Chapter 9
After four long hours on the road, Moose pulled up the gravel driveway of Mountain View Farms—the place that would become more than just a job; it was meant to be a fresh start.
Officially on leave from the Navy, Moose had spent twelve of his fourteen years as a SEAL based out of Norfolk, Virginia.
The past two months had been a relentless blur of paperwork, medical evaluations, and endless bureaucratic hurdles.
Days bled together as he navigated the maze of meetings and phone calls, juggling the demands of duty with the urgent need to come home.
Two months earlier, when his mother, Nancy, had disappeared into the woods and shattered her leg, Moose had begun this painstaking transition.
Uncle Jim had been holding down the fort, but it was clear he couldn’t manage Nancy’s care alone.
So Moose requested leave to come home and share the burden.
Now, as the brass debated whether to extend his time off for the rest of his enlistment, Moose was caught in a tense limbo.
His Norfolk apartment lease was terminated, belongings packed and ready, prepared to live on base if necessary.
But deep down, he hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
This farm, with its sprawling fields and creaking barn, was more than just a place—it was his chance to be the son and protector his mother needed.
His plan was simple for now: unload what he’d brought here, then head to Banner the next day for a much-needed visit with Mom and Jim.
Nancy was walking again, no longer reliant on home health care. But old habits lingered. She still wandered off the farm, driving Jim to the edge of his patience. Moose knew those moments were part of the struggle ahead—Mom’s stubbornness and freedom mixed with Jim’s weariness.
As he killed the engine and took in the quiet stretch of farmland, Moose exhaled slowly, bracing himself for the unpredictable journey forward. This was more than a return home—it was the next mission, one he intended to see through no matter the cost.
As soon as he stepped out of his truck, the sound of high-pitched squeals reached him.
He looked up to see Amelia and Kenzi running toward him.
The two girls had grown since he last saw them over a year ago.
Moose braced himself for the two tornadoes hurtling his way.
Laughing and smiling, he caught them as they launched themselves into his arms, feeling a rush of joy at their reunion.
With Amelia perched on his shoulders and Kenzi in his arms, Moose left his bag on the ground beside his truck and headed toward the back of the house.
“Where is everyone?” Moose asked, grinning down at the girls.
“Mommy’s at work!” Amelia said, her little hands reaching up to grab his hair, giggling. “But Daddy and Uncle Link are in the basement!”
“Yeah! And Rhys and Sammy are in the barn!” Kenzi added, squirming excitedly in his arms.
“Oh! And Mr. Lukas and Miss Eloise are here too!” Amelia said, her eyes shining.
Moose laughed softly, feeling warm inside as they talked. “Sounds like a busy house. Let’s go see what everyone’s doin’!” He shifted Kenzi to one hip and gently lifted Amelia onto his shoulders, ready to step back into the lively buzz of family life.
As they turned the corner of the house, the big yard spread out before them. Moose looked around at the garden, which had grown so much since his last visit six months ago—flowers blooming everywhere and rows of vegetables growing strong.
“Wow, look at all these flowers!” Moose said, eyes bright. “You two have been working hard!”
“Yeah! We help Miss Eloise!” Kenzi said proudly, nodding toward Miss Eloise kneeling in the dirt, pulling weeds.
Miss Eloise looked up and waved happily.
“Hallo, Moose! So good to see you again. The girls have been very good helpers with the garden,” she said, her soft German accent making the words gentle.
“It looks amazing, Miss Eloise,” Moose said, truly impressed. “I can’t believe how much it’s grown.”
“Wait ‘til you see the rabbits!” Amelia suddenly shouted, bouncing almost out of Moose’s shoulders. “Mr. Lukas made them a big house!”
“Yeah, they’re super fluffy!” Kenzi added, bouncing on her toes.
“Rabbits? You two are raisin’ wascally wabbits now?” Moose laughing, shaking his head when he realized they were too young to understand his reference. “Where are they?”
“Right over here!” Amelia said, pointing to a big hutch with a covered pen beside it.
As they approached, Moose noticed the rabbits hopping happily, their soft fur shimmering in the sunlight.
“We’re learning how to take care of them,” Kenzi explained. “It’s part of our homeschooling. We feed them, clean their pen, and learn what makes them happy and healthy.”
“And Mr. Lukas helps us,” Amelia said. “We gotta give ‘em water. And lotsa hay, too!”
Moose’s tough exterior softened completely the moment he was around the kids. Despite being a muscle-bound close-combat specialist, his heart melted for them every time.
He knelt down, letting the girls slide off him with gentle care, then leaned closer to the hutch, eyes following the rabbits as they darted about, their little noses twitching with curiosity.
“You two are doing an awesome job. I’m proud of you,” he said softly, his voice full of genuine pride as he met their bright, beaming smiles.
He glanced around and asked, “I’m surprised Rhys and Sammy haven’t come out of the barn yet, I know ya’ll were loud enough!”
Before Kenzi could say anything, Amelia took off running toward the barn, her voice ringing out with pure excitement as she shouted, “RHHYYYYSSSS… SAMMMYYYY! Moose‘s here! Moose‘s here!”
Moose flinched at the volume but couldn’t help smiling. Within seconds, Rhys and Sammy appeared at the barn door, curiosity playing across their faces. Mr. Lukas followed close behind, wiping his hands on his overalls as he stepped into the sunlight.
Rhys stepped forward, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth as he glanced between the girls and Moose. “Hey! MOOSE!”
Sammy’s eyes lit up, his brow still furrowed but the excitement clear in his voice. “Moose is here? Awesome!” His accent softened as he spoke, but the genuine enthusiasm in his tone was unmistakable.
Rhys and Sammy rushed over, eager to greet their uncle. “Uncle Moose!” they shouted in unison, throwing their arms around him.
“Hey, guys!” Moose said, wrapping both of them in a hug. “What’ve you been up to?”
“Sammy and I are working on the solar panel on the barn roof to power the lights and other stuff in the barn, so it’s on a separate grid from the house,” Rhys said proudly.
“And the well out back!” Sammy added, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
“Sounds like you’ve both been busy!” Moose replied, amazed at how smart the kids were. He knew that Link had been teaching them about computers and networking as part of their homeschooling setup, and it looked like Mr. Lukas was expanding that knowledge by helping them cultivate free energy.
Happily surrounded by the kids, Moose looked up to see Bear and Link walking across the yard.
“Yeah, it’s just me!” Moose laughed, raising his hands in a placating gesture. “Didn’t mean to set off the squealing alarms, but the girls were just a little excited to see me.”
Link chuckled, shaking his head. “You know they have a knack for making a scene, Moose.”
“Yeah, I had forgotten how loud they can be,” Moose admitted, grinning at the girls, who were now bouncing with excitement. “But it’s good to see everyone!”
As the kids returned to their tasks, Moose pulled Bear and Link into a group hug, slapping them both on the backs. “Damn, it’s good to see you guys again!” he exclaimed, feeling the warmth of their camaraderie.