Page 21 of Pick Your Spot

“Not yet. I didn’t know about it before today.” She hadn’t known about a lot of the businesses or people until today, but she didn’t add that.

Knox nodded. “Then we’ll have to check it out. I think my family is going to be surprised at how much is going on in this quiet area of Vermont. And wait until I tell Dodge about meeting Elina. I’m so glad she’s okay.”

She couldn’t imagine. “You and the others have done so much good in this world.”

He shrugged. “It was the job.”

She could see he was uncomfortable with the praise, so she turned the topic. “Who’s Dodge?”

That brought a smile. “He was one of my teammates overseas. We spent two tours together, and he’s a close friend. If my family decides to go ahead with the farm, I’m going to talk Ford into coming up to help fix it all up. He’s a construction guy.”

“Ford?”

Knox laughed. “Sorry. It’s an army thing. Everyone gets a call sign. It’s usually short and easy to call out. Keeps our real names quiet and is almost always chosen by other people on the team. We never get to choose our own. My buddy’s name is Ford Evans. Because of his name, the guys chose a rival truck company. So he’s known as Dodge.”

Thea laughed. “I wonder how he likes that?”

Knox shrugged. “I think it drives him nuts some days, but we all get used to the call signs.”

“And from what everyone said today, I’m guessing your call sign is Annie?”

He grimaced. “Sure is. Like I said, we don’t get to choose our own.”

“So why Annie? What’s the story with that?”

“My buddy Ford’s younger sister is a big fan of Broadway and musicals. She’s always singing. Apparently, one of her favorites isAnnie. When Ford mentioned my name to her, she started singing “It’s a Hard Knock Life,” but she changed Knock to Knox. Ford thought it was hilarious and I’ve been Annie ever since.”

While it might have been a silly name, the warmth of his voice as he explained made it clear he really didn’t mind.

“And that explains why you know the songs well enough to whistle them while walking through an orchard.”

He grinned. “Guess so.”

Thea had been given a random name when she’d been found as an infant. She didn’t know if there was a meaning behind either her first or last name. She always liked her name and wanted to think that some kind person had named her after someone they liked.

But she’d never been close enough to anyone to earn a nickname. Maybe one day.

Chapter7

Pick Away At It

Once they were back in his truck and heading home, Knox worried that seeing his friends had overwhelmed or upset Thea in some way. She’d become very quiet during their lunch in the Saloon. She might simply be an introvert who disliked being in large groups. So far he’d only seen her when it was just the two of them. Unless Fox the dog counted as a third.

“You okay? I know that was a bit much meeting with all my friends. Not quite what you counted on when we headed out on a grocery run. I’m sorry if you were uncomfortable with all of that.”

She turned her head to look at him. He couldn’t spare more than a quick glance on the twisty roads but she appeared surprised at his question.

“I’m fine. Just not used to being around so many people at once.” Her laugh sounded self-deprecating. “I enjoyed learning more about you and your friends, but you’re all a little intimidating.”

“Intimidating?”

That same laugh. “Definitely. You’re all military heroes. You’ve spent years saving people and making the world a better place.”

He shrugged. “We just did our jobs.”

“You saved Elina’s life. And probably a ton more none of us know about. You’re like superheroes come to life. And the women are just as amazing.”

He frowned but she was now staring out the window and the words seemed to pour out of her. “I mean, Piper has made such a difference for a whole town of people. Branna runs her own business after losing everything and everyone. Isla works on blending wheat to feed the hungry of the world. Kimi saves animals and runs a petting farm as well as the animal therapy center with Garrett. Addy writes all kinds of amazing books and Elina is Paxi, a world-famous comic strip creator. So, yeah. Intimidating.”

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