Her Last Love: Small Town Hearts, #1

By H.C. Bentley

She left for the military thinking she would have it all. The career, the man she loved, a family of her own. Then her fiancé issued an ultimatum: come home and marry him, or lose him forever. 

Eight years later, Lieutenant Lynn Johnston returns to her small Kentucky hometown with a secret to keep and a desire to find peace. Her planned lifelong career had been cut short by events beyond her control. Now, she hoped that she could forge a new path, one that would heal her heart and help to put her past behind her. Those hopes are dashed when she discovers Carter Mathis, her former fiancé, has also returned and is raising his two young sons. 

Lynn must decide if she can deal with not only the old hurt feelings from the past -- and Carter's soon-to-be ex who has a vendetta against Lynn-- to give Carter a second chance. A deadly collapse at the coal mines where Carter works, an accident that rocks the town, could possibly take the choice out of her hands. Does she confront her feelings and move forward, or leave the life she's always wanted behind?

• Language: English
• Publisher: H.C. Bentley
• Release date: Apr 2, 2016
• ISBN: 9781386009474

H.C. Bentley

There's just something about a small town that makes relationships interesting, whether they are romances, long-running feuds, or life-long friendships. These are the relationships H.C. Bentley enjoys discovering and exploring. Well that, and the fact she just loves a good happily ever after or second chance story.  ​When she's not writing, H.C. works as a cataloging librarian at her county library. In her spare time, you can find her playing pool, traveling with her family, or curled up watching movies (romantic comedies are a favorite!). She's also an avid reader, leaning towards various authors of romance and chick lit, but her favorite is Nora Roberts.  ​A southern girl at heart, H.C. calls Kentucky her home. After opting to join the military to pay for college, she spent three years stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany before returning to her hometown in rural western Kentucky, where she and her husband live with their two daughters.  ​H.C. loves chatting with readers. You can contact her through the website, or any of her social media.

Book preview

1

September 2013

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She had been away for a long time. A matter of years, but it felt more like a lifetime. But she knew the winding back roads she was driving as if she still drove them every day of her life. The scenery through her windshield had shifted from the bustling traffic and crowded buildings of the city to the vast openness and quiet serenity of the countryside that was Kentucky. The only changes that could be seen were the fact the trees were taller, and there were a few more houses dotting the landscape along the way. Things rarely changed in small-town America, and when they did, change was slow.

This suited Lynn Johnston just fine; she was finally heading home.

The tension of the long drive eased from her neck and shoulders as the familiarity of the path she traveled soothed her. Autumn was in the air, with the earthy smells that came with cooling weather and the scent of the smoke that plumed from someone’s chimney. Breathing in deep, she appreciated it all as she navigated the curving roads and rolling hills. The roads were lined with acres of trees, crowded and towered over the road in a canopy, stretching to the edges of the asphalt, eager to show off their changing colors to passers-by. Fall in rural Kentucky was always a beautiful sight to see, all golds and crimsons and russets. She’d driven for days, and the road to home had never looked better.

Lynn relaxed more once she made the turn leading to her parents’ house, relieved the journey neared its end. What was once an old one-lane gravel road was paved with thick black asphalt these days, she noticed. As far back as she could remember, driving this last stretch of country road meant flying rocks and billows of gravel dust, the slip-slide of wheels to the beat of the blaring radio. Especially if you were in the habit of driving faster than necessary, which Lynn often did as a teenager.

More trees, joined by tall weeds and thick brush, fought for space on the steep hills rising towards the sky to her left. A deep creek along the right side of the road flowed and glided over the jagged rocks. Quiet sounds of the running water, as soothing now as they’d been when she’d been young. The car took the curve in the final stretch of her journey; she smiled to herself as she remembered the hours spent listening to the sound.

Lynn pulled into the driveway of her childhood home, let out a deep, heartfelt sigh as she turned the engine off, leaving the keys dangling in the ignition. Time hadn’t much changed the place she’d called home in her youth. The house sat at the bottom of the sloping hill where the u-shaped driveway sat. The yard rolled on one side and then back to the creek, the now-empty farmer’s field behind the home a stark contrast to the trees bordering the property. She gazed at it now, and noticed a few subtle differences… the rose bush her mother had planted just before she left had grown into a large thorny bush, the tan paint on the building’s exterior showed age, and the glass front door bore a wreath filled with the colors of the season.

Taking a moment, Lynn studied the house of her childhood, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. Yet to step out of the rental car now sitting in her parents’ driveway, Lynn wanted a few minutes to contemplate the people inside, how they’d react to seeing her, the questions that were sure to come.

Lynn had told no one she was coming home.

Her duty to her country was, for the most part, to blame for her lengthy absence. being stationed overseas had made coming back for regular visits a near impossibility. Her work took up much of her time, with her precious little free time spent traveling, seeing the places she had dreamed of visiting as a child. Then there were the other little reasons she limited her visits – her family’s reaction when they learned she had joined the Army, with no discussion or planning with them. Oh, eventually they had come around to be supportive, even proud, but their first response to her enlistment had been stinging and lasting. But she had felt it was time for her to be on her own, and the station assignment sending her to Germany-though distressing when receiving the orders-had given her the opportunity to stand on her own two feet. She had grown in the time she’d been stationed there, and felt more at home in her own skin than she’d ever felt. Heaven knew she’d made her fair share of mistakes, and at least one she didn’t have to live with anymore. Thankfully.

The other reason she restricted her visits once lived on the other end of town.

She knew she would be spotted sooner or later, so she gathered her purse and jacket from the front seat and stepped from the car, knowing as soon as she closed the driver’s door, her presence would be announced. Bear, the old family dog, would hear the sound and send up the signal to make sure everyone inside knew company had arrived. Sure enough, Lynn could hear the quick deep staccato barking.

There was no turning back now.

Stretching to work out the kinks from muscles tired from the long drive, Lynn made her way to the short set of wooden steps leading to the front door. She inhaled deeply as she turned the curved silver handle of the glass door, stepping over the threshold. While there may have been few noticeable changes on the outside of the home, the interior was a different story. The entryway was new. What was once a dark, and often dirty, mudroom had been transformed into a welcoming and charming foyer. Rocking chairs sat in two of the corners, and a dark, glass-front curio cabinet showed off treasured trinkets. Family photos were placed around the small room. The kitchen could be seen over the half wall separating the two rooms and had seen changes as well. What was once a separate kitchen and dining room had now become one great room, with a short bar dividing them. The cabinets were now an espresso color, the backsplash brick, the counters a granite gray. The bar offered guests the opportunity to pull up one of its stools, drink a glass of wine and chat with the cook since the stove butted up against the opposite side of the bar. A small white deep freezer now had its own space, and along the side of it, her mother had built an area to house Bear’s food and water bowls at a height comfortable for him.

The open layout allowed Lynn to look to her right and see through the large opening leading into the living room where she could see her father’s recliner, empty at the moment as he was at work. Beside it sat a small table, with her mother’s wing chair and ottoman on the other side where she sat in the evenings going through her woodworking magazines while her father channel surfed through old westerns. He was a fan of The Duke, as was obvious by the items on the walls of the game room housing the pool table, multiple guitars, and an enviable Coca Cola memorabilia collection.

Before she could take in the rest of the house, she heard the sound of feet approaching, of both the two and four-legged variety.

Honestly, dog, I don’t know what your problem is, always barking at nothing. A dog that looked more wolf than a family pet trotted along, his tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth as if to grin up at Lynn’s mother while she admonished him. You’re getting senile in your old age.

Not as senile as you might think.

Her mother’s head snapped up at the sound of Lynn’s voice. Catherine’s brown eyes went wide, then filled as she realized her first-born daughter was finally back where she belonged. Within seconds, she had crossed the space between them to sweep her child into a tight hug. Bear, thinking himself forgiven, leaned against the legs of both women in an attempt to join in their embrace.

You’re home! I can’t believe you’re actually here. Oh my God, we’ve missed you. Catherine released her daughter and held her at arm’s length, giving her the once over only a mother can. She saw a slim young woman, with red hair falling to the middle of her back, a face of porcelain with a few freckles thrown in the mix, and dark shadows smudged under green eyes. Shadows that hinted at more than just fatigue. The sight of them worried her, as did the clear sight of weight loss, but she’d give it time before expressing her concerns.

You’re really here. She beamed with joy. When did you get in?

I made it back stateside a couple of days ago. I got into town today. Twenty minutes ago actually. Lynn crouched to accept the adoring licks from the dog she’d grown up with and to rub and scratch him in his favorite spots. Ecstatic, Bear rolled over to accommodate her and expose his belly for more.

Why didn’t you let us know you were coming? We would’ve come and picked you up.

I thought I would surprise you guys, and I drove, without having to be in a hurry for once. You can’t exactly sightsee while driving the Autobahn. She grinned up at her mom before giving Bear one last brisk rub and standing. It was nice to just drive, and stop, as I wanted.

Lynn studied her mother as her mother had studied her. Catherine was close to the same height as her daughter and slender like her. But the similarities ended there. Where Lynn’s hair was red, Catherine’s was chestnut brown. Where Lynn’s eyes were green, her mother’s leaned toward chocolate. The lack of similarities in physical appearance between Lynn and her family had had her convinced as a child that she had been adopted. Researching the family tree, and the genetics lessons in biology in school had shown her otherwise.

So, how long do we have you for? I’m sure your father and I can arrange for a day or two off of work if we need to. So we can take advantage of the time you have here.

You guys don’t have to do that, Mom.

Well, I know we don’t have to, but we want to see you while you’re in town. So we’ll take a few days. When do you have to head back?

I don’t.

Sure you do. You can’t be on leave for long. Catherine gave her oldest child a puzzled look.

Actually, I’m pretty much done. My enlistment is ending, and I’ve decided not to re-up. I needed to use up the leave time I had left, so I spent roughly a week traveling before coming back stateside. I still have a couple of weeks left, and then Uncle Sam and I can part ways as soon as my household goods, and my car, arrive.

You’re not reenlisting?

No.

Why not? I thought you enjoyed the work, the travel. I thought this would be a lifelong thing. Figured you’d make a career out of it. What changed?

I have my reasons. I’d prefer not to go into them yet, but it wasn’t a decision I made without giving it some thought. Let’s just say it’s time to go in a new direction.

I’m sure your dad will want to know more. And I know I do. Catherine shot a puzzled look at her daughter, then smiled. But for now, I’m just glad you’re here. You’re planning on staying here for a while, aren’t you?

For a while. I’ve been in touch with a couple of people about rental houses, but the one I want won’t be ready for a month, maybe a little longer. I thought I’d do more traveling, catch up with old friends, then rent a room at the Dew Drop until my place is ready. Lynn wasn’t crazy at the thought of living out of the small local hotel for a few weeks, but she didn’t want to impose on her parents any more than necessary. Her mother, however, had different ideas on the matter.

Nope. You’ll stay here. Your old room is empty. Travel, catch up with old friends, but you’ll bunk here until your place is ready.

Mom…

Discussion’s over, the decision is made. Now, let’s grab whatever bags you have and haul them in from the car. With this declaration, Catherine made a beeline for the door, leaving her daughter with no choice but to grin, shake her head, and follow.

He pushed the shopping cart through the crowded store. It wasn’t often Carter Mathis did anything – much less shopping – alone. During his visitation days, he had his two young sons in tow. Nathan and Logan were his buddies, and it was rare they weren’t together outside of school and work. But where did he find himself alone on a Friday night, while his kids were with their mother? At the grocery store. Not catching a ball game or a beer with his buddies. No, he was out shopping for tater tots and ketchup.

Pathetic, he thought to himself. But then again, when else would he have the chance to run errands without his kids begging for toys or McDonald’s, or both? Yes, the limbo his life was in right now was pitiful. Not really married, but not available either. It made life harder than it needed to be, and he wished it could be resolved so he could pick up and move on, no matter which way his marriage went.

Ignoring the squeaky wheel on the cart, and the annoying music being pumped out of the supermarket’s speakers, he tossed the boxes of the mandatory mac and cheese into the basket. He dismissed his moody thoughts while he went through the rest of the grocery list. Chicken nuggets, snack packs, cookies. Shaking his head, Carter decided he’d better add extra veggies to the list. There would be moaning and groaning from his guys later, but it had to be done. He could always bribe them with the cookies. He wasn’t above bribery.

As Carter angled his cart towards the colorful produce section, he weighed the different chores he needed to get done tonight. Grabbing a bright bunch of yellow bananas, he ran through the list. Laundry, for sure. His boys were a lively and rambunctious duo and went through clean clothes like crazy. Run the dishwasher, he thought as he gave a firm red tomato a gentle squeeze. Give the dog a bath without two smaller sets of hands trying to ‘help’. Dinner was easy, since it was just him, and he considered stopping for a burger at a drive-through on the way home. A grown-up burger and fries that didn’t come in a colorful box and included a crazy noise-making toy? Sounded good to Carter.

All thoughts of chores and kids went up in a puff of smoke as he jerked the cart to a stop in the middle of the aisle, much to the annoyance of the young woman behind him. He paid her no mind as she went around him, nor to the cute blue-eyed toddler who waved as they passed. His focus was on the redhead who was examining the display of shiny apples. The woman who had haunted his dreams for years.

She had come home.

When had she gotten back? How long was she back for this time? Questions swirled in his brain, while he couldn’t help but watch as she picked her way through the hothouse tomatoes, then the leafy green heads of lettuce. With his eyes glued to her, he didn’t notice how his heartbeat had kicked up its pace right around the same time it had hit his stomach. His dry tongue was like sandpaper on the roof of his mouth while the back of his throat tightened as his stomach tied itself in knots. He felt as if he were an awkward teenager again, trying to work up the courage to ask out the popular girl in school.

She didn’t notice him noticing her as she went about the business of shopping. She had always been tall for a woman, and was as slim as ever, her long red hair in a single thick braid hanging over her left shoulder. She moved efficiently and, too quickly, turned to walk towards the checkout counters. He nearly called out to her. But the words stuck in his throat. Carter didn’t know what kept his mouth from speaking and his feet felt glued to the floor. All he could do was watch her leave. Again.

The rest of his shopping trip was a blank. Somehow, he made it through the checkout line. Heaven only knew what else had ended up in his cart before he’d paid and made his way to the parking lot. He was thankful he wasn’t far from home because he seemed to get there on auto-pilot. He didn’t even remember turning the key in the ignition, much less pointing the vehicle towards his house. And he completely forgot about stopping at the drive-through and only remembered when his stomach growled in protest as he pulled into his driveway.

Damn. Guess it’s gonna be a sandwich tonight, he muttered to himself as he climbed from the truck and began to haul bags.

He focused his thoughts long enough to dig his keys out of his pocket, climb the short set of porch steps, and unlock his front door. His mind wandered, remembering times with Lynn and battling the conflicted emotions those memories brought back. Carter moved through the kitchen as he put away the groceries. He could only hope things were being put where they belonged, or he at least remembered where things were when he needed them.

As he went blindly through the chores he had on his list, he thought about how she’d looked different. While he did laundry, contemplated how her hair had changed. It was still the red he’d always loved, yes. Only now it was a deeper auburn, longer than in the days when they’d been together, but the longer style and neat braid had suited her.

He pondered her build as he ran the dishwasher. She was still slim; then again, she always had been. Slim now met the disciplined tone the military demanded. Her long legs lean, biceps built. He decided not to concentrate too long on her abs…much too dangerous territory. But though she was toned, even in her civilian wear he could tell she’d lost weight.

Carter’s thoughts continued to gravitate towards Lynn as the night wore on endlessly. Memories of her, and them together, had continued to flood him, and he knew his chances of getting a decent night’s sleep were dwindling. He hadn’t thought of her this much during his waking hours in a long time. He’d fought hard after their breakup to keep thoughts of her at bay, to train his mind and harden his heart where Lynn had been concerned. His dreams, however, were another matter. Against his will, his memories of her came to life during his sleeping hours, unbidden but not unwelcome. And he had a feeling he’d be dreaming about her even more than usual tonight.

After a restless night of tossing and turning, a night full of interrupted sleep and vivid dreams, Carter woke praying for coffee. It was a prayer he recited over and over as the coffee dripped, in slow motion, into the pot. Once the first sip hit his lips, hot and bitter, he closed his eyes, inhaled the steam coming from the cup, and sent up his heartfelt thanks for this lifesaving nectar.

It had been a long night.

He was grateful he didn’t have to go to work today. Saturdays off were few, and Saturdays without his sons were even rarer. And due to his brain running non-stop the night before, he had worked through his stroll down memory lane. His house was now cleaner than it had been in months, his kitchen was stocked, and he’d even bathed the dog. As the caffeine worked its magic, his brain cleared of the leftover fog of sleep, and he considered his plans for the day. He could wash his car, which would take all of an hour. He could call up some of his buddies to see if they were up for a game or two of basketball, but most were married and spending time today with their families or working. It struck Carter he was lost without his kids around. His boys with their boundless energy and endless ideas of things to do and places to go.

He continued to brainstorm ideas, and with his coffee cup still in hand, Carter went to let the dog out the back door. He had gotten Trooper as a puppy, while he was still in high school. The German shepherd had helped him through many tough times, including the end of his relationship with Lynn. Trooper had stayed with Carter’s mom while he’d been enlisted in the Navy since Carter had been assigned to an aircraft carrier and couldn’t take him along. But his canine friend had welcomed him back as if he’d left just days before and didn’t seem to hold their time apart against him.

As he watched his dog romp in the spacious fenced-in backyard, Carter knew how he’d spend part of his day. He’d have to see Lynn. He wouldn’t be able to help himself, knowing she was back and within reach. His heart sped up at the thought of seeing her again, hearing her voice, seeing her face. Not to mention he knew he couldn’t handle – physically, emotionally, or mentally – another night like the last.

He may technically be married, but he’d been half in love with her ever since they parted ways. Even though he’d tried his best not to be. God, he didn’t realize how much he’d missed her until he had seen her again.

The decision made, he left Trooper to run and play in the backyard and got himself ready to leave. He tried to keep it casual, wearing a t-shirt and a well-worn pair of jeans. He stopped to wash his truck but went through the automatic car wash rather than hand-wash it as he would any other time. His truck gleaming, he drove the twenty minutes it took to get to her parents’ house from his. The whole time, he contemplated what he’d say to her. Struggled to find the words to express himself when they were face-to-face again. Each thought that came along struck him as worse than the last. He caught himself gripping the steering wheel, flexing and relaxing his long slender fingers. He took a deep breath, let it rush from his cheeks as he attempted to pull himself together. Thoughts and doubts continued to rush at him.

How would she react to seeing him again? Would she react with genuine pleasure or with cool politeness? Would she hug him or slam the door in his face? His stomach churned, making him wish he’d been less liberal with the morning coffee.

Unlike the night before, time passed swiftly on the drive. Before he knew it, he was pulling into the driveway behind a smart little compact car. Lynn’s rental, if he read the tags right. For a quick moment, he wondered if he’d lost his mind, just showing up this way. Wondered if it was too late to just put the truck in reverse and go back down the road the way he’d come.

He gave himself a mental shake, took another deep breath, and told himself this needed to be done. Perhaps they’d find the closure they’d never had the chance to get after they had broken their engagement, with each of them thousands of miles away from the other. He hoped he’d be able to put her out of his mind, once and for all. He doubted it, but it was worth a shot.

Maybe he should get out of the truck before the people inside became curious as to who the weirdo was lurking in their driveway.

Breathing deep, Carter stepped from the vehicle, gravel crunching under his feet. He heard the dog barking inside as he made his way up the wooden steps. There was no doorbell – there never had been, not for as long as he could remember – so, hands shaking, he knocked. And waited there on the doorstep, counting the beats of the heart now in his throat, and taking shallow breaths. The sounds of footsteps grew louder as they approached the door, which soon swung open to reveal the woman who plagued last night’s dreams.