Page 10 of Rangers Mountain Rescue
And somehow…
That hurts more than if he did.
The chickens needed feeding.
The two cows—Desi and Lucy—were probably already standing by the fence waiting for grain.
The grass had grown high around the garden.
And the weeds…
Lord, the weeds were winning the war.
I leaned my head back against the seat.
For one second, I allowed myself to think about him.
Joseph.
My husband.
My Navy SEAL.
Everyone else had called himTank.
To me he had just been Joseph.
The man who could fix anything.
The man who laughed like the world was a good place.
The man who promised me we’d grow old together.
He’d been gone seven years.
Seven years.
And somehow the ache hadn’t faded.
It had just… settled deeper.
Dylan opened the truck door.
I glance over at Dylan as he climbs out of the truck, Buddy already circling him like a guard dog.
He looks so small out here.
Too small for everything life has already handed him.
My chest tightens.
“Hey,” I call softly.
He looks up immediately.
Always listening for me.
Always watching.
