The Soldier's Redemption

by Lee Tobin McClain

  “Shoney,” Leo said, looking up at Kayla. “It’s the place where my dad and me liked to go for dinner.”

  Kayla stared blankly at her son. She hadn’t realized that was why he liked the name. And wasn’t it amazing that a kid could love a dad as mean and inattentive as Mitch had been? He’d taken Leo out for a meal exactly once since the divorce.

  If Finn felt those undercurrents, he ignored them. Instead he continued with the lesson, explaining the leash and the toys and the brush for the dog’s hair.

  Kayla’s shoulders relaxed. Finn was a steady man. He’d arrived when he’d said, bringing the dog, bringing the supplies they needed. He showed Leo how to gently lead Shoney around so that she didn’t get hurt running into things. He pulled out a blanket, ragged but clean, and explained that it was the blanket Shoney had been using in the kennel, and would help her feel more comfortable in a new place.

  “I used to have a blanket,” Leo said, “but we put it away.” He hesitated, then added, “I only use it sometimes. In ’mergencies.”

  Finn nodded. “Makes sense.”

  Finn wasn’t like other men she’d known, her mother’s boyfriends or the teasing boys at school, or Mitch. In fact, she’d never met a man like him before.

  He glanced over, and she flushed and looked away. She focused on the paneled walls, the curtainless windows, through which she could see the sun turning the tops of the mountains red, making the pasturelands golden. Crisp evening air came through the screen door, a welcome coolness for her warm face.

  Leo filled the dog bowl with water and set it in the corner on a towel just as Finn had instructed, pausing often to pat Shoney. Then he returned to the backpack to check out the rest of Shoney’s supplies.

  “Your son’s careful,” Finn said approvingly.

  “He’s had to be.” Unbidden, a memory from Leo’s younger days pushed into her awareness.

  Leo had just turned four, and he’d spilled a glass of juice at the table. Just a few drops had hit Mitch’s phone before Kayla had swooped in with a towel, but he’d jumped up, shouted at Leo and raised his fist.

  She’d intercepted the blow, but her heart still broke thinking of how Leo had tried to stifle his tears.

  “Look, Mom!” His voice now was worlds away from that fearful one, and happiness bloomed inside her.

  “What do you have there?” She stood and walked over to him.

  “There’s a scarf for her!” He held up a pink-checked neckerchief.

  “Cool! See how it looks on her.”

  As Leo crossed the room to where Shoney had flopped down, Kayla looked over at Finn. “You dress your dogs?” she asked teasingly, lifting an eyebrow.

  He shrugged and a dimple appeared in his cheek. His gaze stayed fixed on hers. “I like a girl in nice clothes.”

  “Oh, you do?”

  They looked at each other for a moment more, until several realizations dawned on Kayla at once.

  She was flirting. She never flirted.

  She didn’t have nice clothes, another fact that put Finn out of her league.

  And this situation, living in close proximity to Finn here at the ranch, could get out of control all too easily.

  She looked away from him, her cheeks heating.

  No surprise that he turned and walked over to Leo, ensuring that their slightly romantic moment was over. “Here’s a scoop for dog food,” he explained while Kayla finished clearing up the dinner dishes. “She gets one scoop in the morning and one in the evening.”

  “How can Shoney find her food, if she’s blind?” Leo asked.

  “Because of her super sense of smell,” Finn explained, then put a piece of food on the floor near Shoney. Sure enough, the shaggy black dog found it almost immediately.

  Kayla’s heart melted, not in a flirty way now, but in a grateful way. As Leo experimented with having Shoney find bits of food, she walked over to Finn and knelt beside him to watch.

  “He’s being gentle,” Finn said. “You’ve taught him well.”

  That meant the world to Kayla, for someone to say she’d done a good job. Especially on gentleness, since his male role model had been anything but. “You’re really good with him yourself,” she said. “Have you spent a lot of time around kids?”

  All the joy drained out of Finn’s face. He looked away, then rose smoothly to his feet and picked up his now-empty backpack. “You good for now?” he asked, his voice gruff.

  “Um, sure. I think so.” What had she said wrong?

  “Then I’ll leave you alone with your new family member. See you, Leo.” Finn was out the door almost before Leo could offer a wave.

  As she petted the dog and helped Leo get to know her, she mused over the encounter in her mind. It was when she’d mentioned kids that he’d closed off.

  There was some kind of story there. And God help her, but she wanted to know it.

  Chapter Five

  The next morning, Kayla tried not to notice Finn’s very muscular arms as he pulled the truck into a parking lot in town, just beneath the Esperanza Springs Fourth of July Community Celebration banner.

  “Like I said, I’m sorry to make you work on a holiday,” Finn said, in the same friendly but utterly impersonal tone he’d taken all morning. “But once we get the dogs settled, you can hang out with Leo and do whatever, until the parade starts.” He was acting differently toward her, after the awkward ending to their evening last night. She’d replayed it in her mind, and she didn’t think she’d said anything to offend him. Maybe he was just moody. Or maybe she was imagining his distance.

  Trying to match his businesslike cordiality, she gave him a quick, impersonal smile as she climbed down from the truck and got Leo out of the back. “No problem. I think it’ll be a fun day.”

  “Will Shoney be okay?” Leo asked. He’d been loath to leave her alone, and truthfully, Kayla had felt the same. Shoney had followed them to the door, and when Kayla had nudged her back inside so she could close it, the dog had cried mournfully.

  Finn nodded down at Leo. “Shoney’s been staying in a little cage in the kennel for a few weeks. She’ll be thrilled to have your whole cabin to herself for a little while.”

  Kayla focused on the intensely blue sky and the bright sun that illuminated the broad, flat valley, framed by the Sangre de Cristos. Even on the prettiest summer day in Arkansas, the air didn’t have this refreshing crispness to it. “Come on,” she said to Leo. “Let’s go find Miss Penny. She said you could hang around with her while Mom works.”

  “Okay,” he said agreeably, and Kayla sent up a prayer of thanks for Leo’s accepting, nonconfrontational demeanor.

  They didn’t have far to look, because as soon as they’d turned toward the celebration’s central area, Penny approached them. “Hey, Leo, I think they’ve got some good fry bread for breakfast. Have you ever had Native American food?”

  Leo looked up at Kayla, puzzled.

  “No, he hasn’t,” Kayla said to Penny, “and neither have I. But we’re both in favor of bread and fried food, so I’m sure he’ll love it.”

  “Come on, kiddo. Let’s go!” And the two were off into the small line of food vendors, most still setting up, along the edge of the town park.

  Kayla helped Finn lift down the crates. They’d brought five dogs, well-socialized ones who could handle the crowds and noise, healthy ones more likely to be adopted.

  “We’ll put them in the shade, out of the way, and let them out one at a time to move around and get some exercise. If you can stay and do that while I park the truck, there won’t be that much more to do.”

  So she let each dog out and strolled around, keeping them leashed but letting them greet people politely. It would be great if all five found homes today.

  Suddenly, Axel, the ancient rottweiler Kayla was walking, started barking and pulling at the leash. Kayla got
him under control as the other dogs chimed in, barking from their crates. She looked around to see what was causing the ruckus.

  Two women walked in their direction, each with two large Alaskan malamutes on leashes. It took a minute, but Kayla recognized the taller woman as Marge from the previous day’s camp drop-off.

  She stood still as the pair slowly approached, keeping Axel close and smiling a greeting. And then she saw the lettering on Marge’s shirt, identical to that of the other woman: Mountain Malamutes.

  “We breed ’em,” the other woman explained, gathering both of her leashes in one hand and leaning forward to greet Kayla. “I’m Rosa. We’re teaming up with you and Finn today to try and get your guys adopted.”

  “Great, but how?” Kayla was struggling to keep Axel from pulling her off her feet and to speak above the noise of the crated dogs. Meanwhile, the malamutes stood panting, tongues out, alert but quiet. “And how on earth do you get your dogs to behave so well?”

  Marge laughed. “Thousands of years of breeding, for starters,” she said. “They’re work dogs. Plus, we train ’em hard. But Rosa and I, we feel bad about breeding dogs when there are so many rescues who need homes, so we help where we can.”

  A group of men in Western shirts walked by, most carrying musical instruments, and Kayla recognized Long John’s shuffling gait. Willie was beside him, and the two stopped and greeted Kayla as if they’d known her for years instead of days.

  “You and young Leo should come hear us play,” Willie said, patting her arm.

  “That you should,” Long John agreed. “We’re at eleven and then again at three, right over on the stage they’re setting up.” He waved a hand toward a flurry of activity at the center of the park.

  “I will,” Kayla promised, warmed by their friendliness.

  As the men walked on, a little girl about Leo’s size rushed over and wrapped her arms around Marge’s legs. “Mommy!” she cried, sounding upset. She buried her face in Marge’s leg.

  Marge extracted herself, knelt and studied the little girl’s upset face. “What’s wrong, baby?”

  “Sissy and Jim won’t play with me. So I got mad and ran away from them.”

  Marge’s eyes narrowed as she scanned the area. “I’m gonna speak my piece to those two when I find ’em.” She looked up at Kayla. “Two of my older kids. They’re supposed to be taking care of Brenna.”

  “Hi, Brenna,” Kayla said, smiling at the adorable little redhead. “I think you were in camp with my son, Leo, yesterday.”

  “Uh-huh.” Brenna sucked a finger. “We played on the swings.”

  “Matter of fact,” Marge said, “I think I see him right over there on the playground. Want to run over and see if he wants to play?” Marge turned to Kayla. “Is that okay?”

  “I’m sure it is. Let me just text Penny.” She did, and the answer came back immediately: Send her over. The more, the merrier.

  Brenna took off for the play area, and when she got there, she hugged Leo. And then they started climbing a multilevel wooden structure.

  A volley of rapid Spanish rang out nearby, and Hector, the boy who’d played with Leo at church, ran to join Leo and Brenna.

  Kayla’s breath caught as gratitude swept over her. Some small towns could be clannish, but Esperanza Springs had welcomed her and Leo with open arms.

  She was well on her way to falling in love with this place. The natural beauty and the distance from Arkansas were great, but more than that, she already felt like part of a community.

  Moments later, Finn returned, in time to direct another truck their way. Then they all helped unload five empty dog crates on wheels, made to look like circus animal carts, but cunningly arranged with harnesses. As Finn and Rosa tested out one of the carts, hooking up a malamute and putting in Charcoal, the largest dog they’d brought from the ranch, Kayla couldn’t help clapping her hands. “That’s so adorable!”

  Marge nodded. “Exactly the reaction we’re looking for. And the next step we’re hoping for is that people who get swept away with the cuteness will want to adopt the dog.”

  “And buy a malamute,” Rosa called.

  “It’s a win-win.” Finn adjusted the cart, and they all watched while the malamute trotted in a circle, tail and ears high, pulling the silver-muzzled Lab mix.

  “It’s working. If it works for Charcoal, it’ll work for all the dogs.” Finn let Charcoal out of the cart and urged him back into his crate. “Kayla, if you want to take some time off, you’re welcome. I’d just need a little assistance at twelve thirty, when the parade’s lining up.”

  “Thanks, boss.” She added a sassy smile, forgetting for a moment to be businesslike and keep her distance.

  He lifted an eyebrow, the corners of his own mouth turning up.

  Kayla forced herself to turn away. She strolled through the grounds, savoring the sights, smells and sounds of a small-town Fourth of July. She’d grown up in Little Rock, and if the city had offered such events back then, her mother hadn’t known about them. She and Mitch had taken Leo to a few Fourth of July gatherings, but the kind Mitch favored involved a lot of drinking. They didn’t have this wholesome feel.

  “Hey.” Sylvie, the pretty blonde who’d issued the coffee invite the day before, fell into step beside her. “How’s it going? Having fun with our Podunk event?”

  “I love it, actually,” Kayla said.

  “Is your son here?” Sylvie looked sideways at her.

  “Yes. He’s on the playground.” Kayla reached up and ran her fingers along the soft, low branches of a cottonwood tree, enjoying the ambling freedom of walking through the park.

  “Hey, listen,” Sylvie said. “I know Finn seems like a nice guy, but you should be careful. Especially being a single mom and all.”

  Kayla straightened. “Why?”

  Sylvie looked at her like she was dense. “Well, because no one knows anything about his history, of course!” She opened her mouth as if to say more, but a handsome cowboy waved to her. “Gotta go,” she said.

  Kayla’s walk slowed as she approached the playground. She replayed what Sylvie had said. Was there something she didn’t know about Finn? Was he a risk?

  That was hard to believe. He seemed safe and trustworthy.

  So did Mitch. When they’d first started dating, he’d been so attentive that Kayla had felt like she was living in a fairy tale. Roses, candlelight dinners, unexpected visits just to tell her he was thinking of her. For a girl who’d felt like a mistake all her life, all that romance had been heady stuff. Accepting his proposal had been a no-brainer. He was the only man who’d ever seemed to care.

  But even during their engagement, she’d started to feel a little constricted. She’d realized his love was possessive, probably too possessive. She’d told herself it was because he loved her, that at least he wasn’t running around on her or burying himself in his work.

  Everything had changed when they’d had Leo. Having to share her affections had brought out the crazy in Mitch. And rather than getting used to parenting, growing into it, he’d gotten worse and worse.

  She hesitated and then walked over to where Penny was sitting, checking her phone and glancing up at the kids often.

  “Thanks so much for watching him,” she said. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “Is there something I should know about Finn? Something that would make me or Leo at risk around him?”

  Penny frowned. “Not a thing. Why do you ask?”

  “This other mom, Sylvie. She said I should be careful around Finn.”

  “Nope. He’s fine. He...” Penny hesitated. “He’s had some heartache in his past. Tragedy, really. But I wouldn’t say he’s dangerous.”

  Tragedy. She’d sensed that about him.

  She trusted Penny. And the truth was, she trusted Finn.

  Mostly.<
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  “Mom!” Leo ran over and hugged her. “This is fun!” He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the wooden climbing structure. “Watch how high I can go!”

  He climbed rapidly to the lookout tower, and Kayla had to force herself to smile and wave rather than climb up herself and make him come down. He was growing up, and this was a safe place. She had to let him spread his wings and fly.

  Then he shouted, “Dad!”

  Kayla’s heart stopped. What on earth? Could Mitch be here?

  Leo scrambled down to the ground and she met him there, but before she could grab him, he ran, hard, across the park’s grassy area.

  She ran after him, arms and legs pumping almost as fast as her heart. She caught up with him at the same moment that he reached a man in military fatigues and a maroon Airborne beret.

  Not Mitch. Just the same uniform.

  “You’re not...” Leo looked up and then backed off of the man. “You’re not Daddy.” His eyes filled with tears.

  “Oh, honey.” Kayla’s fear turned to sadness for her son. Despite all Mitch’s failings as a dad, he was all Leo knew.

  “So this little one is an Airborne kid, is he?” The soldier knelt. “Come on—want to try on my hat?” He put it on Leo’s head.

  “So cute!” Someone snapped a picture. Then another woman, who turned out to be the soldier’s wife, took a photo of the soldier and Leo together.

  Anxiety bloomed in Kayla’s chest. She turned to the soldier’s wife, trying to keep the first one in her sights. “What are the photos for?”

  “Oh, do you want me to send them to you?” The woman smiled. “You must be his mom. I’m Freida.”

  Kayla hated to quell the friendliness, but safe was safe. “I don’t like photos of my son to be out and about, actually. Would you mind deleting them?”

  The woman stared. “I was only trying to be nice. I wasn’t going to put them up online or anything.”

  “Of course. I’m sure you wouldn’t. It’s just... I’m sorry.”

  The woman clicked a couple of buttons on her phone. “There. Gone.” Her voice was cool, and her meaningful glance toward her husband showed that there was going to be plenty of talk about this at the dinner table tonight.