The Long Road Home Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Note from the Publisher

  Dedication

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Titles by Cheyenne Meadows

  Reviews

  A Silver Publishing Book

  The Long Road Home

  Copyright © 2013 by Cheyenne Meadows

  E-book ISBN: 9781622321117

  First E-book Publication: January 2014

  Cover design by Reese Dante

  Editor: Jason Huffman

  Logo copyright © 2012 by Silver Publishing

  Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only. Any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or by way of any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Payment for this title grants the purchaser the right to download and read this file on any/all personal electronic devices and to maintain backup copies of the file for the purchaser's personal use. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this work is illegal. File sharing, with or without payment, is an international crime, prosecuted by the United States government, in partnership with Interpol. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is punishable by seizure of computers, up to five years in federal prison, and a fine of $250,000 per offense.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  If you see "free shares" offered or cut-rate sales of this title on pirate sites, you can report the offending entry to [email protected].

  This book is written in US English.

  PUBLISHER

  18530 Mack Avenue, Box 253

  Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236

  www.SPSilverPublishing.com

  Note from the Publisher

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for your purchase of this title. The authors and staff of Silver Publishing hope you enjoy this read and that we will have a long and happy association together.

  Please remember that the only money authors make from writing comes from the sales of their books. If you like their work, spread the word and tell others about the books, but please refrain from sharing this book in any form. Authors depend on sales and sales only to support their families.

  If you see "free shares" offered or cut-rate sales of this title on pirate sites, you can report the offending entry to [email protected].

  Thank you for not pirating our titles.

  Lodewyk Deysel

  Publisher

  Silver Publishing

  http://www.spsilverpublishing.com

  Dedication

  For all the service men and women who put their lives on the line each and every day in order to protect our freedoms. I can't say thank you enough, for you are truly heroes in my eyes.

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Army: Army: Department of the Army

  Boy Scouts: Boy Scouts of America Corporation

  Girl Scouts: Girl Scouts of America Inc.

  Grinch: Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. Geisel-Seuss Enterprises, Inc.

  Humvee: AM General LLC

  Popsicle: Conopco, Inc.

  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: DreamWorks Classics

  Walter Reed: The Department of the Army

  Chapter 1

  "What do you mean my flight is cancelled? It's Christmas Eve." Gwen blinked at the exhausted looking flight attendant, noting dark lines marred her face and her eyes told of many hours playing the Grinch, throwing monkey wrenches into people's holiday plans.

  "I'm sorry, Miss. A blizzard dumped tons of snow in Lincoln, shutting down the airport until at least morning."

  "So can I switch flights and arrive in Lincoln in the morning?"

  "I'm afraid not. Sleet is coming down hard here, making for long delays for de-icing of the planes. If this keeps up, the airport will simply cancel flights and try again once the storm has passed."

  A knife of despair stabbed Gwen square in the chest. "When will I be able to get home?"

  "I really don't know. I'm sorry. Next please."

  Gwen sighed heavily and stepped aside. Carrying her bag, she found an empty seat and plopped down. Now what am I going to do?

  Since she'd graduated college in May and accepted her somewhat unusual position in Bethesda, Maryland, she had planned on flying back home for Christmas, spending several days helping her mother bake for the big day. Trimming the tree, wrapping presents, watching the delight on her young niece's face as she opened her gifts. All those plans flew out the window due to Mother Nature's wintery wrath.

  Digging out her cell phone, she punched in a number. "Hi, Mom."

  "What's wrong, honey? You sound down."

  Gwen sucked in a breath and fought back tears. "My flight got cancelled. The blizzard shut down Lincoln. It's icing here, and they're talking about closing down La Guardia before the night is over."

  "Oh, dear."

  "I'm not going to make it home in time for Christmas." Her voice broke as a tear rolled down her cheek. A wave of homesickness washed over her.

  "They're right, you know. Your father had to take the tractor to get through the snow in order to feed the cattle this morning. Snow was too deep for the truck and still coming down. Your sister can't make it either, stuck at home until the plows get down their road."

  "But…"

  "It's okay, sweetheart. We'll just reschedule. No biggie. We'll just wait for Russell to return home on leave and do Christmas then. Besides, I don't want you on an ice-covered plane. Not worth taking the chance."

  Russell. Her baby brother. Now fighting in Afghanistan with the Army. Her first Christmas away from home as was his. "I miss you, Mom."

  "I miss you, too. Keep your chin up. Sometimes when life throws us lemons…"

  "We just make lemonade." A touch of a smile crossed her lips as she finished her mother's favorite phrase.

  "That's my girl."

  "Thanks, Mom. I'll call you later."

  "Love you. Bye-bye."

  Gwen clicked the phone off, sniffed, and stared up at the big screen, her flight number flashing 'Cancelled' in red, taunting her with blatant rejection. Gathering her purse, she stood, bent over to collect her bag, and nearly did a nosedive into the floor as something large slammed into her body.

  "Oh, I'm so sorry." Strong arms steadied her. "Are you okay?"

  With assista
nce, she regained her balance and stood up straight only to find a large male chest covered by desert fatigues, directly in her line of vision. A white coat topped the lightweight clothing. Tilting her head, she found a handsome, slightly whiskered face, and bright blue eyes that snagged her attention and refused to let go. Short, spiked blond hair covered his head as if growing out from his latest buzz cut. He appeared no older than thirty, give or take a few years.

  "Yes. I'm fine." She smiled up at him. "I'm sorry. I wasn't paying any attention." Recognition flashed. Racking her brain, she struggled to put a name with the face she hadn't seen in years.

  He shook his head, flashing a grin. "Nah. This old duffel bag is a nuisance. If I didn't have to carry it everywhere I went, I wouldn't bother with it."

  "Logan?"

  His head cocked to the side. "Do I know you?"

  She shot him a grin. So much for the hunky senior remembering her as a freshman. "Gwen Myers. Ballroom dance class. University of Maryland-College Park. Your partner who squashed your toes more times than not."

  His blue eyes sparked. "Gwen. Good grief. I didn't recognize you."

  "Well, it's been four years or so." Glancing down, she eyed the troublesome duffel bag, finding a stamp on the end. "US Army?"

  "Yep. Enlisted right out of college."

  She found her troubles temporarily forgotten as she spoke, captivated with the man in front of her. In all honesty, she'd had a major crush on him during the weeks they had been paired up for a beginning ballroom dance class. Boy howdy, did she love that class. Held in the arms of the most handsome and built student in the class. He made her feel like Cinderella to his Prince Charming each and every day. They joked, laughed, struggled with the difficult steps, and had a ball. Until the semester ended. He'd graduated and left. She had moved on to another semester and missed him more than she ever admitted.

  Chapter 2

  "I can't believe running into you after all this time."

  Her pretty brown eyes brightened as a friendly smile remained on her face. Good. Much better than the sadness and despair he'd found moments earlier, which nearly broke his heart.

  A classical oval face with a light dusting of makeup that stood out amongst the crowd, youthful and full of beauty, she could make the cover of any fashion magazine. Except for the vividly colorful, oversized Christmas sweatshirt, complete with Santa, his sleigh, and reindeer as he entered a chimney. Cute. Not sexy like her jeans, which molded to her delectable rear. Long chestnut locks hung in a loose ponytail, drawing his attention to her backside, the first part of her anatomy he had noticed. I'm a butt man, so sue me. Now that he knew who she was, he recalled she had always had a perfect rear. That's the reason he chose her as a dance partner all those years ago.

  "It's so good to see you again." Her gaze raked over him from top to bottom. Appreciation flashed in her eyes, which bolstered his ego.

  Gwen had been shy as a freshman but full of spunk and exuberance. Always smiling, she'd made the class more fun than he imagined it would be. After all, he only took dance because he needed a physical education credit to graduate and the timing of the class fit into his busy schedule. Not that he lived to dance. Quite the contrary. He possessed two left feet. Together with Gwen's two right feet, they managed to get through with some practice, laughs, and a bit of sheer luck.

  He readjusted his bag. "Going home for the holidays?"

  Her smile instantly faded. "No. They cancelled my flight due to weather."

  "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." His heart went out to her, knowing full well how hard it was to be away from family on Christmas. Hell, he'd spent more holidays abroad than he had at home. All part of the military life.

  "How about you? Did you get to come home for Christmas?" Her gaze appraised his body as if sizing him up or figuring out some puzzle. "From overseas?"

  "Good guess. Yeah, I finished my tour. Got some downtime now." Finished with all tours. Forever. Thanks to his injury, compliments of one son of a bitch terrorist. For the hundredth time, he cussed his poor luck and inability to perform in the job he loved.

  "That's wonderful that you get to come home to be with your family. My brother is in his first tour of Afghanistan with the Army. The 101st Airborne."

  "Good group. I spent some time there myself. Now with the Seventy-fifth Ranger Regiment." Or was. A sharp pain shot through him at the thought.

  Bending down, she picked up her suitcase. "I guess I better be going. No sense in spending the night here when there's no flight home. I'm glad I ran into you, though. Brightened my day."

  "The ice is really coming down out there. You live close by?"

  She shook her head. "Bethesda. I made the four hour drive to La Guardia. Parked in the long-term lot. Maybe I'll try the roads in a little bit. Give the highway department a chance to work on them." She walked a few steps only to stop and turn around. "Thank you."

  Logan cocked his head. "For what?"

  "For your service. I don't think you guys hear it near enough how much we really appreciate you and what you do."

  He nodded, watching as she started to leave again. Something inside clamored at him to stop her. To bring her back. A voice in his head demanded he lasso her now or forever miss out on a golden opportunity. His gut had never been wrong before.

  "Gwen?"

  She paused. He hurried over, limping slightly on his left leg, the prosthesis. "Have you eaten dinner?"

  "No…"

  "Let me buy you a sandwich and coffee. The airport restaurant isn't horrible, and it'll warm you up."

  A genuine smile crossed her face. "Okay."

  With a return grin and a sigh of relief, he offered his arm and led her down the long hall.

  Chapter 3

  Sitting down at the halfway empty cafeteria, Logan watched Gwen sip her coffee, noting the way her delicate hands cupped the mug, as if soaking in the warmth. "So tell me about yourself. What have you been doing the past few years?" He took a hearty bite from his roast beef sandwich and waited patiently.

  "Not much to tell." She shrugged. "Finished college, majored in biochemistry. Ended up taking a job in Bethesda, which is where I live now."

  "What kind of job?"

  Color blossomed across her cheeks. "Quality assurance in a large manufacturing plant."

  One corner of his mouth hitched up. "Which in real terms means…?"

  She glanced at him before staring down at her sandwich. "Condom tester." The words whispered out.

  His mouth gaped open before a wide smile took over. "Condom tester, huh? I've never met one of those."

  She rolled her eyes but lifted her gaze. "It's a legitimate occupation."

  "Oh, I agree completely." He fought back chuckles, unable to quite match the demure beauty in front of him with her choice of careers. She'd always exuded innocence, making it hard to see her as a woman who played with condoms all day. He decided he liked the contrast and hoped to find a few more interesting surprises along the way.

  Along the way? What am I thinking? He hadn't seen her in years, just bumped into her at the airport. Not the first step to undying love. Hell, if he could come away with her phone number, he would be making major headway. Besides, she might already have a boyfriend, although the ring-less finger indicated she remained unmarried.

  "Your limp. I'm afraid to ask." Her brown eyes met his, filled with sympathy and concern.

  Twisting in his seat, he grabbed his pant leg, lifting it to reveal an artificial leg. His thick boot contained the fake foot portion, allowing for more stability and a natural feel compared to other devices. Not to mention the work boots provided added traction in the messy weather while he still worked to adjust to the new equipment.

  "Titanium. The longest lasting, most durable appendage available right now."

  She looked at his hardware for a long moment, then returned to meet his gaze. "I'm sorry. It must be hard."

  He shrugged. "Others have it worse. With more rehab and practice, I can learn to move
almost as well as before." A familiar boiling in his gut began as he spoke about his injury. He couldn't change anything, that didn't mean he had shed all his anger and resentment regarding the permanent injury.

  He willed himself to calmness. Raised to be a mannerly gentleman, he wasn't about to lose his cool in front of a lady, especially one as sweet as Gwen. Call him old-fashioned, but he still opened doors for women and treated them with gentleness and kindness. Besides, she didn't need to hear him bellyache about his lot in life.

  Complaining didn't do any good anyway, just made him feel all the worse. Same with ranting, throwing things, shouting out his fury. Nothing would change his situation. He'd accepted that fact a while ago. Even come to terms with his amputation. It was the ramifications of such an injury that still gnawed at his gut. His career, his chance at finding a woman who wouldn't snarl her nose in disgust upon laying eyes on his stump for the first time or look at him with pity clearly written on her face. None of those things he could stand. He was a Ranger, after all.

  "Oh, like the Para-Olympic athletes. Many of them had similar injuries, yet were participating in sports at such a high level. Such an inspiration. It was beautiful to watch."

  Still sensitive about his injury, he didn't feel ashamed or lacking with Gwen. The quiet kindness written on her face soothed his tattered emotions rather than inflamed them. Pity he couldn't take, but she only provided him with compassion. A big plus for her.

  "I'm sure." He took a long drink of his coffee, wincing at the quickly cooling liquid.

  "You never told me, is your family waiting for you tonight?" She chewed on the final bite of her turkey sandwich.

  "Not tonight. My parents are snowbirds. They head to Florida each winter. I was going to fly down to see them in a few days. We'll see how that works out."

  "That's sad. After your long trip, there's no one here to meet you." She looked up at him with such rapt attention as if the sun rose and set with him.