was her missing arm.

  Since then, she’d been through therapy, and her attitude was much improved, but she hadn’t changed her mind about relationships.

  Although she’d heard a few stories of Neil Harrison’s accomplishments, she’d had to work desperately to curb her curiosity after their time together in Iraq.

  Because she’d never quit thinking about him.

  When the conference door opened, and Anna glanced up from staring sightlessly at her notebook on the table, her mouth gaped open in astonishment.

  Because it was none other than Neil Harrison who stood there in front of her, giving her the warmest smile she’d ever seen in her life.

  Chapter Two

  The first time Neil had seen Airman Anna Drummond at an airbase in Iraq, he’d been immediately struck by how beautiful she was.

  In only an objective way, of course. At the time, he’d been married to Wendy, his high school sweetheart.

  When he and Wendy had married after being together for nearly five years, the future had looked bright for them both. Neil had enlisted in the Air Force, something he’d been planning on doing his entire life, and Wendy had attended business college, standing by him in Texas during basic training and tech school.

  But two years later, once Neil had returned home after being deployed overseas, the true strength of their marriage had been tested, and he and Wendy had seemed to grow apart.

  After his fifth tour in Iraq, they’d finally called it quits, because Wendy wasn’t able to cope with his injuries.

  This time, Neil had returned home without a leg.

  Two years after that, it had still hurt, losing the woman he thought he’d spend the rest of his life with. So he’d made a pact with himself.

  No more serious relationships. Instead he focused on his military career, intent on returning to active duty.

  Twenty years ago, the idea of an amputee returning to combat had been nearly unthinkable, even though occasionally a soldier would remain on active duty after losing part of an arm or a leg. But advances in medical care and sturdier prosthetics allowed for at least the possibility now of remaining active, particularly during the last five years.

  As long as he wanted it enough. Although many amputees in the military took desk jobs or support positions, Neil ha
d other ideas.

  But he’d had to overcome severe mood swings and battle depression, along with the skepticism of doctors and commanders because of his temperament and the difficulty he’d had giving up his painkillers. Not only had he learned how to walk again, but he’d had to run distances and do sit-ups and push-ups.

  Despite multiple infections and operations, which of course delayed him from receiving a prosthetic, Neil spent the next several months recuperating while at the same time regaining his strength.

  When he finally got his prosthetic leg, it took him only a week to learn how to walk with it. And less than two years later, he was back on active duty, on tour in Iraq, serving once again as both a pilot and pararescueman.

  He’d done what was nearly impossible and had served in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

  But when one of his old buddies had contacted him about what they were doing here in Crystal Rock, Neil decided it was time to take that much needed break suggested by his commander.

  Plus Luke Bryant was getting married next month, something Neil had never thought would happen, having made a vow with Luke years ago; neither one of them would let another woman get under their skin.

  He wanted to meet the woman who had finally succeeded in bringing his old friend down.

  But first he was checking in today at the Wounded Warrior Home in Crystal Rock, Wisconsin, where he would be one of the instructors in a new training program for injured military men and women who were determined to return to active duty.

  Just as Neil had been. Except these wounded warriors would have the support of other wounded warriors who’d succeeded in their efforts. Supposedly, Luke’s stepbrother Lieutenant Josh Loughlin, who’d been temporarily blinded, had been the person who’d come up with the idea of creating a new training program, and Neil had been impressed with his efforts when he’d read through the material Luke had sent him. Especially considering they’d only been working on putting the training requirements together during the past five months.

  Neil had driven from Quantico, staying overnight in a roadside hotel located along I-80 before reaching Chicago, which was about halfway to his destination of Crystal Rock, Wisconsin. Originally from Alabama, he’d never been to Wisconsin, and as he drove further north he was captivated by the scenery; even stopping a few times to pick up food in some of the more picturesque towns which were bordered by lakes and waterways. And trees—there were a lot of towering pines.

  Since he was running ahead of schedule and his meeting wasn’t until nine o’clock the following morning, he’d stayed overnight at a motel a few hours away from Crystal Rock to give himself a break and get a little exercise after being on the road for the last two days. Any interruptions in his regular routine tended to cause cramping in his right leg as well as in the upper thigh of his left, above his prosthetic.

  Finally nearing the end of his thousand-mile road trip, he drove into Crystal Rock, following the directions plugged into his GPS, taking his time since his meeting wouldn’t begin for at least another forty-five minutes. It seemed to be a nice little well-kept town, he thought as he drove along Main Street checking out the businesses. A bakery, drug store and huge mall with a flower shop stood near the police station, and there was a bank near the other end of Main Street.

  Neil maneuvered his truck onto the two-lane highway he was directed to follow at the end of Main Street. Driving onto a long bridge which apparently divided Crystal Rock Lake from another, he was impressed by the view gazing through the window. The homes that were built along the lakefront were neat and well kept, appearing to have a lot of property attached.

  When he reached his destination and drove slowly along the lane toward the parking lot, he was somewhat surprised to discover what appeared to be a small community. Neil wasn’t sure what he’d expected the wounded warrior home to look like, but the building was huge, with multiple wings, and spread along Crystal Rock Lake’s lakefront. Picnic benches were everywhere and there was a beach down below. A boathouse and pier had been built along the edge of the property and some canoes had been dragged onto the beach nearby.

  Parking his truck in the lot, Neil checked his watch as he reached for his laptop and bag. Even though he was dying to take a look around, he decided against it with only another fifteen minutes before the meeting would begin.

  The nurse sitting behind the desk in the lobby looked at him with a smile as he strolled inside. “Can I help you?”

  “Hi. I’m Neil Harrison. I’m supposed to be here for a meeting today?”

  “It’s nice to meet you Lieutenant. I’m Nina Chandler. I’m also signed up to assist with the program, so just call me Nina. So far, Lieutenant Drummond and Captain Verdun are the only other instructors here.”

  Neil halted, as the nurse began leading him down the hallway. It couldn’t be.

  Could it?

  Continuing to follow Nina, he cleared his throat, asking, “By any chance, is Lieutenant Drummond’s first name Anna?”

  Nina looked back at him and grinned. “It sure is. I guess you two know each other?”

  Neil heaved a sigh. “I guess you could say that.”

  She looked at him curiously as he attempted to gain control of his emotions.

  Why in the hell would he be nervous at the thought of seeing Anna again? Because of his prosthetic? Although the sight of his leg wasn’t pretty, for some strange reason Anna’s reaction was important to him.

  Why? It hadn’t really mattered to him until now how women responded to the fact that he wore a prosthetic.

  Actually, it was surprising that they’d never run into each other again. But maybe not, since she would have been operating under a new set of rules as a sniper, and many of her missions would have more than likely been covert. She’d moved up in the ranks and was an equal with him, so she must have done a hell of a job.

  God, she was even more beautiful than she’d been four years ago, he thought, when she looked at him in shock as he walked through the doorway, forcing a smile on his face.

  Nina spoke first, glancing at Anna. “I guess you two know each other, Lieutenant?”

  “Neil?” Anna blurted out the question. “What are you doing here?”

  Puzzled, he looked Anna over. “I was just going to ask you the same question. Geez, you look great.”

  She appeared to be taken aback.

  But then he blinked, because what was she doing here? “Wait a minute. Not you too?” She was wearing a uniform coat, and he finally took a closer look, noticing the mechanical hand on her left arm. “Aw, Anna. I’m so sorry.”

  “I’ve adapted.” She grimaced. “But what happened with you? I can’t believe I never heard.”

  Through the corner of his eye, Neil saw Nina back out through the doorway wearing a wry smile on her face.

  “Land mine in Iraq,” he muttered grimly. “They’re all over the place. It took out two of my friends at the same time.”

  “Oh, no.” Anna closed her eyes tightly, and then opened them again. “I got shot in a chopper during take-off after a mission. I’m not allowed to mention where.”

  Neil nodded his acknowledgement thoughtfully. “I’ll admit, when I lost my leg, I was kind of a mess afterwards.”

  “Really?” Anna’s eyes went wide. “You were always so calm and cool, no matter what. I can’t see that happening with you…”

  “I got hooked on the painkillers for a while. My wife and I divorced, and I don’t have any family left, and I guess I must’ve been feeling sorry for myself. My leg kept getting infected, so it repeatedly delayed getting a prosthetic.”

  “If I’d have known, I would have been there,” Anna answered softly.

  Although he’d never been able to forget Anna, the thought of her seeking him out again had never entered his mind, because he figured Anna would have married long ago, but hopefully not to the jerk she’d been engaged to. Neil was kind of ordinary in the scheme of things, and he’d known she was extraordinary from the moment they’d m
et. “Really?”

  “Yes, really,” she answered firmly.

  Drawing in a deep breath, he took a seat next to Anna, reaching for her hand and squeezing it. But then he had to hold his breath, one-two-three, cause his reaction to her was just as strong as it had been four years ago.

  “So you feel it too?” she asked softly.

  “Oh, yeah. More than ever.” He stared into her eyes, luminous pools of deep blue green that he could feel himself drowning in. “I tried to work it out with Wendy. We’d grown too much apart, and once I came home without the leg…”

  She gave him a rueful smile. “I broke it off with Brent too. When I got back to the states after our mission, he was so jealous about me being promoted, I just couldn’t handle it. If he would have moved up, I would have been happy for him. But I knew I’d made the right decision by breaking it off when I ran into him again after I lost my arm. I couldn’t stand the way he looked at me, like I was some kind of alien or something.”

  “Yeah, I’ve seen that look myself. I hate that you’re having to face the kind of idiots who stare at you like you’re a freak instead of someone who’s risked their life for their country.”

  “I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but it seems like the fact that I’m a woman has even more to do with it,” Anna said. “I’ve been super depressed, working an office job, and it’s all I can do to stay positive these days. I’m supposed to continue occasionally seeing a shrink, although I was given the green light over a year ago.”

  “Yeah, me too,” Neil answered.

  “I’ve dated since Brent, but after losing my arm, I decided I’d think twice before getting involved again.”

  “It’s funny you should say that. I told myself exactly the same thing, even before I lost my leg.”

  She grinned. “So we’re both in accord then, huh? No serious relationships?”