More Than a Soldier Read online

  “Dunk us? Don’t you think that sounds a little irreverent?” Hank climbed halfway down the rock and jumped the rest of the way. “I’m going to ask Marcus to hold you under a couple of extra minutes for that.”

  Edward laughed. “You would, wouldn’t you?”

  Cindy landed next to Hank, stumbled a few steps and rammed into him. “Sorry. Hard landing. Guess I misjudged the slope down here.”

  Hank shook his head. “I’d have helped you down if you’d just waited a second, little Miss Independent.”

  “I know. Guess I forgot to tell you I’m a bit of a tomboy.”

  “You, a tomboy?” Hank bellowed a laugh. “Makeup, painted nails, hair combed to perfection. You don’t look anything like a—”

  “I see my disguise fooled you.” Cindy slapped a light backhand to Hank’s midsection. “What were you guys talking about just now?”

  Edward answered. “Marcus is a minister as well as medic, and also the unit’s unofficial chaplain. He’s going to baptize me and Hank.”

  “Oh.” Cindy’s playful smirk returned. “In that case, maybe he should hold Hank under a couple of extra minutes for trying to bamboozle me into believing he has a glass eye.” She bumped Hank’s shoulder and giggled.

  Edward wagged his head. “Don’t tempt him, Cindy. He’s more than willing to take it out and show it to anyone who asks. Ask Audra. She’ll tell you.”

  “Really?” She turned to Hank. “Does it look like a big marble?”

  “No, not at all. It’s—”

  “Whoa, Hank. Later.” Edward grabbed Hank’s hand before it got to his face. “Let’s get going. Everyone’s waiting for us.”

  * * * *

  Cindy sat on the picnic table bench watching as Marcus shared a moment of quiet prayer with Edward and Hank by the lake. Audra, Benjamin, and Marlene stood nearby like ducks in a row, waiting to witness the informal, yet highly revered ceremony.

  Edward took Audra’s hand, leaned in, and kissed her. Love—the until-death-do-us-part kind—poured from Edward’s eyes as he backed into the water and let her fingers slide from his.

  Cindy breathed a quiet sigh. If only Eric would have loved her that way. She swallowed hard and fought the urge to crumble into tears. How easily she’d bought into his ruse of accepting and appreciating the fact that she didn’t believe in premarital sex, when all the while he was...

  A twinge of pain stabbed a region of her heart. How could she have been so stupid? So blind?

  The bench moved slightly as Dexter sat beside her. “I thought maybe you could use some company.”

  Blond with azure eyes and a body chiseled out of a granite chunk of manhood, Jason Dexter could pass for Eric’s long-lost brother—or at least first cousin.

  Cindy forced a weak smile. “Hello, sergeant. Or, would you prefer Jason?”

  “Everyone calls me Dex.”

  “Then, Dex it is. I see you’ve changed out of your wet jeans. Why didn’t you put on your shorts before you went swimming?”

  “Well, I—”

  “Shh. They’re getting started.” Cindy popped to her feet and joined the spectators by the shore.

  Marcus said a few words before submerging Edward backward into the water, and afterward did the same with Hank. The brothers high-fived each other and shook Marcus’s hand.

  Marlene gave each of them a towel as they stepped onto dry ground and smiled with a happy glow. “I’m so proud of you boys. I’ve waited a long time for this.”

  Edward dried his face and blotted the front of his white T-shirt. “I love you, Mom, Dad. I’d give you a hug, but I’m pretty wet.”

  Benjamin pulled Edward into his arms and kissed his cheek. “Wet or not, I love you, Son.”

  Hank tapped Cindy’s arm. “Hold this for a minute, would you, please?” He handed her his towel and peeled off his T-shirt. His ripped abs sent a flush of heat up her neck.

  She draped his shirt on the back of a lawn chair. “Why’d you guys wear shirts in the water in the first place?”

  “Marcus said he wasn’t going to baptize any half-naked men. Can’t blame him. I’d probably feel the same way if roles were reversed.”

  “How was the water, Hank?” A stony scowl accompanied Dexter’s remark.

  “It was nice. Then again, you already knew that, didn’t you?” Hank sniggered.

  Dex shook his head, his face softened, and he chuckled too. “Everything in my wallet’s soaking wet. Good thing I’d left my cell phone charging in the car. You’re a real punk, Hank, you know that?”

  “Yup, and I’m good at it.”

  “Everybody.” Marlene clapped her hands a few times. “Lunch will be ready in about fifteen minutes.” Behind her, meat sizzled as Benjamin tossed it on the grill.

  Audra tore the plastic wrapper off a package of Styrofoam plates, set them on the table, and opened a box of plastic utensils. She smoothed the tablecloth where wind had flipped up a corner, looked up at Cindy and smiled. “I’ve got a bunch of stuff to bring out here from the kitchen. Would you like to give me a hand?”

  “Sure.”

  Two trips to and from the kitchen later, Audra finished arranging everything they’d brought out to the table. “There, that ought to do it. Thanks for your help.”

  “My pleasure.” Cindy pulled her car keys from her pocket. “Guess I’ll say good-bye to everyone and get going, so you can have your meal. I—”

  “Oh, no, no. Please stay.” Popping onto tiptoes, Audra called to Edward and waved him over.

  “What’s up, babe?”

  Worry colored Audra’s face. “Cindy says she’s leaving.”

  “Leaving?” Edward set his drink on the table. “Stay, have lunch with us, and hang around a while. We barely got to know each other.”

  Hank sauntered to Edward’s side. “What’s going on?”

  “My sister’s thinking about leaving.”

  “But you can’t leave,” Hank said, turning to Cindy. “Not yet anyway.”

  “Oh? And, why not?”

  “Because, you, you know—” He snapped his fingers. “Because I haven’t shown you my eyeball yet, that’s why.”

  “Oh my goodness, Hank.” Audra rolled her eyes. “You couldn’t bait her with something better than that?”

  Edward let out a hearty laugh. “I’m always surprised by what comes out of that mouth of his.”

  Hank’s pleading brown eyes could put those of a starving beagle to shame. Cindy pocketed her keys. “That’s right. I’d forgotten you were going to show me your eyeball.”

  “So, you’ll stay?” Audra’s face lit up.

  “Yes, I’ll stay.” Cindy smiled big in Hank’s direction. “He made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

  * * * *

  Tick, tick, tick. With cruel efficiency, the mantel clock marked the passage of time. Almost ten o’clock. The overstuffed leather chair seemed to wrap its arms around Cindy and whisper, Don’t go. But, she had to go, or risk falling asleep at the wheel on the drive home. She uncoiled her legs and stretched them in front of her.

  Marcus rose. “I’d love to stay up with y’all, but I’ve got to hit the road at five-thirty tomorrow morning in order to get to the airport in time for my flight. Mr. and Mrs. Shultz, thank you for your hospitality. Good night everyone. Cindy, it was nice meeting you.” He shook her hand.

  “Nice meeting you too. Have a safe flight.”

  Marcus retreated up the stairs.

  Cindy stretched one more time and stood to her feet. “I guess I better shove off. I’ve got almost an hour’s drive to get home.”

  Edward and Hank rose at the same time. Edward moved closer to her. “It’s late. Why don’t you stay here tonight?”

  “Thanks, but I think I’ll mosey on home. Besides, I didn’t pack anything for an overnighter.”

  Hank jingled keys in his pants pocket. “In that case, I’ll walk you to your car and go home myself.”

  Edwar
d bear hugged her. “Can you come back tomorrow, or can Audra and I come see you at your place?”

  “I’d love to come back tomorrow.”

  * * * *

  Cindy drove the winding driveway with Hank’s headlights bringing up the rear and turned right when she got to the hardtop. With a horn-beep good-bye, Hank turned in the opposite direction, and his taillights shrank in her rearview mirror.

  Her cell phone rang. She glimpsed the caller ID and answered with the call on speakerphone. “Hello Mrs. Baker. Is something wrong?”

  “No, dearest. I noticed you weren’t home yet, and I’m making sure you’re all right.”

  “How sweet of you to check on me. I’m driving home right now. Should be there before eleven.”

  “Did you find Edward?”

  Cindy’s eyes watered. “Yes. I found him.”

  “And?”

  “Oh, Mrs. Baker, I absolutely love him.”

  Chapter 5

  The alarm clock exploded to life with a cawing rooster’s crow. Cindy hammered the snooze button with a fisted hand, rolled to her belly, and buried her cheek in the pillow. Ten more minutes. Just ten. More. Glorious.

  “Cindy!” Mrs. Baker knocked on the bedroom wall. “You’ve already hit the button five times, dear. Kill that chicken once and for all and come on over for coffee.”

  Cindy swiped the alarm switch to the off position and let her arm drop off the side of the bed.

  “Cindy? Did you hear me?”

  “Yes, Mrs. B, I heard you. I’ll be over in a few minutes.”

  Teeth brushed and face washed, Cindy hurried across the front porch into Mrs. Baker’s apartment and slid onto a stool at the kitchen bar. Her favorite mug, stenciled with Leave me alone until I’ve had my coffee sat waiting with curls of steam rising from the hot liquid. She took a sip and smacked her lips with a pop. “Perfect as always, Mrs. B. Thanks.”

  “Drink up and tell me all about yesterday.” Mrs. Baker loaded beef and vegetables into a slow cooker, added an envelope of dry onion soup mix, a can of cream of mushroom soup, some water, and turned it on low. “Start with Edward. What’s he like?”

  Cindy lifted her feet onto a neighboring stool and nursed her coffee. “He’s a Special Forces lieutenant based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and he’s magazine-cover handsome. He seemed rather shocked when I introduced myself as his sister. But as soon as we hugged, I felt an instant, inexplicable bond of love with him. I may be wrong, but I think he felt it too.”

  “Married? Single?”

  “Married. His wife’s name is Audra, and she’s a perfect match for him. You should see the way they look at each other. It’s—” Cindy took a gulp of coffee. “It’s what I always wanted from—”

  “Don’t go there, Cindy. Leave the past where it belongs. In the past.”

  Mrs. Baker was right. Dredging up unpleasant memories served no purpose other than to make life miserable.

  “Oh, and I also met Edward’s foster brother—the one we read about in the file the other day. Here’s something interesting. Hank used to be a spec ops soldier in Edward’s unit until he was severely injured. He was their demolitions man and is still in that line of work. Only not in the military any more. I like him very much.”

  “Oh?”

  “Mrs. B, don’t start imagining wedding bells. I simply said I like him.”

  Mrs. Baker smiled. “And the Shultzes?”

  “Wonderful, warm, loving people. Mid-fifties, I’d guess. Quite an odd pair, size-wise. Benjamin’s at least six feet tall, and Marlene might touch five-two if she teased her curly hair into a generous poof.”

  “More coffee?” Mrs. Baker held the carafe at the ready.

  “Please.” Cindy pushed her cup forward. “Oh, and I met two other soldiers from Edward’s unit—their medic, Marcus Weatherly, and Sergeant Jason Dexter who prefers to be called Dex. And before you ask, Marcus is married with a new baby, and Dex is single.”

  “Single and good looking?”

  “There you go again, playing the bridal march in your head. Actually, he looks a lot like...” Cindy thrummed her fingers on the countertop, everything in her rebelling against letting the name cross her lips.

  “Like who?”

  “Eric.”

  “Humph. I hope he doesn’t have the same underlying sleaziness that tarnished Eric’s otherwise pleasant appearance.”

  “I hope not, too.” Cindy cast a glance at the kitchen wall clock and slid off the stool. “It’s almost eight. I’m going to get showered and dressed and go back to the Shultzes’ this morning. Edward and Audra are staying there over the weekend, and I want to spend as much time with them as I can before they go back to North Carolina.”

  “Enjoy your day.” Mrs. Baker walked her to the door. “And, Cindy, next time you come over in the morning, get dressed first. It’s not very ladylike to come dashing across the porch in your nightie.”

  Nightie? “But Mrs. B, a knee-length Scooby-Doo nightgown hardly qualifies as a—”

  “Young lady.” A cautionary brow-raise left no room for backtalk.

  “Yes ma’am. I’ll try to remember next time.”

  * * * *

  “Bathing suit, cover-up, shorts, long pants, two tops, nightie, underwear, sneakers, and bathroom stuff. That ought to do it.” Cindy crammed everything in her overnight bag, slung it over her shoulder, and scampered out the front door.

  “Planning to spend the night at the Shultzes’?” Across the porch, Mrs. Baker lifted a dark green watering container and tipped the narrow spout into a hanging basket of begonias.

  Cindy locked the door and smiled. “Edward had asked me to stay last night, but I wasn’t prepared. I’ll keep my bag stashed in the back seat and won’t take it out unless he asks again. I wouldn’t want him to see it and think I was being presumptuous.”

  “Presumptuous?” Mrs. Baker rested her watering can on the porch rail and laughed. “Don’t you think he would be delighted if— Never mind. Have a safe trip, and if you end up staying—”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll call.” Cindy loaded the bag into the back seat, slid behind the wheel and twisted the ignition switch.

  T-t-t-t-t-t-t-tick. T-t-t-t-t-t-t-tick.

  “Oh, no.” She pounded both fists on the steering wheel. “Aw, come on. Don’t even think of not starting on me today of all days, you beast.”

  T-t-t-t-t-t-t-tick. T-t-t-t-t-t-t-tick.

  “Rotten piece of junk, that’s what you are.” Cindy got out, slammed the door, and popped open the hood.

  “What seems to be the trouble this time?” Mrs. Baker called from the porch.

  “I have no idea. The battery connections feel tight.” She got in and cranked the ignition again.

  T-t-t-t-t-t-t-tick. T-t-t-t-t-t-t-tick.

  Cindy jumped out and kicked the door shut. “Stupid car. I hate you.” She growled a scream through gritted teeth.

  “Calm down. It’s not the end of the world.”

  “I installed a new battery with my own two hands not more than ten days ago. I do everything I can to take care of her. Oil changes, tire rotations, fluid checks. And how does the ingrate repay me for my TLC? By deciding not to start when I need her most.”

  “She is an it, my dear—an inanimate object with no feelings whatsoever. Getting mad at it won’t help.”

  With a sigh, Cindy sank onto a porch step. “You’re right. No use getting myself all worked up. I’ll call Edward and tell him I can’t come today. Good thing we traded phone numbers during lunch or he’d wonder what happened to me when I didn’t show up.”

  “I’m sorry, Cindy. I’d lend you my car, but—”

  “It’s okay, Mrs. B. I know you already had plans to go shopping with your friend today and bring her home for dinner.”

  Cindy pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and pressed Edward’s number. She glanced at Mrs. Baker. “It went to voicemail, and, oh, hi, Edward, it’s Cindy. My car won’t
start, so I’m not going to be able to make it out there to see you guys today. I had a good time yesterday. Guess that’s all for now. Hope to see you soon. Bye.”

  “Do you think Edward’s the type who checks his voicemail regularly?”

  “I don’t know. Think I should call Hank?”

  “That’s probably a good idea. Then both of them will know what’s going on.”

  Hank picked up right away. “Hello, Cindy. How’s it going this morning?”

  “Not so good, I’m afraid. My car won’t start. I tried to call Edward, but he didn’t answer. I left him a message. I’ll make some calls, but doubt I’ll be able to find a mechanic on a Saturday. Looks like I’m stuck at home for the day.”

  “No you’re not. I’ll come get you.”

  Round trip would take Hank at least two hours. Probably more, since he’d turned in the opposite direction last night. “I can’t ask you to do that, Hank. It’s too—”

  “You didn’t ask. I offered.”

  “Sure you don’t mind? After all, I’d need a ride home as well. That’s a lot of driving.”

  “Not a problem. Have you had breakfast?”

  “No, not yet.”

  “Good. I’ll pick you up and we can stop for a bite on the way back. Deal?”

  “Deal.”

  Cindy relayed her address, said good-bye, and smiled up at her neighbor. “Hank’s coming to get me.”

  “Wonderful.” Mrs. Baker sat on the step next to Cindy. “Just think, a moment ago you were kicking and screaming, and sinking deep into the quagmire of despair. Now, a gallant knight from a distant land is spurring his mighty steed into a mouth-frothing gallop to come to your rescue.”

  “A gallant knight from a distant land on a mighty steed?” Cindy laughed. “There better be a princess waiting for him when he gets here or he’s going to be mighty disappointed.”

  Mrs. Baker pushed a lock of hair back over Cindy’s shoulder. “Oh, but there is a princess waiting for him. A beautiful one at that.”

  Her neighbor’s kindness always amazed her. “You always manage to make me feel like I’m somebody special, Mrs. B. Thank you for that.”