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

“Probably a good idea to get rid of that load now, or I won’t be able to keep from hopping his bones at the mill,” Ward said to himself with a chuckle.


Ward climbed the steps to the front door of The Summerville Milling Company Store. The same carved, six foot bear still stood beside it holding a sign that read Welcome. The other side would read, Closed. He opened the door and went in. The ringing of the bell over the door alerted the two women working behind the front counter.


“Ward!” one of them shouted, came out from behind the counter, and ran to him, enveloping him in a huge hug.


“Hello, Sarah Anne,” Ward said, returning the hug.


Sarah Anne stepped back and surveyed him. “Well, being in the army sure hasn’t hurt you none. You look fabulous. As handsome as you were when we were in high school.”


She turned to the other young woman standing behind the counter smiling at them.


Chapter 13