Homeward: A Place to Heal, #2

By Laura Browning

Homeward…

When starting over brings you face to face with the past you hoped to forget…

Mountain Meadow is Kate Bennett's place to start a new life. Running the small town's only newspaper should be a calm, peaceful job that will help her put a tortured past behind her.

Except she can't shake the feeling she knows her next-door neighbor from somewhere.

The feeling is mutual.

Eric Waller is the sharpshooter for the county sheriff's department. There's something about his next-door neighbor that's familiar. Her ever-present service dog has him wondering exactly what happened and how they know each other.

The two will have to come to terms with a shared past and overcome a present danger.

In this second of a new series, author Laura Browning returns to Mountain Meadow, Virginia for an enemies-to-friends romance that will take you on a high-powered ride to a happily ever after.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laura Browning Books
• Release date: Oct 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201596675

Laura Browning

After graduating from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, I worked for more than two decades in television news, both on camera and behind the scenes. It's a fascinating, exciting business. However, I've always loved making up my own stories rather than reporting the stories of others. So, I changed gears and began teaching English. The altered pace allowed me to ramp up my love of writing fiction. When I'm not writing or teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband and son on our small farm in North Carolina. In addition to a menagerie of animals, we have an ever-expanding garden of fruits, flowers, and vegetables.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Two years earlier. ..

Bennett Paige squinted into a tiny, chipped mirror mounted over a sink that had seen better days in the house where she'd taken refuge. She'd died her naturally blond hair a dark brown when she arrived last night.

Do you have the papers? she asked Martin as she picked the scissors up from the battered enamel sink and began hacking at her hair.

His olive complexion was pale beneath the dirt streaking his cheeks. This last trip into some of the contested areas around Kabul had been particularly hard on him. Yes. My contact said we should have no trouble getting across the border into Pakistan with these. He waved a tightly bound packet of documents before slipping them into the satchel he carried. You need to hurry Bennett. It doesn't have to be super short.

She flipped him a bird with her free hand and flashed a tight smile. They'd worked together long enough there was no formality anymore in the way they treated one another. Look, I'm snipping as fast as I can.

They'd decided it would be easier to get out of the area if she disguised herself as a boy. She'd done it before. While Franco had secured clothes for them and Martin had gotten them new identities, Bennett had died her hair. The two men, with their darker hair and brown eyes, were easier to pass off as natives to this part of the world—Bennett's golden hair, not so much.

Almost done.

I'll leave your clothes here. Martin lumbered off and Bennett spared him a quick, concerned gaze. The going would be rough getting out of where they were, but they couldn't afford to stay put any longer. A week ago, two British reporters had been kidnapped and killed. Bennett shuddered. She had no desire to be part of any live broadcast of a beheading.

She finished quickly. Piling the hair in the sink, she held a lighter to it and set it on fire, wrinkling her nose at the smell. It would dissipate in no time and she could wash the ashes down the drain. As soon as she had destroyed the evidence of her haircut, Bennett changed out of the traditional Afghani women's clothing she'd borrowed from a clothesline during their race out of Kabul yesterday. Where they were now was far from safe, so they had stopped only long enough to regroup. They could dispose of the clothing as they left the city. Some woman would probably be grateful to find additional clothes hanging outside her door.

Bennett knew there wasn't much else they could do to disguise the three of them, but splitting up was out of the question. One person on their own would never make it out of here alive. Their success depended on being the team they'd always been.

Once she had the baggy pants, tunic, and vest of traditional dress on, Bennett studied her reflection again. Thank heaven she was short and slender. It would make it easier to believe she was a boy who hadn't yet hit puberty. Her green eyes were no problem. Plenty of people in the country had the same shade of green as hers.

Bennett! Franco stuck his head in the door. He had donned headgear that covered his hair and lower face. We have to go. Now!

It was the fear in his eyes more than his tone that lit a fire under her. She gathered up the cloth satchel she'd traded her leather pack to get and slung the strap crosswise over her shoulder. The cloth bag was a hell of a lot less conspicuous than the red leather case. She'd hated to part with it though. It had been a gift from her fiancé.

With her small breasts bound, it was nearly impossible to tell Bennett was anything other than what she pretended to be—a young Afghan boy traveling with his father and uncle.

Darkness wrapped around them as they slipped out the back door of the vacant house into the alley behind it. Franco led the way with Bennett following and Martin bringing up the rear. They moved quickly and silently, sticking with the shadows as they raced through deserted streets toward the higher elevations. With nightfall came a dip in the temperatures, but the speed of their departure was enough to prevent them feeling the cold.

Behind her, Bennett heard the rasp of Martin's breathing. He wasn't in the same shape that she and Franco were, and she worried he wouldn't be able to keep up the pace that Franco had set for much longer. Martin surprised her though. While they had to slow down, they traveled through the night, going higher into the hills and away from town as they navigated their way toward the border with only the starlight and a sliver of a moon to guide them.

If they could keep from being discovered for another day, they would make it out. Bennett had already made up her mind she'd had enough. Too many close calls in recent months had soured her taste for her job. Getting stories out to World News Now's headquarters was getting riskier and riskier. Maybe it was time for Bennett Paige to retire.

They found an overhang of rock, somewhat sheltered, in which to hide the following day. As the sun rose over the eastern ridge of the hills they still needed to cross, Bennett tucked herself in against the warm rocks. They would rest during the daylight hours and set out once more as soon as the sun set. Bennett sat with her legs drawn up to her chest, and her cheek resting on her knees. With her eyes nearly closed, she studied her colleagues. Franco looked tired and dirty, but Martin was the one who concerned her most.

Even in the shade of their rock shelter, a thin film of perspiration coated his face. She wanted to ask him how he was doing, but they had agreed they would keep their conversations to a minimum. They were too close to another village to risk talking either in English or Pashto. The first would identify them as westerners, the second would allow everyone to understand what they were saying. Neither was a viable option.

As the sun sank below the horizon, Franco signaled for them to move. Bennett stretched her legs, flexing muscles that had been still far too long. Martin exited first, his boots making little sound even on the rocky hillside. Once they stood in the shelter of an evergreen, Franco checked his GPS.

This way, he whispered.

Everything was going smoothly until they reached the bottom of the hill and inadvertently startled a small group of goats settling in for the evening. As the animals bleated in alarm, other human voices picked up the refrain.

Behind them, Bennett heard the sound of a rifle bolt clicking into place.

Shit, Martin said in English, startled by the sound. Bennett closed her eyes. Their cover was blown.

Chapter 2

Present Day

Kate Bennett had worked in some messy places during her career, but the offices of the Castle County Messenger had to be the biggest pigsty she had ever seen. As she gazed around the cluttered editor's office, she knew two things right away. She needed a dumpster and some paint. Oh, there were other things that needed doing—like computerizing what appeared to be decades worth of files and stripping years of accumulated grime from the wood plank floors—but she had to set priorities. Digitizing the Rolodex would have to wait.

Brightening the place up and decluttering were at the top of the list. She wanted the people in Mountain Meadow to know that the paper was back in business.

The bell over the door jingled. In an instant, Brutus, her German Shepherd, was on his feet standing between her and the doorway. Kate grabbed his collar as a way to steady herself before looking up at her visitor.

Hey, Mandy, she greeted the woman standing just inside the doorway. Though they'd met only recently, Kate had felt an instant camaraderie with the fellow reporter. She knew enough of Amanda Brown Allred's background to know they had some similar experiences. Thinking about coming back to work?

The willowy blonde shook her head emphatically. Not in a million years. However, I would be willing to give you a hand sorting through Rick's morass.

Out of habit, Kate started to tuck hair that was no longer long enough behind her ear. She pushed away the memory of why she now kept it short and spiky and made herself smile instead.

I would love to have some help. Are you sure you're up to it?

Amanda had worked at the paper for years, but a return of her cancer and being kidnapped by flunkies of a Central American drug lord had shifted her priorities. Kate had caught the end of her story. In fact, the headlines had been what had drawn her attention to the area. First with caution and then with more interest as she'd discovered the paper's owner was putting it up for sale.

Maybe not completely, but I have the advantage of having married into a family with a lot of strong young men in it. I can rent a couple of teenagers to help with the big stuff. Oh, and I got a clean bill of health.

Kate laughed. That's fantastic news!

Amanda looked around the quiet office with a bittersweet expression. I spent a lot of years here, not all of them happy. She brought her gaze back to Kate. But I am happy you've taken over the paper. Rick selling it was the smartest thing he's ever done. I'm glad it was to someone of your caliber.

Kate shifted, her grip tightening on Brutus's collar. "I know you made the connection to my past, Mandy, but I'd really appreciate it if you forgot what you know about my previous career. I need to start without people harping on what happened."

Amanda held up her hands. No problem here. I can keep my mouth shut. How do you explain Brutus?

Kate glanced down at the dog and the service vest he wore anytime they were out in public. I keep it simple. Just say I have PTSD. Most people don't delve beyond that, feeling they might be intruding.

Amanda nodded in understanding. She probably had a better understanding than most through her own experiences. Are you ready to start on this?

Absolutely. I'd like to have an initial issue of the paper out next week, so I need to get to work.

All right, then. Amanda pulled out her phone and typed in several texts. Help should be arriving in less than an hour. I also told Noah to pick up cleaning supplies. Are you going to paint?

They both eyed the dingy paneling.

Oh yes.

By late afternoon, the place looked and smelled transformed. Mandy hadn't been kidding when she said she could call on plenty of help. It was certainly beginning to feel as if coming to Mountain Meadow had been the absolute right decision for her. After thanking everyone, Kate locked the front door behind all her helpers and flipped the closed sign over.

She leaned against the door, one of the few surfaces not freshly painted, and closed her eyes as she sagged with relief. It wasn't easy pretending she was comfortable with so many strangers around her. Their easy camaraderie and banter had spiked her nervousness. Brutus had stuck to her side like glue, helping Kate keep it together. She knew he would always have her back.

She would return in the morning to see what kind of initial issue she could cobble together. She'd already phoned the paper's last business manager and gotten an agreement from her to come back on a part-time basis. Since the woman had existing connections with area businesses, Kate was pretty sure she could get some local advertisers on board fairly quickly. Hell, if she could persuade Amanda's extended family of in-laws to buy ads that would account for two restaurants, a bar, a veterinarian's office, and a combination nursery and florist business.

Kate walked through the office to the back door. After turning off the lights, Kate snapped her fingers. Come on, Brutus. Let's go home.

She had parked her car in the lot directly behind the building. It provided access for deliveries to the paper as well as Mercer's restaurant, but there was still plenty of room for her to tuck her car close to the back door.

Out of habit, she kept Brutus right by her side as she checked the area before stepping out and closing the door behind her. Another quick inspection of her surroundings and her vehicle, and then she unlocked it. Brutus jumped into the back seat and Kate slid behind the wheel. Only after she had the doors locked and the engine running did she relax.

Her doctors had assured her that eventually some of her hyper-awareness would ease off, but so far not much had changed.

The drive home took her past the veterinary hospital and the nursery before she turned off onto the narrower county road that led to her place. The small house nestled on a couple of acres that had once been part of a larger farm suited her perfectly. It was quiet without being too isolated.

Kate went through a routine she'd established: exiting the car, locking it, checking around the house with Brutus at her side before going inside and disengaging the alarm system. It was one of the first things she'd had installed after closing on the house. Once she had locked the door behind her, the tension eased from her shoulders.

Normally she might have gone for a run, but with all the work around the newspaper offices that morning, Kate decided to skip her evening workout. She'd make it up in the morning. The only thing she still had to do at the moment was figure out some way to sleep. Brutus was good about waking her when the nightmares started, but not quite as effective in helping her fall asleep to begin with...and Kate had had enough drugs to last her a lifetime.

Chapter 3

One nice thing about inheriting his uncle's farm was it gave Eric Waller the chance to practice his skills as a sniper in private. As he stood on the back deck of the wood frame farmhouse, he took a deep breath of the cool morning air. Rich with the smell of pine and fir trees, it made him grateful he'd come here.

Not long after he had inherited the roughly three hundred acres and retired from the military, he'd decided Castle County might be the place to put down roots. After all, Wallers had been staking their claim in this part of the country since before the Revolutionary War. The farm had shrunk over the generations, but it still brought in income. These days it was mostly from