Page 49 (2/2)

The gate wasn’t barred His brother, Liarandfather had died a while back and left the ranch to both brothers, but Kyle had never intended to clainificant inheritance But he didn’t want it He wanted his teaent’s spray of bullets had guaranteed that would never happen Even if Kyle hadn’t gotten shot, Cortez was gone and no a his friend and comrade-in-arms back to life

Hadn’t stopped Kyle fro

Kyle drove up the winding lane to the main house, which had a new coat of paint The white Victorian house had been lording over Wade land for a hundred years, but looked like Lia froone and a new porch rocker with room for two had been added

Perfect Kyle could sit there in that rocker and co his joints Maybe later he could get up a game of dominos at the VA with all of the other retired ht as well call it dead

When Kyle juht in California after the navy decided they were done with hile Pain shot up his leg and it stole his breath for a et out of his own truck without harood day

Yeah, he should bewith this leg

He sucked it up The only easy day was yesterday That h four tours of duty in the Middle East Surely it could get him to the door of Wade Ranch

It did Barely He knocked, but so before the sound faded

Theopen, Kyle stepped over the threshold and did a double take Lialowering He’d grown up and out in ten years Kyle had, too, of course, but it was still a shock to see that his brother had changed froh their faces mostly matched

Crack!

Agony exploded across Kyle’s jaw as his head snapped backward