Page 34 of The Texas Hero's Homecoming

“We did. But this year, I didn’t think it was possible.”

“It’s possible. We’re gonna make it happen.”

This time she believed him. This time she trusted that Sam would make it happen.

“Oh, Sam.” She jumped into his arms and hugged his neck tight. “Thank you, thank you.” Joy spread throughout her body.

She felt like a kid again, a girl who’d been given a brand-new princess bicycle with colorful streamers. Yes, the farm would eventually be sold, but at least this one last weekend would be memorable. For her. For Papa. And it was all Sam’s doing.

It was at that exact moment that Autumn fell back in love with Sam. She didn’t fight it. She didn’t deny it. She didn’t even mind it. It came naturally and she accepted it. She made a vow right then and there. She was going to fight for Sam. To try to make him see that they belonged together. He wasn’t the only one who could make things happen.

She was pretty determined when she wanted something bad enough.

And she wanted Sam.

Bad.

Chapter Five

“Here you go.”Autumn handed Phillip Smith a heaping plate of pasta, smothered in marinara sauce. “And there’s plenty more if you want.”

Phillip, an African-American veteran who was once a bomb specialist in Afghanistan for fifteen years, now worked part-time for a general contractor. He was between jobs and had time to help out, since he lost his wife two years ago and was pretty much on his own. “Thank you, Autumn. This looks delicious.”

“And here you go, Brendan.” She set down another plate. “I put it together kinda quickly. I hope it’s good.”

“I’m sure it is,” Brendan McCaffrey said. “Thank you.”

Autumn invited all twelve of the vets to dinner and those who didn’t have someone waiting at home for them, stayed on for the meal. She was happy to feed these guys and equally sorry that they didn’t have family in Last Stand.

Sam had introduced her to many of the men. All had different stories, Brendan was divorced, and his children lived with his ex-wife in San Antonio. He only saw his teenage kids during holidays. Billy Morales served in the air force and was never married. Edward Morey had been a weapons expert in the army. Hersch and Jeffrey were Vietnam vets. Young as they were mentally, the two were among the oldest in actual age and Sam had assigned them easier tasks. They’d been happy to pitch in.

The kitchen was crowded, but it was a good kind of crowded. Sam stood against the counter, his pasta plate in hand, enjoying a conversation with Hersh. Her papa was making sure all the vets had drinks. Soda, beer, wine. Whatever they wanted. She’d never seen her papa so animated, so alert.

When all were served, Autumn handed Alicia and Seth a plate and she took one for herself. The three of them ate standing up, enjoying the kitchen chaos. “That Sam. He’s a good one,” Alicia said.

“He’s got skills, I’ll say that for him,” seth acknowledged. “Knows how to get things done.”

“It’s amazing he hasn’t gotten snatched up yet.” Alicia elbowed her. “By a female.”

“Okay, you two. I get the point,” Autumn said. Subtle matchmakers they were not.

“Maybe you could be a teensy bit nicer to him,” Alicia said.

Autumn took exception to that. “I’m nice.”

Seth’s brows lifted. “Are you?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Nice like a fox in a henhouse.” Seth smiled and took a step back from her.

He knew her too well. He was afraid of the swat that might have followed. But no swats today. Seth and Alicia were right. Sam was a good one.

Half an hour later, Alicia and Autumn served store-bought cookies to everyone. For a farmer, it was almost an original sin, but they didn’t have the time or energy to bake up a batch of fresh cookies. And little by little, the men took their leave, Sam and Papa at the door, shaking their hands and thanking them for their work today. Alicia and Seth helped with cleaning up the kitchen and then left.

“Well, I’m just tickled at their generosity,” Papa said, once everyone was gone.

“Yeah, but I think these men needed it as much as Messina Farms did,” Sam said. “They all came away with something positive. And they’re coming back tomorrow.”

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