The Long Road Home
Read The Long Road Home Online
Authors: Cheyenne Meadows
Tags: #holiday contemporary sensual romance
A Silver Publishing Book
The Long Road Home
Copyright © 2013 by Cheyenne Meadows
E-book ISBN: 9781622321117
First E-book Publication: January 2014
Cover design by Reese Dante
Editor: Jason Huffman
Logo copyright © 2012 by Silver Publishing
Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only. Any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.
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All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
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This book is written in US English.
PUBLISHER
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Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236
www.SPSilverPublishing.com
Note from the Publisher
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Dedication
For all the service men and women who put their lives on the line each and every day in order to protect our freedoms. I can't say thank you enough, for you are truly heroes in my eyes.
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Army
:
Army
: Department of the Army
Boy Scouts
: Boy Scouts of America Corporation
Girl Scouts
: Girl Scouts of America Inc.
Grinch
: Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. Geisel-Seuss Enterprises, Inc.
Humvee
: AM General LLC
Popsicle
: Conopco, Inc.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
: DreamWorks Classics
Walter Reed
: The Department of the Army
Chapter 1
"What do you mean my flight is cancelled? It's Christmas Eve." Gwen blinked at the exhausted looking flight attendant, noting dark lines marred her face and her eyes told of many hours playing the Grinch, throwing monkey wrenches into people's holiday plans.
"I'm sorry, Miss. A blizzard dumped tons of snow in Lincoln, shutting down the airport until at least morning."
"So can I switch flights and arrive in Lincoln in the morning?"
"I'm afraid not. Sleet is coming down hard here, making for long delays for de-icing of the planes. If this keeps up, the airport will simply cancel flights and try again once the storm has passed."
A knife of despair stabbed Gwen square in the chest. "When will I be able to get home?"
"I really don't know. I'm sorry. Next please."
Gwen sighed heavily and stepped aside. Carrying her bag, she found an empty seat and plopped down.
Now what am I going to do
?
Since she'd graduated college in May and accepted her somewhat unusual position in Bethesda, Maryland, she had planned on flying back home for Christmas, spending several days helping her mother bake for the big day. Trimming the tree, wrapping presents, watching the delight on her young niece's face as she opened her gifts. All those plans flew out the window due to Mother Nature's wintery wrath.
Digging out her cell phone, she punched in a number. "Hi, Mom."
"What's wrong, honey? You sound down."
Gwen sucked in a breath and fought back tears. "My flight got cancelled. The blizzard shut down Lincoln. It's icing here, and they're talking about closing down La Guardia before the night is over."
"Oh, dear."
"I'm not going to make it home in time for Christmas." Her voice broke as a tear rolled down her cheek. A wave of homesickness washed over her.
"They're right, you know. Your father had to take the tractor to get through the snow in order to feed the cattle this morning. Snow was too deep for the truck and still coming down. Your sister can't make it either, stuck at home until the plows get down their road."
"But…"
"It's okay, sweetheart. We'll just reschedule. No biggie. We'll just wait for Russell to return home on leave and do Christmas then. Besides, I don't want you on an ice-covered plane. Not worth taking the chance."
Russell. Her baby brother. Now fighting in Afghanistan with the Army. Her first Christmas away from home as was his. "I miss you, Mom."
"I miss you, too. Keep your chin up. Sometimes when life throws us lemons…"
"We just make lemonade." A touch of a smile crossed her lips as she finished her mother's favorite phrase.
"That's my girl."
"Thanks, Mom. I'll call you later."
"Love you. Bye-bye."
Gwen clicked the phone off, sniffed, and stared up at the big screen, her flight number flashing 'Cancelled' in red, taunting her with blatant rejection. Gathering her purse, she stood, bent over to collect her bag, and nearly did a nosedive into the floor as something large slammed into her body.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Strong arms steadied her. "Are you okay?"
With assistance, she regained her balance and stood up straight only to find a large male chest covered by desert fatigues, directly in her line of vision. A white coat topped the lightweight clothing. Tilting her head, she found a handsome, slightly whiskered face, and bright blue eyes that snagged her attention and refused to let go. Short, spiked blond hair covered his head as if growing out from his latest buzz cut. He appeared no older than thirty, give or take a few years.
"Yes. I'm fine." She smiled up at him. "I'm sorry. I wasn't paying any attention." Recognition flashed. Racking her brain, she struggled to put a name with the face she hadn't seen in years.
He shook his head, flashing a grin. "Nah. This old duffel bag is a nuisance. If I didn't have to carry it everywhere I went, I wouldn't bother with it."
"Logan?"
His head cocked to the side. "Do I know you?"
She shot him a grin. So much for the hunky senior remembering her as a freshman. "Gwen Myers. Ballroom dance class. University of Maryland-College Park. Your partner who squashed your toes more times than not."
His blue eyes sparked. "Gwen. Good grief. I didn't recognize you."
"Well, it's been four years or so." Glancing down, she eyed the troublesome duffel bag, finding a stamp on the end. "US Army?"
"Yep. Enlisted right out of college."
She found her troubles temporarily forgotten as she spoke, captivated with the man in front of her. In all honesty, she'd had a major crush on him during the weeks they had been paired up for a beginning ballroom dance class. Boy howdy, did she love that class. Held in the arms of the most handsome and built student in the class. He made her feel like Cinderella to his Prince Charming each and every day. They joked, laughed, struggled with the difficult steps, and had a ball. Until the semester ended. He'd graduated and left. She had moved on to another semester and missed him more than she ever admitted.