A broken-hearted Ward Cartwright left town to join the army when his boyfriend Tyler Hughes turned his back on their love and married a woman. Ten years later, Tyler is a widower with two young boys, and Ward has returned home. He is hopeful he can re-establish his relationship with Tyler. Even though a decade has passed, Tyler still feels tied to the family-owned feed mill. He has folks depending on the mill for employment, there are his children to consider, they live in a small town, and ... But despite this, Tyler finds there are plenty of benefits to giving Ward a job in the mill -- lots of out-of-the-way places to explore Ward’s army-honed, muscular body. Just when Tyler resolves to live more openly with Ward, rumors begin to surface, not just at the mill, but at his sons’ school. Ward knows the upcoming battle is just as serious as anything he’s faced in Afghanistan. Instead of fighting for his country, the soldier is fighting for his lover’s heart. Will Ward finally emerge victorious, or will Tyler’s self-doubt and fear of prejudice win out again?

Welcome Home, Soldier

Tyler wondered what time Ward had gone to Jack’s bedroom. The door to Tyler’s room was still closed. As he lay, luxuriating in the memories of the previous night, he heard someone running down the hall.


Jack burst through the door and bounded up on the bed. Tyler engaged him in a morning tickle. Then he realized Eddie hadn’t yet come into the room. The boys usually came in together for a tussle on weekend mornings.


Just then Eddie appeared in the doorway.


“Hey,” Tyler called to him. “What’s up?”


“He’s sleeping in Jack’s room, remember?”


“Maybe he’s in the bathroom, or in the living room,” Tyler suggested.


“Nope, I looked all over the house and he’s not here.”


Tyler’s heart froze. What was going on? Had Ward changed his mind? Just as panic was setting in, Ward appeared at the door behind Eddie, holding two large bags. The smell of sausages and pancakes filled the air.


Chapter 7