No Man Left Behind: A Veteran Inspired Charity Anthology by Elizabeth Knox (black authors fiction TXT) 📕

been his rock. Even when he returned home from duty and his wife had abandoned him for his inability to be the same person he was before. She had claimed to be afraid for her life and divorced him. So once again, he and his mother relied on each other for company until he lost her to the evils of cancer four years ago. That’s when he moved here.

As most other times when he jolted awake, he never drifted back to sleep. After sitting against the headboard for a minute, he swung his feet to the floor and stumbled to the bathroom to shower. Then he would strip the sweat-drenched sheets from his bed and toss them into the washer. Days like this were never good.

Once the bed was remade, he filled his coffee mug and stepped to the sliding glass door, staring at the clouds blocking the view of the valley below. Flickers of lights shone faintly through the thick haze between his yard and the next mountain in view. He was planning his day in his mind, when a shrill yip jerked his attention toward the ground. There on the other side of the glass sat his tiny visitor.

He slid open the door and stepped out moving to his chair.

“Tasha!” a woman’s voice called through the trees.

“Tasha. Is that your name, girl?” he asked, cocking his head.

The voice came closer calling once more.

“Up the stairs,” Leo called seconds before the sound of feet pounding up the wooden steps reached his ears.

“Tasha,” Hanna scolded the small pet then looked to Leo. “Once again, I’m so sorry.”

He took her from his lap setting her paws onto the floor and watched her run to her owner.

“I promise I’ll do what I can to keep her from bothering you again.”

He only nodded and noticed her faint smile as she turned and hurried back to the ground holding the dog tucked under her arm. Returning his attention to the clouds, he watched them begin to drift away revealing rooftops once again as he finished his coffee. Soon the sun shone brightly on the houses in his view and he decided the fog would be cleared enough to examine that fence.

He placed his mug in the sink and headed downstairs for his toolbox. Flipping the lid open, he checked for anything that might come in handy to repair a fence. Pliers, extra wire, rope. He pushed the lid closed and clicked the lock before walking through the door in the back of the garage and heading to the house up from his.

As he reached the neighboring driveway, he halted in shock. Surely, she hadn’t been living here. He shook his head and picked up the pace reaching the front door quickly. Pounding on the faded green door, he paused and stepped back.

A moment later the door creaked open slightly as Hanna peeked through the crack before pulling it open wide.

“There’s a tree on your roof,” Leo barked.

“I have noticed that.”

“And?” he spat, waiting for an explanation that he realized was none of his business just as soon as the word passed his lips.

“Um. And it fell over?” She raised her brows, not attempting to hide her sarcasm.

He glared at her.

“What do you want me to say? It’s obvious a tree fell on the house. It needs to be removed and repaired. That’s a costly endeavor and I’m working on it.” She crossed her arms, not cowering under his intimidating stare.

“It’s dying,” he barked.

“That usually happens to a tree when it falls. It dies.”

“Don’t sass me. That’s dangerous,” he growled.

“What is it to you anyway?”

“It’s not.” He stepped through the door forcing her to step back as he entered. “I’m here to fix your fence so that mutt stays home where she belongs.”

“Well, please come in,” she said, her sarcasm surfacing again.

He once again turned his glare toward her before noticing Tasha bouncing around his feet.

Hanna scurried to pick her up, and holding the tiny dog to her chest, she led Leo through the house.

He scanned the home as they moved room to room heading to the backyard. He wondered if she had power since the place was dark other than what the windows allowed from pulled back curtains. Although the place was sparse, it was immaculately clean. Cleaner than he had ever seen it.

“This is it,” she announced when they stepped through a sliding glass door similar to his.

He stormed past her and began walking the fence line searching for any small open space. Dropping to his knees he placed the toolbox on the ground and flipped it open. Thirty minutes later he was searching again.

“Would you like a glass of water or tea?” she offered when he entered the house sometime later. “Maybe lunch? It’s almost ready.”

He paused, not expecting nor wanting her kindness after he had snapped at her earlier.

“Please have a seat. I’ll get you something. It’s the least I can do for you mending that fence for me. And I’m sorry Tasha has been bothering you.”

“No bother,” he said as he pulled back a chair and eased into it. With the toolbox next to the chair, the Pomeranian used it as a step to hop into his lap.

“There’re bears here,” he casually told her.

Hanna whirled with spatula in midair. “Bears?” The surprise causing her voice to rise.

“Bears,” he repeated.

Even in the dim light, he recognized her fear.

“Tiny thing like this,” he nodded to the dog in his lap, “isn’t safe outside all night.”

“I haven’t seen one. I had no idea.” The words spilled from her slowly as she watched Tasha make herself at home on his legs.

“You’re not from these parts, are you?” he asked, studying her.

She shook her head as she turned back to the stove and clicked off the burner. She lifted the grilled ham and cheese sandwiches onto two plates and walked them to the table. Then retrieving two glasses from the cabinet, she filled them from the pitcher already sitting on the table.

“Do they come around