A Soldier's Gift Read online

  A Soldier’s Gift

  Beyond Valor

  Book One

  by Lynne St. James

  © Copyright July 2015 JK Publishing, Inc.

  ISBN#978-1-310-30779-9

  All cover art and logo © Copyright July 2015 by JK Publishing, Inc.

  All rights reserved.

  Cover by Jess Buffett

  Published by JK Publishing, Inc.

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales are entirely coincidental.

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  Dedication

  To all the service men and women who have fought to keep our country free from 1776 through the present—thank you. We can never express our appreciation enough for all the sacrifices you and your families have made.

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Epilogue

  Books by Lynne St. James

  Excerpt from Embracing Her Desires

  Excerpt from Taming Chaos

  JK Publishing, Inc.

  Prologue

  Beth checked her phone again. “Damn him. Can’t he ever get her back on time?” A sharp crack of thunder and strobe-like flash of lightning flooded the living room at the same time her phone vibrated. Figuring it was Doug, ex-husband, ex-army sergeant, and all around asshole, she didn’t bother to look at the screen. “You were supposed to have Dani home a half hour ago. Where are you?” Silence. Then crackle over the phone as another flash of lightning and rumble of thunder rolled through.

  “Mrs. Fraser? Mrs. Elizabeth Fraser?”

  “Yes. This is Elizabeth Fraser. I’m sorry I thought you were someone else.”

  “No problem, ma’am. I’m Officer Reynolds from the Willow Haven Police Department. There’s been an accident…”

  “Oh my God.” All the blood rushed to Beth’s head and the room spun. He was still speaking but all she heard was buzzing in her ears.

  “I’m sorry. Can you say that again please?”

  “Your husband and daughter have been in an accident. They’ve been brought to the hospital.”

  “Is Dani going to be okay?”

  “She and your husband have been burned badly and both are in ICU. Your husband was sent to the Military hospital in Persimmon while your daughter was carried to Willow Haven Hospital because they have larger pediatrics department. I’d suggest you get there as soon as possible.”

  “I…umm…I’ll be right there.” She disconnected the phone without knowing if he was done talking or not. Her baby was in ICU. Shit. A chill washed over her as she looked at the phone as if seeing it for the first time. Accident.

  Bo, their standard poodle, jumped on the couch and nuzzled her arm with his nose. “Sorry boy, I need to go see our Dani. She’s hurt.” Grabbing her purse and keys, she ran outside and got into her car. Soaked through to her underwear, she didn’t even notice as she drove through the pouring rain. Her little girl in ICU was the only thing that mattered.

  “Hang on, Mac. Don’t you fuckin’ give up.”

  Tom MacDonald, aka Mac, tried to sit up but he couldn’t. Tag was still in the Humvee, he had to get him out. Why was it so dark? He couldn’t see a fuckin’ thing, couldn’t move. Horrible pain racked his body as he struggled to get up and go back to the Humvee. Then nothingness as he passed out.

  The whoosh of the chopper blades woke him up and blocked out all other sounds. He couldn’t move, couldn’t see. Was he dead?

  “Lieutenant? Hang on, we’ll be at the field hospital soon.”

  The helicopter landed and he was rushed to triage. He was still alive, at least he hoped. More voices but none of them sounded familiar. Were they talking about him?

  “Head injury, doc.”

  “What’s his name, soldier?”

  “Lt. Tom MacDonald.”

  “What happened?”

  “Their Humvee was hit. He pulled three guys out before he was hit.”

  “We need to get him into surgery now. If we’re lucky we’ll save his life, if he’s lucky he won’t have permanent brain damage.”

  Brain damage? They should have left me to die…

  Chapter One

  “Lieutenant, how are you feeling today?”

  “I’d be better if I could see, and my head feels like it’s being split in two.”

  “I can up your pain meds. Your brain is still healing and it may take a while for the pain to go away. I wanted to talk to you about something else. Do you remember when we discussed a cornea transplant once the swelling and pressure went down?”

  “Yeah. But you said it would take a while. Although, I’d say two months qualifies. Don’t you, doc?”

  Chuckling, the doctor agreed. “Well your wait may be over. Your last scan was much improved. We can go ahead with the transplant and you should be able to see a
gain. Of course there are no guarantees.”

  “Shit, really? Uh sorry, doc. And yeah I know it’s still possible I won’t see.”

  “We believe you will. Your corneas were burned and the transplant should take care of your blindness now that the pressure on the optic nerve is gone.”

  “I hope you’re right. I know I should be thankful it’s the only thing wrong with me, but…”

  “I know. You’d rather see. Who wouldn’t? You really were lucky. If the field surgeon hadn’t done such a good job you’d probably have permanent brain damage.”

  “When can I have the surgery?”

  “We’re waiting on the corneas. It’s possible it could happen tomorrow but we won’t know for sure.”

  “Tomorrow? You have spare corneas waiting around?”

  “Unfortunately there was a bad accident a few months ago and the patient has been on life support with no improvement. The patient is an organ donor and the family could decide at any time to say goodbye. When they do we’ll do the surgery.”

  “Damn. Who are they?”

  “I’m afraid donors are kept anonymous.”

  “Is there any way I can thank them?”

  “Well you can write them a letter when you get your sight back and we can pass it on to them. As soon as we get notice we’ll come and prep you for the surgery. In the meantime, you’re off food until after the procedure.”

  “No problem. Thanks, doc, I appreciate all you’ve done for me.”

  “It’s our pleasure, soldier, it’s the least we can do for the sacrifices you all make. I’ll be back as soon as I know something.”

  As the doctor’s footsteps faded away, Mac focused on the sounds of the hospital. When he’d woken up in the warrior transition unit three months earlier he wasn’t sure what kind of a life he’d have. As the time passed and his head injury healed, the pain of the migraines lessened a little too. But still he couldn’t see. He’d learned to use his other senses when he couldn’t rely on his eyes, and he became hyperaware of his surroundings, listening and trying to figure out who was coming and going. He could tell by the footsteps when Dr. Andrews was coming, and even figured out most of the nurses. Ringing phones, voices, the whir of the air conditioning, even the TV from the next room. For the last two months he’d been in the military hospital in Persimmon, and he’d memorized every sound, every scent, ammonia, the clean laundry, the food, even his nurse’s perfume. Sue welcomed him the first day and had been with him almost daily since. Sounding like a southern belle, she sure gave him hell if he didn’t eat or do what he was supposed to. He often wondered what she looked like, he imagined her to be about five foot six, brown hair with some gray, and happy eyes. The doctor was another story. He was all business, and probably about five foot ten, gray hair, brown eyes, and glasses. Would he be able to see if his guesses were right soon?

  Restless. He wanted to be outside and self-sufficient, besides moving from the chair to the bed or the bathroom. Even the bathroom was a chore in the beginning. After relying on his eyes, losing his sight changed more than he thought possible. The things you take for granted when you can see. Damn.

  The squeaky wheels made him turn his head toward the door.

  “Hey, Tag, how’s it going?

  “It’s going. How’d you know it was me?”

  “I heard you and you fuckin’ stink, bro. You need a shower. Just came from PT, right?”

  “Fuck. You’re good. Yeah. I might actually blow this joint soon.”

  “Did they say when?”

  “Maybe next week. My prostheses are in and once I get the hang of them I should be good to go. I was wondering, you’ve got to be getting out soon too, right? Want to get a place together until we figure out what’s next?”

  “Sounds like a plan. I have news too. I can have the transplant.”

  “Fuck yeah!”

  “Totally. I sure as hell hope I can see afterwards.”

  “You will. I know it. Then you’ll be able to see what a fucking wreck I am.”

  “Shut the hell up.”

  “Just kidding. I’m alive thanks to you.”

  “I didn’t do shit.”

  “Don’t you remember?”

  “No. I see images in my head but they don’t make sense. I keep hearing me yelling I have to get you.”

  “You pulled Jennings, Horse, and Booger out. Then went back to get me when you were hit. But you got me out first.”

  “I did?”

  “Yep. You saved their lives and mine. You’re a fuckin’ hero.”

  “No I’m not. I did what any of you would have done. You know it.”

  “Maybe. I have my doubts about Booger.” They both laughed.

  “True. Booger is a piece of work.”

  “Yep but a live one because of you.”

  “Shut the hell up. I didn’t do anything special.”

  “What-the-fuck-ever, bro.”

  The squishy sounds of rubber soles approached. “I think you’re nabbed.”

  “What?”

  “Lt. Taggart, what are you doing in here?”

  “Oops, guess you’re right. Sorry, Sue. I didn’t realize he was off limits today.”

  “He’s not but the doctor has been looking for you.”

  “Guess this is bye for now. I’ll check back later.”

  “See ya.” Ironic to still say that. Mac hadn’t seen anyone in almost three months. His yelling woke him sometimes. Shaking, sweating, and grasping at his memories but they’d slip away. Then he’d wonder if he really wanted to know what happened. Did he really save the guys? Why couldn’t he remember? Darkness surrounded him, but he wouldn’t give into it. He might not be able to see but he was alive. The headaches sucked too. Some days were worse than others, but he couldn’t remember a time when he didn’t have one. The constant pain could only be dulled by the pain meds, and he hated those. Most days he suffered rather than take the drugs.

  Sue said Tag lost his left arm and right leg. Fucked up how things happened. Of all the guys in the unit, Tag was the most athletic. He’d wanted to be an Olympian until his brother enlisted, then was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Mac wondered how Tag’s mom was taking his injuries. At least he came back. She hadn’t wanted him to go.

  Mac’s parents died years ago, so there was no one to stop him or to worry. He’d been in for seven years, and deployed three times, the odds were against him, but it hadn’t stopped him. He expected to die on a mission, he was a career soldier, it worked for him, and he had no reason to stay home.

  Getting a place with Tag would make things easier. He’d been wondering what he’d do or where he’d go after they released him. He hoped he’d be able to see but the doc said there were no guarantees. At least they’d be able to help each other out and he wouldn’t feel like a burden. Who the hell was he kidding, of course he’d be a burden if he couldn’t see.

  The Army was all he knew and he had no idea what he’d do now. He wasn’t going to sit on his ass though, that’s for sure.

  “Hi, honey, sorry I’m late,” Beth said with an exhausted smile for her best friend and co-owner of the bookstore, Treasured Tales.

  Julie looked up from the book she’d been reading and smiled at Beth. “You look like shit. Damn. Have you slept at all?”

  Rolling her eyes, she shrugged. “What do you think?”

  “That’d be a no. Shit, you’re going to be no good to Dani or anyone else if you drop dead or run your car into a telephone pole.”

  “Yeah, yeah. What am I supposed to do?”

  “Not spend every night in the hospital with her. She’s twelve, not five. She would understand. She loves you.”

  “I’m not so sure about that. She’s miserable, in pain, and I think permanently hormonal.”

  Julie laughed as she slid a cup of coffee across the counter to her friend. “Again, she’s twelve, what do you expect. She’s also been through hell. But she’s still your daughter, beautiful and tough as nails.”

&nbs
p; Beth took a sip of the steaming coffee before answering. The hot liquid weaved a trail of heat through her frozen body. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept more than an hour or so while dozing in the recliner in Dani’s hospital room.”

  “What would I do without you?”

  “You’d be lost of course.”

  Beth laughed, and hugged her. It’s true, I would be lost. The last three months were hell. Most of her time was spent with Dani at Willow Haven Hospital, and at least once or twice a week she’d swing by to check on Doug at the military hospital. Going between the military hospital to see Doug and Willow Haven to see Dani, she’d hardly been at the bookstore and Julie picked up the slack.

  “Thank you. It’s not enough but I don’t know what else to say.”

  “Stop. How long have we known each other? Geesh, woman. Get over it. I stopped by to see Dani this morning and dropped off some new books for her. I must have missed you.”

  “Probably when I went home to shower and feed Bo. Poor dog doesn’t know what the hell is going on. He looks almost as sad as I feel.”

  “He’ll be fine. You need to stop worrying about everything. I know it’s hard, but Dani is getting better, she’ll be home soon and you need to get back to living again.”

  “I know. It’s just she’s my baby, and stubborn as hell. She’s still saying she won’t go back to school. She doesn’t want to see anyone. She thinks she’s ugly.”

  “Stubborn? Damn you think? Wonder where she got that from? You need to remind her how lucky she is. It could have been so much worse.”

  “Yeah, but like you keep reminding me—she’s twelve. Everything is about looks. Even though her face is almost healed. Hell, I can hardly see the scarring anymore, but her right arm, leg, and half her back will never be like they were before.”