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

and that furball. The tiny thing will freeze to death without some kind of heat. At least then it won’t be running over here disturbing my evenings anymore.

At that thought he paused and pushed out a breath.

“Damn it to all!” he shouted and grabbed his jacket as he took the stairs two at a time and stormed to the house up the hill from his.

Hanna was stepping from her car when Leo arrived in her yard. He didn’t waste time going by way of the road and two driveways. He made his way straight through the trees and bushes that separated the properties.

“You can’t live here,” he boomed, causing her to spin in his direction.

“Um. Why? What do you know?” She stopped abruptly and began fidgeting.

He cocked his head a moment before answering. “This place is unsafe. You don’t even have electricity for God’s sake.”

Releasing her held breath, she swallowed and pushed the car door closed. “I can handle it.”

Leo shook his head. “You can stay at my place,” he bit out the offer, hating to have anyone in his home.

“I don’t know you,” she snapped. “Just because you come over and repair my fence and join me for lunch does not put us on terms close enough to live under the same roof.”

“At least I have a roof.”

Her mouth dropped open for a split second before regaining her composure. “I am not a charity case.”

He knew he must sound harsh. But as much as he despised company, he felt he had to win this argument. The nights were turning colder, and she apparently had no clue what she was in for if she was not prepared.

“I know you can cook,” he said a bit calmer.

She nodded.

“Your house looked spotless, so you’re good at keeping house also,” he added.

She narrowed her eyes waiting for the typical male comment about knowing her place to spill from him.

“Would you be opposed to a housekeeping job?”

“What?” Her quick response surprised even herself. Not at all what she expected. And she had been looking for a job. “Do you know someone looking to hire?”

“Not exactly looking, but willing,” he corrected.

“What does that even mean?” She cocked her head as she asked.

“Are you interested? Or is that not on your acceptable job list?”

She wanted to tell him what she thought of his rudeness and sarcasm. But instead she bit her tongue. She needed a job. And this was something she knew she could do well. Since that’s the job she left.

“Of course, I’m interested.”

“Good, get your stuff and let’s go. I’m hungry.”

“Hold on there. I didn’t say I’d start tonight. And I definitely didn’t say I’d move into your house.”

Leo huffed out a breath rethinking his tactic.

“Okay, how about this? You grab a change of clothes and whatever that mutt needs and come check out the arrangements. If they’re not to your satisfaction, I’ll escort you back home.”

“I believe I can walk alone. I did it earlier. Remember.”

“Alright. If you’re prepared to travel alone during the night with wild animals lurking in the shadows. Be my guest.”

“Wild animals?”

“Remember our talk of bears this morning?”

She hesitated, hoping not to seem too eager to take him up on his offer. Debating her options, she realized she would be crazy not to give it a try.

“The nights are getting colder. I have heat,” he tempted her again.

“Oh, alright. But no funny business.”

He threw up his hands in surrender.

“And if I feel uncomfortable, I’m coming back home,” she repeated for confirmation.

He nodded.

“Fine. Let me grab some things and I’ll drive over.”

“Give me the dog and I’ll meet you at home when you’re done.”

“Agreed.” She handed Tasha to him and watched him disappear through the trees in the direction of his house. After gathering necessities for the night, she arrived at the two-story log house. She sat a moment studying the place. Finally, she emerged from her car and walked the few steps leading to the front door which appeared to be middle of the home, neither on the bottom floor nor the top. Did he live alone in such a large home? Were there others she would be working for also? It really didn’t matter, she realized. She would work until the job played out then move on as always.

When Leo pulled open the door and stepped back, she noticed steps leading both directions, up and down.

“Let me show you the layout and where you’ll stay, then we can discuss the job expectations.”

She nodded her agreement and followed him up the few steps to find herself in a spacious area, the size of half the house.

“This,” he said, pointing to the door at the end of a short hallway, past an open bathroom door. “This is my room. It’s off limits.” He stepped further into the space stopping next to a long table surrounded with chairs. “Self-explanatory,” he commented, swinging his arms wide indicating the kitchen to the left and a large living room to the right. The living room area was book ended by a sliding glass door on each side.

She looked past the long burgundy couch to a closed door. “Is that my room?”

“Yes.” He moved past her, opening the door, and leading her across a small square landing.

She glanced into the open door of the room across the landing. “It’s empty.”

“If you decide to stay and this works out, then you can make it anything you want. If you prefer that for a bedroom, I can move your bed.”

Without any further explanation he turned and descended the stairs into a smaller living room consisting of a couch, two chairs, and a TV. Under the stairs that led to it were two doors. He pulled one open.

Hanna stepped around him to find a simple but lovely bedroom.

“What’s that? The bathroom?” she asked, pointing to the door behind him.

“Bathroom is in your room,” he informed her.

She leaned further inside to discover a door hidden from view next to the dresser.

“That curtain covers a sliding door to a small