A Soldier Finds His Way Read Online Free PDF

use the kitchen sink.”
    “Hey, there’s no faucets on the tub.” She pointed to the holes where faucets would go.
    “Yeah, it’s tricky taking a bath. First, I have to attach a hose that I rigged for the kitchen pump then pump the tub full. After that, I have to heat water on the woodstove or fireplace to add to it or else take a freezing cold bath.”
    Zoe shivered. “No, I don’t want to be cold again.”
    “It’s not easy being clean out here. Let me give you a few house rules. If all you do is pee, don’t flush. I have to pump water into the toilet tank for every flush, and I don’t feel like doing that all day long. You got that?”
    “Gross.” Zoe scrunched her face. “Okay, got it.” She looked around. “Do you have any toilet paper?”
    “You’re a lot of trouble, you know that, kid?” He handed her a roll from the upper shelf and went back to the living room.
    “She likes you,” Audra said.
    Edward sat in the rocking chair and began rocking. “What makes you think that?”
    “She told me, of course. She said you were like an angel sent by God to breathe life back into me. She’s a bit melodramatic with her descriptions. By the way, where did you learn CPR?”
    “In training.”
    “They taught you well. It worked. I’m living proof.” Audra smiled.
    “Hey, um, what’s your name?” Zoe called from the bathroom. “Do you have a toothbrush I can use?”
    He met her at the doorway. “Edward. My name’s Edward.”
    “That’s it? Just Edward?” Head tipped sideways, she shot him a look of incredulity. “My wholename is Zoe Elizabeth Leonard. What’s yours?”
    “You know what? You’re a nosey little kid. You want to know everything. You want to know why I don’t have faucets on my tub, why I don’t flush every time, if I keep an extra toothbrush, and now you want to know my whole name. What’s next? You want to know my social security number?” How many questions could one kid ask? Did she ever shut up?
    Her relentless stare wore him down. “Okay, I’ll tell you my whole name, and I’ll tell you where the spare toothbrush is. It’s Edward Levi Giordano. Now stick your finger out like this.” He held out his index finger.
    She stuck out her finger as instructed, and he spread a blob of toothpaste on it.
    “There’s the spare toothbrush, kid. Come on, I’ll pump some water for you in the kitchen.” Edward moved a crate close to the sink, and pumped the water.
    Zoe climbed on and brushed enthusiastically.
    “It must be getting late. What time is it?” Audra asked.
    “It’s…” His watch hadn’t changed time since he last looked at it. “Well, I don’t know. So much for waterproof, I guess.” He loosened the strap, tossed the watch onto the wobbly end table, and went to the window. “It’s getting dark. Happens quickly out here, being surrounded by trees and hills. I’m going to let the dog out and clear the snow away from the door and windows again. Oh, by the way, Zoe.”
    She looked up at him.
    “The dog’s whole name is Cricket in case you’re wondering. You got that? Just Cricket. Okay, Zoe Elizabeth Leonard?”
    Zoe laughed as Cricket bounded out the door into a hill of snow.
    Edward came back inside with an armful of wood. “Are you hungry? Do you want me to fix something to eat?”
    Audra rested her hand on her stomach. “No thanks, I feel a little queasy.”
    “What about you, Zoe?”
    “I’m not hungry, thank you.” She leaned on the arm of Audra’s chair, whispered something to Audra, and sat on the floor with her head in her hands.
    “What’s the matter with the kid?” Edward let Cricket back into the cabin and shut the door against a gust of wind.
    “She’s tired, and she misses her doll. It was in the car.”
    Zoe looked up at him with sad eyes.
    “I can’t get your doll, but I know someone who’d love to sleep with you.”
    Her face brightened. “Who?”
    “See that fleabag over there?” He jerked a thumb toward Cricket.