Chapter 24
Cole set the luggage in the second bedroom and gave her a quick tour of the rest of the cabin. His nerves got the better of him as he showed her his room and imagined her in his bed. Maybe he should’ve skipped it, but he wanted her to know where to find him if she needed anything.
“Can I see the porch?”
“Sure,” he said, opening the back door. She walked outside, gazed at his oversized hammock, and a slight grin formed on her face.
“This might as well constitute your bedroom with all those blankets out here,” she teased, crossing her arms.
He knew she felt nervous by her defensive gesture, but he chose to ignore it. “Yes, Brody and I spend a lot of time out here. Tomorrow, we’ll take you to the facility and you can watch me train two of the dogs. I’m giving the others time to recuperate.”
“Will they be all right?” she asked with compassion in her voice.
“Jake’s a fantastic vet. He’s done such a great job, I feel a few more days of rest and they’ll be good as new,” he told her, picking up a blanket and wrapping it around her. “Here, you’re cold.”
“Thank you,” she murmured. “I promise to always be good house guest.”
“Be yourself and we’ll get along great,” he said, letting Brody out to use the bathroom. “When he returns, how about we eat some dinner? I’m starved. I want to call Archer and check on the last dog.”
“Let me warm everything up while you tend to him,” she said, unwrapping the blanket.
His hand stopped her. “He won’t take long, and then we’ll go inside together.”
A minute later, Brody appeared and they entered the cabin. Heading toward the fridge, Cole took out the fried chicken, mac and cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, and rolls.
“Wow, you have a thing for mashed potatoes,” she said as he held up the container, asking if she wanted any.
“They aren’t as good as Ty’s, but who can compete? What about green beans?”
“Yes, please. How many pieces of chicken do you eat?” she asked, opening the bucket.
“I’ll take three. How many rolls do you want?” he asked, removing the twist tie.
“None,” she said quietly.
“Do you have something against bread?” he asked, regarding her closely as she stared at the roll in his hand.
“They made me eat moldy and stale bread,” she confessed as her nose scrunched up. “I can still taste the hard, bitter stuff when I see it.”
“Do you plan on never eating it again? What about toast slathered with butter? Wait. Do pancakes go on the list?” he asked.
“I haven’t eaten a pancake in years,” she admitted. “The ones at the mess hall didn’t appeal to me. They typically don’t give their hostages pancakes in the desert. My mom made the best with sausage links every Sunday.”
“Then we’ll go into town tomorrow and get stuff to make some,” Cole said, placing her plate in the microwave. He motioned for her to sit at the small kitchen table. “I haven’t stayed here the last couple of days. I only have water to drink.”
“It sounds perfect,” she assured him. “What made you start training dogs?”
“I’ve always loved animals. My mom used to say they gravitated toward me.
I always came home with something, an injured rabbit, a wounded bird, or a stray cat, and she never complained.
It surprised her more when I joined the military to do it.
I enjoyed my job, and I met this guy,” he said, nodding to Brody.
“When you came out of the facility to get me, he must’ve sensed your anger. His stride changed, and he appeared alert to his surroundings,” she told him.
“Brody still has all his abilities intact. He’s a great helper when I have a dog who’s on the cusp of getting something but struggling. I’m glad they retired him. He’s an awesome companion.”
“If he still recalls his training, why did they retire him?”
“Like humans, some dogs can’t recover from the trauma. Brody might remember his skills, but it doesn’t mean he won’t react to a sound or smell. It might put other people in danger,” he explained as he pulled his plate from the microwave and sat across from her.
She passed him a water and watched as he dug into the mashed potatoes. “I’m glad you brought him home,” she murmured. “No one deserves to get stuck over there.”
“Unfortunately, we don’t have a choice. I know you experienced something bad, but we also did good things. I went with a unit to deliver food and medical supplies to a village the rebels raided.”
“Yeah,” she said, keeping her head down and staring at her food.
“Let’s change the subject,” Cole suggested. “What’s your favorite type of music?”
“I like classic rock, country, some pop and I’m a Swifty,” she admitted, grinning. “What about you?”
“I’m not a Swifty. But I love rock and some country. I don’t get the hype of her dating some football star. Big whoop, let them have their privacy,” he said, picking up his roll and smearing butter on it.
“You don’t like any of her songs?” she asked, staring at his bread and making a face.
“All right, I’ll admit I might sing along with a few of her tunes.
They’re catchy. But I’m not really big on following the lives of famous people.
They deserve their privacy as much as anyone else,” he said, placing the roll on his plate.
He tore a small piece of it off and popped it into his mouth.
“Do you trust me?” he asked as he tore off another piece.
“I did until you asked me,” she said warily.
“You’re one courageous woman, Hannah Bailey. First, you talked, and the very next day, you left the hospital of your own free will. What will you do today?”
“Fail miserably by running into a closet and interrupting everyone’s night,” she replied.
“No,” he said firmly. “You called for help when you needed it. It’s how I know how brave you are. Instead of giving up, you fought for yourself.”
“I guess I didn’t see it that way,” she murmured.
He leaned in and arched his brows at her. “Therefore, I propose a challenge.” He held out a piece of the roll and took another chunk for himself. “I’ll take a bite if you will. You can’t avoid it forever. Didn’t you say small steps lead to great change?”
“Actually, Scarlett said it,” she deflected, making a face.
“Come on, take a chance,” he encouraged. “I’ll even throw in an evening of sleeping on the porch during a thunderstorm. You haven’t lived until you experience it.”
“I won’t have to worry about it if you make me eat that,” she said, nodding toward his hand.
Cole sighed. “I’m not giving up.”
“I’m not giving in,” she sang, making him chuckle. He finished his dinner and collected their plates.
Hannah put everything in the dishwasher while he wiped the table.
“Have you finished with Tad and Vera’s story? I gotta know, did she find her own pole to climb on or did she take Tad and his hose back?” he asked, making her giggle.
“Scarlett doesn’t have a knack for romance books. She’s really into the bloody, murder, who dun it, kinda genres,” Hannah informed him. “I appreciate her taking the time to read to me.”
“Why didn’t you take the book and read it yourself?” he asked curiously.
“She read braille. I don’t know how. Plus, I found it much more amusing having you read it and blush when you got to the corny sex scenes,” she said, laughing.
“Do women really like reading about guys like this?”
“No. They like a man in uniform, but not one who can’t decide whether to douse his ex’s fire or give his pole to Vera. I can’t speak for all, but most women want someone who respects them, treats them right, and stays loyal, like Brody here,” she said, glancing at her feet.
Cole peered under the table. Brody’s snout lay on top of Hannah’s foot and his tongue lolled to the side while he slept.
“They want a man who drools at their feet?” he asked.
“Precisely,” she grinned. “Seriously, loyalty tops my list. Someone who loves you no matter what.”
“You sound like you speak from experience,” he said, hoping she didn’t have a boyfriend waiting for her.
“No, not really. Maybe it’s something I want,” she said, shrugging.
“What about love?”
“I don’t know too much about it. Most guys viewed me as a threat to their manhood or wanted to tap my ass because I wore the uniform. My last boyfriend left as soon as he heard of my capture. He couldn’t deal with it,” she huffed. “I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been for him.”
“He’s an ass,” Cole swore.
“Funny, I thought the same thing.”
A roll of thunder shook the windows. “I’m sure you’re tired after caring for the dogs and then getting a surprise guest. I think I’ll retire for the evening.”
“Let me know if you need anything,” he reminded her as he watched her go into her bedroom. Brody stood, shook off, and followed Hannah. “You little traitor,” he hissed. On cue, Brody’s white teeth showed as he glanced at Cole before entering the room.
Hannah crawled into bed and listened to the storm outside. It felt like the one in her head. She picked up her phone. Patch retrieved it before she left. Feeling guilty about not replying to her mother’s nightly text, she opened the messaging application.
I’m not coming home. Please understand I need to stay here. I love you, too. Hannah.
Please come home for Christmas, her mother responded.
Hannah put the phone away. She refused to discuss it. She barely spent half the night alone in a cabin before she needed rescuing. She wasn’t like Scarlett, who rushed into burning buildings to save people.
Brody lay beside her, and her hand gently stroked his head. The dark loomed and she rose from the bed and cracked the door, letting the light from the kitchen sink into her room.
The thunder clashed and lightning lit up the sky, showing the trees outside. Unable to drift off to sleep, she tossed and turned. At two in the morning, she finally gave up as the rain beat against the glass of her window. She rose and put on her slippers. Brody whined from the bed.
“I can’t sleep,” she whispered. “I don’t want to wake Cole,” she said, pressing a finger to her lips.
Brody huffed and jumped down, intending to follow her. She slowly opened the door and tiptoed out. With no plan on what to do, her gaze drifted to the screened-in porch. At least she and Brody wouldn’t disturb Cole outside.
Brody leaned against her and she patted his head as she approached her destination. She slowly slid the handle back and slipped through the doorway, stepping out of Brody’s way before closing it.
Moving toward the hammock, her heart jumped into her throat as a figure rose from it, making her scream. It leaped at her, and she beat on its chest.
“Hannah, it’s me,” Cole’s voice drifted through her hysteria. Her arms stopped flailing as she stepped back. Her chest felt like she ran a marathon as she took huge, gulping breaths.
“Cole?” she said, struggling to breathe. Her voice came out broken and thin.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. The storm kept me awake, and I came out here to keep from disturbing you,” he explained.
“We think alike,” Hannah said, as she regained her composure. “I wanted to see what you meant by sleeping out here.”
Cole gently took her hand and led her to the hammock. “Come lie down with me. I promise I won’t touch you. We’ll share the blankets while nature gives us a show.”
She climbed in, and Brody jumped up, making the hammock swing.
Hannah giggled as Cole grumbled about his partner becoming a traitor.
Turning on the fireplace, he slid under the blankets, maneuvered Brody, and watched the sky.
“Wow, it’s soothing,” she exclaimed, listening to the rain pelt the trees outside. Every few minutes, it lit up, showcasing different parts of the woods.
“I’ve always loved the sound of the rain. I missed it when they stationed me in Afghanistan,” Cole murmured.
“Me, too. I love the smell after a storm,” Hannah whispered, unwilling to break the spell. Brody lay his head on her shoulder and soon fell asleep, letting out a few snores.
“Yeah, did I happen to mention it lulls my dog to sleep, too? He’s nature’s little miracle, all right,” Cole joked as Brody continued to slumber.
“I thought most dogs feared thunder,” she said softly, not wanting to wake Brody.
“When I first returned, he hid behind the couch. Can you keep a secret?” he asked.
“My parents left for Arizona, and I met with a buddy, Cookie, who returned from Afghanistan. I left when I saw the storm headed our way. I placed Brody in a crate but didn’t lock it since he never caused any issues.
I ran by a local burger place to grab dinner on my way home.
By the time I returned, the storm grew worse.
Trees covered the streets. I found Brody behind the couch, shaking like a leaf. ”
“Oh, poor baby,” she said, covering the dog with one of the blankets.
“I felt like shit for not thinking about it. We’re always together, and I didn’t anticipate the storm until later.
He refused to budge from his hiding spot until I gave him pieces of my burger.
As a trainer, I know better. Brody’s become family and I felt terrible I didn’t care what it took to make it right,” Cole admitted.
“One treat now and then doesn’t hurt anyone. You did the right thing,” she said firmly. “I can’t tell you how much I dreamed of burgers and cinnamon rolls. After a month of captivity, it cured me of imagining anything.”
“I’m sorry you endured that,” he said softly. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me, too,” she said, yawning.
“Why did you stop talking? I apologize if you don’t want to discuss it. It’s a personal question,” he rushed.
“The military teaches classroom training on how to withstand a hostage situation. The real thing doesn’t compare.
I knew not to give out any information other than the general stuff, name, rank, and birthday.
They failed to tell me about not sleeping, rotten food, hearing your brothers scream in agony and making you watch.
They tried to protect me, the only woman of the group.
I guess they knew the rebels might hurt me more than them.
It turns out watching them die hurt a helluva lot worse.
I screamed at them to stop, but they ignored me and laughed.
By the time they killed the third man, I no longer made a noise.
They enjoyed it too much. When they rescued me, I retreated into myself and forgot my way out. ”
“I can’t imagine how you felt. I only hope you know I’m always here if you need to purge. We seem to communicate even when you don’t speak, but I really love hearing your voice,” he said as he turned on his side, facing her.
Hannah’s head lay on top of Brody’s and her eyes closed.
Her lips parted in slumber, making him smile.
Hannah seemed to fit into his and Brody’s life.
Something told him he needed to practice patience as they navigated her road to recovery, but he planned to stay by her side and hoped to cross the finish line on her journey together.