A Family For The Soldier

A Cowboy’s Homecoming

Since his return to Little Horn, Texas, former special ops soldier Grady Stillwater has felt lost. Stillwater Ranch needs his attention—and so does his brother’s abandoned baby. But the injuries Grady sustained in Afghanistan have skewered his confidence. Physical therapist Chloe Miner offers hope and guidance—and a balm for the cowboy’s wounded heart. Little does he know that Chloe is hiding a life-altering secret of her own. The sweet girl he remembers from high school has a baby on the way, and she may need Grady every bit as much as he does her…

“You’ve had patients more reluctant than me?”

“Oh, yes,” she said with a definite nod. “There are more people who don’t like to admit they need help.”

“It’s hard,” he admitted. “I didn’t want to admit in front of you that I wasn’t as strong as I used to be. That I was weak.”

“I’ve always thought that it takes great strength of character for anyone to recognize honestly what they can and can’t do.” She gave him an encouraging smile. “Some take longer than others, but you did come to that point, and I think that’s honorable and manly.”

“I think what I struggled with most was I felt I wasn’t the man I used to be.”

“None of us are what we used to be,” she said. “We’ve both come through our lives with wounds mental as well as physical.”

“What wounds do you carry?”

Her heart suddenly felt as if it was pushing heavily against her chest, filling it with its racing beat. She took a slow breath. Should she tell him now?

* * *

Lone Star Cowboy League:

Bighearted ranchers in small-town Texas

A Reunion for the Rancher by Brenda Minton, October 2015

A Doctor for the Nanny by Leigh Bale, November 2015 A Ranger for the Holidays by Allie Pleiter, December 2015 A Family for the Soldier by Carolyne Aarsen, January 2016 A Daddy for Her Triplets by Deb Kastner, February 2016 A Baby for the Rancher by Margaret Daley, March 2016

CAROLYNE AARSEN and her husband, Richard, live on a small ranch in northern Alberta, where they have raised four children and numerous foster children and are still raising cattle. Carolyne crafts her stories in an office with a large west-facing window, through which she can watch the changing seasons while struggling to make her words obey. Visit her website at carolyneaarsen.com.

A Family

for the Soldier

Carolyne Aarsen

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

—Isaiah 40:31

To my dear husband,

who knows everything and still loves me.

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Carolyne Aarsen for her contribution to the Lone Star Cowboy League miniseries.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

The hospital room felt suddenly too small.

Chloe clutched the chart of her patient, Ben Stillwater, as his twin brother, Grady, limped through the doorway of Ben’s room. In spite of the single crutch supporting him, Grady’s presence filled the space.

He stood taller than she remembered. Broader across the shoulders. His eyes had taken on a flat look, though, all emotion leeched out of them; lines of weariness bracketed his mouth. It was as if his time serving in special ops in Afghanistan had shown him sights he wanted to forget.

“Hello, Chloe,” he said. His chocolate-brown eyes, shaded by dark eyebrows, drew her in as his eyes shifted to her left hand. Chloe unconsciously flexed her fingers. Though her divorce from Jeremy had been finalized a mere four months ago, Chloe had removed her ring eight months before when she’d discovered Jeremy had been cheating on her.

“A lot of things have happened since you went away from Little Horn,” she said, setting Ben’s chart aside, then covering his legs with a sheet. He looked so pale compared to his twin brother, who now joined her at the foot of the bed.

She had come into Ben Stillwater’s hospital room hoping to do some physical therapy with him. But for the moment, all thoughts of her patient fled as the man who had once held her heart came to stand by her side.

“I know. My cousin Eva getting married, among many other things,” he said.

All of Little Horn had buzzed with the news of the injured vet’s return from Afghanistan two days ago, the day after the New Year had been rung in, the day of his cousin’s wedding.

Eva Stillwater and Tyler Grainger had been engaged since Thanksgiving, but they had surprised everyone by announcing that they’d decided to get married as soon as her cousin Grady could come home.

“I heard it was a lovely ceremony,” Chloe said. “I’m happy for them.”

“Me, too. I think they wanted to start adoption procedures as soon as possible. That’s why she stepped up the date.” He held her gaze. “It’s good to see you again.”