Page 43 of The Texas Hero's Homecoming

He glanced at the words displayed in dark blue on the sturdy material.REAL MEN BAKE. Under that was a picture of a pumpkin pie and below it was Joe’s name.

“This was Joe’s,” she said. “I think Papa would love to see you in it.”

Sam looked over at her father sitting at the end of the long kitchen table. He was smiling and nodding his head.

“Here,” she said. “I’ll put it on you.”

Sam rolled his eyes but bent so she could put it over his head. She wrapped her arms around his back, coming up real close to his strong chest. He peered down at her, their eyes locking. Her heart beat double-time. Maybe the joke was on her. She could hardly breathe being this close to Sam. Finally, she caught herself, but not before seeing smug looks on Taylor and Julie’s faces.

Her arms around him, she tied the apron at his back and prayed her cheeks weren’t turning red. “T-there you go.” She stepped away and glanced at Nicole, smiling and shaking her head.

“Well played, Autumn.”

“What?” Sam turned around to his sister.

“Nothing, Sam. Just that you look kinda cute in Joe’s apron.” All the girls agreed.

“Cute?” He made a face.

“Uh, let’s get back to the pies. Or we’re gonna have a long night ahead of us.”

But she didn’t think Sam looked cute in that apron.

With his sleeves rolled up, his biceps flexing, he looked irresistible.

And that was all on her.

*

On Friday, Autumnstood by Dustin’s side in the principal’s office, her arm on his shoulder, disregarding the school’s policy about physical contact with a student. Sometimes, a child needed comfort, and this was one of those times. Dustin’s tear-soaked face tugged at her heart. She was new to teaching and this situation warranted her utmost patience.

As soon as Dustin’s father walked in, the boy rushed into his arms. “Daddy. You came.”

Mike Rendell’s face squeezed tight as he hugged his son to his chest. “Of course, I came. I’ll always come.”

Autumn bit her lip. A weaker woman might’ve cried. Not only was Dustin’s father here, he wasn’t in his wheelchair. Mike Rendell towered over her by a good three inches and she assumed he was wearing a prosthetic limb. “I came as soon as I could. Mommy is visiting your auntie Liz in Whiskey River.” He turned to her. “What happened to my son?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Rendell. There was an incident at lunchtime. Dustin was pushed to the ground by one of the other students. And when Dustin got up, he told the boy to stop, but the boy pushed him down again. Is that right, Dustin? Is that how it happened?” she asked.

Dustin lifted his face to his father. “I got up, Daddy. And tried to walk away, the way you and Mommy said to, but Howie pushed me down again, so I pushed him back.” Dustin put his head down, his breath catching. “I guess I shouldn’t have pushed him.”

She exchanged a glance with Mike and then he lifted his boy’s chin. “Probably not, son.”

“But when you were a soldier, you fought back, didn’t you?”

“That’s true, Dustin. Soldiers fight, because they have orders to, to protect the country. But this is a little different. Still, you tried to do the right thing and that’s good. Now, do you think the boy who pushed you is happy right now? He’s in trouble with the principal and with his parents, I’m sure.”

“No, Daddy.”

“That’s right. You never want to start a fight. I know it’s hard to walk away, Dustin. But maybe you should have gone to your teacher.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Were you hurt?”

“Only a little. When I fell on my butt.”

Mike gave his son a crooked smile. “And the other boy?”

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