The Embattled Road (Lost and Found Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

him.
    Rolling forward in his chair, he looked over the balcony. Five floors up probably wouldn’t do the job. Rather than killing him it would only injure him. Yet again.
    Fuck.
    Their rumbling stomachs eventually chased them indoors to find food. Chad left for his room and promised to be back in a while so they could watch Jeopardy together.
    John hated the thought of dragging himself back up into that hospital bed. He was so sick of it. If the nurses wouldn’t constantly nag at him he’d just sleep in the chair. He angled it near the window, facing the door.
    Duncan turned Comedy Central on while they ate, but they didn’t laugh. They were both dealing with crap and the chatter in the background sometimes helped drown out what cluttered their minds.
    “If the three of us went into business together, what would we do?” Duncan asked, flicking the mute button on the remote.
    John stared at him in surprise. “Are you asking seriously?”
    Duncan nodded his head, running his hand through his too-long hair. It had gone grayer in the time he’d been here, John noticed. “I am.”
    John squinted at him and shook his head. “Hell, I don’t know. Wheelchair test pilots. Medical disability collectors.”
    Duncan glared at him. “If you have to go out and try to get a job in three days, which you do have to do, I might add, what are you going to look for?”
    The question aggravated John because he had not the foggiest inkling. “I don’t know. I guess I would look at working for the city as a police or fire dispatcher or something.”
    Duncan seemed surprised to get a straight answer. “Huh. You know, that’s actually not a bad idea. With your MP experience that actually fits really well.”
    For some reason, Duncan’s praise eased some of his worry. Though he hadn’t known him long, he trusted the man’s opinion implicitly. If Duncan thought he could do it, he probably could.
    Chad rolled in just then carrying a colorful tin box on his lap. “What’s not a bad idea?”
    “Palmer being a police dispatcher.”
    The kid’s eyes widened. “Hey, I can totally see you doing that. Although you may have to unlearn the word ‘fuck’.”
    John flipped him the bird.
    Laughing, Chad rolled over to him. “Sign language, huh? That may be okay. At least the public wouldn’t hear you. Here, have a cookie, sour-puss.”
    John peered into the tin. Obviously, Mrs. Lowell had been busy. He selected two chocolate chip cookies, appreciating that Chad had shared. He bit into one and chewed slowly, for the first time in a long time appreciating the flavor of something. “These are damn tasty, Lowell. Tell Mom she did good.”
    Chad grinned, his mouth full. He held the tin out to Duncan, but was waved away. Duncan looked too contemplative to chew anyway as he surveyed Chad sitting in the chair. “Chad, what do you see yourself doing three months down the road? When you’ve got your leg and are mobile.”
    Swallowing, the younger man sat back in his chair. “Well, I guess it depends upon how mobile I am with the prosthetic. I know I’m not going to stay in the Marines. Obviously. Desk job just doesn’t appeal to me. As much as I hate to say it, I may go back to the ranch and see what I can do there. Mom and Dad would love to have me back in the house.” He shrugged. “Not sure, really. As good a place to start as any though.”
    Duncan nodded at his answer. Then Chad turned the tables. “What about you, Dunc?”
    The First Sergeant crossed his arms over his chest, wincing. John knew it had to hurt to stretch the recovering skin that way, but he knew Duncan did it anyway just so he could hold his favorite position. Countless talks were given to new recruits when they landed in Wilde’s company, he’d heard. Procedure, tactics, hygiene- you name it, they talked about it. And learned. Chad had told him he’d never had a Company First Sergeant more knowledgeable about all things tactical, procedural, statistical. He’d