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

Sienna

Eight years ago . . .

This has been the worst deployment ever. Not that any deployment is great. But I’ve had to send five soldiers home, in coffins. Nothing prepares you for that.

The first time I had to stand and salute one of my soldiers on the tarmac I lost it. I had to be dragged away by another NCO.

This last one, I’m just numb. I’m worried I’m really broken like I will never have feelings again.

I tell civilians that my nightmares will give your nightmares nightmares and it’s true.

This is the last mission before we head home. And for some reason I feel uneasy.

If someone tells you they’re not scare to leave the FOB, forward operating base, they’re lying to you. Don’t believe them. We all feel nerves leaving the security of the FOB. Today feels off. It feels wrong. I can’t place it.

“Sergeant?”

“Yeah, sorry.” I am supposed to be helping check the security of the ties holding down our cargo.

“Looks good.” I grab my weapon and climb into the truck, giving my okay to the NCO in charge.

“Tunes today?” My soldier asks. We have several playlists to pass the time on missions.

My soldier, Rench, he’s a good kid. He does what he’s told and he does it with a smile. Even after I leave the military, I can see him going far in this life. He’s made for it.

“I don’t know. Surprise me.” I give him a tight smile. He doesn’t ask what I’m feeling, but he knows I’m feeling something. I don’t want to make him as nervous as I am.

Metal starts blaring out of the mini portable speaker hooked to his iPod and I smile a little bit.

I keep my eyes on the road and my weapon at the ready.

I see a white truck on a ridge and it seems to be following us. Right as I start to call it over the radio, a huge explosion happens. Rench hits the brakes, as the five vehicles in front of us go up in flames.

“Cover me,” I yell at him and toss him the radio to monitor. I’m yelling into the other one for a medic and letting battalion know what’s going on.

I don’t need a medic once I’m closer, we need a wagon to take the bodies home, more like body parts. I want to throw up at the stench, but I hold it together. The vehicles are obliterated, nothing left.

“Sergeant?”

“They’re gone. We need to secure the scene and wait for help,” I say numbly. I want to cry but I don’t have it in me. This is just shit.

I go to head back to my truck when I feel a sharp pain in my back. I turn and Rench is looking at me with fear in his eyes as he and the medic rush at me, while another soldier covers us, trying to get me back in the truck so we can move to safety.

I’ve been shot, I don’t need him to tell me that. His face says it all. And it hurts like a motherfucker.

“Sergeant! Stay with me!” Rench yells at me but I’m fading or dying. I can’t keep my eyes open.

“Tell them top left corner of the building,” I whisper as I hear the planes flying over.

“Keep your eyes open,” the medic is yelling at me.

That’s the last thing I remember.

Chapter Thirteen

Sienna

Present Day . . .

I wake up with a start and to Mystic tapping my face with her paw and Thunder nuzzling me.

I hated that deployment. When I woke up, I was in Germany. The bullet, thankfully, missed my spine.

And I haven’t even told my parents about that.

Sometimes it hurts to bend over or sleep. And sleeping out here sure didn’t help. But I needed it.

“How did you get out here?” I laugh a little bit as Mystic takes another swipe and then goes to check out Thunder. He’s so sweet with little animals. Soon, Mystic is laying on his back, asleep.

“I let her out,” Dad says, looking over the stall door.

“Oh. Sorry about yesterday.”

“I get it, I’ve been there. It takes time, and there are groups. But what you want to do, helping veterans, that takes guts.”

“I ran out because this is all so new to me. I’m finding out a lot of firsts and trying to navigate my life,” I admit. Because not knowing what I need to do for the day or have anyone to tell the agenda to really messes with my head.

“I understand and soon everyone else will get it. When were you going to tell us about getting shot?”

My eyes go wide. Oh shit.

“You were having a nightmare. I could hear you from the house. Good thing your mom is a deep sleeper. But also a friend of yours showed up and we had a long talk. You calmed down when Mystic laid down with you.”

“Love of my cat.” I pet her head and get up.

“Wait, a friend?” I stop in my tracks, I don’t have friends.

“He’s in the house,” he says as I follow him inside.

“I’ll make some coffee,” my dad says as I head to the living room.

“Rench?”

“I came to check on you.” He wrings his hands nervously.

“Ummm, I’m good. I promise. What are you doing here? Besides checking on me.” I gesture to the kitchen where we can sit and talk.

“Nowhere else to go, to be honest. I found your dad’s business online and contacted him for work,” he says as Dad hands me a cup of coffee.

“Rench . . .”

“It’s Cade,” he corrects me with a chuckle.

“Cade, I’m not sure what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. It’s my call and we help our own, don’t we?” My dad gives me a look. Yeah, that’s true we help our own, family or not.

“Yeah, we do.” I nod with a smile.

“You should tell Cade about your equine therapy ranch and then we can drive out there, so you can see the progress.” Dad pats my head