Military Daddy. Patricia Davids

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      Annie pulled open the door and walked out of the office with her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. Her hands felt ice-cold and her legs were barely able to hold her up. She prayed she could make it to her car without falling down. She was bad at confrontations.

      Corporal Shane Ross had no idea how much it had cost her to maintain her mask of indifference. At least the dreaded meeting was over and she could stop worrying about it. Now it was time to look ahead and make a plan.

      She managed to reach her car. A soldier stood on the other side of her beat-up peacock-blue hatchback, chatting through the rolled-down window with her roommate in the passenger seat. Crystal was laughing at something the man said. Annie glanced back. Shane stood just outside the building, watching her. His face wore a puzzled frown. Who could blame him?

      The sudden clop-clop of hooves startled her as a soldier walked past, leading two brown horses with black manes and tails. She had heard a lot about Shane’s unit from him during their one evening together. At first she had thought he had been teasing about being in the cavalry, but it had soon become apparent that he and his friends really did ride horses in a modern army.

      Shane had spoken with quiet pride about his participation in the inaugural parade in Washington, D.C. She could still see his shy smile and the sparkle in his blue eyes when he spoke about it. He hadn’t been the best-looking guy in the bar that night, but there had been something about him. In him she thought she had seen someone like herself. Someone without anyone.

      Yeah, and look where that got me.

      Opening the car door, she climbed in and slammed it shut. If only she could shut out her memories as easily.

      Crystal leaned toward her. “How did it go?”

      “I’ll tell you later.”

      “Did you see those horses?”

      “I saw them.” Annie tried twice to get the key in the ignition before it finally slid into place. Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking. Please, please let it start.

      “Private Avery was just telling me that we can have a tour of the stable and even pet some of the horses.”

      “We don’t have time. We’re going to be late as it is.”

      “Come back someday when you can stay longer,” Avery suggested. “I’d be happy to give you a private tour.”

      “I’d like that,” Crystal gushed.

      The car’s temperamental engine turned over. Annie breathed a silent prayer of thanks, then backed out of the parking space.

      “’Bye,” Crystal called, waving as they drove off.

      “Roll up the window,” Annie snapped. “It’s freezing in here and you know my heater doesn’t work.”

      Crystal did as she was told. “You didn’t have to be rude to Avery. He only wanted to let me see his horses.”

      “It was just another pickup line.”

      “It was not. Sometimes I think you don’t like men.”

      “I don’t dislike them. It’s that I don’t trust them—and neither should you.” If Crystal couldn’t see that, Annie wasn’t going to waste her breath trying to convince her.