The Soldier's Homecoming
(Home to Covenant Falls #5)
by Patricia Potter
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 pagesby Patricia Potter
Contemporary Romance
April 1st 2018 by Harlequin Superromance
Army ranger Travis Hammond needs to heal physical and emotional wounds. A job in Covenant Falls checking out equine therapy programs for veterans is a start, but it’s only temporary. And he doesn’t need a partner, especially some reporter with the persistence of a terrier and irresistible green eyes. Like Travis, Jenny Talbot’s just passing through town. Unlike Travis, Jenny knows exactly where she’s going next—back to the Middle East, as soon as she recovers from her own war injury. But there’s a bend in the road for both of them.
Other Books in the Series
Excerpt
Walter Reed Hospital Rehabilitation Unit
Life will never by the same.
Major Travis Hammond leaned on his crutches and watched a young corporal take halting steps on a new prosthesis that substituted for a right leg. Danny Ware's face was contorted with determination as he tried to walk without hanging onto the bars.
In the months they'd shared these rehab facilities, along with other wounded soldiers, Travis had grown fond of Danny. Maybe because of the kid's unfailing optimism despite getting a really bad deal. He reminded Travis of his brother.
Danny was a foster kid, and the army had been one of the few options he'd had after finishing high school. But now that option was gone. Danny hadn't been able to save much money on an enlisted man's pay, and Travis knew it would be months before his disability pay arrived. Travis had seen the fear and uncertainty when the kid thought no one was watching, but a 'what the hell' grin would usually spread across his face if he caught eyes on him.
He would miss the other soldiers as well. They shared the pain. And the fear, though it was unspoken. Always unspoken. The future, which had been so clear before, was now a fog. He felt lost, and he knew that others felt the same uncertainty.
For them, life as they knew it would never be the same. There were the nightmares. The survivor's guilt. The loss of a tight-knit community where members knew each other better than their families. Families who could never understand.
He turned his attention back to Danny. He'd admired the kid's grit as he'd strengthened his arms and walked on one leg and crutches while a prosthesis was still being constructed. Now it had finally arrived and Danny was taking his first awkward steps.
It was difficult to cheer anything at the moment, but the grin on the younger man's face as, on his third attempt, he took twenty steps without touching the bars, helped him forget his own problems. If Danny would conquer his demons, then certainly Travis could. Or should.
The simple fact was inertial had overtaken him. Having undergone five operations -- three on his right leg and foot and two on his hand -- he was left with a leg that would never work properly and a hand missing two fingers, not to mention scars across his body. It meant the end of his career as an active member of the Special Forces. Desk job?. Possibly. But it was not a sure thing, and it was not particularly appealing.
And his love life? Nonexistent since his fiancé had taken one look at him and blanched. It hadn't helped that she was a television reporter in Georgia and he was in Washington. He was the one who ended the engagement. Her protest was feeble at best. And he knew he'd made the right decision. . .
Then the call came. "I need you."
Josh Manning. It had been nearly two years since Travis heard that name. Josh Manning was the best staff sergeant he'd ever had. Ironically, he was wounded one month before Travis. Manning's injuries, in fact, were the reason Travis had been in Afghanistan when a rocket hit near a Ranger position.
"Are you staying in the service?" Manning asked.
"Not sure," Travis replied. "I have three months' medical leave coming. There could be a staff job available but . . .
His voice trailed off.
"Maybe my offer will help," Manning said.
Travis couldn't imagine how, but he'd never known Manning to waste time or words.
"How," he asked.
"A friend of mine, a former Navy SEAL, yeah, I know, strange friend for a Ranger, just bought a small ranch where I live. He's thinking about starting a horse therapy program for vets. He's knee deep in getting it started and needs help with the business aspects, particularly possible grants, regulations, staffing. . ."
"Why me?"
"Because I know how you cared about your men. The job needs someone who would be committed as well as having some knowledge of athletics and business."
"It definitely sounded interesting, particularly Manning's participation, but he wasn't qualified. "I don’t get it," he said. "I don't know anything about grants."
"But you know about physical therapy and organization. I also remember how you used to work the system to get what we needed. You never took no for an answer. That's what we need now."
"We?"
"It's kind a joint effort. You have to see it for yourself to believe it." Manning said. "It would just be temporary, and we can't afford to pay much."
"In other words, you want someone cheap."
"More like like free, except for the use of a great cabin as long as you stay."
"You really know how to sell a job."
"Call it a working vacation. The cabin that will be all yours. It's on a lake, next to a mountain. The town is vet friendly."
"You said there's a ranch."
"Yeah."
"Any jobs available there for a young amputee?
"We could find something. You have a prospect."
"A corporal. Lost his right leg. He's a foster kid. No family. No place to go. But he's a damn hard worker and has encouraged everyone around here."
"Sounds like someone we can use," Manning said. "We'll figure something out."
For the first time in two years, Travis felt a sense of excitement. He had a challenge. Another battle even if the campaign might be brief.
Walter Reed Hospital Rehabilitation Unit
Life will never by the same.
Major Travis Hammond leaned on his crutches and watched a young corporal take halting steps on a new prosthesis that substituted for a right leg. Danny Ware's face was contorted with determination as he tried to walk without hanging onto the bars.
In the months they'd shared these rehab facilities, along with other wounded soldiers, Travis had grown fond of Danny. Maybe because of the kid's unfailing optimism despite getting a really bad deal. He reminded Travis of his brother.
Danny was a foster kid, and the army had been one of the few options he'd had after finishing high school. But now that option was gone. Danny hadn't been able to save much money on an enlisted man's pay, and Travis knew it would be months before his disability pay arrived. Travis had seen the fear and uncertainty when the kid thought no one was watching, but a 'what the hell' grin would usually spread across his face if he caught eyes on him.
He would miss the other soldiers as well. They shared the pain. And the fear, though it was unspoken. Always unspoken. The future, which had been so clear before, was now a fog. He felt lost, and he knew that others felt the same uncertainty.
For them, life as they knew it would never be the same. There were the nightmares. The survivor's guilt. The loss of a tight-knit community where members knew each other better than their families. Families who could never understand.
He turned his attention back to Danny. He'd admired the kid's grit as he'd strengthened his arms and walked on one leg and crutches while a prosthesis was still being constructed. Now it had finally arrived and Danny was taking his first awkward steps.
It was difficult to cheer anything at the moment, but the grin on the younger man's face as, on his third attempt, he took twenty steps without touching the bars, helped him forget his own problems. If Danny would conquer his demons, then certainly Travis could. Or should.
The simple fact was inertial had overtaken him. Having undergone five operations -- three on his right leg and foot and two on his hand -- he was left with a leg that would never work properly and a hand missing two fingers, not to mention scars across his body. It meant the end of his career as an active member of the Special Forces. Desk job?. Possibly. But it was not a sure thing, and it was not particularly appealing.
And his love life? Nonexistent since his fiancé had taken one look at him and blanched. It hadn't helped that she was a television reporter in Georgia and he was in Washington. He was the one who ended the engagement. Her protest was feeble at best. And he knew he'd made the right decision. . .
Then the call came. "I need you."
Josh Manning. It had been nearly two years since Travis heard that name. Josh Manning was the best staff sergeant he'd ever had. Ironically, he was wounded one month before Travis. Manning's injuries, in fact, were the reason Travis had been in Afghanistan when a rocket hit near a Ranger position.
"Are you staying in the service?" Manning asked.
"Not sure," Travis replied. "I have three months' medical leave coming. There could be a staff job available but . . .
His voice trailed off.
"Maybe my offer will help," Manning said.
Travis couldn't imagine how, but he'd never known Manning to waste time or words.
"How," he asked.
"A friend of mine, a former Navy SEAL, yeah, I know, strange friend for a Ranger, just bought a small ranch where I live. He's thinking about starting a horse therapy program for vets. He's knee deep in getting it started and needs help with the business aspects, particularly possible grants, regulations, staffing. . ."
"Why me?"
"Because I know how you cared about your men. The job needs someone who would be committed as well as having some knowledge of athletics and business."
"It definitely sounded interesting, particularly Manning's participation, but he wasn't qualified. "I don’t get it," he said. "I don't know anything about grants."
"But you know about physical therapy and organization. I also remember how you used to work the system to get what we needed. You never took no for an answer. That's what we need now."
"We?"
"It's kind a joint effort. You have to see it for yourself to believe it." Manning said. "It would just be temporary, and we can't afford to pay much."
"In other words, you want someone cheap."
"More like like free, except for the use of a great cabin as long as you stay."
"You really know how to sell a job."
"Call it a working vacation. The cabin that will be all yours. It's on a lake, next to a mountain. The town is vet friendly."
"You said there's a ranch."
"Yeah."
"Any jobs available there for a young amputee?
"We could find something. You have a prospect."
"A corporal. Lost his right leg. He's a foster kid. No family. No place to go. But he's a damn hard worker and has encouraged everyone around here."
"Sounds like someone we can use," Manning said. "We'll figure something out."
For the first time in two years, Travis felt a sense of excitement. He had a challenge. Another battle even if the campaign might be brief.
About the Author
Patricia Potter is the USA Today Bestselling Author of more than fifty books. She has received numerous writing awards, including RT Storyteller of the Year, its Career Achievement Award for Western Historical Romance and its Best Hero of the Year Award. She is a seven-time RITA finalist and three-time Maggie Award winner. She has served as president of Romance Writers of America. The Soldier's Homecoming is her fifteenth book for Harlequin.
Prior to writing fiction, she was a reporter for the Atlanta Journal and president of a public relations firm.
Tour Schedule
Simply Kelina
underneath the covers
April 10th:
Colorimetry
Deal Sharing Aunt
Locks, Hooks and Books
Harlequin Junkie
April 11th:
Mello & June, It's a Book Thang!
Nicole's Book Musings
Inside The Mind of an Avid Reader
E-Romance News
April 12th:
Wishful Endings
Two Points of Interest
Hearts & Scribbles
April 13th:
SilverWoodSketches
Thoughts of a Blonde
Teatime and Books
April 14th: Grand Finale
Tour Giveaway
- 1 winner will receive a $25 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally
- 1 winner will receive signed print copies of of THE SOLDIER'S PROMISE, TEMPTED BY THE SOLDIER, A SOLDIER'S JOURNEY, and THE SEAL'S RETURN (US only)
- Ends April 18th
a Rafflecopter giveaway
- 1 winner will receive a $25 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally
- 1 winner will receive signed print copies of of THE SOLDIER'S PROMISE, TEMPTED BY THE SOLDIER, A SOLDIER'S JOURNEY, and THE SEAL'S RETURN (US only)
- Ends April 18th
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I liked the cover the Seal's Return. It is so rustic.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this series with us! Love how immersive the town and world is, like a place you could really visit and find a real home. Coming from a family of veterans and active military I really connect with these characters.
ReplyDeletethis sounds really cool! :)
ReplyDeleteLooks so interesting, I hope I can get to read this series sometime soon.
ReplyDelete