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 stood at the counter a minute longer, watching Ward through the window in the door of the store. He smiled and walked back into the office to tell his dad the good news.Chapter 15


Ward hummed as he walked down the street toward Millie’s. He just couldn’t help it. Tyler had seemed eager to have dinner with him to tell the boys the good news about the puppy. Ward was beginning to dare to believe that it would work out for them.


He entered the café and the the hostess came over to him.


“Just you tonight?” she asked, smiling.


“No, I’m waiting for my…” In the mood he was in, he almost said family, but then said, “uh, friends,” instead. “There’ll be four of us.”


“Sure, follow me,” she said and led Ward to a round table in the middle of the room. She placed four menus and asked, “Is this okay?”


Chapter 34