His Duty to Fulfill: a Bronze Star Ranch Romance, #3

By Shanae Johnson

When the town playboy returns home from active duty, he's on a mission to recapture the one that almost got away.

 

After serving overseas, Ben Lyons returns to the small town of his youth, grappling not only with the memories of war but also with a growing attraction that he can no longer ignore. It's not just any woman that's captured his heart. It's Faith, the sassy organic farmer who happens to be his best friend's younger sister.

 

Faith Starr always felt like the odd woman out; playing in the dirt, talking to her plants, and harboring a secret crush on her older brother's playboy best friend. She roused her courage and stole a kiss, only to have Ben dash her hopes and break her heart. But now he's back, and keeps purposely putting himself within her reach. This time it's Ben who steals the kiss making Faith wonder if the man of her dreams wants to be with her in reality. 

 

But just when Faith and Ben are ready to give into their mutual attraction, the shadows of doubts loom large. The largest shadow being Faith's protective older brother and Ben's lifelong confidant finding out about their budding relationship?And then a secret from Ben's playboy past comes back to bite them. Can their budding relationship withstand the storm of scrutiny, or will it be uprooted by doubt?

His Duty to Fulfill is the third in a series of light-hearted, sweet romances where veterans find their way back to their small town and discover they can be heroes at home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Those Johnson Girls
• Release date: Dec 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223825593

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

The first light of dawn bathed the Starr Ranch in a soft, ethereal glow. The light rising from the horizon seemed otherworldly to Faith Starr. It was both delicate and magical. It didn’t just illuminate the ranch but seemed to transform it, making everything it touched appear softer, more mysterious, and somewhat dreamlike.

This was called the magic hour by filmmakers. Faith called it the mother hour. Because in these brief moments with the light so airy, a bit heavenly, it felt like she was in the presence of her mother.

In just a few moments, the light would shift higher, become bold, golden. But in these few seconds, when Faith tilted her head up and the rays kissed her face, it felt just like her mother kissing her before shoving her out the door for school. It felt like the smacks just under her chin at bedtime that made her giggle as her mother tucked her in after the third bedtime story. It felt like that final kiss when her mother had smiled up at her from the hospital bed, unafraid of the cancer that had ravaged her body.

It was there in these early rays of light, and gone in an instant. For the rest of the morning, the sun would paint everything in subtle pastel hues, softening edges and blurring the line between reality and fantasy. Later in the day, the fiery reds and oranges would blast across the sky at sunset for the rest of the world. Her brothers would be up in an hour, and Faith was thankful for that. She preferred these few moments alone before the workday got underway.

Turning to face her home of twenty-six years, Faith cringed. Dilapidated barns and outhouses bore silent testimony to better times, their sagging beams and peeling paint echoing tales of prosperity long gone. Her brothers were undertaking the rehabilitation of the structures. It was Faith whose attention was on what came out of the soil. The rich soil of the Starr Ranch had always yielded fruit, and vegetables, and flowers. It could do so much more if Faith had extra hands.

Faith made her way down rows of neatly tilled soil. She was a solitary figure, moving gracefully. Her sun-kissed hair was pulled into a messy bun. On her tall body, she wore dirt-smudged overalls. The overalls were the height of fashion for her. Faith had tried to dress up for a short while when she’d been younger. It hadn’t gone over well. At least not to the one person she’d wanted to impress. The one boy she’d wanted to think of her as pretty, as desirable. But her brother’s best friend had never seen her as anything more than a little girl pretending to be a grown woman.

Faith shook off that memory. It was an unwelcome reminder of who she wasn’t and a good memorandum about who she was. And she was awesome.

She was in her element. A farm woman. Her hands, stained with soil, tenderly caressed the vibrant green leaves of the plants.

Morning, Mr. Tomato, she said, her fingers brushing a plump red tomato hanging temptingly from a vine. You’re looking particularly radiant today.

She moved on, pausing by a patch of lettuce. And you, Miss Lettuce, are going to be the belle of the ball at the farmers’ market soon.

From a small speaker nearby, the soft strumming of a guitar began to play. Faith had learned that talking to plants increased their yield. But also that music made them grow faster. So she did both.

She tapped her foot to the infectious rhythm, her body stretching along with the stems. Soon she was dancing between the rows, her laughter filling the air. The plants swayed with her, partaking in her joy. But as she moved to the cucumber patch, her steps slowed. The time had come.

With a sigh, she bent down, knife in hand. I’m so sorry, dear friends. With a sure hand, she sliced through the stems. The bounty fell with a loud thud. But it’s your time.

The circle of life wasn’t lost on Faith. Her favorite movie as a kid had been The Lion King. But her diet was that of the lioness Nala and not the vegetarian fare of Timon and Pumbaa. With every slice through vine, stem and stalk, Faith whispered a thank you, honoring the sacrifice the plants were making.

From a distance, the soft clinking of tools could be heard. Aaron and Caleb were up and at it. She saw their silhouettes visible against the backdrop of one of the older barns. The ranch might have seen better days, but the Starr siblings were determined to bring it back to its former glory.

With each vegetable she harvested, Faith felt the weight of the basket grow, and with it, the weight of her thoughts. Lifting her gaze from the cucumbers, Faith’s eyes landed on Aaron and Caleb in the distance. Their figures moved in a harmonious dance of brotherhood against the backdrop of one of the ranch’s worn-down buildings. They seemed so engrossed in their task, passing tools back and forth, their laughter echoing across the field.

A sharp twinge of annoyance pricked at Faith's heart. There they were, the two of them collaborating. Here she was on her own, navigating the labyrinth of vegetables, alone with her thoughts and the weight of the harvest.

A sigh escaped her lips. Wasn’t the essence of family to share burdens, to be there for each other?

She remembered the days when they were kids and the three of them did everything together, from building forts in the barn to running wild through the fields. But now, adulthood had brought its divides, its unspoken territories. The boys had their constructions and repairs, and she had her garden.

She took a deep breath, letting the fresh morning air fill her lungs. Pushing aside her momentary resentment, she tried to focus on the rhythmic motion of her hands, the grounding feeling of the earth beneath her feet, the soft melodies filling the air.

It wasn’t her brother’s camaraderie that bothered her; it was the undercurrents of their recent choices that tugged at her heart. Both her brothers had married or gotten engaged to women from wealthy backgrounds. Yes, love had blossomed beautifully for Aaron and Dorie and Caleb and Glinda. Faith had grown genuinely fond of her sister-to-be and her sister-in-law. But the initial reason for those unions was undeniable: The ranch was in dire straits and needed an infusion of cash.

Now, with their newfound wealth, Aaron and Caleb were fixated on renovations and grand visions for the ranch. But to Faith, their focus seemed misplaced. Every time she brought up the idea of investing in the garden or expanding her produce venture, she was met with dismissive nods and patronizing smiles.

It’s just a little hobby, Faith, Aaron had said once. These renovations will bring real value to the ranch.

Her produce, her little hobby, was more than just a passion. It was her life’s work. Every sprout she nurtured, every tomato she sold, represented a piece of her soul and her commitment to the land.

Faith paused and wiped the sweat off her brow. The weight of her harvest basket mirrored the weight in her heart. She looked around her garden; the plants, in their full bloom, swaying gently in the wind, seemed to whisper words of encouragement.

She remembered the gleam in the eyes of her regular customers at the farmers’ market, the kids who visited her stand, amazed at the colors and shapes of the produce, the stay-at-home moms, and a few stay-at-home dads, in town who swore by the quality of her vegetables. Her garden touched lives in ways her brothers couldn’t see.

It was time to take matters Into her own hands. If Faith couldn't make her brothers see the potential in her garden, then she'd just have to find someone else who did.

CHAPTER TWO

Ben Lyons' footsteps echoed on the familiar pavement as he wandered through the town. He'd planned to head straight to his best friend's ranch, but something held him back. Procrastination, maybe. Or something deeper—something he didn't want to face. The thought of seeing Faith Starr again stirred emotions he hadn't allowed himself to feel in years.

He walked aimlessly down the