Page 6 of Trapped with the Covert Ops Soldier

She blinked. “Fellas I’m just a country doctor.”

“You’re kidding,” the second one said.

“Nope. Listen, you want someone who’s good at crowd control? Hire a pretty woman with several brothers. That’s where I learned it. Breaking up fights at home.”

The two guards glanced at each other. “Thanks for the tip,” the first one said. “That’s just what I’ll say in the ad for the paper. But, uh, in case you change your mind...there’s always a job for you here as airport security.”

“Good to know.” She waved. “Thanks.”

Abby walked through the double doors and spied her dad standing off to one side, leaning up against a wall.

He saw her and came over to take her duffle. “How was the flight?”

“Only mildly horrible.”

He chuckled and gave her a one armed hug. “Welcome back, honey.”

She smiled at him and something wound tight in her gut relaxed a little. “Thanks Dad. It’s good to be home.”

They walked out of the airport and approached her dad’s old half-ton truck. She glanced at the doors of the airport and watched all the military uniforms trickling out, mixing with the rest of the population. Already they were dispersing, joining the rest of society, leaving their military duties behind.

If only she could leave her memories of Syria behind as easily.

Her dad patted her hand. “Stop thinking so hard. You’re home.”

“I hope it’s that easy,” she said to him. “I really do.”

Chapter Two

Three months later...

The rowboat wasn’t where she left it. Again.

Abby tromped down the rocky beach of Lost Lake toward a large tree that had washed up on shore. Its roots shot out in fantastical directions.

There it was, her trusty rowboat, tied to the water-smoothed wooden giant.

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