North Country Hero

by Lois Richer

  “Kyle was injured in Afghanistan,” Sara explained.

  Kyle’s anger bubbled up. He wondered why she’d said that. He glared at her but she was watching Rod so he did, too, and was stunned by the grief that covered the boy’s face. A long silence ensued.

  “My uncle died there.” Rod stared at the floor. After a moment, he lifted his head and glanced at Sara. At her nod he continued. “He was like a father to me. I want to create a web page in his memory, so other soldiers can check in and remember their friends who died,” he said.

  Stunned by the boy’s selflessness, Kyle glanced at Sara. Her silver eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

  “I don’t want to forget him,” Rod murmured. “Nobody should forget the people who died so we can be free.” His hands clenched at his sides. “A guy at school said the best thing would be to forget my uncle, the war and everything. He said we should get on with life and that my uncle was a loser. One day I couldn’t take it anymore so I beat him up.”

  Kyle’s gut tied in a knot. He was suddenly aware that his hands were fisted and that every muscle in his body had tensed. Anger gripped him. Suddenly, helping Rod set up his web page was very important.

  “We’ll get a computer running for you, Rod,” he said. “Don’t worry.”

  “Thanks.” The boy’s sadness seemed to melt away. “Some of the other guys need it to stay in contact with their families. Letters aren’t as good as email.”

  “I hear you,” Kyle said, remembering the many emails he’d shared with his dad. He lifted his head, and caught Sara studying him with that beautiful smile and his heart did something funny. “I am going to make sure Lives Under Construction gets a computer lab,” he assured her before he could stop himself.

  “I believe you will, Kyle,” she said with complete faith. “I trust you.”

  I believe you will, Kyle.

  I trust you.

  Was it possible that she truly meant those things? Could she believe in him and trust him?

  Kyle was astonished by what those simple words did to him. And in that moment, he resolved not to let down sweet Sara Kane.

  Chapter Five

  “Thanks for helping me, Teddy.” Kyle couldn’t stifle his grin as his father’s best friend carried the last carton from the train station and set it inside the truck bed.

  “Absolutely my pleasure.” Teddy Stonechild slammed the truck gate closed. “Do we need to stop somewhere else?”

  “Nope. We’ll go straight to Lives,” Kyle told him. A heady delight filled him as he imagined how Sara would react to his surprise.

  “Uh, listen, Kyle.” Teddy sat in the truck, waiting for him to fasten his seat belt, a troubled look on his face. “It might not be the best idea for me to go along with you.”

  “What do you mean?” Kyle frowned at him. “You’ve only been back in Churchill a day. You haven’t seen what Lives Under Construction is like now that the boys are here.”

  “True. But when I was here before I, well, I kind of made an enemy of Laurel Quinn.” Teddy shrugged. “It wasn’t intentional and I’d take it back if I could, but that isn’t going to happen.”

  Kyle frowned. Teddy liked everyone. “How did you make an enemy of Laurel?”

  “I mentioned my, uh, concerns about her project to the town council earlier this year.” Teddy looked sheepish as he explained. “Well,” he said defensively, “you know how often I’ve stayed here. I feel like part of the community and that’s how they treat me. So I told the truth.”

  “You dissed her project? Publicly?” Kyle winced.

  “That’s not all.” Teddy’s face turned bright red.

  “What else?” Kyle asked cautiously.

  “I guess I came on a little too strong with my objections. She had to, well, jump through some extra hoops before they granted approval.” Teddy looked totally abashed.

  “That’s not like you.” Kyle frowned. “You usually welcome everyone who comes to town.”

  “And I tried to welcome her. But something about Laurel Quinn and her plan got under my skin,” Teddy admitted. “She doesn’t seem like a good business manager,” he defended.

  “Given the job she’s trying to do, I’m not sure the business part matters as much as helping those kids. She’s not the CEO of your hotel chain, you know.” Kyle shrugged. “Anyway, that’s in the past. Just promise me that today you’ll keep your issues to yourself,” he said.

  “Of course.” Teddy looked offended. “It’s a moot point now, anyway. The place is up and running.”

  “And doing good work,” Kyle added.

  “So you’ve said.” Teddy gave him an odd sideways look. “I heard you’re letting the cook use your mom’s greenhouse.” Teddy had always had a soft spot for Kyle’s mother.

  “Her name is Sara and yes, I have agreed. She’s using it to help a kid named Rod. They’re going to grow herbs or something.”

  “Sara, huh?”

  “Sara Kane.” Kyle’s face burned at Teddy’s narrowed scrutiny. Funny how his heartbeat accelerated just saying her name. “I decided to let them use it until I sell the place and move on.”

  “You’re still determined to do that?” Teddy asked.

  “Yes. There’s nothing for me here now. I can’t do the things I did and I won’t become dependent on others.” The grimness of his future sucked away Kyle’s joy. “You know what my injuries mean. I can never have kids, never be a father. It’s too hard to be here and know that. I’ll leave and find something else.”

  “Doing what?” Teddy frowned at him.

  “I haven’t quite figured that out yet.” Kyle clamped his mouth shut until they drove into the yard site. He did not want to think about leaving Churchill right now.

  “Kyle, hello.” Sara met them at the door, wearing his mother’s red jacket. His heart gave a thunk but it wasn’t sadness, more like appreciation. She looked good.

  “Leaving?” he asked.

  “I was going to do some more work on the greenhouse,” she said. “Lucy and Hector brought us some used bikes, so I can ride to your place now. It won’t take as long.” She smiled at Teddy. “Hello. I’m Sara.”

  Kyle introduced them.

  “Nice to meet you,” Teddy said in his usual affable tone. “Is Laurel here?”

  “She’s out, I’m afraid.” Sara watched him unload three boxes from his truck. “Is that a delivery for her?”

  “Sort of.” Kyle held the door open for Teddy. “It’s this way,” he said, walking toward the computer room. “If you’ll bring in the rest, I’ll begin unpacking.”

  “Sure.” Teddy left for another load.

  “What is all this, Kyle?” Sara watched as he slid his box knife under the tape and ripped open the box. He felt her freeze when she read the side of the box. “Are those—?”

  “Computers.” He grinned as he lifted out a tower. “Six of the latest models. All Teddy and I have to do is get them operational and you guys are set.”

  “Six computers? But how did you get them?” Sara’s silver-gray eyes stretched wide.

  “I ordered them a couple of days ago. They arrived on the train this morning.” He didn’t understand her hesitation or the worried look she gave him.

  “But Laurel says we’re on a very tight budget.” She bit her bottom lip. “I’m sure she can’t afford—”

  “Don’t worry,” he said, anxious to ease her obvious distress. “These are paid for.”

  “How? Laurel never mentioned—”

  “I paid for them. Or rather, Dad did. He left some money he said should be used for a good cause. I think this is a good cause and I know he’d agree.” He winked at her, wanting to share the joy that bubbled inside at being able to give. “Plus it will save me spending more frustrating hours on those relics of Laurel’s.”

  Sara simply stared at him, as if she didn’t believe he was serious.

  “Can you hold this box so I can slide out the tower?” Kyle waited for her to shrug out of the red jacket, then with he
r help, lifted out the monitors and towers. Teddy arranged the units on the tables Hector had built, and then carried out the empty boxes.

  Eager to get everything up and running, Kyle began connecting the systems, only too aware of Sara’s intense scrutiny over his shoulder.

  “Can you show me how to do that?” she said after he’d connected the first one.

  Kyle was about to refuse her help, to say he could manage it alone, when he glimpsed the longing in her eyes. Again he wondered why a computer held such fascination for her.

  “Please?” she asked.

  “It’s pretty easy. It’s all color coded. Put the red plug in the red socket.” He waited until she did that. “Now the green one to green. Now yellow.”

  With each step, Sara’s smile widened. Kyle had never seen anyone find such pleasure in so simple a thing.

  “There are no more colors,” she told him. “Is it ready to go now?”

  “No.” He laughed at her frown. “That’s only the first step. We still have to connect the speakers and then I have to program each computer.”

  “Oh.” Disappointment dimmed her joy. “How many days will that take?”

  “Days?” Kyle shook his head. “A few hours, maybe. Tell me what you know about computers, Sara.”

  “Nothing.” She shrugged, looking embarrassed.

  “I’ll give you a crash course,” Kyle said, suddenly feeling bad for her. “Computers are machines that have to be told what you want them to do. So I’m going to install programs that will do that. When I’m finished, they’ll be ready to use.”

  “It sounds kind of complicated.” Sara frowned.

  “Well, I think making apple pies and soup and stew is complicated. Each of us has our own thing we’re familiar with.” Kyle continued explaining, but it wasn’t long before he recognized Sara was totally lost.

  He was feeling a little lost himself with that fresh lemon scent of her hair assailing his nostrils.

  “Never mind. Once I get these running you’ll understand better,” he said, aware that Teddy sat silently listening across the room.

  “I won’t bother you. It’s not fair for me to take up more of your time. Anyway, Rod has promised he will help me learn computers.”

  Kyle felt oddly disappointed but before he could puzzle out his feelings, Sara gasped.

  “What’s wrong?” Teddy asked, surging to his feet.

  “The time,” she said. “I must prepare lunch. You and Kyle will stay?”

  Kyle opened his mouth to refuse but Teddy beat him to it.

  “We’d love to stay for lunch.” He grinned. “Kyle promised he’d feed me but he’s not a very good cook. He says you are.”

  “That’s nice of him.” Sara’s gaze met Kyle’s then skittered away.

  “Apple pie is my favorite,” Teddy hinted.

  “I’m afraid there isn’t any left.” Sara chuckled at Teddy’s dejected expression. “But I’ll think of something else for dessert today.” She walked to the door, her steps quick and light. “We’ll eat when Laurel returns. Let me know if you need anything.”

  “Thank you.” Kyle waited until her footsteps died away before he turned back to the computer he’d been working on.

  “Nice lady,” Teddy mused.

  “Very nice.” Kyle struggled to focus his brain on booting up the computer and off Sara.

  “What girl her age doesn’t know about computers?” Teddy asked.

  “I don’t know. Something to do with her being in foster care, I think.” Kyle scratched his head, trying to sort through the bits and pieces he knew about Sara and drawing a blank. “She hasn’t told me much and I don’t like to ask. Whenever she mentions the past, she gets this sad look as if it’s painful to talk about.”

  “You should ask her. If it’s painful, maybe it would help her to talk about it,” Teddy said.

  “Yeah,” Kyle agreed. But the thought of such a personal conversation put a lump in his throat. He had a hundred questions rolling around his brain. As if he needed to think some more about Sara Kane. What he needed was to get back to his own life, not get more involved in hers. “I’m expecting some calls this afternoon about listing the house, so I have to get this finished and get home. Okay?”

  “Sure. As long as we get to eat Sara’s lunch before we leave.” Teddy rose. “I’ll go outside and load up some of that junk from the renovations. I can haul it away this afternoon.”

  Despite Kyle’s best efforts to remain focused as he worked, every so often Sara’s face pushed its way into his mind until he acknowledged that he needed to know more about her. But how?

  Rod wanted to create a website for wounded warriors to meet and share experiences. Personally Kyle had no desire to rehash his hellish memories, but maybe if he helped the boy, he could figure out why Sara Kane was so different from any other woman he’d ever met.

  And maybe then he’d be able to figure out why he found her so appealing.

  *

  “I have never tasted anything so delicious, Sara. Thank you.” Teddy accepted a third helping of lasagna, giving Sara a rush of satisfaction.

  “I’m glad you like it.” Her gaze rested on Laurel. Her boss had thanked Kyle effusively for the computers and then fallen strangely silent for the rest of the meal, very unlike the usually garrulous Laurel. In fact, every time she looked at Teddy, her blue eyes shot daggers at him.

  “It is very good lasagna,” Kyle agreed quietly. “Especially with the spinach.”

  “My way of sneaking vegetables into the boys. Would you like some more?” It was obvious to Sara that Laurel and Teddy had some issues between them, but since she didn’t know anything about relationships, she doubted she could help.

  “I’ve eaten plenty, thanks.” Kyle’s gaze slid from Teddy, to Laurel, then to her. “You’re still intending on coming to the greenhouse this afternoon?”

  “As soon as I finish cleaning up from lunch. Rod said he’d join me there. He has last period of class free and we want to get started.” Sara knew they were just making conversation to cover the silence between the others, but the greenhouse was a connection between her and Kyle, making them cohorts of a sort. She liked that. “It’s warmer today. I think I’ll plant some lettuce seeds.”

  “Fresh lettuce, huh? That will be nice.” Laurel glared at Teddy. “Not having to buy lettuce should cut our expenses, improve our bottom line.”

  Teddy bristled. “Look, Laurel, I didn’t mean—”

  “Excuse me. That’s my phone.” Laurel cut off Teddy’s explanation and bolted from the room.

  Kyle glanced at Sara and raised his eyebrows. Sara nodded. Something was definitely wrong between these two.

  “I got some help with the expenses from Lucy, too,” Sara said brightly, trying to lift the dark mood of the room. “Not only did she scrounge up those bikes for us to use, but her friend donated some rhubarb. I made a crisp for dessert.”

  “It sounds wonderful, but I guess I’m not as hungry as I thought.” Teddy pushed away his plate. “I’ll take that with me and eat it for dinner tonight. I should get going now.”

  “Of course. I’ll wrap it up.” Sara glanced at Kyle.

  “I’d love some rhubarb crisp,” he said. “But since Teddy’s eager to get going and I caught a ride with him, maybe I could take some with me, also.”

  “Certainly.” Sara wrapped generous portions for each man then walked them out. “I can’t thank you enough for the computers, Kyle. I know the boys will be thrilled. And thank you, Teddy, for all your help, too.”

  “Rod can show you how to get online tonight,” Kyle told her as he shrugged into his jacket. “You’ll be an expert in no time.”

  “I’m not sure about that,” she said. “But I’ll try.” Both men waved, climbed in Teddy’s truck and drove away.

  Sara closed the door and went to clean the kitchen. She found Laurel sitting at the table, her head in her hands.

  “What’s the matter?” Sara asked. She sat down, waiting for her frie
nd to explain.

  “It’s that man,” Laurel burst out. She lifted her head. Her face was red, her mouth pinched together in a tight line.

  “Teddy? I could tell that there was something wrong between you two. But he’s been such a help. He cleaned up that pile of garbage outside,” she began.

  “I don’t care that he cleaned it up,” Laurel snapped.

  Sara had never seen Laurel so flustered. “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand.”

  “I’m not sure I understand myself,” Laurel admitted. “Teddy and I got off on the wrong foot. He’s one of those men who has to be right, the kind who thinks he knows everything.” She shook her head. “Forget it. I’m acting like a kid.”

  Sara was totally confused about relationships in general but this one in particular. By the time she thought of something to say it was too late.

  “I have paperwork to do before I pick up the boys. I should get going,” Laurel said as she left.

  “See you later, then.” Sara, totally muddled by Laurel, dragged on the coat Kyle had lent her and climbed on one of the bikes, wishing she had a clue how to help her friend. “Lord, I’m going to need some help to figure out this relationship business,” she prayed as she rode into town.

  By the time she arrived at Kyle’s she was breathless from pedaling so hard because she couldn’t rid her brain of thoughts of polar bears pursuing her. But a rush of joy bubbled inside her when she saw Kyle sitting in the sunshine.

  “I thought you’d be having a nap after all your work this morning.” She climbed off the bike, propped it up and walked into his yard. To her surprise, Kyle followed her into the greenhouse.

  “I got tired of sorting through Dad’s stuff so I thought I’d give you a hand out here.”

  “That’s very nice of you, Kyle, but I didn’t expect you to work on this. Rod and I can do it.”

  “I know you can.” His now-familiar grin flashed. “I just need something to do, something physical,” he amended. “I’m used to being on the go.”