Free Her Cowboy Soldier by Cindi Myers

with the natives was perfectly normal, something she was used to. “I met Brent at our orientation and...well, in that kind of situation there isn’t a lot of time for dating the way we think of it over here. We spent hours every day together and fell in love, and then we got married.”
    “Wow. That’s really romantic.”
    Amy forced a smile. “It was and it wasn’t. We never dressed up for each other or had dinner in a fancy restaurant or did things most people think of as romantic.” They’d gotten to know each other as they worked to build huts or dig ditches or teach food safety classes. Long walks and sitting up late talking had stood in for movies and dancing. “I’m not sure I’d know how to act on a date.”
    “You don’t have to act any way at all. You just be yourself. That’s what the right guy would want. It’s finding that right guy that’s the challenge.” She pulled a deep purple gown from the rack. “Besides, this isn’t a date. It’s more like a party. It’ll be fun, you’ll see. When was the last time you dressed up and pampered yourself?”
    “Probably my wedding.” Amy laughed. “I haven’t exactly lived a dress-up lifestyle.”
    “So you and Brett met in the Peace Corps, but what did he do after you married?”
    “Different things. Before he joined the army he was working for a big outdoor clothing company in Denver. I worked part-time as a receptionist in a dentist’s office. On weekends, instead of going out dancing or to fancy restaurants, we went camping or hiking or on bike rides.”
    “No wonder you’re in such great shape. Is that what attracted you to him—that he was a rugged outdoorsman?”
    “Not that, particularly, though that was the kind of man I’d grown up around. Brent was funny and sweet and smart and he was so confident. That was what impressed me about him the first time we met. He was so sure of himself.” She’d been anything but confident herself, still doubting her decision to commit a year of her life to working in a place where she knew no one and had only a rudimentary grasp of the language. Brent had sensed her insecurity and taken her under his wing. She’d welcomed his companionship and guidance.
    “You seem pretty sure of yourself now,” Charla said.
    “Brent joining the army was a real wake-up call for me. Suddenly I was a single mom. I had to do everything from shoveling snow to calling a tow truck when my car died. I had to find the confidence to look after myself and Chloe. I realized that, for all my world travels, I’d led a pretty sheltered life.” Her parents, and then Brent, had protected her from a lot of responsibilities.
    “Well, you’ve done a good job. Chloe is a sweetheart, and I know your grandmother appreciates having your help with the farm. And you’re the best reporter the Herald has ever had.”
    The praise warmed her, though she told herself Charla might be just a bit prejudiced in her favor. “The one thing I always wanted to do was to write. English was my favorite subject in school. I would have come to Hartland anyway, to help Grandma, but when she told me the paper needed a part-time reporter, she knew for sure I’d be hooked.”
    “Stick around long enough and you could be editor,” Charla said. “Ed’s talked about retiring practically since he bought the paper. You might be the one to persuade him to do it.”
    “Oh, I don’t think I want his job,” Amy said. “I’d really like to write books. Or maybe work for a magazine.”
    “I don’t think we have any magazines in Grand County, but you could start one.”
    “I might have to go away to write for a magazine. I mean, I don’t really know how long I’ll stay here.”
    Charla added a white dress to the stack across her arm. “But you like it here, don’t you? Why wouldn’t you stay?”
    “I don’t know. I’ve never lived in one place very long. I don’t even know what that feels like.”
    “Then it’s a good time to find