Free Trinity: Military War Dog by Ronie Kendig

fact, I’d bet someone in this crowd is ticked at me right now for even bringing this up.” He held up his hand with the scars from Trinity. “Don’t put God in a position where He has to scar your sorry carcass. I did that. Then I was ticked. Beyond ticked!”
Still am!
“I hated God, hated life. Laid up with TBI and discharged from the one thing I wanted in life—being a Green Beret—I blamed God for everything.”
    Shame gripped him, thinking of Jia listening to him. What would she think? He had this overwhelming need to see her reaction, yet as he scanned the crowd, he couldn’t see her. Or worse, what if she learned he still felt that way? Not as much … but the aftereffects lingered.
    He shared how he’d begged God for a miracle—to heal him. When it was obvious that wouldn’t happen, he sunk even lower. In his darkest hour, he’d begged God for one good thing to happen. When nothing happened, he vowed his days of begging were over. Never again. But then a ray of sunlight struck his storm-riddled world—he got the call that the Army had decided to retire Trinity.
    “God has your back.” Toes dangling off the edge of the stage, Heath stared out at the faces of those who put their lives on the line. “You aren’t alone. He’s there. Always. And I pray you find the strength to reach out to Him.” He drew in a long breath and smiled. “Just because things don’t go the way
you
planned, doesn’t mean God left you. He may have just put you on a new course. Follow the adventure!” He held up a hand. “Thanks for listening to me tonight. I’ll be around to talk if you have questions.”
    Jibril took the stage to explain A Breed Apart a little more, then turned over the stage and night to one of the soldiers, who dismissed everyone.
    A steady stream of admirers walked by Trinity, but—thank goodness—they remembered he’d warned them not to mistake her for a domestic dog they could pet. Trinity was working. Always.
    He shook hands, signed some miniature scrapbooks, and took pictures with others. All the while, he searched the crowds for Jia. Where had she gone? Heath hoped he hadn’t said something from the stage that scared her off. Being brutal-honest with the audience opened himself up to ridicule. But … the thought of her thinking worse of him rankled.
    Weird. Why would he care what some chick thought? He never had before.
    Yeah, and you’ve never tried to soften up a woman since your life wrecked
.
    Man, his head felt like someone drove a tent stake through it. What happened? Maybe it was just all the excitement of the night. Or that collision with the chair. He pinched the bridge of his nose.
    “Great job,” Jibril said as the crowd petered out. “You’re a natural.” His smile rivaled the lights on the stage. “I knew I picked the right man.”
    “Thanks. Hey, have you seen—?”
    “Your Chinese friend?”
    Heath jerked, stunned.
    “I saw you two talking before the show.” Smoothing his beard, Jibril studied him. “Is she stationed here?”
    Heath clipped Trinity’s lead on. “She’s not military. Civilian with military contract to scout for minerals. She’s leaving in the morning.”
    “I am sorry,” Jibril said, his expression somber. “I saw her leave about halfway through your presentation.”
    “Oh.” What did that mean? “Maybe she got a call.”
    “It is possible.” Jibril patted his shoulder. “Are you okay? Your head is hurting?”
    “Just too much excitement, I guess.”
    Jibril looked unconvinced. “This has been a long but good day. Now, I must rest. We head south tomorrow, so be sure to rest up. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    “Right. Okay.” But Heath’s brain cells were engaged on wondering why Jia had left.
    He tugged Trinity’s lead toward the tents where contractors bunked. Maybe Jia wasn’t feeling well. As he stared down what looked like an endless row of tents, he realized the futility of his personal mission.
    Gutting up the