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

“It’s hard when your children get teased,” his mother said. You want to wrap them in plastic so nothing can harm them. But in the end that doesn’t teach them how to deal with life. A father’s first instinct is to protect his children, so it’s not unusual for you to feel worried.”


She bent and kissed him, then gave the dogs a pet. “I’ll say good night then.”


“Night,” Ward said. “Love you.”


“I love you, too, Edward.” She smiled lovingly at him, then turned and left the shed.


It wasn’t until after she’d gone that Ward realized what she’d actually said. He hadn’t mentioned Tyler being worried about the boys, only that he, Ward, was concerned. She’d said something about his kids and it not being unusual for him, for a father, to be worried.


He looked at the door through which she had departed.


Chapter 42