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She cupped his face, her voice filled with emotion “You couldn’t shoot the boy, could you?”

“I hesitated, and it gotuntil he could barely get air in

“Jesus Christ,” she all but breathed “He killed his own mother?”

Rhett loosened a breath “To hi to the lies his father had hand-fed him, she was a traitor”

A pause A long, heavy pause “Just before you woke up, you yelled, ‘Run!’ Who were you telling to run?”

“His sister”

Kinsley’s breath hitched as she lay in his ar her face into his chest “Did he shoot her too?”

Rhett shut his eyes and forced his words through his dry throat “The only person who caarden alive wasrealizations Three innocent lives were lost

There was a long stretch of silence, as Rhett felt the dampness drip onto his chest where Kinsley lay her head on him “Rhett,” she eventually said “I’ll never understand everything you went through there The things you had to see or do for your country to ensure I lived a safe life at home, and for people all over the world to be free fro”

He pressed his lips down on the top of her head “What’s that?”

“I’m really happy you came home”

He closed his ar this warmth she offered fill the cold places inside him

Chapter 8

The nextat Kinsley through the passenger sideof his truck on Main Street “I’ll text you later today when I’m ready to pick you up”

“That works” She wrapped her scarf tighter against the chilly air, while big snowflakes fell from the dark sky The day was dreary, and she’d rather still be in bed doing things with Rhett to make the s steam “Got any idea what time approximately?”