Page 33 of Operation: Chosen

He probed the skin just under the edge of the cast, trying to scratch. “The girl who refused my marriage proposal about twenty years ago is in town. She wants to, or seems to want to, rekindle what we had. Every time I ask her why she did what she did, she shuts me out. She finally admitted that her uncle was probably abusive, and that had to do with it, along with wanting more from her career and needing someone who could support her. But with the things she said… I have to believe there’s more to it than that.” He pressed harder under the edge of the cast.

“Don’t do that.” Dr. Willis tugged his hand away. “You know, I have this theory about looking back. If God has delivered you from it, don’t tell Him his handling of the situation wasn’t good enough by looking back. Don’t do what Lot’s wife did. Even Jesus told us to remember Lot’s wife. She was all but delivered of her fear and trials. She was so close to peace, she could see it. But against the will of God, she looked back at what He’d already saved her from. She disobeyed God by desiring even a glimpse of what she’d left.”

He hadn’t been happy about Ali or the way she’d left him, but if she hadn’t, he wouldn’t have the career he had now. It had been his desire to get away from everything military and to hide away in a small town that finally brought him to Wayside. “But how do I just forget?”

“You ask for help to forget, and you move on in the assurance that He will give you all things that help glorify Him. Forgiveness always glorifies God. And if she hurts you, you’ve offered the other cheek. You’ve done what you’re supposed to do.”

“Don’t look back,” he muttered. Maybe he could force himself to let go. He’d held on to that anger for so long it was almost a part of who he was.

Dr. Willis nodded, then led him out to his big beat-up white truck and opened the door for him. “See what I mean, you won’t be able to do much of anything for a few days. Tomorrow you’ll be hit with fatigue like you’ve never had before. That’s your body trying to fix you. Don’t fight it. Hear me?”

Even though the doctor was at least five years younger than he was, he chuckled and gave a deadpan, “Yes, sir.”

Halfway through the ride home, Eric drifted off to the country sounds on John’s radio and woke to the crunching of the truck on the gravel driveway. He’d forgotten to ask Amy to grab the phone from his pocket so he could text Terrell and Ali. Now it was late, and both of them would hopefully be in bed.

Eric waited for the truck to come to a complete stop, then he waited for the ground to stop spinning when he opened the door of the truck. John came around and gave him a hand to get his feet on solid ground. A door opened somewhere close by.

“Eric?” Ali’s voice was music to his ears. She was all right.

“Yeah, I’m back.”

A moment later she was there with her arms wrapped around him. Her head tucked under his chin, just like she used to do when she’d just wanted to be held. He hadn’t seen her that vulnerable since she’d come to Wayside.

“You okay?” He stroked her soft hair with his good hand.

“I was worried. When the deputy said he was taking you to an animal doctor, I tried to persuade Connor to take me to town and convince you to go to a doctor. He laughed.”

Eric couldn’t deny that holding her felt right, like twenty-one years hadn’t passed. “I’m just fine.” And hopefully, he still would be in the morning.

* * *

Ali refusedto listen to the little voice inside that said she needed to watch herself. Everyone she’d ever needed had deserted her, beaten her, used her. Eric wasn’t like that. She could chant that over and over, but her mind still refused to believe it. She had hurt him in the worst way. Why wouldn’t he retaliate and walk away from her? Why wouldn’t he let her feel something, then do to her exactly what she’d done to him?

And she wasn’t strong enough to take it. She opened her mouth to tell him she was sorry, she never should’ve said the things she had. She hadn’t meant them. She’d only been trying to sever the relationship, and she didn’t want him sitting somewhere loving her. Better that he hate her and find someone else.

But he hadn’t, and really, neither had she. She’d been married, but it was basically a marriage of convenience. Frank had used her when he needed a military bride on his arm. All other times, he was married to his booze and various mistresses, the bottle being his most longstanding relationship.

“I need to sit. Have you seen Terrell?”

His worry for the boy stung slightly. Wasn’t he concerned about her? She’d been in a car accident while driving him at breakneck speed down a low maintenance road. She started to pull away from him, but he held her close as he turned for his cabin.

“Come with me.”

She walked alongside him, feeling his strength as he made his way to his front door. Terrell opened it and peered out when they were only a few feet away.

“Why is that door unlocked?” Eric’s voice was gruff and hard-edged.

“Because I was watching for you and saw you coming. I just got back from Junior’s. He’s inside. We were waiting for you.” Terrell held the door for him.

Ali noted that Eric was trying not to lean on her, but every so often he would. She stiffened her shoulder to offer more strength and helped him get inside. She’d already started the rotation of ice and heat that the EMT had suggested to help her neck, but Eric hadn’t been able to do anything for his pain.

“They got away?” Terrell asked.

“They did. Skyfall is missing.”

Junior whistled from across the room. “I’m sorry, man. I know how much that horse meant to you.”

“Means to me. We’ll get her back,” Eric said.

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