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

“There will be others.” My mom smiles sadly at me.

“Yeah.” I nod. I’ve been single for, well, ever since I left home.

Don’t get me wrong, I tried. When Hawke wouldn’t return my calls, I gave up. I tried to get over him, but I just couldn’t forget him. Maybe now is the time I finally forget about him and all the pain he put me through.

We leave the Walmart parking lot and within fifteen minutes we’re pulling down our long driveway and I perk up a little bit. I see that my dad’s cattle business is still thriving, and there are some little calves out there in the paddock. I can’t wait to meet them.

As soon as we park, I get out of the car and before I even shut the door I’m knocked to the ground by a slobbering mouth.

“Copper, down!” My dad yells, offering a hand to help me off the ground.

I finally see who Copper is. He’s cute and I have no doubt he’s going to be huge.

“He’s a mastiff, but we’re training him to help herd,” Dad says as he pats the puppy’s head. Next thing I know this black ball of fur shoots out of the house and launches into my arms.

“Bug!” I squeal. She remembers me and tears well behind my eyes. God, I’ve missed her so much. I laugh as she licks my face and finally, I’m feeling a little bit better. I can’t wait to snuggle up with her tonight after being gone for so long. Mystic meows from her cage and Bug barks in response.

“Let’s get you settled and I’ll start dinner,” Mom says with a smile.

As I make my way into the house not much has changed. I head down the hallway and go straight into my old bedroom. It’s exactly the same lavender walls, my bed, the same floral curtains. My bed is my favorite piece of furniture. It’s like a rustic wooden sleigh bed with posts. I tied sheer sheets to each post to create a bubble around the bed when I was in high school, I thought it was romantic and as I look at it now, I still do.

My sheets and comforter are new, a gray color. The pictures on the wall are of me in the military and pictures I sent home when I traveled.

Pics of me and Hawke, I tore those down the night before I left and burned them in the firepit out back. I didn’t want any reminders of him when I came home to visit. I put Mystic down and she winds herself around Bug. I chuckle and set up the litter box and then put her food and water in the bowls I have for her. After she says her hellos to Bug, she jumps up on the bed and lays down. Ah, the life of a cat.

“Shit.” I hear behind me and I wheel around to find Chance Everette staring at me.

“Chance?” I know it’s him, but better to be sure.

“Sienna, good to see you. I didn’t mean to stare. Your dad told me you were home. I was going for the restroom,” he says sheepishly.

“My dad?”

“Oh, he didn’t tell you?”

I guess not so I shake my head no.

“I work for him. Me and Bear.”

“You and Bear?” I ask, batting my eyes like I’m in a totally different world. Why didn’t Dad, or Mom tell me any of this? God.

Bear Franklin, he puts Hawke to shame in rodeo. I still follow them online and I watch videos on the Rodeo Channel.

“Yeah. Good to see you.” He smiles and I can’t help but smile back.

“Good to see you, too.” Since he’s working here for my parents I’m guessing I’ll see a lot of him and Bear.

“Wait, does Hawke work for my dad, too?” Please say no.

“No. Your dad doesn’t trust him and for good reason,” Chance says as he walks away. How weird. I wonder why my dad doesn’t trust Hawke but fuck it. Hawke’s my past, the only thing I need to do is move on and put myself back out there.

I breathe a sigh of relief. Hawke, Bear, and Chance were frenemies in school. Friends until a rodeo was coming, or they were on the circuit and then gloves came off. Regardless, so much has changed these days, maybe that has too.

Chapter Six

Sienna

Ten years ago . . .

“She’s so cute,” Ava says over the phone, talking about the pictures of Bug I sent her. If you ask me, she’s the cutest damn thing, but I might be a bit partial when it comes to her.

“Thanks. She’s a really sweet dog,” I say with a smile, staring straight at her on the edge of my bed where she’s snoring like a motor. It’s annoying and cute all at the same time.

“How is the dating life?” Ugh, I should’ve known she’d ask this question. It hasn’t been long since Hawke and I split ways and the pain is still aching in my chest. I don’t want to go out on dates, not when everything is so fresh and new.

Sucking in a deep breath, I tell her the truth, “I haven’t been on any dates.”

“You need to try,” she urges, “he’s not waiting.”

I cringe when she says that Hawke isn’t waiting. It’s like my best friend just doused me in acid, burning me to my fucking core. I’ve been made very aware he isn’t waiting. Hell, I’ve even seen him walking around town with some of the girls. But that being said . . . it doesn’t make things easier.

“I can’t just forget him,” I whisper.

“Try. Go on those dating apps, you never know what’ll happen. You could find someone better than him. I’m certain of that,” she suggests, a bit of sassiness in her tone.

“Dating apps? Do those really work?” I’m skeptical. I’ve heard so many stories about guys only wanting one-night stands and I want something more.

“Oh yeah. Gladys found her