Free Love Comes Home by Ann H. Gabhart

of Graham’s painting jobs. One ear cocked up while the other one drooped, and it held up a stiff back leg. “I’ve seen better looking dogs, but then Poe couldn’t win any beauty contests either.”
    Graham frowned. “You must’ve forgot what Poe looked like. He was a fine figure of a dog. This one, poor thing.” Graham ran his fingers across the white streak on the dog’s head and its tail flapped back and forth as it rolled up its lips to give Graham a toothy grin. “He’s no Poe, but I gotta admit, he is a dog.” The dog leaned against Graham’s leg.
    “That he is.” Jay looked around. “But where’s Scout?”
    Birdie whistled and shouted Scout’s name. When she spotted the dog racing across the field toward them, she grinned at Jay. “Watch out, Tanner. Here he comes.”
    “Don’t let him tear your stockings, Lorena,” Kate warned before she gave Graham a peck on the cheek and hurried up the porch steps to protect her good clothes from the dog’s paws.
    Seeing Kate there by the post brought back such a flood of memories Jay had to fight the urge to go take her in his arms. That was where she had waited for him while they were dancing toward love. Then the dog was all over him, jumping up and yapping.
    “Whoa.” Jay laughed and pushed him down. “Now that’s a welcome.”
    “I think he remembers you,” Birdie said.
    “Dogs never forget,” Graham added. “They’re like elephants.”
    Scout quivered with excitement as Jay patted him. “Who was it that decided elephants don’t forget?” Jay asked Graham.
    “I don’t know, but they should’ve said dogs.” Graham kept his hand on top of Chaucer’s head.
    “Come on. We can talk about dogs and elephants inside. It’s freezing out here.” Kate held her hand out toward him.“Mama probably needs help with dinner. Mike and Evie will be here soon, and who knows how many more.”
    “True enough,” Graham said. “Fern said Hattie might even walk down here to set her eyes on Jay.”
    “We could go get her,” Kate offered.
    “Now you know Hattie don’t like riding in those machines unless it’s an emergency.” Graham gave the car a wary look. He obviously hadn’t changed his opinion of cars either.
    “It is an emergency.” Birdie grabbed Jay’s hand. “I thought Kate was never going to let you come home.”
    “I’m here now.” Jay followed her up the porch steps where Kate waited, her very presence intoxicating. “Home.”
    He remembered the very planks of the porch under his feet, the feel of the Rosey Corner air on his skin, the smell of home. Dogs weren’t the only ones who didn’t forget. Home.

10

    T ori was disgusted with herself. She simply couldn’t keep crying when everybody else was smiling. But when Jay lifted Samantha high above his head to make her giggle, tears filled Tori’s eyes. It looked so natural. So right. That was what Sammy should be doing. But Sammy never would.
    “Again,” Samantha demanded when Jay brought her down out of the air.
    The child didn’t shy away from anybody. Mama said it was from being at the store all the time. Perhaps, but more than that, she was so like Sammy. He’d never known a stranger either. In every letter home, he’d told her about a new friend. Men from all across the nation. He probably even tried to make friends with his guards in that Japanese prison camp. The men who had killed him.
    She would not cry. She would smile. For Jay and Kate. For her mother and father who worried about her. For Samantha. Especially for Samantha.
    A few weeks ago, Aunt Hattie had told her to look to Jesus for smiles. “That don’t mean you won’t have troubles. Everysoul is burdened down with troubles from time to time.” Aunt Love knew about troubles. After all, she’d lost her son in the first war. “But the good Lord is right there helping you carry that load. That’s how you can pull up those smiles for yo’ little one even when you’re feelin’ sorrowful. And for