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

His brother was tossing grain into the mangers for the cows when Ward came in. “Well, looky who’s here. Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. ‘Bout time you got that sorry butt of yours out here. Are you here to help or just observe before heading off to the mill?” Joe grinned.


“Who says I’m not gonna help? I’m here ain’t I? I can help with morning chores most days and some evenings, too, even if I am working at the mill.”


“We’ll see how long that lasts.” Joe went to the large sliding barn door at the end of the aisle and opened it. “Go get ‘em, guys,” he said to Zeta and Teller, the two border collies who’d been lying at the door waiting to be sent to drive the cattle in from pasture.


The two dogs were off in a flash. Joe walked out of the barn and into the milk house.


“He’s not sore at me for getting a job, is he?” Ward asked his dad.


Chapter 12