Page 28 of Small Town Sash

Hadley chuckled as she typed back, "Surviving."

As expected, Braden came back with some humor of his own. "Just surviving? Should I send Dash over with a care package?"

The thought of Dash bounding up to her door with a basket tied around his neck made Hadley laugh out loud.

"Tell Dash that won't be necessary," she replied.

"Will do," Braden texted back. "Hang in there, Hadley."

As she put down the phone, a strange sense of calm washed over her. Yes, things were overwhelming sometimes—more often than not—but at least she had friends like Braden, who never failed to make her feel better. Even though it would be easier to give up, she knew that the new path she was on made her feel better about herself. She wasn't willing to give that up for anyone, not even her mom.

Chapter Eight

"Okay, Dash," Braden commanded with a smirk, "find the queen."

Dash's ears perked up, and he scampered through the bustling pageant rehearsal hall, weaving between a parade of sequined gowns and towering heels. At his side, Hadley chuckled, her black hair bouncing as she dodged a rogue makeup artist.

"Is this part of the official training?" Hadley asked, her blue eyes gleaming with amusement as she followed Braden through the chaos.

"Absolutely," Braden shot back, "search and rescue...of beauty queens. It's chapter seven in the manual."

"Very funny, Sergeant Harding." Hadley's peach-colored cheeks flared with a smile. "And what would your commanding officer say?"

"He'd say, 'Wilder, you're distracting my best man,'" Braden jested, but his playful tone dipped into something softer, more genuine. "But honestly, this is the most fun I've had all week."

"Even more than heroic feats like sniffing out bombs?"

"Definitely beats the lectures," he teased. "Don't tell anyone, but Instructor Bowman has a monotone voice. It's all I can do to stay awake."

"Is that why you get so many cups of coffee at the Coffee Loft?"

Braden nodded. "I need the walk and the caffeine."

Hadley's laughter mingled with the pre-pageant pandemonium, a sweet sound that made Braden's heart forget its marching orders for just a moment. As they reached the stage, reality tapped them both on the shoulder, reminding them of where they stood and what was at stake.

"Braden," Hadley said, her voice suddenly serious, "we need to talk about?—"

"Expectations, right? Yours, mine, the whole shebang?" Braden interjected, reading the hesitancy in her gaze.

"Exactly." Hadley glanced around the room, filled with prying eyes and whispering lips. "My mom, the judges...it's like everyone has a script for me, and I'm just trying to remember my lines."

"Tell me about it," Braden sighed, raking a hand through his black hair. "The academy, my unit...I have to be the guy who's great with a K9 partner. Lives depend on it."

"More like great with Dash, and that's easy because he's a great dog," Hadley corrected him, a playful edge returning to her voice.

"Thanks, Wilder," Braden smiled, but the weight of their shared struggle pressed down on the moment. "So, how do we play this scene, then? The one where the soldier and the beauty queen rise above?"

"Carefully and quietly," Hadley answered, biting her lip.

"Sounds like a plan," Braden agreed, though the uncertainty of their next steps was as clear as the sparkle on the pageant tiara.

Dash returned then, a triumphant bark announcing his arrival as he sat at Hadley's feet, his own version of a salute to the queen before him.

"Looks like Dash has cast his vote," Braden whispered, the corners of his mouth lifting in spite of the tension.

"Smart dog," Hadley replied, bending down to scratch behind the golden retriever's ears. "Maybe we should put him in charge."

"Wouldn't be the worst idea," Braden mused, watching Hadley with an admiration that went deeper than any title or rank.

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