Prologue
A Soldier’s Gift
By Lynne St. James
Beth checked her phone again. “Damn him. Can’t he ever get her back on time?
” A sharp crack of thunder and strobe-like flash of lightning flooded the living room at the same time her phone vibrated.
Figuring it was Doug, ex-husband, ex-army sergeant, and all around asshole, she didn’t bother to look at the screen.
“You were supposed to have Dani home a half hour ago. Where are you?” Silence.
Then crackle over the phone as another flash of lightning and rumble of thunder rolled through.
“Mrs. Fraser? Mrs. Elizabeth Fraser?”
“Yes. This is Elizabeth Fraser. I’m sorry I thought you were someone else.”
“No problem, ma’am. I’m Officer Reynolds from the Willow Haven Police Department. There’s been an accident…”
“Oh my God.” All the blood rushed to Beth’s head and the room spun. He was still speaking but all she heard was buzzing in her ears.
“I’m sorry. Can you say that again please?”
“Your husband and daughter have been in an accident. They’ve been brought to the hospital.”
“Is Dani going to be okay?”
“She and your husband have been burned badly and both are in ICU. Your husband was brought to the military hospital in Persimmon, and your daughter was brought to Willow Haven Hospital because they have better pediatric facilities. I’d suggest you get there as soon as possible.”
“I…umm…I’ll be right there.” She disconnected the phone without knowing if he was done talking or not. Her baby was in ICU. Shit. A chill washed over her as she looked at the phone as if seeing it for the first time. Accident.
Bo, their standard poodle, jumped on the couch and nuzzled her arm with his nose.
“Sorry boy, I need to go see our Dani. She’s hurt.
” Grabbing her purse and keys, she ran outside and got into her car.
Soaked through to her underwear, she didn’t even notice as she drove through the pouring rain.
Her little girl in ICU was the only thing that mattered.
“Hang on, Mac. Don’t you fuckin’ give up!”
Tom MacDonald, aka Mac, tried to sit up but he couldn’t. Tag was still in the Humvee, he had to get him out. Why was it so dark? He couldn’t see a fuckin’ thing, couldn’t move. Horrible pain racked his body as he struggled to get up and go back to the Humvee. Then nothingness as he passed out.
The whoosh of the chopper blades woke him up and blocked out all other sounds. He couldn’t move, couldn’t see. Was he dead?
“Lieutenant? Hang on, we’ll be at the field hospital soon.”
The helicopter landed and he was rushed into triage. He was still alive, at least he hoped. More voices but none of them sounded familiar. Were they talking about him?
“Head injury, doc.”
“What’s his name, soldier?”
“Lt. Tom MacDonald.”
“What happened?”
“Their Humvee was hit. He pulled three guys out before he was hit.”
“We need to get him into surgery now. If we’re lucky we’ll save his life, if he’s lucky he won’t have permanent brain damage.”
Brain damage? They should have left me to die…