Soldiers in Heat: Training Session Read Online Free PDF Page B

weekend, the
base celebrates Memorial weekend. In most cases, we don’t let
candidates off post during their first phase. However, I’m feeling
generous. We only lost two people out of our company on the run.
You have a pass but must return each night by 2100 hours for a
formation. Anyone late or missing will find themselves in
HHC.”
    Having a pass sounded like music to everyone’s
ears. At dismissal, they all dispersed. Kimberly caught a cab off
post to a hotel. A hot bath called her name. She didn’t care if she
had to put the uniform back on. She’d lie around in her t-shirt and
shorts until then.
    Kimberly pried the boot of her right foot and
removed her sock. Her ankle was black and blue. She finished
undressing and sank into the tub. The water enveloped her as she
leaned back and relaxed. After a while, she decided to wash up and
get out before she turned to a prune.
    “ Argh!” Sizzling pain shot up her
leg when she stepped out the tub. Taking off the boot and getting
in hot water had caused her ankle to swell.
    She dried off, then put on her t-shirt and
shorts. Limping from the pain, she grabbed the ice bucket and
headed out the room.
    “ Woodson? What the heck are you
doing?” Carlson called from behind her.
    “ Getting some ice.” She kept
moving down the hall.
    “ Stop.” He came behind her and
grabbed her by the waist. “Put your arm around me. I’m taking you
back to your room. I’ll get your ice.”
    He smelled of the same bath scent as she did,
orange-tangerine.
    “ I can do it myself.” She pulled
away.
    “ No one is saying you can’t, but
I’m here so let me do it.”
    Risk more pain or give in. She relaxed and let
him help her back to the room. He led her to the couch and propped
her foot up on two pillows before leaving. Carlson came back with
the ice and went into the bathroom. He walked out with the ice tied
up in a plastic bag and wrapped in a towel.
    “ If you had your way, the knot on
your foot would be the size of a golf ball. No way was I going to
watch you struggle down the hall.” He placed the ice on her ankle
and took a seat on the opposite end of the couch.
    “ Thanks.” She managed a smile.
“What are you doing here?”
    “ The same as you, I’m trying to
relax.”
    “ Don’t tell me you took a bubble
bath too?”
    “ What’s wrong with a man taking a
bubble bath?” He smiled at her.
    She allowed herself to get a really good look
at him. Yes, she had noticed how handsome he was but sitting facing
him allowed her to see all his features. His teeth were perfect—no
doubt from braces. The green eyes she thought he had now looked
greyish-blue. He seemed relaxed, unlike when they sat and spoke in
the barracks.
    “ Nothing’s wrong with it,” she
replied.
    “ Good, but I took a long shower.”
He flashed a quick grin, picked up the remote to the T.V., and
turned it on.
    Her cell phone rang. Normally, she would have
excused herself to another room to answer but she was in no
position to today. “Can you hand it to me?”
    He picked the phone off the end table and
passed it to her.
    “ Hello,” she answered.
    “ I thought you couldn’t talk
during the day? I planned on leaving a message,” Charles
said.
    Taking a deep breath, she held it before
letting it out and responding, “They gave us a small break. What do
you want?”
    “ I’ve been doing some thinking.
I’d like to do some counseling. I talked to the pastor, and he
thinks it’s the right thing to do.”
    “ You talked to the pastor? When’s
the last time you went to church?”
    “ This past weekend. It doesn’t
matter. The point is, if we’re going to work it out, you need to
come home so we can face this head on.”
    Come home? He lost his damn
mind.
    “ I’m not coming home. I’m where I
need to be. There’s nothing to work out. I’m done.”
    “ A wife is supposed to be by her
husband’s side—”
    Kimberly disconnected the call and tossed the
phone away from her. It rang again.