Baby Im Back

session.
    Next to the grave sat a small concrete box with a lid—the crypt Porter had custom made for the ashes. Barry threaded his way through the crowd and knelt to lower the wooden box into the crypt, then placed the lid on top. He knew all eyes were on him as he slowly pushed himself to his feet, but for the first time in a long time, he felt strong and healthy. Porter and Kendall stepped forward to lift the crypt and lower it into the earth.
    “Would you like to say a few words?” Porter asked.
    “Yes,” Barry said, then turned to face the crowd. “Thank you for being here. You didn’t know my dog Silky, but he was a brave, loyal soldier who saved lives every day. I’m proud to have been his handler.” He paused, then smiled. “Will Rogers once said ‘I love a dog…he does nothing for political reasons,’ and that was Silky. He just did his job because he wanted to please. He didn’t know he was a hero, but I do, and I hope you think so, too.”
    Barry picked up a shovel and began to scoop dirt over the crypt. Porter picked up another shovel and helped him fill the small grave. Then Kendall stepped forward.
    “The town of Sweetness wanted to make sure Silky is remembered.” He revealed a flat headstone that read, “Silky…U.S. Navy SEAL War Dog” and the year. Barry’s chest tightened with affection and gratitude toward the townspeople. He realized it was the memory of the fellowship of the small town that had pulled him back…and he was happy to know the sense of community flourished once again under the hands of the Armstrong brothers.
    He accepted the headstone with a grateful nod, then stooped to settle it over the top of the small grave. When he straightened, he addressed the crowd. “Thank you all for coming. You’ll never know how much it means to this hometown boy to have you all here.”
    The crowd filed by the grave for a glimpse of the headstone and shook Barry’s hand, asking about his own health. He greeted everyone, but out of the corner of his eye, he looked for Lora, noticing she hung back. When the crowd dissipated, she finally stepped up.
    “That was so nice,” she said.
    “Thanks for coming,” he said. He was sure she could hear his heart pounding.
    “You’re leaving now?”
    He swallowed hard and nodded.
    She smiled. “If you’ll contact the clinic when you get settled, someone will forward your exercise schedule to whatever facility you choose to continue your PT.”
    “Thank you.”
    From her bag she withdrew the sweatshirt he’d given her on the day he’d driven into town and handed it to him. “It’s clean.”
    He wanted to tell her to keep it to remember him by, but he didn’t have the right. He’d been nothing but trouble for Lora Jansen, from the teenage teasing to the day he’d returned to Sweetness, to his stubborn attitude about what her PT could do for him, to a hijacked kiss. She had plenty to remember him by…and none of it was good or appropriate.
    “Barry,” Porter said from a few feet away where he stood with his brothers. “Can we have a word?”
    “Sure,” Barry said, then turned back to Lora.
    “I’m going,” she said, gesturing vaguely to an area where cars had parked alongside the road.
    “Thank you for everything,” he said, although the words felt woefully inadequate.
    “Just doing my job,” she said breezily, then smiled. “But you’re welcome. Goodbye.”
    “Goodbye.”
    He watched her go with a heavy heart, realizing for the first time how his fellow soldiers felt when they had to part from the women they cared about… from the women they loved .
    The realization struck him like a thunderbolt, but he felt powerless to do anything about it. Sweetness was growing and expanding, but there was nothing here for him…except Lora. But if he stayed, he’d have nothing to offer her, no way to make a decent living, not with his disability.
    “Earth to Barry,” Porter called good-naturedly.
    “Coming,” Barry said, and grudgingly dragged his gaze away from Lora’s retreating form.

Chapter Eight

    LORA FOUGHT BACK tears as she ran along the shoulder of the road leading out of Sweetness. Barry was long gone, no doubt, on his way to some exciting place. After the ceremony she’d returned to her room to change and to collect the stray dog that still hadn’t been claimed. She glanced down at him now, jogging happily next to her on his leash. She would have to advertise soon to find him a home. And he needed a name,