A Texas Soldier's Family Read Online Free PDF Page A

your side, too—although not necessarily in a positive light.”
    His brow furrowed at her careful tone. “How, if my mother isn’t available for any more interviews?”
    Nor was anyone else in the family, Hope knew, since his only sister, Sage, was already en route back to Seattle, to handle a catering gig the next day. Chance and Wyatt were headed back to their West Texas ranches, to care for their herds. And Garrett had certainly made it clear he didn’t intend to cooperate with the press. She exhaled. “The media can show old news footage of your mother and father when they announced the formation of the Lockhart Foundation.”
    Garrett’s shoulders tensed. “That was a black-tie gala.”
    “Right. And would likely be salaciously depicted, at least by some outlets, as the Haves versus the Have Nots.”
    Garrett slid a pair of sunglasses on over his eyes. “So, in other words, we’re damned if we stay and have reporters chasing after us with every new accusation. And damned if we leave town and avoid their inquiries, too.”
    “Not for long, if I do my job, which I certainly plan to do.”
    To Hope’s relief, for the first time since they’d met, he seemed willing to let her take charge of the volatile situation. At least temporarily. So, while Garrett drove, she worked on her laptop computer and her infant son slept.
    It was only when they entered rural Laramie County, near dusk, that the trip took an eventful turn.
    “Do you see that?” Hope pointed to a disabled pickup truck ahead. The hood was up on the battered vehicle. A young couple stood beside the smoking engine, apparently as unhappy with each other as they were with their transportation.
    Worse, the young man—with a muscular upper body and military haircut—was on crutches, his left leg obscured by pressure bandages and a complicated brace.
    Garrett drove up beside them. “Need a helping hand?”
    “I’m Darcy Dunlop,” the young woman said, her thin face lighting up with relief. “And yes!”
    “We’ve got it.” Her grim-faced companion shook his head.
    “Tank!” Darcy said, wringing her hands in distress.
    “We’ll just wait for the tow truck.”
    “But the mechanic said we didn’t have to be here! As long as we leave the truck unlocked, he can take it back to the garage in town on his own.”
    Tank’s jaw set, even more stubbornly.
    Garrett stuck out his hand, introducing himself. “Army Medical Corps...”
    The other man’s expression relaxed slightly. “Infantry. Until this.” He pointed to his injured leg. “Not sure what I’m going to do next...”
    They talked a little about the fellow soldier who had saved Tank’s life, and the IED fragments that had made a mess of his limb. How his parents—who lived locally—had taken them in during the year it was going to take to recover and get his strength back.
    “That’s rough,” Garrett said in commiseration.
    Darcy’s lower lip trembled. “What’s worse is how far we have to go so Tank can get treatment. We either drive back and forth to the closest military hospital—which is a couple hours from here—or Tank gets his care in Laramie. And the rehab there, well, I mean everybody’s nice, but they have no experience with what’s happened to Tank.”
    Garrett understood—as did Hope—that there were some things only fellow soldiers, who had served in a war zone, could comprehend. The camaraderie was as essential to healing as medical care. Garrett gave Tank a look of respect. “How about we give you a lift home.”
    Darcy gave her husband a pleading look.
    Shoulders slumping in relief, the former soldier consented. “Thanks.”
    Knowing Tank would have more room for his leg brace in the front, Hope climbed in back to sit with Max, who was beginning to wake up. Darcy took the other side. The two women chatted while Tank gave directions to his parents’ home, a few miles north.
    When they arrived, Garrett scribbled a number on the back of a business card and