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

They finished their meal and drove back to the mill. As they arrived and parked, Ward saw Tyler run out of the office, jump in his pickup, and peel out of the lot. Alarmed, Ward got out of his truck and headed for the office. Avery followed.


They’d just about reached the door when an angry Hank Erlich stormed out. He looked at Ward with contempt and snarled, “Your boyfriend’s kid beat my boy up at school!” He sprinted to his Silverado.


“That guy works here, right?” Avery asked.


Ward sighed. “Yeah, he does.” He watched Hank drive off in the same direction Tyler had taken. Shit! What else is gonna happen?Chapter 20


Tyler arrived at Rosewood Elementary School and went directly to the school office. There he was told by the secretary to have a seat, and the principal, Mr. Jennings, would be with him shortly.


Chapter 45