She had so many questions, and not all of them pertained to the war.
She wanted to understand the kind of man whoâd go out of his way to help an injured child. The kind of man who, was willing to lay down his life for his brother. The kind of man who could bring life coursing back through her system simply by looking at her.
But Annaâs questions would have to remain unanswered. Right now, she needed to focus on five-year-old Ali.
Anna did plan to thank David again for his help in getting Ali here. And she hoped David would open up to her about more than just the little boy. Anna had a feeling David could use a friend. Maybe she was just imagining the way his dark eyes gleamed with interest when he looked at her. But every time he glanced her way, he was smiling.
Homecoming Heroes: Saving children and finding love deep in the heart of Texas
Mission: MotherhoodâMarta Perry (LI#452) July 2008
Lone Star SecretâLenora Worth (LI#456) August 2008
At His CommandâBrenda Coulter (LI#460) September 2008
A Matter of the HeartâPatricia Davids (LI#464) October 2008
A Texas ThanksgivingâMargaret Daley (LI#468) November 2008
Homefront HolidayâJillian Hart (LI#472) December 2008
has written more than thirty books, most of those for Steeple Hill. She also works freelance for a local magazine, where she had written monthly opinion columns, feature articles and social commentaries. She also wrote for the local paper for five years. Married to her high school sweetheart for thirty-two years, Lenora lives in Louisiana and has two grown children and a cat. She loves to read, take long walks and sit in her garden.
Chief Warrant Officer David Ryland glanced around the sterile waiting room at Fort Bonnell Medical Center, taking in the crowd of well-wishers gathered around the little boy on the stretcher. The circuslike atmosphere made him feel a bit frazzled and edgy, but then heâd just landed on American soilâon good olâ Texas soilâafter flying medevac Black Hawks for eighteen months in the war-torn Middle East. He had a right to be edgy.
Moving his gaze from the excited group hovering near the doctor and little Ali Tabiz Willis, David found himself staring straight into the blue-green eyes of Anna Terenkov. Anna looked away, then quickly glanced back at David, a slight smile on her heart-shaped face.
David studied her closely, deciding heâd better dust off his social skills now that he was home. And his flirting skills. Because he definitely wanted to get to know the woman responsible for helping to make this day happen. David had heard about the legendary humanitarian who ran the Children of the Day charity, but seeing her in person was a whole different matter. She was not what he had expected.
She was even better.
Her blond hair was pulled back in a haphazard coil held up by an intricate silver clip. She was petite, but her calm, assured presence made her seem taller. She wore loose-fitting green cargo pants and a crisp white button-up blouse. And around her neck she wore a choker-style strand of dark leather, from which hung a chunky sterling-silver pendant with the cross and the lance of Golgotha set against an etched background. He couldnât move his gaze from her.
Caitlyn Villard, the Care Coordinator for Children of the Day, and Army Chaplain Steve Windham introduced Caitlynâs twin nieces to Ali. While the precocious five-year-olds wished him well in Arabic and English, David watched Annaâs face. She lit up around children, her smile turning to sunshine. Heâd noticed that the minute heâd exited the plane with little Ali earlier that morning.
âCW3 David Ryland, maâam,â David had said by way of a greeting back at the airfield. âDelivering one Ali Tabiz, as ordered.â
Anna grinned as she studied the three square bars on his insignia. âIt wasnât exactly an order, Chief. More of a hope sent out on a wing and a prayer.â
David nodded, liking the way the slight lilt of her foreign accent mixed nicely with a little bit of Texas twang. Heâd learned in all the back and forth coordination for Aliâs trip that she was Russian and had lived there until her early teens, when her father had been killed in Afghanistan.
âWell, I got the wings secured and I guess you took care of the prayer, maâam.â
She touched her fingers to the cross at her neck. âWe all had a big part in that.â Reaching out to shake his hand, she said, âThank you so much. And please donât call me maâam. Iâm Anna.â