The Soldier's Promise

by Patricia Potter

  And now he still looked so young and vulnerable huddled under covers in a hospital bed. If she had not gone to Josh Manning’s cabin, none of this would have happened.

  She clutched his uninjured hand, and it seemed even smaller because the other one was so swollen. She thought about Josh and his dog. She remembered the worry in Josh’s eyes and the protective way he’d carried Amos. In her opinion, Josh’s behavior with the dog said a great deal about him.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by a brief knock on the door. Nick’s grandparents, Abby and Jim, looked in, their faces lined with worry. Eve put her finger to her lips and walked silently out the door, closing it behind her.

  “How is he?” Abby asked after hugging her. “Jim couldn’t keep me away.”

  “His arm is still swollen and sore, but the doctors think he’ll be fine within a few days.”

  “Thank God,” Jim said. “I met that Josh Manning last night. I was checking on the store after Riley locked up for me. Manning was going to the vet clinic. Seems like a nice young man. Kinda quiet.”

  “It’s my fault it happened,” she said. “I stopped at Mr. Manning’s cabin with a building permit on our way to baseball practice. Nick was supposed to stay in the truck, but you know...your grandson. He had to meet Mr. Manning’s dog, which was outside. When he approached the dog, the snake bit him, then bit the dog when it tried to protect him.”

  “He said the dog is doing well,” Jim said.

  “And your dogs are fine,” Abby added. “I let them out for a few moments and fed them while Jim cared for the horses.”

  “You must have been there at daybreak.”

  “We stayed at your house overnight,” Jim said. “Just seemed best for the animals, and we packed more clothes for you. Also bought a thermos of coffee and some sweet rolls Abby baked.”

  She gave them both a hug.

  A technician came to the door and the three of them went into the room with him. Nick was still asleep, and Eve gently woke him. He looked confused for a moment, then saw his grandparents and a wide smile spread across his face.

  “I got snake bit,” he said proudly to Abby. “I didn’t move. Josh tossed it away with a stick and mom killed it with Josh’s gun.”

  Josh. Where did he get that? “Mr. Manning,” she corrected.

  “He said I could call him Josh,” Nick said.

  “When was that?”

  “When you were talking to the doctor. I called him Mr. Manning, and he said no one called him Mr. Manning. He said he was just plain Josh.”

  Nothing plain about him at all. “Well, it’s still Mr. Manning,” she said.

  “Oh, Mom,” her son said. “I like him.”

  “You can like ‘Mr. Manning’ just as well. And how are you feeling?”

  “My arm still hurts.”

  The technician finished taking blood and left. Eve knew the nurse wouldn’t be far behind to take his blood pressure.

  “I brought some of the cinnamon rolls you like,” Abby told Nick, and Eve knew she must have been baking late into the night. Which was something Abby would do. She was convinced that baking solved all the problems in the world. And if everyone cooked as well as she, it probably would.

  She took the small suitcase Jim held, and Abby said, “I brought you two changes of everything, but I can bring you more if you need it. And tell me about the mysterious Mr. Manning. Jim said he drove you here.” She hadn’t stopped to take a breath.

  “Between you and me?” Eve asked.

  “Promise.”

  “He’s very...efficient when there’s an emergency. Otherwise, he’s more like a bear who has just been awakened in his cave. Early.”

  Abby looked disappointed. “Is he good-looking?” Abby had been urging her to date again despite Eve’s protests. She’d had one great marriage. It was too much to ask for two. And she didn’t need another, thank you. She had learned to be independent and she liked the feeling. Besides, she didn’t have time even if she was interested, which she wasn’t.

  “Interesting looking, maybe,” she finally said.

  “Why don’t you invite him over to our house for supper?”

  “Because he would run for the hills.”

  “Hmm,” Abby said, but dropped the subject. Instead, she went to Nick and planted a kiss on his forehead. “Playing with snakes, huh? Trying to scare us to death.” She dropped the bag of cinnamon buns in his lap.

  “He’s been nauseated,” Eve said.

  “I feel good now,” Nick said quickly, his good hand grabbing inside the bag.

  Abby turned to her husband. “See, I told you they would work.” She beamed.

  Just then the nurse came in. She was one Eve hadn’t met. “You have company, huh? And those rolls look good.”

  “There’s enough for you,” Abby said.

  “I don’t think it’s included in my diet, but thank you,” the nurse replied. “I’m Sheila. I’ll be this young man’s nurse today.”

  She quickly checked the blood pressure, temperature and oxygen level. “All good, young man,” she said. “Heard you got a rattler bite.”

  Nick nodded. “And I did everything right. Josh—I mean, Mr. Manning—said so.”

  Sheila removed the dressing from the wound area, examined it, then redressed it. “Still looks tender, but it doesn’t appear to have been spreading. You are a very lucky boy.”

  “When can I go home?”

  “That’s up to the doctors.”

  Eve felt better when the nurse left. Surely there would be a change in vital signs if there were complications. Still, the image of the snake and the fang marks on his arm wouldn’t leave her head.

  Neither would that of Josh Manning holding her son.

  “I can stay here with Nick if you have to go to work,” Abby offered.

  Eve shook her head. “I want to be here when the doctor comes by.”

  “I would like to stay with you,” Abby said.

  “We would love your company,” Eve replied.

  “Good,” Abby said and took a thermos out of the large tote she was carrying. “Have a cup of coffee with the roll.”

  Jim nodded. “I do have to open the pharmacy. Call me as soon as you know anything more. Riley can fill in for me this afternoon and I’ll get Reggie to drive Miss Mollie up here so you two have transportation. I can drive him back.”

  “Miss Mollie can be temperamental.”

  “Tell me about it. I think Reggie can handle it.”

  “Thanks,” she said. One of the not-so-good things about a small town was that everyone knew your business. One of the really good things was that everyone was willing to help when needed. Reggie was a mechanic at the garage, and she had gone to high school with him. He’d had a crush on her then but later married one of her good friends.

  Jim took Nick’s hand and squeezed it. “You get well real quick now, and we’ll go fishing.”

  Nick brightened. He loved going fishing with his pa-pa.

  Jim left. Abby took a deck of cards from her magical tote that always held everything but the kitchen sink. “Now, what about a good game of hearts while we wait for the doctor?”

  Some of the tenseness eased from Eve’s body. The color in Nick’s face was back to normal, and though his arm was still black-and-blue and he grimaced when he moved it, some of the swelling had gone down.

  Now, if only Josh Manning’s dog’s recovered, as well...

  She spent the rest of the morning playing hearts with Nick and Abby.

  Nick had lunch and went to sleep, and she and Abby had lunch in the cafeteria and swore they wouldn’t eat there again. Eve’s truck, Miss Mollie, appeared later that afternoon. Reggie, followed by a friend in another car, had driven it to the hospital. The friend drove both Reggie and Abby
home but not before saying hello to Nick, teasing him about his lack of ability as a snake charmer and handing him a model motorcycle. Nick was elated by the gift and she was touched.

  To her amazement, a bouquet of balloons and cookies also arrived, this time sent by Al Monroe and the city council.

  But Nick was worn out by midafternoon. He was still receiving sedatives, and he moved between sleep and sluggishness. When his eyes closed, his body twitched occasionally. But the doctor was more encouraging and said he should be able to go home Monday morning.

  Stephanie called with good news about Amos.

  “Josh Manning stayed several hours last night until he was convinced that his dog would be okay. He even bought me a patty melt and met your father-in-law. I like him. He’s spare with his words, but he’s no one’s fool. I found him rather comfortable.”

  Comfortable was not the word Eve would use to describe Josh Manning. In fact, she didn’t think anything about him was comfortable. “Are we talking about the same man?” she asked.

  Stephanie laughed. “Maybe it’s because we were both worried about his dog. He’s very gentle with him.”

  “He told me Amos was a military dog,” Eve said, trying to pump Steph without showing too much interest.

  But Steph changed the subject. “I heard your in-laws are taking care of the animals. I’ll pitch in if you need me.”

  “I think they are more than happy to help, Nick being their only grandson, but I’ll tell them.”

  “How long will you be there?”

  “Over the weekend. Hopefully we’ll be back Monday. It depends on whether he has a fever or the arm looks worse. Nick’s taking it better than I am.”

  “Let me know if I can do anything.”

  “I will.” She hung up.

  Stephanie mentioned Josh’s name easily while Eve was still trying it out. And Josh had mentioned Stephanie several times. Not as “Dr. Phillips,” but “Stephanie.” Unexpected jealousy streaked through her. She didn’t like the feeling. But she couldn’t forget the warmth of his body, the tenderness when he’d held her.

  But he was obviously a loner and here only temporarily. She would be a fool to let him into her life. And especially Nick’s.

  CHAPTER NINE

  EVE DROVE NICK home on Monday after spending three nights in the hospital. The swelling in his arm had gone down, although its color was still an ugly mixture of purples. There was some lingering pain, but Nick shrugged it off.

  He bubbled with anticipation. He had a tale to tell his classmates. “Wait until I tell them about Josh tossing that snake and you blowing it to pieces. Wish I had its rattles.”

  “Today you rest, tomorrow we’ll see,” Eve said. “Depends on whether you have a temperature.”

  “But there’s only four more days of school.”

  “Nonetheless, the doctor said you were to keep quiet if he was to let you go home. And quiet you will stay today. Not only that,” she added, “your grandmother said Braveheart has been hiding behind the sofa, Captain Hook is running around in circles and Miss Marple has brought kleptomania to a new level. Time to stop the mayhem.”

  “But...”

  “Plenty of time for you to share. You have all summer.”

  Nick grinned. “Okay. But can I see Josh and Amos soon?”

  She winced at his use of Josh.

  “He’s really busy, Nick.”

  “You think he’ll come by and see me?”

  “I don’t know, but Stephanie said he asked about you.”

  “I like him.”

  “You like everyone, kiddo.”

  They reached her house and she turned the ignition off. Nick ran for the house. “Walk,” she yelled.

  He slowed, but then Abby opened the door and the dogs spilled out. They swarmed over Nick first, then Eve, licking and barking and jumping with joy. Then there had to be a trip to the stables. A box of sugar cubes was waiting for Nick to give to the horses.

  When they finished saying hello to Beauty and the Beast and Stephanie’s horse, Shadow, Abby was waiting inside with Nick’s favorite casseroles.

  “Can you stay for a few more hours?” Eve asked. The proposed budget had to be published in the weekly on Thursday, and she still had a few bugs to work out. Then there would be a public hearing and finally, hopefully, approval by the council.

  “Of course. You know I love to spend time with Nick.”

  Eve ate quickly and hugged Nick. “Stay quiet,” she said, recognizing the fact that he probably wouldn’t.

  “I want to see Amos.”

  She had been wondering when that was coming. Stephanie had told her that Amos had gone home, and she had reassured Nick, but he wanted confirmation. Amos was his hero.

  “Tell you what,” she said. “You stay quiet today, and I’ll call Mr. Manning and see if you can visit Amos tomorrow after school.”

  He looked disappointed.

  She looked at all the animals gathered around his chair. “You wouldn’t want to hurt their feelings,” she said, knowing it was a low, though effective, tactic. Guilt usually worked with Nick. “They’ve been waiting for you.”

  “Okay, Mom,” he responded, but there was disappointment in his voice. And she knew her son. If she didn’t arrange a meeting, Nick would.

  She hugged him again. She could never hug him tight enough. She felt tears coming, but she didn’t want him to see them.

  “I’ll be home early,” she told Abby. “Thank you for taking care of this crew.”

  Abby nodded. “Nothing makes me happier. Nick reminds me so much of Russ.”

  “I know.”

  Eve left before more tears came. She had never been much of a crier. But she had been an emotional wreck since the snakebite.

  She had sworn that she wouldn’t lose her heart again. She couldn’t do it to her son or to herself. The pain was too deep. She had to stay away from Josh Manning, who stirred feelings she’d thought gone forever. But how was she going to do that when he had become Nick’s hero?

  * * *

  MONDAY. THREE DAYS since he’d seen Eve Douglas. Three days since Amos had come home. Odd how time had suddenly become important.

  He’d spent part of Sunday on a trip to Pueblo, where he’d bought flooring. He’d chosen bamboo for the main room and vinyl tile for the kitchen, both of which were to be delivered Wednesday.

  Then he had made another stop at a furniture store for a fridge and stove, his two most immediate needs. But going through the store, his gaze had caught other items and he’d gone on a buying spree: a sofa for Amos and a lounging chair for himself, along with several lamps, a bookcase, a desk and a small dining table with two chairs.

  Delivery for all this would be Saturday morning, which meant he had to finish painting and flooring. A daunting job. He would finish painting the kitchen tomorrow, then tear out the kitchen floor and replace it Wednesday and Thursday. At least that was the schedule. The living room floor would come next. He figured he might have to hire someone to help him with the flooring. He wasn’t that good on his knees yet.

  He figured he could double the value of the cabin by a good month’s work and minimal investment.

  Josh had to admit, though, that the place was growing on him, and that was before he’d had a chance to explore the forest behind it. He was even getting used to the town’s curiosity. There was something to be said for the friendly greeting at Maude’s, the vet’s easy friendship as she continued to check on Amos, the view from his windows at sunset.

  And Eve Douglas.

  Amos spent more time with him rather than hiding in the bedroom. Josh thought about simply closing the door to the bedroom to keep Amos from retreating, but decided it was something Amos had to do in his own time. He, too, had wanted to withdraw from the world when
he’d emerged from unconsciousness and discovered that nearly all his team, including Dave, had died in that last battle. Then he’d learned he’d been left the cabin and, in a way, Amos. He owed a debt, and he’d never reneged on one.

  But that was all he’d intended to do. He hadn’t meant to care so much for Amos or get involved in the lives of civilians. He certainly hadn’t expected to find himself befuddled by the mayor. He had called once to see how the boy was, and it had taken all his willpower not to drive back to the hospital.

  No sense in getting involved when he would leave sooner rather than later. And Stephanie’s words about Eve’s husband had only deepened his resolve to stay away. Never was anyone else for her. Everyone loved him.

  He worked through the day, stopping only when the pain in his leg became too bad. Then he would grab a bottle of water and a sandwich and rest for thirty minutes.

  It was four o’clock when he heard a knock on the door and he limped to answer it. What now?

  Eve Douglas stood on the stoop as if she’d been summoned by his thoughts. He didn’t believe in sorcery, but...

  “Hi,” she said. “I tried to call you, but...”

  “I forgot to charge the damn thing,” he said, holding the door open. “Come in if you don’t mind the smell of paint.” He paused, then asked, “How’s Nick?”

  She stepped inside. “Doing well. We came home this morning, and he’s staying home today with Abby. He’s not happy. He wants to tell everyone at school about his adventures.”

  She looked around. He’d finished painting the walls and ceiling of the living area. She went on to the kitchen. “I’m impressed.”

  “Just trying to make it livable.”

  “And then?”

  “I don’t know. Sell it, maybe. I’ve never stayed anywhere long.”

  “Where’s home?”

  He shrugged. “Army bases, mostly.”

  “Then where were you raised?” she asked patiently.

  He stilled, then shrugged. “Atlanta.”

  “I hear it’s a good place.”

  “I suppose.”

  She looked at him with questioning eyes, but he didn’t feel like explaining. How do you explain a mother on crack, a series of temporary “stepfathers” who were abusive and finally having to live on the streets while trying to finish high school in order to join the army?