Page 2 of Operation: Chosen

He waited a moment before he answered, letting her think he wasn’t invested yet. “According to the man I just spoke to, they are victims. Their families have been targets of violence for years. Sometimes for generations. We might be able to stop the cycle. What if we could help some families by showing three boys there are other ways?”

Lacy tilted her head and stared at him for a moment, her soft brown eyes drilling into him. “Those are nice words. Too bad they aren’t yours. There’s no heart behind them. You’re doing this for some reason other than a heart motive, which means it’s not led by God. I’m sorry, Connor. But this will fail, and I hope it doesn’t lead to pain for you or your men.”

ChapterOne

Eric glanced at his phone and breathed a sigh of relief. The text came from Connor, and, coming from him, that meant it was work. Not Ali. Connor had said she was coming soon. Too soon. Or maybe not soon enough. If Eric had looked her back up years ago and told her exactly how he felt, he wouldn’t be in this situation now. If he had, he’d have no regrets and there would be no need for her to come.

With his gut in a knot, hoping she’d changed her mind and wasn’t on her way out to Wayside, he looked at Connor’s text again.

Eric didn’t want to see Ali. Ever. After the way they’d parted, just setting eyes on her would tear his heart open. Even years later, he could still hear her voice in his head—that sweet, low voice she’d practiced to perfection.

She had cut him to shreds like she’d practiced ahead of time.You aren’t what I’m looking for. You’ll never be what I need. I need someone looking for rank, not a grunt looking to save the world…

And she’d hit the mark with deadly accuracy. His entire reason for joining the military had been to try to do something right. Help people. Be something. The main reason he loved working at Wayside was that he got to do exactly what he’d set out to do. Even if the one woman he’d ever loved would look down on him for it.

He wasn’t a commander. He wasn’t wealthy or in charge of anything but his own happiness. His truck wasn’t even particularly new, but it didn’t have to be. It was reliable and hauled horse trailers just fine.

He scanned the text for the third time and narrowed his eyes, unsure of what he’d read. “Threeboys…?” Did Connor mean men, or was this way outside of what they usually did?

“Hey, Eric?” Sam Elsner, the dog trainer, sauntered over and leaned against the railing of the horse training ring.

“Yeah?” Eric gave a low whistle, and Mable, one of the ranch horses, came trotting toward him like a dog looking for a treat.

“Did you just get a text from Connor about three boys?” Sam looked just as confused as Eric felt.

So, he had read it right. Maybe this meant Ali wasn’t coming? Why give him work if his main objective was to fix his one regret and try for a second chance? Eric held in a laugh. That was never happening. “Looks like we got the same text. Wonder what it means.”

Sam adjusted the brim of his hat. “Looks like Junior was included too, but I’m not sure. We all agreed to wait to bring in more guests until Connor gets word that Viceroy isn’t an issue. Think he got word? Maybe that’s why we’re getting guests?”

Eric snorted. “No. And even if he did, it would take a while to go through applications. Plus, the only time we’ve had more than one guest come at one time is when a young child is involved and Connor asks one of the parents to stay here. I don’t see anything about parents.” He took hold of Mable’s bridle and led her back toward her stall.

Junior came in from the back and waved. “You all get that text too?”

Eric nodded as he took off Mable’s bridle, then led her toward the back where Junior waited, holding the gate open. “This whole situation is strange. How many men are needed for three boys if this isn’t a normal situation? Are these boys like Pete, here to have a camp for the summer?”

Junior chuckled. “I don’t know. And just what does Connor mean by ‘boys’? Are these little kids like Pete, or older?”

Pete was off with his mother, Erica, and his father, Cole, but having young people around who were suffering might be hard on the boy if they were going to be here once Pete returned. “I don’t know. I got the same text as you, and it had almost no information. Should we go find out?” Eric asked.

Sam led the way, holding the barn door open for Eric and Junior. As was his routine, Eric scanned the front yard. Usually, there would’ve been guests sitting in the central fire pit area furnished with patio furniture. Today, all the chairs were neatly in a circle, empty. Someone had recently power washed them, and they looked lonely sitting in perfect order instead of scattered around the fire pit. Eric wanted to go move one just so the place looked lived-in.

Connor came out the front door of the main house leading three boys with droopy shoulders, scowling faces, and narrowed eyes. They all looked older than sixteen, but younger than adults. Although, judging the age of children had become harder the further Eric got from his twenties.

“Junior, Sam, Eric, I’d like you to meet our three guests. They just arrived this morning, and I finished their orientation a few minutes ago. I only learned they were coming just before they arrived. That’s why I didn’t send their files to you. I didn’t realize they’d be here this quickly.”

Delinquents. That could be the only reason they’d shown up without notice and looking like they wanted to run. Eric couldn’t help the thought that speared through his brain to his chest. These boys looked like trouble. What was he supposed to do for them? How could he possibly help them?

Connor continued, “This is Big E, Jayzon, and Terrell. They are here from California. All three were arrested after a theft from a gas station.”

Yup, delinquents. What in the world were they supposed to do to help these kids?

“I don’t want to assign any one guest to one wrangler. I’d like all of you to work together except when the boys are with Brendon. You can work all as one or take shifts. Their caseworker felt that counseling was a lost cause, but I told him that’s how we do things here.”

One of the boys rolled his eyes. He was the biggest of the three in both stature and girth. Eric didn’t want to assume anything, but if he had to guess, he’d assume that one was Big E.

“Can we get to our rooms already? Do you have Wi-Fi?” The biggest boy took the lead and turned slightly to look at Connor.

Connor gritted his teeth. He hated to be interrupted, and Eric took that as his cue to speak up and give Connor a break. “There’s only Wi-Fi when you finish chores. Let’s go find your bunkhouse.” He eyed Connor. “I’m assuming with their age that they are all bunking in the same cabin and one of the guys will have to be in there with them?”

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