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

“Can’t complain,” Ward said with a forced smile.


Playing it cool, are you? Think we don’t know what you’ve been saying? Ward thought as he walked away.


When Ward arrived at the delivery dock, he picked up the schedule of the day’s deliveries. He scanned the page, only partially taking in what was written there. Part of his mind was reviewing the morning’s interactions with the men, including Hank. Nothing had seemed out of the ordinary.


Maybe when he talked with Tyler that night he could reassure his lover that what had happened was just a blip on the radar and they could let it pass. One of the benefits could even be that Tyler had come out to his sons and they, apparently, were okay with it.


“Hello! Are you Ward?” came a voice behind him.


Ward turned to see an extraordinarily handsome young man walking toward him. He was almost blatantly checking Ward out. Ward’s gaydar pinged loudly.


Chapter 43