Page 36 of Embattled Return

She tilted her chin up. “You asked for Miller a couple of times. Is he your friend?”

Logan nodded, glancing around the bar.

“Don’t worry,” Marigold said. “I think Zeke knew something was going on, because he cranked the volume on the far game TV and started pulling attention that way.”

Logan looked at the big guy behind the bar. Yep, he was looking at him now. Logan gave him a slight wave and received a nod in return. Since this was a veteran’s bar, Zeke had probably seen a few guys slip off the edge of reality.

“I’m so sorry, Logan,” Marigold whispered. “I should have thought about your words. I just didn’t connect the dots.”

He shook his head. “Not your place to connect the dots. That doesn’t happen very often and I didn’t expect it to happen just now. I don’t think I ever told you what exactly I was doing. It was my fault and I apologize.”

“God, quit apologizing. It was my fuck up.”

Logan reached for his beer. Even though it was warm, it felt good sliding down his throat. “He was my best friend,” he told her softly. “I didn’t like him at first. He was too nice. Too... goody two-shoes. You know what I mean?”

Marigold nodded, leaning forward enough to prop her chin on her hand. “Was it the way he was raised?”

“Oh, yeah... he was the son of a single mother. He has a sister about five years younger. Lisa took her job very seriously, raising her kids, and didn’t spare the love or the discipline. Miller felt responsible for his little sister a lot of the time, and he had to be the example she followed. You always hear stories about kids following in their father’s footsteps, going into the military. Miller actually followed in his mother’s footsteps. She’d been a staff sergeant in the Army and had deployed to the Persian Gulf. And her dad had deployed as well years ago.”

“Incredible.”

“He planned on staying in the Army long enough to retire, carrying on the family line.”

Logan stared out the dark window, watching a car turn into the parking lot. “So, my task is to go see my best friend’s family. That was the main reason I came out here. Three of my men died that day. I talked to Harrison’s family in Florida and Stafford’s family in Kansas. But I left Miller’s family for last.”

“Because it’s the hardest,” she said softly.

Logan gave her a crooked smile. “Yeah, I guess. I’ve only been procrastinating for months, since I was released from the hospital.”

“I don’t think you’ve been procrastinating,” Marigold said, touching his hand. “I think you’ve been healing. And preparing.”

Logan downed the rest of the beer. Almost magically another one was set in front of him. Zeke didn’t say anything, just rested a hand on his shoulder for a moment and left. That solidarity rocked Logan and it took everything in him not to tear up again.

He dragged in a breath, realizing how wrung out he was. The flashbacks always took it out of him. “I think I’m about ready to go, Marigold.”

She nodded and turned to wave at Ember. Before she could drop a card, Logan handed his over. “You hauled my ass around all day and listened to me whine. I’ll get dinner.”

After a few minutes, Ember returned his card, and they slid out of the chairs. His joints had stiffened and it took him a minute to get moving. With a final wave at Zeke and Ember, they left the Frog Dog.

Logan appreciated having a driver. Marigold turned on a soft rock station on the way back to the hotel. “I’ll let them know I’m checking out in the morning. What’s the actual address of the house.”

“I can come get you. Shannon probably won’t need me till afternoon.”

“I’m taking up a lot of your time, it seems like.”

She shrugged, her face lit by the dash lights. “I’m not really doing a lot right now anyway.”

“Okay. If you’re sure.”

They didn’t say anything else as she drove downtown. When she pulled into the loop to drop him off, she rested a hand on his arm. “I think Miller’s mom will be happy to see you.”

Logan hummed in his throat. “We’ll see. Thanks, Marigold. Good night.”

“Good night.”

Gathering his bag of books, he pushed up out of the car, using his crutches to brace himself. Then, slamming the door, he walked into the hotel. Glancing back, he caught the flare of her tail- lights as she pulled away.

12

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