Patricia Potter - A Soldier's Journey

But then she probably couldn’t sleep, either. “That would be fine,” Andy said, hoping the delay in her reply didn’t say more than her actual words.

“Would one be okay? I can take you to Maude’s or we can stay at the cabin. You decide.”

She needed to get out. She knew that. She couldn’t retreat into a safe place again, as she had done with the hospital. She had taken one step forward in coming here. It was time to take another. “Mr. Rowland mentioned Maude’s.”

“Good. I can show you around town. I have to warn you, though, that everyone will want to meet you. They mean well, but they sort of take vets under their collective wing whether or not you want to be there.”

“I’m warned,” Andy replied.

“Nate also said you have a dog,” Eve said.

“Yes, Joseph. He’s a service dog, although not the kind that can go in restaurants.” Apparently the law only permitted dogs for physically handicapped vets.

“Here he can,” the mayor said. “Maude has a soft spot for dogs, and the mayor’s just fine with it. Your predecessors both take their dogs inside.”

“Then, I will,” Andy said. “We’re new to each other and this is a strange place for him.” For both of us.

“You’ll have to introduce him to my crew,” Eve said.

“Crew?”

“Five dogs,” she said. “And a cat.” She hesitated, then added, “Well, one is strictly my husband’s. Amos was a military dog and highly disciplined. The rest of my group are rather unruly.”

“Sounds...interesting.”

“Terrifying sometimes. I’ll be there at one.”

The phone clicked off.

Andy took a deep breath. Had she done the right thing in agreeing to go to a public place? What if she had a panic attack? She knew, though, she had to get busy doing something or she could sink back in inertia.

“What do you think, Joseph?” Despite her vow to the contrary, she found herself talking to Joseph often.

Joseph stared at her with those penetrating blue eyes. He barked.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” she said. She filled Joseph’s water dish, then went into the bedroom. She opened the duffel and took out a sweater and a clean pair of jeans and headed for the shower.

* * *

THE MAYOR ARRIVED just as Andy’s watch hit 1:00 p.m.

She didn’t know what she’d expected, but when she opened the door, she saw a tall, attractive woman with shoulder-length dark hair, a pug nose and a wide smile.

“I’m Eve,” the mayor said simply.

“And I’m Andy,” Andy said.

“Andy it is. Welcome back to the civilian world.” Eve leaned down and rubbed Joseph’s ears. “And who is this?” she asked as Joseph frantically wagged his tail.

“Joseph,” Andy replied. “He’s only been with me a short time.”

“Ever had a dog before?”

“No. Dogs and the army don’t go together, and my family never had one when I was young.”

“Watch out. They steal your heart in no time.”

Joseph’s tail wagged happily as they walked to the pickup parked next to the Bucket. Eve opened the passenger door and invited Joseph inside and showed him a spot behind the front passenger seat. Andy climbed in after him.

“Thank you for including him,” Andy said. “And thanks for the use of the cabin.”

“That’s my husband’s doing.”

“Why?” The question was abrupt and probably rude, but it had been pricking at her.

“His best friend owned the cabin and was killed saving Josh’s life. Josh had a lot of grief and anger when he left the army. He directed it toward rehabbing the cabin he inherited from his buddy. Rehabbing it was therapeutic for Josh, but when we married he moved in with me. The cabin needed a new resident, and Josh wanted something good to come out of a tragedy.”

Andy felt an instant kinship with the owner. No wonder she’d felt more at home here than she’d expected.

They left the cabin, and Eve drove out of the driveway. “That’s a great car,” she said of the yellow Volkswagen. “My husband will go crazy when he sees it. So will Stephanie, our veterinarian. How old is it?”

“Nearly forty,” Andy said.

She didn’t add that she’d feared she wouldn’t be able to drive it again after the injury to her hand, but she had practiced for hours until she felt confident she could steady the wheel while working the clutch.

“I’ll give you a quick tour,” Eve said, interrupting that thought. “The second cottage down from you belongs to Mrs. Byars,” Eve explained. “Her son was killed in the service, and she loves veterans. She’ll probably be by in the next few days with something wonderful to eat.”

They reached the end of the road. A park was on the right. “That building is our community center. If you don’t have a computer, you can use one there. It’s free. That’s also where the veterans in town meet every Monday night. I’m barred, but you’ll be invited.”

Eve turned right toward the center, then a left. “This is Main Street,” Eve said. Andy looked at the modest houses lining the street for six blocks before hitting businesses on the left side of the road. “That’s the city hall, along with the police and fire departments. The police are paid, but the firefighters are all volunteers except for the chief. He’s a retired firefighter from Pueblo and receives a small salary for keeping the equipment and conducting training.

“On the left is the veterinarian practice. Stephanie Phillips is one of the best and most caring vets you’ll find. A few doors down is Doc Bradley. He’s nearing seventy, and a bit grouchy, but he’s a very good general practitioner and can usually be reached day or night. In between the vet and doctor is the real estate and insurance office. A small bank branch is located inside the building.

“There’s also a small grocery, a general store and a hardware store. The pharmacy around the corner has office supplies, books and small tech supplies.”

She parked in a space with a reserved sign in front of the city hall. “One of the few benefits of being mayor,” Eve said. “Maude’s is across the street,” she added.

Andy felt comfortable the moment she stepped inside the diner. It looked much like the one back home where all the kids went after school.

The diner was busy, but a middle-aged woman who looked as if she was fond of her own food met them. “I’m Maude. You must be Josh’s new veteran,” she said, then looked down at the dog. “Looks like a fine service dog,” she added with a wink. She didn’t wait for an answer but led them to the back booth.

After they were seated, Andy asked what was good.

“Josh would say steaks, but I like patty melts.”

“Patty melts?”

“Hamburger with onion and melted cheese on rye bread. They are sinful, and I try to limit myself to one a week. I don’t always succeed, but I do try.”

“You sold me,” Andy said, and they ordered.

She wasn’t sure how she felt about Maude already knowing who she was. She’d always been a private person except for the close-knit surgical teams with which she’d served...

The memories came flooding back. Her hand crushed the napkin in her lap. Joseph moved closer to her, put his head on her thigh.

She looked up and saw Eve’s concerned gaze. “My first husband died six years ago,” she said in a low voice that wouldn’t carry beyond the booth. “We were childhood sweethearts. I loved him very much. He was a coach, ran in marathons, and I thought he would live forever. He died one afternoon while on the field with the football team he coached. He was running with them when he suddenly dropped to the ground. A heart defect no one had detected. If it hadn’t been for Nick, my son... I don’t know what I would have done.”