Sheila had driven through enough shellings and bombardment that the fire hadn’t fazed her at all. “What are the other things?”
“Saving my damned engine,” Candace grinned at her. “Work with Randall, get your red card. Tryouts are in the spring, not that you need to worry about that.” She punched Sheila on the arm like guys did and strutted back into the crowd. It was no longer a surprise that she had married a Navy SEAL and was keeping him happy.
It was only at the end of the night, as she and Randall were walking arm in arm back through the sleeping village that Sheila really connected that this was Christmas Eve…she checked the cuckoo clock in the window of Der Markt Platz…no, Christmas Day. She’d known it was close. Obligatory call with Mom about whether or not she was coming home for it, etc. etc. But the firehall dinner had just been a Christmas party. Not the official Eve of.
“I didn’t get you anything, Randall. Please tell me that you didn’t get me a present either.”
He looked aside as if seeking a subject change.
“Oh no! What did you get me? Are there any shops open past midnight?” The empty street answered that one. “Maybe McDonald’s up on the highway is open and I could get you some French fries.”
Now he seemed to be the one having trouble connecting words. After a few slowing paces, he turned and led her away from the shops to the small park where the band had been playing Christmas carols earlier. She could still hear them on the night air. That should have reminded her to get him something, would have if they hadn’t been playing them since the moment of her arrival back at Thanksgiving.
He led her to the little gazebo and sat beside her on the bench.
“I got you something,” his voice was low and rough. “Probably pretty damned stupid, but…” His shrug showed his sudden unease.
“Just, I don’t know, just give it to me and I’ll get you something equally stupid when the stores reopen. Then we’ll be even.” It came out in a mad rush. She didn’t know why she was feeling so nervous. It wasn’t like her.
“Equally stupid?” There was a tease in his voice that she’d come to like. There was never a hidden agenda behind it; it was more his way of laughing with her rather than at her. And he took her return teases in stride just as easily as he took her silences.
“I promise,” Sheila raised her right hand. “Equally stupid.”
“Okay,” he blew out a hard huff of breath that made a brief cloud in the chill air. He dug into a pocket, pulled out a small box, and opened it.
Inside was a golden ring with a small ruby the color of fire. “It’s beautiful. Simple and perfect.”
“It’s yours, if you want it.”
“Of course I do, it’s—” and with those words her brain seized up.
I do? Randall hadn’t offered her a present. Well, not a present like a present present. Her brain was babbling.
She looked up into his dark eyes and studied him carefully by the soft street lighting. He didn’t look away. Didn’t shy off.
“You said to just give it to you,” he explained. “I had a speech, which I can’t remember. I’ll kneel if you’d like. But the important part is that every one of my days has been better for having you in it. I’m betting that isn’t going to change. I know it won’t.”
Sheila wanted to protest that she was a wreck, but she didn’t feel like one. Not when Randall was around. She felt capable, strong…
She looked at the ring once more. It wasn’t as simple as it had first appeared. The band was twisted, like a mobius strip. All one side, the inside becoming the outside and the outside in. It was an elegant piece of work.
And it was who she was, all twisted up, the inside and the outside blurred until they became one because of the man waiting patiently beside her.
Well, not altogether patiently. She knew him well enough to see the strain, but he’d never pushed her to be other than who she was. That’s when she knew that the ring wasn’t the gift, Randall Jones was. A life-long sized gift.
She leaned forward and kissed him lightly.
“Something equally stupid…” she whispered against his lips. “I promise. I really do.”
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Wrap-up
It’s been another splendid year of storytelling. After three years and thirty-nine stories, I now can’t imagine stopping. It’s way too much fun.
It allows the author in me, the one who has fallen in love with so many characters, to check in on them every now and then.
There are teams I’ve left behind, like the Firehawks (that is unless they get really upset and jump me when I least expect it). There are the teams I’m just discovering, like Henderson’s Ranch, Delta Force, CSAR, and the 5E. There are even the teams where I just duck in for a moment and say hello, like Eagle Cove and The Future Night Stalkers.
Sometimes it’s a place, other times it’s the plot that pulls me into a story.
But it is always the characters that help bring the stories and worlds to life for me. I can only hope that they do the same for you.
See you next year!
And if you wish to read the Ides of Matt stories for the current year (which are free on my website on the 14th of every month—for as long as I can keep the Ides up), just subscribe to my monthly newsletter at: www.mlbuchman.com/newsletter
About the Author
M.L. Buchman started the first of over 50 novels while flying from South Korea to ride his bicycle across the Australian Outback. Part of a solo around the world trip that ultimately launched his writing career.
All three of his military romantic suspense series—The Night Stalkers, Firehawks, and Delta Force—have had a title named “Top 10 Romance of the Year” by the American Library Association’s Booklist. NPR and Barnes & Noble have named other titles “Top 5 Romance of the Year.” In 2016 he was a finalist for Romance Writers of America prestigious RITA award. He also writes: contemporary romance, thrillers, and fantasy.
Past lives include: years as a project manager, rebuilding and single-handing a fifty-foot sailboat, both flying and jumping out of airplanes, and he has designed and built two houses. He is now making his living as a full-time writer on the Oregon Coast with his beloved wife and is constantly amazed at what you can do with a degree in Geophysics. You may keep up with his writing and receive a free starter e-library by subscribing to his newsletter at: www.mlbuchman.com
Copyright 2017 Matthew Lieber Buchman
These stories were originally published by Buchman Bookworks, Inc. in 2016
All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof,
may not be reproduced in any form
without permission from the author.
Discover more by this author at:
www.mlbuchman.com
Cover images:
Lightning Storm Cloud © Positiveflash
Young Man © Rvs
Young Man Home Photo © Curaphotography
Warm Fire. Engine Operations © U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest
Happy Blond Girl On Beach, Feeling Freedom © Pashapixel
Arid Peak Al Looking Down © Alexandra M
Portrait Of Handsome Athlete During His Workout Rest © Alessandroguerriero
Rural Montana Photo © Bgsmith
War Dog Training 100416-A-3108M-004 © U.S. Army
Battleship In Space Photo © Philcold
Handsome Athlete © Afhunta
Young Couple In Love With Flying A Kite At Countryside © Beznika
Interracial Couple Being Intimate In Front Of Window © Rocketclips
MH-6 Little Bird © San Andreas
Helicopters © Tebnad
U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter © Michael Kaplan
Lighthouse Searchlight Beam Through Marine Air At Night © Dreamer82
Athletic Young Man On Dusty Field © Bereta
Storm Above The Town © Husakj
Fire Lookout © Angela Redmon
Hiker and foxtail pines (Pinus balfouriana) on John Muir Trail - Pacific Crest Trail © Miguel Vieira
Warm Fire. Engine Operations © U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest
Run to Remember © U.S. Coast Guard
Other works by M. L. Buchman:
The Night Stalkers
Main Flight
The Night Is Mine
I Own the Dawn
Wait Until Dark
Take Over at Midnight
Light Up the Night
Bring On the Dusk
By Break of Day
White House
Daniel’s Christmas
Frank’s Independence Day
Peter’s Christmas
Zachary’s Christmas
Roy’s Independence Day
Damien’s Christmas
and the Navy
Christmas at Steel Beach
Christmas at Peleliu Cove
5E
Target of the Heart
Target Lock on Love
Target of Mine
Delta Force
Target Engaged
Heart Strike
Firehawks
Main Flight
Pure Heat
Full Blaze
Hot Point
Flash of Fire
Wild Fire
Smokejumpers
Wildfire at Dawn
Wildfire at Larch Creek
Wildfire on the Skagit
Henderson’s Ranch
Nathan’s Big Sky
Deities Anonymous
Cookbook from Hell: Reheated
Saviors 101
Dead Chef Thrillers
Swap Out!
One Chef!
Two Chef!
Angelo’s Hearth
Where Dreams are Born
Where Dreams Reside
Maria’s Christmas Table
Where Dreams Unfold
Where Dreams Are Written
Eagle Cove
Return to Eagle Cove
Recipe for Eagle Cove
Longing for Eagle Cove
Keepsake for Eagle Cove
SF/F Titles
Nara
Monk’s Maze
the Me and Elsie Chronicles
Contents
Introduction
Lightning Strike to the Heart
Summer of Fire and Heart
Road to the Fire’s Heart
For Her Dark Eyes Only
Reaching Out at Henderson’s Ranch
Second Chance Rescue
Her Silent Heart and the Open Sky
Lost Love Found in Eagle Cove
Love Behind the Lines
Night and Day
What the Heart Holds Safe
Together atop Sapphire Lookout
A Hotshot Christmas
Wrap-up
About the Author