Ted came back with papers and a set of scrubs. "Do you need help putting these on?"
"I'll help him." Taylor's cold voice left no doubt of how much she didn't trust Ted, but he wasn't sure that having her help him get dressed would be easy on his self-control.
She picked the scrubs up off the bed. Ted started to back away, "I'll go get my car and let the attending know I'll be taking my lunch."
Once the door was shut, Kam leaned toward her. "You could give the man a chance. Heishelping us."
Taylor sighed. "I just got you back, and then I almost lost you." She blinked back her tears. "I can't lose you again."
Kam pulled her against his chest, resting his cheek on the top of her head. "We will get through this together."
Taylor sniffed and pulled back. "What happens after we prove Dasha was behind all of this and we clear my name?"
Hearing Taylor voice the question he had been avoiding since he got the text about her, Kam fought the panic that wanted to rise in his chest. Panic wouldn't solve anything. "God brought us this far. He'll find a way."
Taylor stiffened. "How can you have so much faith after everything that happened to you?"
Kam smirked at her. "The one thing I've learned over the last three years is that trusting God is always the first step to any successful plan."
Kam's wordsrattled around in Taylor's mind as they bumped their way down the dirt road with lush green bushes that were the only things tough enough to survive here on either side. How could he have so much faith despite everything that she knew happened to him? If she was being honest with herself, her faith never quite recovered since the day the worst news of her life exploded her world. She became singularly focused, determined thatshewould be the one to bring him back becausesheknew that he wasn't dead.
Kam nudged her with his shoulder. "What are you thinking about?"
"How much this road needs to be regraded," Taylor deflected. Ted snorted from the front seat.
Kam gave a short hum. He had made the same noise the night before he deployed when she said that she was fine with waiting until he returned to get married.
"Your grandmother yelled at me at the funeral." Taylor wasn't sure where that thought came from, but it was too late to take it back now.
Kam bunched his brow. "Tell me what happened." He slid his hand into hers.
Her chin started to quiver. She could feel the grip on her control slip. For once, she let it go. "She told me that I didn't deserve your flag. That this was a sign from God that we were never meant to be." Taylor laid her head on Kam's shoulder. "She told the soldiers before the graveside began that I wasn'tallowed to sit with the family and that the flag needed to go to your mother."
Kam tensed. He let go of her hand and circled his arm around her, rubbing her back. "I am so sorry she did that to you. I'm sorry you had to deal with that."
Taylor stayed quiet, waiting for him to make an excuse for his family, but none came. She continued, wanting him to know and needing someone else to help her carry the burden. "Because we weren't married and I wasn't in your will, the military wouldn't give me any answers. I tried everything. Reaching out to every one of the people I knew, but every time I was stonewalled. I joined the FBI to gain clearance so I could be read in on what happened, but still nothing." She winced. "I may have had to get Davin to sweet talk a general out of a restraining order against me."
Kam chuckled. "That sounds like my girl. Not willing to take no for an answer."
They drove into a thicket of spruce trees, the only ones that she had seen since they were in town. The trees broke into a wide open space with a sprawling homestead nestled at the base of the mountain. Two children dashed from a greenhouse towards the log cabin. "We're here," Ted announced.
A woman with jeans, work boots, and a flannel shirt came out of the small barn. She placed her hand over her eyes and a smile graced her face. As they came to a stop and she noticed Kam and Taylor in the backseat, her joy dimmed.
"Ted, you didn't tell us you had a family." Taylor sat up and leaned towards the front. "We can't put them in danger."
Ted faced her. "Amelia was an Army Ranger when she saved my men and me after we were captured by drug runners in El Salvador. She'll be able to hold her own."
Ted got out of the car and greeted his wife. Taylor watched as Amelia shifted from concerned spouse and mother into trainedsoldier. She called for the children and went into the house. Ted walked over to the car and opened the back door. "Welcome to Miklat. A refuge for those seeking help."
Kam and Taylor followed Ted to the porch of the cabin. The railings and chairs looked as though they were hand-hewn from young logs. Taylor ran her hand over the surprisingly smooth surface.
"Amelia isn't only good at saving lost soldiers, she's excelled at homesteading, too." Ted reached for the door as it flung open.
A girl with golden-brown hair bounced out. "Hi. My name's Juliette. Everyone calls me Jules. Mom says we're going to grandma's!"
Taylor crouched to the girl's height. "My name is Taylor. Maybe when you get back we could go explore."
Jules looked at her father, who nodded, then back to Taylor. "I'll show you my favorite hiding spot." She leaned closer and whispered, "But you can't tell Clint."
