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play with Uncle Vince?”
    “Yes. I have a whole night planned!” Elizabeth beamed.
    All three chuckled, knowing the poor man was in for a long night. Alaina reached for her wallet and took out sixty bucks, reaching over to put it on the bill. “Oh no you don’t. We invited you.” Leland stopped her hand and gently moved it back to her purse.
    “Plus, we are gentlemen. Our mothers raised us right. I just wish we could spend the rest of the evening watching movies or something. Do you get any nights off, Alaina?” Brody asked inquisitively.
    “Mommy works every night, and every day. She used to stay home with me but when dad left she had to start working all the time instead,” Lizzy said, disgruntled.
    “Elizabeth! That is not something strangers want to know, baby. Hush,” Alaina scolded. “I am so sorry, she doesn’t have a filter sometimes. Thank you so much for an amazing dinner. It was the most fun we have had in a long time.” Her heart ached at the thought.
    “The pleasure was all ours. We will walk you two lovely ladies out.” Leland stood first, and waited for Elizabeth and Alaina to slide out of the booth. They thanked Flo on the way and escorted them to their car.
    Elizabeth hugged them both. “It was really nice to meet you both. I hope we get to see you again.” She turned and got in the car, latching her seatbelt across her body.
    “Thank you both again. Liz needed some fun for once, and it was a huge change for us both. I still don’t feel right about you paying that much for our meals. Are you sure you won’t reconsider letting me cover ours?”
    “Absolutely not. You have no idea how much it meant to us both. I guess we will see you later, Alaina.” Brody’s voice was low and quiet, matching the intensity that painted his eyes.
    “I hope so. Thank you again. Bye.” She turned reluctantly and slid into the driver’s side door. Her heart sank at the idea of never seeing them again. She had only booked them for one night, and chances were they would be heading to Montana first thing in the morning.
    “You will, love. That I promise you.” Leland’s tone suggested more than just a casual run in or quick chat. The smallest sliver of hope sparked inside her. She glanced one last time at both of the gargantuan men and waved, backing out of the parking spot and away from them forever…Or so she thought.
    “Are we following her?” Leland asked with a smirk.
    “Do you have to even ask? I want to make sure she gets there safe, and then go get a brew. How about you?”
    “Isn’t this called stalking in the civi world?”
    “Nah. We are being kind gentlemen watching after a girl who has obviously not slept in days, looks like she is about to faint at any moment, and is now behind the wheel of a car with a precious little girl inside. Stay out of sight, but it would be wrong of us to not see her to safety.” Brody’s tone was matter of fact, leaving no room for argument.

Chapter Four
     
    Leland was more excited about life than he had ever been. Stepping away from the Army was the hardest decision he had ever had to make. Brody and the rest of their team had an agreement—they walked together. Being Green Berets, they had traveled and been thrown into a lot of hairy situations. Over the past few years, the government had gotten strict on following the mission and only the mission. After seeing whole towns ran by insurgents who killed, pillaged, and raped with strict orders not to intervene, it became harder and harder for them to do their job. It ate at them all to the point they couldn’t stand it. They had come across a really bad village one day, and refused to sit by and watch. A group of men were opening fire on a school house. The young girls were beaten half to death and sexually violated in front of everyone, dishonoring their name and banishing them from the community. Most were praying to die, knowing if they survived the hell they were going through would be nothing