Chapter 2
Two
AFTER TWO EGGS over easy, four pieces of bacon, and several bites of expertly cooked hash browns, Maya leaned back in her chair. “Well, I guess we were both hungry since we basically wolfed that down without a word between us.”
He laughed. “No kidding. Sorry about that.”
“No apologies necessary.” The fire crackled in the stone fireplace, giving the wood structure a homey feel.
A warmth that she would never get tired of.
She definitely approved of the upgrade. Gideon set down his empty orange juice glass and wiped his mouth, giving her a moment to study him.
His short blond hair was windblown in a stylish kind of way that she didn’t think was on purpose, and his blue eyes took her straight back to her teenage crush that she hoped she hid better than she thought she had.
“So, you, Vance, and me here at the same time. That’s quite a coincidence. ”
“Hmm. Quite.” He paused. “But not really. This has always been our fun place. Our happy place. Coming here for our annual vacation, all our families together . . . those were the best years. I only have good memories here and I treasure them. Vance too.”
She smiled. “Same.”
“I didn’t realize he was living back in Whitestone. Did you know that?”
Whitestone, Tennessee. Her home. And favorite place on earth. “I’d heard he was. He and Ellie kind of live like hermits, though. I’ve never seen them whenever I’ve been in town. Of course, I’ve only been back a few times over the years, and I’ve never been in their office.”
He nodded. “How are your parents doing?”
“They’re traveling these days. While Grandma is healthy and independent, they’re living their best life.
Mom can work from anywhere writing her travel blog, and Dad?
Well, when you own the company, you can pretty much do as you please if you plan and make it happen.
” Her father had his own printing company.
“Good for them.”
“I was there for Christmas when Gramps passed away. Once I was home, I realized I didn’t want to go back to California. I gave notice to the hospital where I was working, applied to the hospital in Nashville, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
“You’ve had a good life, haven’t you?”
She shot him a small smile. “I have. For the most part. During my trip home for Christmas, before he died, Gramps talked a lot about what he thought the ranch should be used for. He wanted it to be a place of healing and hope for veterans who needed it. He served in the army and knew what it was like to come home with nightmares and hating fireworks and everything else that PTSD entails. I fell in love with the idea, his vision. Couldn’t get it out of my head, in fact.
” She gave a soft scoff. “I’m a surgeon.
I’m good at what I do. I help people who need it most. But .
. . this idea to help others who’ve served and suffer?
It sounded great, but I struggled and wrestled with it because I wasn’t sure if I was up to the challenge.
” She drew in a deep breath. “And then I was.” She glanced at him.
“I have no doubt that’s what I’m supposed to do, and God will show me how to do it. ”
“Your faith has always been strong.”
She frowned. “Not always. It’s been a process. Seeing what I saw, all the death and—” She looked away. “God and I’ve been on the outs, but I think we’re getting there.”
“I know what you mean.” He sighed. “I was sorry to hear about your grandfather.”
His soft words sent shards of glass across her already wounded heart.
“Thanks. It’s hard to believe. He was only seventy-six years old.
And his death had come out of nowhere. A heart attack.
Two months after the doctor had given him a clean bill of health.
An autopsy showed he’d died of a heart aneurysm. ”
“He had no signs?”
“None. That’s why it was so shocking. Anyway, that’s kind of why I’m here.
I need to figure out a plan. He left me the ranch.
He actually put me on the deed, so nothing had to go through probate or anything.
I want to use the land and buildings on it wisely while adding more to it—also wisely—in order to fulfill the vision in his—and my—head. And heart.”
“Of course. What are you thinking? What are you going to do?”
“Good things. Helpful things.” A pause. “Healing things. I’m still working through all the details.”
“Sounds exciting. Do you mind sharing more?”
“You know Gramps served in the army.”
“Yep. I know that was very influential in your own decision to enlist.”
“Yeah, it was.” She decided to spill everything.
This was Gideon. Her teenage crush and friend who’d served in the army as well.
He’d even been in Afghanistan the same time as her and Vance.
But while they’d been in the same country at the same time, she’d never laid eyes on either man during her service there.
And strangely enough, she hadn’t seen either of them during all her visits home over the years.
“He was a medic but encouraged me to follow my dream of being a surgeon. Gramps left me just under five hundred acres and everything on it. It’s about the only thing in that town that hasn’t changed.”
The once small town of Whitestone, Tennessee, was no longer small. It had grown up over the years, thanks to the influx of new businesses, tourists, Airbnbs, and more. With its convenient proximity to Nashville, the home she’d loved for most of her life was almost no longer recognizable.
“Grams said neighborhoods are going up all over the place around Mom and Dad’s place.” He scowled, then shrugged. “But what can you do?”
“Not much, I guess. Progress will be progress, but you grew up in that house. On that land. Are they being pressured to sell to developers?”
“Of course. It’s about sixty acres of prime real estate.”
“Will they?”
He sighed. “I know they’re thinking about it. It’s a lot of money to say no to.”
She raised a brow. “I don’t see them being swayed by money.”
“No, but with Jacob gone and just me being left . . .” Jacob, his older brother, had been killed in a car accident when he was only nineteen years old.
“Well, let’s just say they’ve lost a lot of their passion for the land.
They’ve been talking about downsizing and enjoying their golden years while they can.
This would give them the means to do that.
And then some.” He hesitated. “And it would allow them to get away from the constant reminder that Jacob isn’t there anymore.
Not that they’ll ever forget, but a change might be nice.
” He rubbed his chin. “They still have his bedroom exactly like he left it twelve years ago.”
“Ohhh . . .”
“I know. It’s not healthy. They keep the door shut, but still . . .”
“I can’t even imagine how hard that is. Now that you’ve said that, selling kind of seems like a no-brainer then.”
“You would think, but they’ve offered the place to me—to inherit.”
“Do you want it?”
He rubbed a hand over his chin. “I haven’t decided, but even though I’m in the construction business, I’m not sure I want to see another subdivision put in either.” He frowned. “How did this turn into a conversation about me? Finish what you were saying.”
She smiled, then frowned. “I never thought I’d say this, but I may have to sell some acres.
Just enough to provide what I need to fund the dream for it.
But even with that, I think his vision will live on long after I’m gone.
I’ll need all kinds of help, of course. With the animals, maintenance, counseling, and so on. ”
“You think they’ll come? Vets with issues?”
She shrugged. “I know PTSD isn’t exactly the most talked-about thing.
Especially by those of us who have it, but this is something that’s needed, and I’m trying to step out of my box of .
. . shame . . . I guess, and do something for the men and women who want to do the same and overcome. I think this place can do that.”
He blinked. “You said you suffered from it as well. How so?”
“I don’t have trouble with gunfire or loud noises like Vance indicated. Mine manifests in dreams. Nightmares that feel so real it’s like I’ve time traveled back to that time and place.”
“To what time and place?” Still his voice stayed soft, almost inaudible over the noise in the restaurant.
Maya looked around. She didn’t want to tell him there. Or anywhere really, but no one was paying them any attention. “To the place where bullets were flying and bombs were exploding and—” She swallowed hard but forced the words out. “And people I cared about were dying right next to me.”
He sucked in a hard breath. “Maya . . .”
“You don’t have to say anything. It was horrible and I dream about it.
Sometimes in broad daylight with my eyes wide open.
” There was more, but if she told him about Laura, she might not be able to stem the tears.
“I don’t really do that at the ranch. Something about being there fills me with peace, dulls the nightmares, the PTSD, and lets me breathe again.
” She closed her eyes and visualized the rolling green hills.
Acres and acres of pastureland, trees, and grazing livestock.
When she opened her eyes, Gideon was watching her with such an intent expression that she gulped.
And landed back in the present.
Fatigue hit her. Slammed into her with the force of a raging bull. She signed the bill to charge the meal to her room. “Well, enough about that. Walk with me to my cabin, will you? I’m exhausted and need to get some rest.”
“That was fast. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Just very tired. It’s been a trying two days.” In more ways than one. “I’m very concerned about Mr. Webb, the cardiac patient. He really needs to be in a hospital.”