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She turned away, and Red knew she wasn’t going to tell him anything else. He couldn’t believe how annoyed he was.
“So, how is life on the ranch? Are your sons still active duty?”
She took a seat on the bar stool, and he joined her. The explosion of laughter caught their attention as some men and women brought over some sort of gift for the retiree. An obvious inside joke but the man seemed happy about it.
Red told Cass about his sons and their team retiring and living on the ranch next door.
“That is wonderful. I’ve heard about a lot of these teams continuing to live together and move on with their lives as one unit. I suppose it helps them adjust to civilian life better when they’re with others who understand.”
“It’s not so easy.” Red began to explain about Stryker. He ran his fingers through his hair.
“I’m at my wit’s end, Cass. It’s so hard, and no one, not his brother Cash or his team, can get through to him.”
“I’m so sorry. I know it’s tough. I’ve seen it a lot, where the soldiers can’t or won’t adjust. They’re being stubborn, and they give up. Have you looked into getting any private care?”
He looked at her and chuckled.
“Been through six therapists and home care individuals. They were recommended at the VA hospital and even some private ones. They don’t last but a few days.”
“I have a few friends I might be able to recommend.”
He shook his head.
“Can’t go through this much more. Stryker won’t let another nurse or therapist near him.”
“Listen, I’m in between places right now. I’ve been looking for a new place to rent. It’s such a bad time right now.”
“I thought Frederick said you were working in Houston.”
“I was as of a few weeks ago. Now I’m doing some temporary jobs training private care nurses. My last week is coming up. But I have to find a new place to live. I was staying with a friend, but she has a couple of steady boyfriends now, and they want to get married.”
“Well, have you considered Tranquility? It’s about forty-five minutes or so from Houston. Not a bad commute if you have work there or nearby.”
“I’ve never heard of the place before.”
“Well then, you should come check it out. There’s a place outside of Tranquility and a place called Casper’s. A bunch of jarheads opened it up years ago. It’s the local hot spot. Great food, awesome atmosphere. In fact, you might remember one of the bartenders, Garrett McCallister. He was injured in combat four or five years ago. I think you were there with Dr. Reynolds.”
“I’m not sure.”
Red smiled.
“He would remember you. Especially those bedside visits you didn’t have to make after helping every soldier in the field. You and Dr. Reynolds made a great team.”
She smiled. “I miss working with him. But I hear he’s going to retire soon.”
“That’s because there was talk of the Corps sending him back to the Middle East. He doesn’t want to be in the heat of battle anymore.” Red took a sip from his glass.
“Can’t say I blame him. I don’t think I ever really recovered from that little mission in the chopper we were in. Lost five soldiers that day.”
“You helped to save over a dozen. That was a hell of a situation. One of the worse I recall being in. But you were amazing. You saved lives that day.”
“So did you.”
“But that was my job, not yours.”
“I did what any trained Marine would do.”
“That you did, Cass.”
