Their Texas Christmas Gift by Cathy Gillen Thacker

Author:Cathy Gillen Thacker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-09-12T21:43:59+00:00

* * *

For a moment, Zach said nothing.

Leaving Faith to wonder if he would eventually resent her, too.

Then he got up and walked away from her. For a moment, he just stood there, looking out the window, at the street beyond. He seemed to be wrestling with some inner demon. The way Harm always had when he’d been home with her, instead of out on some incredibly exciting and dangerous mission.

Finally, Zach pivoted back, appearing to have made some kind of difficult decision. “What if I told you,” he said quietly, “that whatever you did or didn’t do as Harm’s wife had nothing to do with what ultimately happened to him?”

She got to her feet and walked toward him. Maybe it would be better if they got this all out in the open. And who would understand her shortcomings as a military wife better than another SEAL? Guilt flooding through her, she lifted her chin. “I would tell you that you didn’t know what you were talking about,” she returned soberly.

“Except in this case,” Zach said, “I do.”

Their gazes locked. “Go on,” Faith urged hoarsely.

He folded his arms, biceps bulging beneath his cashmere sweater. “Harm had a reputation for being fearless.”

Faith nodded. She knew that, too.

“He was also really good at thinking on his feet, and he never stopped pushing himself and inspiring everyone else around him to do the same. Combined, that made him a very good Navy SEAL. And had him deployed in pretty much every hot spot there was.”

Faith sighed, recalling the unending worry that had gone along with every one of her late husband’s missions. “Don’t I know that,” she murmured.

“Stress like that can wear on a soldier.” Zach ambled closer. “It can leave you feeling numb or anxious. Or, in Harm’s case, invincible.”

A taut silence fell. “Are you saying he was in some kind of trouble?” Faith gasped.

He dipped his head in grave acknowledgment. “On Harm’s last mission, he took too many chances, and put his team in danger. It all worked out in the end, but it could easily have gone south. When he went to reenlist last fall, his officer in charge suggested he take some time off. Maybe see somebody. Get himself together.” Zach’s lips compressed in regret. “Harm refused.”

That, she could believe. Harm had never allowed himself to show any sign of weakness, and to him, asking for help would have been a shortcoming. “Why wouldn’t he have told me all this?” So she could have been there as his wife!

“Maybe he was embarrassed. Or waiting for the right time.”

“Or he never intended to tell me at all,” she replied heavily, noting with surprise that Zach didn’t seem to think less of her, for her lack of knowledge.

Shrugging, he shoved a hand through his hair. “Maybe Harm didn’t think you needed to know.”

“Except I did!” Faith cried, feeling hurt and angry.

Zach squinted. “Why?”

She lifted her hands, her frustration rising anew.

“Because if I had known, I would have pushed him to go see someone and then go back to active duty if that was what he needed to be happy.

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