Chapter Twenty-Four
Kyle
The scent of sizzling bacon wafted through the air, tickling Kyle”s senses awake. He lay for a moment, sheets twisted around his legs, as the aroma anchored him back to reality. With a deep inhale, he let the comforting smell of breakfast fill him, his mind drifting to Maddy.
There was an empty space beside him where she should have been—where he wished she was—her warmth mingling with his under the down comforter, her laughter a melody accompanying the clinks and clatters from the kitchen.
Maybe one day.
He didn’t want to change the kids lives all at once. He wanted their trust and their acceptance first. They’d had hard lives and he knew disruptions, even good ones, could be hard on the little ones. He thought they were coming around though, and they started to take it for granted that they’d see him every day—whether he came to their house early in the morning or whether Maddy brought them over.
He started to feel bereft when he was without them, their constant lively presence always in the background bringing chaos and joy.
He rolled out of bed, muscles stretching languidly, the memories of their newfound intimacy sending a pleasing shiver down his spine.
The kids, Ellie”s bright eyes, Jack”s toothy grins, James” inquisitive questions, and little Em”s baby squeals—they all seemed to find a place for him in their lives without much fuss. It warmed a part of him he hadn”t known was cold.
”Damn,” he murmured, scratching at the stubble on his jaw. ”I”m getting soft.”
Stepping into the kitchen, Kyle found Jimmy manning the stove. The man turned, his eyebrow arching in judgment as if he could sense the domesticity that had settled into Kyle”s bones.
”Morning, Jimmy,” Kyle greeted, taking a seat at the counter.
”Morning, Rev,” Jimmy replied, flipping an egg onto a plate. ”How”d you sleep?”
”Good, thanks. I just wish Maddy was here,” Kyle confessed, his thoughts drifting back to their night together.
”Ah, speaking of that woman,” Jimmy said, serving Kyle a steaming pile of pancakes and sausage. ”Did you know that Murdock said she never went to culinary school?”
”So?” Kyle raised an eyebrow.
”So,” Jimmy huffed, acting shocked as if hiring her without a culinary education was blasphemous. ”I knew something was wrong just by reading her menu choices. She ain’t qualified!”
”Hey, we all start somewhere,” Kyle defended with a chuckle. ”Besides, she”s got a natural talent for it.”
”Whatever you say, boss,” Jimmy muttered under his breath, returning to the stove.
John wandered in and grabbed a mug of coffee. ”Morning, guys,” he greeted, joining them.
”Morning,” Kyle replied. ”How”d you sleep?”
”Like a baby,” John said. He glanced at Kyle and asked, ”So, how are things with Maddy?”
Kyle smiled, his chest swelling with warmth at the thought of her. ”Great. I”m going to propose.”
John and Jimmy exchanged surprised looks, clearly not expecting the announcement.
Before either could respond, Wyatt strode into the kitchen. ”Did I hear that right?” he asked, eyebrows raised. ”You”re actually going to put a ring on it?”
Kyle shrugged. ”Madison”s the one for me.”
Wyatt scoffed. ”You”ll regret being shackled for the rest of your life.”
Kyle simply raised an eyebrow at his friend”s cynicism. He also noticed that John was being extra quiet. Something was on his mind.
Murdock entered the kitchen from the back porch, sweaty and disheveled, face and arms streaked with dirt. Kyle studied his hulking frame as he made a beeline for the coffee pot. ”Did you sleep out there again?”
Murdock grunted in response, pouring himself a mug of coffee.
The men gathered around the table, digging into their breakfast and coffee.
Murdock broke the silence. ”What”s the problem? My bed”s too damn soft. My room”s too damn cushy.” He shook his head and added. ”You”re all going soft. Gonna have a bunch of pansy-asses to deal with around here.”
Neil walked in at that moment, grabbed a plate of food, and promptly left to eat in his room.
Kyle looked around at the guys, exasperated, and sipped his coffee. “You all have issues.”
“No shit,” Wyatt merely sighed. ”Neil”s not a morning person.”
Aiden and Jace entered the kitchen next. Jace looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes. John served them up some food and Aiden dug in while Jace prepared his coffee.
When Jimmy slammed the pantry door shut, Jace visibly jumped and ducked, his face draining of color.
”Sorry, man,” Jimmy muttered.
Jace just straightened up, nodded, and hurried out of the room without a word.
Aiden ran a hand through his hair, looking a bit shaken himself. ”Damn, Jimmy. You just took ten years off my life.”
Jimmy grimaced apologetically before going back to cooking.
With his usual abruptness, Murdock grabbed a pile of pancakes and sausage and stalked out the back door.
Kyle exchanged a knowing look with Aiden and John.
Just another day at McClellan”s Hope.
”What”s everyone got going on today?” Wyatt asked, sipping his coffee and acting everything wasn’t a big dumpster fire this morning.
”Taking Aiden to get fitted for his new prosthetics,” Kyle replied.
Wyatt grinned. ”New legs, huh? I know what the first thing you”ll be doing with those. Finding yourself a pretty girl and getting horizontal.”
John just shook his head and shredded a piece of paper while Aiden chuckled.
”Alright, that”s my cue,” Kyle said, standing up. ”Let”s go, Aiden.”
The drive to Aiden”s prosthetic appointment was a quiet one. Aiden stared out the window, face half-hidden by his long brown hair. He seemed to retreat into himself, reverting back to the silent, brooding soldier who had first arrived at McClellan”s Hope weeks ago.
Kyle glanced over at him. ”Nervous?”
Aiden gave a barely perceptible nod.
”That”s normal,” Kyle said gently. ”But pretty soon having legs again will feel like second nature. You”ll be wondering why you didn”t get fitted sooner.”
”Maybe,” Aiden murmured.
Kyle reached over and gave his shoulder a supportive squeeze. ”It”s going to change your life. I promise.”
Aiden managed a small, hopeful smile in return.
At the prosthetist”s office, Aiden was fitted with his new state-of-the-art prosthetic legs by a competent-looking guy. After making some minor adjustments, the technician had Aiden stand up. Gripping the parallel bars on either side of him, Aiden slowly straightened, balancing on his new limbs.
Kyle held his breath as Aiden cautiously lifted one hand off the bar. Then the other. For the first time in over two years, he was standing freely on his own two feet.
”Well, go on then,” the technician encouraged. ”Give them a try.”
Brow furrowed in concentration, Aiden took one halting, unsteady step forward. Then another. And another. Sweat beaded his forehead, but a huge grin lit up his face.
Kyle cheered, pride swelling in his chest. ”That”s it, brother. You”ve got this.”
After a few more painstaking steps, Aiden sank back down into the chair, exhausted but exhilarated.
Kyle squeezed his shoulder again. ”I”m proud of you, man. Big first steps today—literally.”
Aiden let out a shaky laugh. ”Yeah. Feels pretty damn good.”
On the way back home, Aiden started a conversation with Kyle, and Kyle took that as a win.
Back at McClellan”s Hope, Murdock was waiting in the driveway as Kyle”s truck pulled up. He stood next to Jace and Neil, who both looked eager to see how Aiden”s appointment had gone.
As soon as Aiden climbed out of the passenger side and Kyle got out the case containing his prosthetic limbs, Murdock clapped him on the back. ”Well, look who”s got his legs back! You ready to strap on a ruck and go for a hike, pretty boy?”
Aiden laughed, brushing his shaggy hair out of his face. ”Not just yet, man. Baby steps.” Relief was evident in his voice and posture now that the big appointment was behind him.
Jace gave Aiden an approving nod. ”It”s a start. That”s something to celebrate.”
”Damn right it is,” Murdock agreed in his typical gruff manner. But his eyes held a glimmer of pride for his fellow veteran.
A little while later, Kyle sat in his office going through bills and paperwork. Managing McClellan”s Hope kept him busy, but he wouldn”t trade it for anything.
He came across an application from a young veteran whose injuries required more care than they could provide. With a heavy heart, Kyle wrote a referral for a VA facility that was better equipped to help. He made some calls to smooth the way, hating to turn anyone away but knowing their limitations.
Kyle sighed and leaned back in his chair. Some days were harder than others. But the work was important and so very worth it.
∞∞∞
At three, Maddy arrived with the kids in tow. Kyle”s face lit up when he saw them. He drew Maddy into his arms for a lingering kiss, the first real public display of affection they”d shared in front of the children.
Ellie beamed, clearly thrilled to see her mom so happy. But the boys made gagging sounds.
”Gross!” Jack protested. James elbowed his brother. ”Yeah, yuck!”
Kyle chuckled while Maddy just shook her head indulgently.
”Can we go shooting now that we”re older?” Jack pleaded, redirecting the conversation.
Murdock sauntered in. ”I was younger than you when I first fired a weapon,” he said.
Maddy shot him an exasperated look. ”Why am I not surprised?”
Kyle released Madison and walked over to ruffle Jack”s hair. ”Maybe in a few years if your mom says it”s okay.”
Murdock”s expression shuttered. Without another word, he turned and left.
Kyle and Maddy shared a puzzled glance. What had set him off?
The boys rushed off to find John, their enthusiastic shouts fading down the hall. In the kitchen, Kyle drew Maddy close again.
Their tender moment was interrupted by a commotion from the other room. Wyatt came through the door, a giggling boy tucked under each arm.
”Caught a couple of sappers trying to infiltrate the base,” Wyatt announced. ”Should we execute them or torture them for information?”
”Torture them!” John shouted, pushing through the door and joining in the game.
Wyatt grabbed James and Jack again, flipping them upside down as they shrieked with delight. He proceeded to tickle them mercilessly until they were red-faced and gasping for mercy.
Maddy watched with a mix of exasperation and tenderness. Her boys were in heaven, relishing the attention of the men who had become like surrogate family to them.
Kyle drew her close, feeling the same swell of emotion. ”Everything okay?”
She smiled up at him, her expression radiating contentment. ”Everything”s perfect.”
He kissed her softly, the world fading away until Wyatt”s voice intruded again.
”Heading into town for the evening. Gonna drag John along before he drives the rest of us nuts.” Wyatt eyed Kyle meaningfully. ”You should track down Murdock. Something”s eating at him again and if you don”t get to the bottom of it, he”s liable to go all Rambo on the countryside.”
Kyle sighed, the warmth in his chest dimming. His friend was right. ”I”ll handle it.”
As Wyatt ushered John out the door, Kyle gave Maddy an apologetic kiss. ”I need to go after Murdock.”
”I understand.” Her brow creased with concern as she glanced toward the woods. ”Be careful.”
”Always am.” He grinned, hoping to reassure her, and headed out.
The forest loomed before him, thick and almost foreboding today. Somewhere in that sea of trees was the man he”d shed blood with, his brother in every way but blood. And Kyle would do whatever it took to ease the demons hounding Cal”s steps.
Kyle made his way along the winding trail, his senses alert.
There.
A flicker of light through the trees, the sharp tang of wood smoke. He headed toward it.
Murdock sat staring into the flames, a beer dangling from his fingers. His shoulders were hunched, face closed off and grim.
Kyle hesitated, then took a seat on the log beside him, gaze fixed on the fire. Silence stretched between them, but it was a companionable one. They”d long ago moved past the need for constant chatter.
After a time, Murdock spoke. ”You”re serious about her.”
It wasn”t a question.
”Madison?” Kyle nodded. ”She”s it for me.”
”Hmph.” He took a long pull from his beer. ”Reckon she must be something special then.”
”She is.” Kyle searched for the words to convey what Madison meant to him. ”It”s more than just physical. We connect on every level. She sees me, scars and all, and loves me anyway. I can be fully myself around her, messed up parts and all, and she accepts me.”
Murdock grunted, but Kyle could tell he”d gotten through to him. His friend might put on a tough front, but there were some wounds that cut too deep to ever fully heal. Not without the love and acceptance of someone special.
”Maybe she”s not like the others,” Murdock admitted grudgingly. ”But that doesn”t mean I”m gonna start trusting her kind.” His mouth twisted.
It was as close to approval as Kyle was likely to get. He clapped Murdock on the shoulder, understanding passing between them, as words so often couldn”t. ”Wyatt’s headed into town if you want to join him. Try to keep him out of trouble.”
Murdock huffed out a humorless laugh. ”That”ll be the day. But I reckon someone”s gotta make sure he don”t get his fool head blown off.” He crushed the empty beer can in one fist and stood. ”Keep your girl close, Rev. The good ones are rare.”
”Will do.” Kyle rose as well, gripping Murdock”s arm briefly. ”You know where I am if you need anything.”
Murdock gave a sharp nod and stalked off into the forest, back straight and head high. But some of the darkness had lifted from his eyes, and Kyle smiled as he made his way back home.