Firethorn (Discarded Heroes)

by Kendig, Ronie

  Location of Former Shack, Virginia

  Max strolled across the landscaped lawn toward the large building, a sense of awe infusing him as he took in the structure. Built on the same plot where the Shack once stood, a multistoried building now stared out over the Hudson. A cluster of about a hundred chairs gathered around a fountain—laid out in the shape of the Nightshade symbol—just outside the front doors.

  At the front of the gathering huddled the Nightshade team. With Dakota in his arms and Dillon holding on to his first two fingers, Max guided his family that way. The men stood in a semicircle, children running and playing around the fountain, which danced and sang.

  Colton and Canyon stood in suits, their wives monitoring the children. Max handed Dakota off to Sydney, who joined the women.

  “Max.” Colton hugged him tight.

  So did Canyon.

  Gone was the machismo that once held their heads high. Days like this changed lives forever. A raw moment to remember a fallen hero. To make sure nobody forgot his name or what he did. To honor his sacrifice. Max still struggled with nightmares, with survivor’s guilt—as the team shrink called it—that Marshall had given his life to save Max’s. A debt he could never repay. But maybe he could say thanks in a different way.

  The Old Man approached, the signs of the stroke gone. He shook each of their hands, then moved to a chair with his elegant wife. Now there…there was a couple he could admire. Thick and thin, through good and bad, they were together.

  In black pants and light-blue button-down, Squirt nodded behind Max. “There he is.”

  When Max turned, it took every ounce of strength not to unload on the man walking down the center aisle with his wife and daughter.

  “Mr. Jacobs.”

  Max bit his tongue. The guy just didn’t get it. Didn’t understand—

  “I don’t expect you to like me,” Warren Vaughn said.

  “Good. We don’t have to waste time pretending.”

  The words dug deep, Max could tell when Warren looked up at the building, then slowly brought his focus back to Max. “You told me six months ago I didn’t deserve a son like Marshall.”

  Don’t respond.

  “You were right.” Vaughn’s voice cracked. “I’ve had the chance to review the records, the feats of what my son did with your team.”

  “Our team.”

  Vaughn swallowed and looked at his wife. “I was a fool. And now…” He knuckled away a tear. “Now I get to live the rest of my life never being able to tell him how very proud I am of him.”

  The candor, the complete 180, silenced Max.

  “I prided myself for years on being an activist, a humanitarian.” He snorted. “I see what men like you have done and are doing…and realize you’re the biggest humanitarians out there, helping people. Fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves.”

  Was he hearing the guy right?

  “I’ve deposited the whole of Marshall’s inheritance, all his bank accounts—every last penny he’d earned and invested—into the Marshall Vaughn Memorial Fund.”

  Max felt his eyes widen.

  “Marshall would’ve wanted soldiers like him to get help.”

  “How much exactly are we talking?” Squirt asked from behind.

  Max glanced at his SEAL buddy, his mind hustling to catch up.

  “Let’s just say, you men won’t have trouble funding your endeavor.” Vaughn tucked his wife’s hand in the crook of his elbow. “For a very long time.”

  A microphone creaked beside the podium. And the early morning sun illuminated an enormous poster bearing the likeness of Marshall “the Kid” Vaughn as a Nightshade member, in full tactical gear, with a cocky grin and bold eyes, outside the Marshall Vaughn Center for Discarded Heroes.

  Metcalfe Residence, Virginia

  Two hours later on the back forty of the Metcalfe property, the Nightshade families gathered for lunch. Griffin could not help but watch as the men struggled to shift from a somber memorial in honor of a very good friend and warrior to a happy time with family. Children, laughter, and good food.

  Some might say it was disingenuous, dishonoring to the Kid. But Griffin knew better. He’d been the hardest on the Kid—well, besides Max’s fist—but Marshall would not have wanted the team moping around. In fact, if the Kid were here right now, he’d be shouting and rounding up teams for a rugby match.

  “Hey,” a soft, beautiful voice blanketed his mind the same time a hand slid around his arm. “You okay?”

  Griffin lifted his arm and wrapped it around Kazi. “I am now.”

  She rolled her eyes. “It’s a good thing I like you.”

  “You told me you loved me.”

  “Yeah,” she said lazily, “I did.”

  His heart had swelled when she attended an early weekend service with him at church last night. She’d gone up to the bishop during an altar call. Baby Girl, it seemed, was making her way back to God.

  Lord, thank You. You turned it all around. Despite the peace that had taken up residence in his life, what would happen to the team, nobody knew. The general told them to take a sabbatical. Get some rest. Get reacquainted with their families. In Griffin’s case, he’d ordered him to start one. There wasn’t no hurry. And rushing Kazi Faron was about like trying to wade the Mississippi during flood season.

  “Hey, Squirt. Get your hand off my sister!” Midas shouted as he tossed the Aussie a football.

  Bold and unfazed, John Dighton didn’t move from his position next to the long-legged woman, Willow Metcalfe. He caught the ball and spiraled it to Aladdin.

  “She’s got a boyfriend—a military lawyer. Don’t want to mess with that.” Midas snickered and hefted his son from a picnic blanket.

  “Back off, Midas. We’re just having a chat,” Dighton said from where he leaned on the fence next to Willow, who laughed and shook her head.

  “Did you see that?” Kazi nodded toward the back patio.

  Glancing back, Griffin raised eyebrows. “Now that’s interesting.”

  Range Metcalfe, the pouting brother whom Griffin had to give credit to—he did, after all, brave a guerilla facility to rescue Canyon—sat talking with the Aussie’s sister. The one Marshall had taken a liking to.

  “Not sure if I approve.” Seemed wrong for someone to go after the Kid’s girl. But then…she couldn’t exactly stay single forever, not being that pretty and sweet.

  Okay, enough thinking. Time for some action. Griffin pushed to his feet, clapped his hands to Dante, who was already out on the back forty. “A’right. Who’s up for some football?”

  His son threw the ball in a perfect arc.

  Heading into the yard, much like heading into the field, Griffin knew that you might knock them sideways a bit. You might take down Nightshade. But the team, the men, the heart, would always beat on.

  Dear readers,

  Thank you for journeying with the Nightshade team, for opening your minds and hearts to the great toll war/combat takes on our men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces. Though I am incredibly sad this series has ended, please remember that we have heroes out there still fighting for your rights and freedom.

  It’s one thing for me to write about our military heroes and for you to read about them. It’s one thing to say I/we support them, but it’s another to put that talk into action. I’d like to challenge you to take that knowledge and compassion one step further—adopt a soldier!

  Rapid-Fire Fiction is partnering with Soldiers’ Angels, a volunteer nonprofit organization that provides comfort and aid to our troops and their families. You can adopt a soldier and positively impact his/her life simply by following the link below and signing up to send cards, letters, and care packages to a soldier today. They’re sacrificing their lives every day for you. Won’t you please sacrifice time and a few dollars for them? Regardless of whether you partner and become a Soldier’s Angel, please commit to pray for our soldiers, both those abroad and those at home, those who are active duty and those who
are veterans. They need your thoughts, prayers, and support!

  Blessings in Christ,

  Ronie

  http://www.soldiersangels.org Soldiers’ Angels is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and their families. Founded in 2003 by the mother of two American soldiers, its hundreds of thousands of Angel volunteers assist veterans and wounded and deployed personnel and their families in a variety of unique and effective ways.

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Each of the Discarded Heroes books tackles post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a different way with the hope that readers will become more aware that trauma endured by those in combat and those who face terrifying situations comes in many forms. Have you experienced a traumatic event?

  2. Firethorn addresses the issue of denial. Griffin rarely deals with his issues, instead believing that once he is “past” them, there is no need to look back. He thinks it isn’t worth his energy or focus, yet the pain and the repercussions of not adequately dealing with those issues leave him unable to relate to others well. Is there something in your life that you have pushed aside and not really dealt with?

  3. Unhealed hurts and unforgiveness can lead to bitterness, which is detrimental to mental health. In fact, Katherine Piderman, PhD, staff chaplain at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, offers this list of the benefits of forgiveness:

  Letting go of grudges and bitterness makes way for compassion, kindness, and peace. Forgiveness can lead to:

  • healthier relationships

  • greater spiritual and psychological well-being

  • less stress and hostility

  • lower blood pressure

  • fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and chronic pain

  • lower risk of alcohol and substance abuse*

  Jesus said, “If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14–15).

  Is there someone you need to forgive, perhaps even yourself, and move on to a healthier mind, body, and spirit?

  4. If you have read the other books in the Discarded Heroes series, you have seen a recurring element of the Nightshade men making sacrifices for one another and for loved ones. In John 15:13, Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” It is impossible to know with 100 percent certainty what we would do in situations like these, but do you feel one life is worth trading for another? In light of your answer, how would you respond to Christ’s sacrifice for you?

  5. As a military brat, I grew up around a large diversity of races and cultures. My father was in the military and was exposed to these same experiences, yet he held tightly to many prejudices. Jesus says in John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” And Acts 10:34–35 says, “Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.’”

  It’s clear that God shows no partiality regarding skin color but rather regarding the condition of the heart. Have you encountered discrimination or prejudice? If so, how have you handled it? Also, how can we as Christians show the love of Christ and do as we are commanded: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19)?

  6. One very important character trait for Griffin is respect, which directly ties into honor (as with the Marines). After a tragedy diverts his life from his prideful ways, Griffin does his best to live a life of honor. In Firethorn, events happen that systematically disassemble the reputation he has built over the last dozen or so years. Such is life. It does not take into consideration our careful planning and future goals. Have you had experiences like this? Have you seen all your diligence undone in one unexpected or tragic incident? How have you handled it?

  7. Firethorn sees the return of characters from throughout the series (this was so much fun for me—I hope you enjoyed it as well!). In bringing them back, I sought to show reconciliation of family relationships. Families are extremely instrumental in the development of who we become, but they are not the determining factor. In Firethorn you meet Scott Callaghan. An illegitimate son, he has worked to overcome his father’s legacy. We have a choice and—thankfully—through Christ, the power, to break devastating family cycles. What legacy are you creating?

  8. Kacie/Kazi survived a brutal experience in her teen years, and now she has an inclination to maintain control in every situation. This is a common coping mechanism, one that even I struggle with (silly me, thought I could control my characters—ha!). Unfortunately, control is an illusion. We, in fact, can only control one thing—ourselves (how we react, respond, etc.). Do you struggle with control?

  9. The members of Nightshade travel the globe and have the opportunity to experience various cultures and diversity. In Kazi’s line of work, she does the same thing. Do you enjoy traveling and meeting others from different cultures? What is the most unique culture you have encountered?

  10. At first Kazi is angered that Griffin calls her Baby Girl. What significance does this have to her? Do you have a pet name that is special to you, either yours or one you’ve given to someone else? (Hint: In chapter 21, what does “dziewczyna” mean?)

  11. In chapter 28, Griffin and Kazi have a heart-to-heart conversation, which draws out their attraction to each other. Griffin shows great restraint during the rooftop scene. Why does he do this? Do you think it is the right decision? What impact does it have on Kazi?

  12. The cemetery featured in Firethorn, Shanganagh Cemetery outside of Dublin, is where I buried my mom in 1995. Just as Kazi said good-bye to her best friend, we are—at least for now—saying good-bye to the members of Nightshade. So let’s give them a bit of honor: Which character was your favorite? Why? If you’ll e-mail me your response, I’ll post your “In Memorial” on my blog!

  * * *

  *http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/forgiveness/MH00131

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  An Army brat, Ronie Kendig married an Army veteran. They have four children and two dogs. She has a BS in Psychology, speaks to various groups, is active with the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and mentors new writers. Ronie can be found at www.roniekendig.com or www.discardedheroes.com.