Page 28 of Dreaming About Forever

“Okay, did you leave home to be a security agent?”

He kept his attention on the path ahead and gripped the steering wheel with both hands. “That’s not why I left.”

11

JORDAN

“Well, why did you leave?”

Jordan held a death grip on the steering wheel as the truck bumped over the uneven path.

Leaving was the part he’d planned. Coming back to Redemption Ridge wasn’t supposed to happen until he retired. He left for the Marines. He left knowing he’d go wherever they sent him.

He was a Marine. Still considered himself one. He’d been honorably discharged, and losing the Marines had been like losing his limb. They’d quietly waved good-bye and said, “Have a nice life. Thanks for sacrificing your leg.”

They hadn’t completely written him off, but it still stung to be pushed out. Nothing was worse than knowing you weren’t good enough.

“I left to join the Marines. It didn’t work out like I thought it would, so I joined Field Inc.”

Clint’s truck appeared on the path ahead of them, and he gave his dad and brother a quick wave as they passed. He should be helping them, but Alicia was his first concern. He’d put her in enough danger today.

She ran toward the cow to help him. The memory dispelled some of his gloomy mood after the brief thoughts about the Marines.

“Are they going to be okay?” she asked as she turned to watch the truck pass.

“They do this all the time.”

Alicia didn’t ask any more questions on the ride back to the house. He wasn’t ready to talk about the losses that led him back to Redemption Ridge.

He parked in front of the house and quickly rounded the truck to get Alicia’s door, but she was already getting out by the time he got there.

He’d expected a pampered princess, and Alicia was slowly proving him wrong. She’d been hesitant to get in the dirty truck, but she’d rolled around on the ground to come to his aid.

Jordan didn’t mind opening doors for her. He’d do it whether she was famous or not, but it was surprising to see her do things on her own.

Her file was enormous. She’d been in the public eye since she was a kid, and just reading through her history took hours. She’d been through a lot over the years, but there were so many things she’d missed out on in everyday life.

His leg throbbed as they walked up the steps to the porch. Running from the cow had been tough, but he’d be paying for it later. His prosthesis was the best for advanced physical activity, but it wasn’t anywhere close to a real, human leg.

The smell of supper hit his nose as soon as he stepped through the door.

“Wow. Something smells amazing,” Alicia said.

“Mom’s making beef stew.” He’d know that smell anywhere. It was his favorite, and it didn’t surprise him that his mom had made it on his first day back at the ranch.

Jordan thought back over the ingredients in his mom’s beef stew. Surprisingly, almost everything was on Alicia’s approved foods list.

His mom shouted from the kitchen when she heard the door close. “Supper is ready!”

Jordan held up a finger for Alicia to hold on while he walked to the kitchen doorway. “We’re going to change clothes before dinner. Alicia may want a shower too.”

“Take your time,” his mom said.

Jordan pointed toward the stairs, and Alicia started up. At the top of the stairs, she turned to face him. “I’d really like a shower, but don’t wait on me for supper.”

“I can wait. Put your clothes in the hamper in the bathroom, and Mom can wash them tonight.”

She looked down at her outfit. “That would be great. I don’t really know how to wash clothes myself.”

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