Read What Part of Marine Don't You Understand? (The Challenge Series) for Free Online

“Thanks, Logan.”
    “Like I said—I’m in the hole. We’ll go when you’re ready, it’s right this way….”
    “Yes, sir.”
    He hung up and looked at Jethro. “Let’s do this.”
    The dog bounded up and raced for the door. This time, Matt didn’t slow. He clipped the leash on his collar and grabbed the basket. Hopefully she would be hungry.
    He sure as hell was.
     
    ***
     
    Naomi worked through another series of bridges and chords. The blank sheet music and pencil sat ignored next to her. She couldn’t really focus on composition when she looked at the trail every other minute. Every day she sat there and Matt showed up with his dog. They chatted for a few minutes and then he threw the stick while she played.
    And today he’s not here…and I’m not writing . Music and the arts were not a career path her father encouraged. In her particular situation, Naomi agreed with him. Whether by accident or design, over half the songs she scored and wrote focused on life in the service—or the family life of someone in the service.
    As if with a will of their own, her fingers switched chords to Toby Keith’s, “Made in America.” She loved the song, and the meaning behind it. Closing her eyes, she played the music and hummed along until she got to the red, white, and blue and the Semper Fi on his arm—raising her voice, she sang about King James and Uncle Sam.
    Throwing her arm up after the last chord, she clenched her fist and exulted in the feeling of the song’s message. Quiet applause brought her back down to Earth. Matt stood there, in T-shirt and jeans rather than his usual running gear. He held a basket in his right hand and Jethro’s leash in the other.
    Her face warmed. “Hey.”
    “Hey. Don’t suppose you know ‘Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue’?”
    Grinning, she adjusted the guitar and started playing the fitting tribute to soldiers. Matt closed the distance and sat down to listen. His head bobbed in time to the rhythm and he joined her in the bridge.
    “Brought to you, courtesy of the red, white, and blue.”
    She loved the guitar movements, slowing the chords as she warned of what happened when you rattled the big dog’s cage, because they would put boot to ass for messing with the U.S. of A. Matt’s grin grew, but deeper shadows clouded his beautiful blue eyes. He sang with her, but he wasn’t in the moment until Jethro rubbed his head against his shoulder. His gaze cleared and he exhaled a strangled laugh on the last note.
    “Damn. You’re good.”
    The vehemence of the compliment floored her. “Thank you.” She bit her tongue before she asked if he was okay. She’d seen that distant look in Brent’s eyes—in Charlie’s, in Toby’s and in the eyes of every man who served. For the briefest of moments, Matt had been back on those front lines. It answered her unasked question of what he did at Mike’s Place, though she’d had her suspicions.
    Pushing past the cloak of concern, she nodded to the basket. “What’s that?”
    He glanced down as though he’d forgotten. “Lunch.” The corners of his mouth curved. “I figured I always got the better end of the deal listening to you play so…I brought lunch to say thank you….” The words trailed off and he looked vaguely uncomfortable. “You know, if you’re hungry.”
    “Starving.” She set the guitar into its case. “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” Shaking off his distraction, he unclipped Jethro from his leash. The well-trained dog didn’t take off. Instead, he stretched out between them within easy reach of the Marine.
    Is he a PTSD dog ? She wished she could see his tags or dared ask, but she didn’t want to make Matt any more uncomfortable. She’d heard such amazing things about the program. It was actually on her list to learn about as soon as she finished recording the album. Maybe she could donate a portion of her proceeds to the funding. Too many veteran recovery programs needed money to stay