Excerpt:
"Teacup! Teacup, stop begging. You know the rules. If
you don't behave, Clint's going to throw you outside when
he gets home."
Erica Michaels nudged the hundred-sixty-pound, black Fengjing
pig with her thigh to move her out of the way. Erica's husband
had bought the pig to raise for food, but she'd fallen in
love with the wrinkle-faced little piglet, and that was the
end of any thought of eating her. Now the behemoth thought
she was a lapdog, and also thought begging at the kitchen
counter was accepted.
Clint didn't need to know that she sometimes gave in to the
pig's pitiful pleas.
Teacup snorted her disgust at Erica, went to the kitchen
door, and plopped down with a groan. Erica grinned as she
started chopping fresh tomatoes for Clint's nachos.
Tonight was their fifth anniversary, and she was making all
his favorites. Nachos with fresh tomatoes, jalapenos and grilled
chicken, followed by the main coarse of roasted rack of lamb
and, for dessert, pecan pie with homemade vanilla bean ice
cream.
Her stomach growled just thinking about dessert. With a giggle,
she lifted another tomato and began chopping. Things had been
going so well this last year. They'd struggled since before
they got married to get the ranch off the ground, but now
everything was falling into place. Clint's bulls were producing
award-winning calves and, as soon as the snow completely cleared,
she had a list of students who wanted to start riding lessons.
Her watch beeped the hour. Six o'clock. Clint would be home
soon, and she was behind schedule. She wanted the nachos done
when he walked in. He'd had to go into Helena for an appointment,
but had called when he was done to tell her he was on his
way. The roads were clear, so he should be home any minute.
After wiping her hands on the towel hanging over the handle
of the oven, she went into the living room and flipped on
the evening news. She grabbed the lighter off the mantle and
lit the tapers on the dining room table, then headed back
into the kitchen.
The news anchor's voice came to her, and she idly listened
to the updates on the war while she chopped jalapenos. She
couldn't believe America was back in that God-forsaken place.
"We have a special report tonight," he said in
a voice she'd been listening to for years and still found
extremely sexy. He'd had a special report every night since
American forces reached Baghdad days earlier. "Three
U.S. soldiers will finally be coming home after going MIA
in enemy territory during the first Gulf War in 1991. But
unlike many in past conflicts, these three men won't be in
coffins draped with the American flag. No. Twelve years later,
First Sergeant Richard Williamson, Specialist Justin Blackwood,
and Corporal Zachary Collingsworth were found alive in an
undisclosed location inside Iraq. Details are sketchy, but
one correspondent embedded with troops on the front line tells
us there's plenty to celebrate in Baghdad following the fall
of Saddam Hussein's regime..."
The blade slipped and slashed into Erica's thumb. She let
out a yelp and dropped the knife, but her brain wasn't on
her wound. Justin Blackwood. The name echoed in her head as
she ran for the living room. The frontline reporter was talking,
but Erica didn't hear what he said. On the screen was a picture
of the three US solders. And there, in the middle, was Justin.
Justin, her heart cried. Her Justin! He was alive.
Sinking to her knees in front of the television, she stared
at him. He was older-God, it had been twelve years. His face
was leaner than she'd ever seen it. He had lines bracketing
his mouth and eyes...but it was her Justin. Her fiancé.
Her lover. The man she'd thought was dead. She would know
those midnight blue eyes anywhere.
The picture disappeared from the screen. She spun around,
grabbed the remote from the coffee table, and flipped to another
news channel.
"Unconfirmed reports say that the three United States
Army soldiers were imprisoned in Baghdad. The Army is not
releasing any confirmation other than their names and that
they are in good health. Colonial Thompson plans to hold a
press conference tomorrow, after more information is obtained
from the rescued POWs.
"Once again, three United States Army soldiers, MIA
since 1991, have been found...alive. First Sergeant Richard
Williamson, Specialist Justin Blackwood, and Corporal Zachary
Collingsworth."
Erica raised her hand to her mouth as tears poured down her
face. Teacup nudged her shoulder and grunted. Erica turned
to her beloved pig and wrapped her arms around her neck, hugging
her close. "Oh. My. God. Oh my God. Ohmygod. Justin...
He's alive."
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