Faith, Honor & Freedom by Shannon Callahan Read Free Book Online Page A

surgery.” She had stopped by earlier in the week to meet Gavin and bring a gift for him, and lasagna for the rest of us. That’s my mom; she hasn’t slowed down any, even in retirement.
    “Weston was saying.”
    “When were you talking to Hoss?” I ask, now worried about what he told her. He wouldn’t … I’ll kill him.
    “Now, don’t change the subject, Lana; that’s not very polite,” she scolds gently.
    “I have no idea Mom. I seriously just dragged myself out of bed. I was going to call in a minute. He was fine when I left this morning; Violet and Jack stayed the night. The hospital gave them a cot beside his incubator. Now when were you talking to Hoss?” I ask again.
    “Oh, he stopped by here earlier, mowed the lawn and everything. I gave him some of my freshly squeezed lemonade and some blueberry cobbler to take back home. I should have cooked him a dish, though. Drats! Why didn’t I think of that earlier? That boy can’t boil water. Maybe I’ll make him some …” she drones on, but I stop listening. I’m content that at least he didn’t tattle, as Rhett would have done.
    “… Does that sound good, Lana?” she asks.
    “Ah, sorry, what?”
    “I was just saying I think I’ll invite him up for dinner tomorrow. You should come, too. I’ll make chili and corn bread,” she says excitedly.
    I weigh my options: Mom’s chili is incredible; her corn bread is to die for. Unfortunately, my hatred for Hoss may just outweigh that right now. The man punched a hole in my damn wall after trying to make me feel like shit for something he does almost daily!
    “I’m busy tomorrow Mom, but maybe I’ll drop by another day this week,” I promise.
    “All right Lana, make sure you do. Your dad and I really miss you around here. Now call and check on that baby, will ya?”
    “Will do Mom, love you. Give Dad a kiss for me, too,” I say, hanging up the phone.
    I call the hospital and punch in Gavin’s room number. Violet answers on the second ring.
    “Hey Vi, how did things go today?”
    “Not bad; he’s awake now. They’re giving him something for the pain, but they’re still saying the same thing. He’s going to be just fine. We’ll probably get to come home the day after tomorrow,” she says longingly. “I have to admit, after all of this, I’m so thankful you talked me into that home birth. It’s just so nerve-wracking around here.”
    “It’s stressful because you’re in the PICU, and for the last time, I never talked you into a home birth,” I say, with a forced laugh.
    “But you did. Every time you came home from a birth all blissful and radiant, talking about how magical it was, it made me want it for myself, too,” she says.
    “Yeah, yeah, give my boy a kiss for me, will you? I’ll be up in the morning; text me with anything you need, and I’ll bring that up, too.”
    “Will do, and thanks again, Lana.”
    “I’d like to say anytime, but he’s used up his quota of scaring us to death. Make sure he knows that.” I hear Vi chuckle.
    “Thanks. See you tomorrow,” she says, hanging up the phone.
    My stomach rumbles, and I groan. I do not feel like cooking. I open my drawer, looking for my take out pamphlets. I’m not proud of it, but hey, a girl’s gotta eat, and cooking for one isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Once in a while, I’ll treat myself. I start rooting through them, thinking about Chinese food when I hear a knock on my front door. I have no idea who it could be, considering the time of night and the fact that Vi’s in the hospital. I open the door to find Hoss standing there in a light blue t-shirt and a pair of faded jeans. He looks strangely casual, and I’ll admit, pretty damn sexy … until he opens his mouth.
    “Lana, how many times do I have to tell you, check your peephole,” he scolds.
    “What makes you think I didn’t?” I retort.
    “Because I’m sure as shit you wouldn’t have opened the door for me,” he says, pushing past me. “Look