The IEDs had killed Maki outright, and the rest of the team suffered serious injuries. Seth relived the explosions often in his nightmares. The kid had been an incredible scout. He’d been able to spot trails in the dense jungle that no one else could see. But he hadn’t spotted the trail of IEDs that had shredded his body.
It had taken hours to fight off the insurgents who were drawn by the blast. It hadn’t been the way the mission had been planned, but they’d fulfilled it by destroying the leadership unit.
Then they’d gathered what was left of Maki’s body and headed back as quickly as they could. With everyone injured, it had taken an extra day to get to the extraction location. At least they hadn’t lost anyone else along the way to getting helicoptered out of that hellhole.
After a few months, the others had recovered enough to return to active duty. The damage to Seth’s leg meant he’d never work in special forces again. Instead of accepting a desk job he’d hate, he’d taken the honorable discharge and set his mind to walking again.
Now that he was mobile, he was ready to take on a new challenge—a new life.
His buddy Lawson Malssum was convinced Seth could find his place on the Malssum family’s apple farm.
There was an inn in need of a chef. The No Phailed Apples Inn was near the town of Phail, named after another army buddy’s family. Troy Phail was now the town’s mayor, and was always looking for opportunities to improve tourism.
Unless they’d already found a chef, Seth was here to find out if this was a potential place for him. He probably should have called, but he hadn’t been convinced he was really heading here. The long drive across the country from LA had given him plenty of time to think.
He could have stopped anywhere along the road and found work. Someone was always looking for a cook or a chef.
Instead, he’d stopped at cheap motels to sleep and kept driving until he’d arrived in Vermont.
His GPS had him turning into a drive on the right. Apple trees everywhere. The first building sported a sign proclaiming it the No Phailed Apples Inn. The ridiculous name made him smile even as his brain started concocting new recipes.
Apples were delicious in both savory and sweet dishes. Apples and pork made an interesting combination, but he could imagine them with other meats. A ton of vegetarian dishes, too. The flavor would be a punch of fun in salads and soups.
His hands itched to get into a kitchen and start playing. He hoped the one here was well stocked. While Seth carried his knives and pans with him, he hadn’t toted along any ingredients.
He could always head to Troy’s town. There had to be local options for produce. He preferred locally sourced everything, and hoped Epic’s town could provide it.
The gardens just beyond the inn had Seth braking. It was just edging into full summer here in Vermont, and the gardens were fabulous. Another army buddy, Gray Santoro, had a green thumb. As an Italian and another man who enjoyed cooking, Seth would bet his Tucson that there was a vegetable garden in the back. Fresh herbs, too. Now, that was the local he craved.
A dirt parking lot showed up on the right, in front of a large red barn and across the driveway from a second huge farmhouse.
Seth parked his Tucson beside an electric Chevy Bolt that looked brand new. Nice ride. He planned to upgrade from his hybrid to a full electric with his next purchase.
Leaving everything else in the car, Seth pocketed his keys and phone, then turned to survey the space as he stretched out his muscles. He might be walking, but his leg didn’t enjoy doing any one thing for any length of time. Sitting, standing, sleeping—none of it was easy. But he’d take the aches any day. Unlike Maki, he was alive and mobile.
Seth looked over the parts of the farm he could see. Not a person in sight. The steady rain and evening hour might have something to do with that, although he doubted rain kept anyone who tended an orchard inside for long.
The barn doors were open, so he headed that way. His ball cap kept the rain out of his eyes as he moved, slowly enough to check out his surroundings and get his leg moving properly.
It had taken the better part of a week to drive across the country, and his leg would be happy not to jump into the vehicle for another long stretch.
As long as he was truly welcome, and that the invitation hadn’t been based on pity. If they’d already hired a cook, he’d stay for a bit and move on.
In the army, he’d been decisive, but since the accident, that confidence wasn’t readily available. It had been his call to move the team forward with Maki as their scout. Maki hadn’t survived that decision.
Shaking his head to clear it, Seth focused on the surrounding property, substituting images of apple trees for Maki’s broken body.
He blew out a breath as he approached the barn door, then flinched at a quick movement above his head. His hands went up in a defensive posture before he’d recovered from the flinch.
Above him, an owl swooped into the barn. He’d nearly had the shit scared out of him by an owl. How long would it be before he felt himself again?
Shaking off the nerves, he glanced around. At least no one had seen his overreaction.
Stepping into the barn, he called out to his friend by his army callsign. Lawson was a gearhead, and Seth knew he’d claimed the barn nearest the farmhouse for his garage and vehicle restoration space. “Bobby, are you in here?”
“Babs? Is that you?” Lawson emerged from a door on the right interior of the barn.
When Lawson spotted him, his face lit up. “You’re here. I’m so damn glad to see you.”
