Page 35 of The Texas Hero's Homecoming

“And that means I will be up early again. So, you two can keep on jawing, but I am beat. Sam, again, thank you.” Her papa pulled Sam in for a hug and patted his back, like he was a child. Then he turned and kissed her on the cheek. “Good night.Te quiero.See you in the morning.”

“Night, Papa. Love you too.”

Sam picked up his hat. “I’d better get going too.”

“So soon?”

“It’s a workday tomorrow.”

“Won’t you stay and have a cup of coffee?”

“Aren’t you tired? You just fed an army.” He grinned.

“I’d love to sit down and have coffee. Not alone.”

“Oh, so I’m yournot alone, buddy.”

“No, just my buddy.”

Sam’s brows lifted and he studied her. “Okay. Thanks.”

It only took her a minute to get a fresh pot of coffee brewing. Sam stood beside her, watching. If only he knew how his close presence affected her. If only, he’d let down his guard and see her as someone other than Joe’s little sister.

“Have a seat. I’ll bring it to you.”

“Uh-uh. You’ve worked all day and cooked all night. I can serve you. Go, sit.”

“But you worked too.”

He gestured to the kitchen chair. “Go.”

“Okay, geesh. You’re such a boss.” But a smile emerged from deep in her heart and she did as she was told.

Sam poured the coffee and brought over a bowl of individual coffee creamers that came in miniature cups. “No pumpkin lattes, but we can have some flavoring.”

“French vanilla or mocha?” she asked, as she rifled through them.

“Surprise me,” Sam said, putting the coffeepot down and coming to sit down with her.

She dumped two vanilla cups into each of their coffees and stirred his, then hers.

They sipped coffee for a while and she enjoyed just being with Sam. “Thanks for staying,” she said after a few moments.

“Usually, you’re shuffling me outta here, so I guess I’m surprised.”

“I am too.” She took another sip of the steaming coffee, leaving it go at that.

“We got a lot accomplished today,” he said.

“Thanks to you.”

“Thanks to everyone, including you. You always step right in and do what needs doing.”

“Yeah, I step in it, a lot,” she said smiling.

Sam smiled back.

“You don’t talk much about your time overseas. I’m kind of curious about it.”

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