Chapter Two

Jenny Murray held up her cell phone and pointed it at Colleen. “Action,” she announced with flourish.

Colleen sat behind the large, mahogany desk in her office, surrounded by the imagery of her profession. Her medical degrees hung on the wall behind her, and a large bookcase held various books most people would only read to help with insomnia.

Jenny, her good friend and mom to two great little girls, agreed to film an audition video for a new reality TV show. The idea was crazy, and Colleen had serious doubts about her sanity. But if she was cast for The Great American Scavenger Hunt, she’d be in the running to win one million dollars. Her veterans’ retreat was important enough she’d do anything to open the doors ASAP. Colleen smoothed back her hair, which she’d wrapped in a tight bun, and then straightened her spine. “Do I look okay?”

“You look beautiful.” Jenny raised her hand. “Now, let’s do this…in five, four, three, two, one, go.”

“Hello, my name is Doctor Colleen Gardner. I’m a Clinical Psychiatrist, practicing in Liberty Ridge, Texas. After working with many soldiers and veterans suffering with PTSD, I’ve made it my mission to build a place of recovery and healing.”

Jenny pressed Pause and lowered her phone. “You sound as stiff as Pinocchio. Come on, loosen up. The producers want people who will be fun to watch.”

She stood and paced next to her desk. “So, you’re saying I’m not coming off as fun?”

“Not exactly.” Jenny grinned, which caused the clef in her chin to deepen. She blew a curly strand of golden blonde hair out of her face. “Maybe you should do your video somewhere more natural. Your office feels too uptight.”

Colleen figured this video wouldn’t be a big deal. Just tell a little bit about herself and why they should cast her. But her friend was right. She’d be competing with thousands of other people for one of only twenty spots. Her video had to stand out from the crowd. “What I need is to channel my inner Elle Woods from Legally Blonde. I think I have a sparkly bikini in my dresser at home, and we could use Grace’s pool.”

Jenny burst out with laughter. “Perfect. The smart and sexy look got her into Harvard Law School.”

Flopping down in her office chair, she sighed. “This video is hopeless. They’ll never pick me.”

“Why not? You’re cute and smart, and the cause you’re raising money for is solid. We just need to show them you’re more than a tailored suit.”

Colleen glanced at the expensive black suit coat, pencil skirt, and designer heels. What she wore wasn’t the outfit of an adventurer ready to scour the country for clues. “You’re right. The office isn’t working. Would you mind meeting me at Grace’s ranch in an hour?”

Looking at her phone, Jenny nodded. “Sure. Let me go pick up the girls, and I’ll bring them along. They love visiting the ranch.”

“You’re the best.” Her anxiety and doubt eased, sending her body into a more relaxed state. Colleen crossed her fingers all this effort would pay off. Not only did she have to make a memorable video, but if she did get picked, she’d fly out to LA for a live audition. Only after jumping through all their hoops would she know if she’d be cast for the show.

Slipping her cell phone into her purse, Jenny walked toward the door. “Oh, I forgot to tell you.” She spun to face Colleen. “You’ll never guess who moved back into town.”

Could he be her mystery man? Since the festival, she’d become obsessed with placing him. She’d even gotten out her old yearbook, but nobody matched the good-looking man at the park. “Spill, Jenny. Who?”

Jenny grinned.

Her friend looked as excited as a kid on Christmas morning. “Alex said when he was at the grocery store, he ran into Rocky Diaz. Rocky said he was at the Founders Day Festival on Saturday—”

“Get to the point. Who is it?” Colleen’s curiosity built to the point of combustion.

“Storm Thompson. Can you believe it?” Her hazel eyes widened. “That’s not the best part. Alex saw him at the restaurant and barely recognized him. I guess he’s bulked up and looks really good. He had a little girl with him. His daughter, Harper.”

Colleen’s vision whirled so she held onto the desk for support. Storm Thompson was her mystery man. Why hadn’t she put those details together? A car horn sounded from outside, drawing her attention to the large picture window facing the downtown street. She knew why. Because the man she’d met at the park was an altogether different person than the boy she’d known growing up. No wonder his eyes held so much hate. She didn’t blame him.

“Colleen, are you okay? You look like you’re getting sick.” Jenny, a frown forming, stood beside her and held her arm.

“Yeah, I’m just surprised. I didn’t recognize him at the festival.”

“Well, don’t feel bad. Most people didn’t. I guess his mom is having some problems, so he’s here to help.”

Memories of events she’d rather forget flooded her mind. Young Storm missed school for a week at a time then returned looking like a street urchin. Once they got into high school, his attendance improved, but he still was a social misfit. Not many teens wanted to be friends with the kid who lived with a strange mom on a hippy commune, including her.

She thought back to all the pranks she’d been a part of, especially that last one. Why had she ever agreed with their plan? She could blame her choice on social pressures or wanting to please her then-boyfriend, but deep down, she’d known what she did was wrong. Yet, she invited Storm to the graduation party, gotten him alone, and then handed him over to bullies. During their graduation ceremony, shame and guilt left her physically ill, especially when she hadn’t seen Storm at the ceremony then learned he’d skipped town.

The saddest part was Colleen had been best friends with Storm up until fourth grade. She’d understood too well the pain in his eyes, which he hid behind a shaggy head of hair. “Where is he living now?”

“Sounds like he’s rented an apartment in town. He must plan to stay for a while.”

Great. Her stomach constricted, and the chicken salad sandwich she’d eaten earlier churned in her gut. Just when she’d finally made amends for past bad behavior, another victim stepped forward to pick up the baton of hate.

Jenny patted her shoulder. “Alex talked to Storm at the restaurant. He seems not to hold any grudges. People change. You know that better than most.”

Bull’s-eye. “People do change, but Storm didn’t seem very happy to see me at the festival.” Likely, he hates my guts. “Next time I see him, I’ll do a better job of making him feel welcome.”

“Okay, enough gossip.” Jenny turned to leave. “I’ll see you in an hour at the ranch.”

After Jenny left her office, Colleen sat in a chair by the window and stared down at the activity on Main Street. She needed to get her mind off Storm Thompson and back onto her audition video.

As she locked her office to go home and change, she was haunted by Storm’s brown eyes. She should have put the puzzle together on her own. Maybe he’d changed on the outside, but his eyes looked exactly the same—filled with hurt and betrayal.

****

Storm had just settled into a downward dog pose when Harper crawled under him and settled onto the yoga mat set in the middle of his small living room. She lay on her back, feet kicking in the air. One connected with his ribs. He shifted his body weight forward into a high plank and slowly lowered himself so he hovered over the wiggly girl.

“Daddy,” she said with a giggle. “Off.”

He kissed her soft cheek and raised himself to a sitting position on the floor. Hearing her say “daddy” was the sweetest sound in the entire world. He had Harper for another two days and planned to make the most of this visit. Before he knew it, Valerie would arrive and take her back to California. He hated living so far from his daughter, but hopefully, someday soon, Harper would wake up at his house for more than just a few mornings a month. He’d get his act together so he could properly care for his family.

Running his own farm had always been his dream. If he could get the business off the ground, he’d win on all fronts. Now, if only the money could magically appear in his bank account to purchase the land. Maybe, he’d find a pirate’s chest hidden at the end of a rainbow. Unfortunately, the only rainbow on the horizon was a reality TV show.

Storm wanted to finish his morning yoga routine, but his little girl had different ideas. He sniffed her backside, and his stomach turned queasy. “Do you have a messy diaper?” He didn’t have to ask. The smell of poop drifting through the air was undeniable proof.

She peeked out from behind her light red hair. “I sorry.”

“No worries, princess. Let’s get you changed.” He grabbed a diaper and wipes from the diaper bag set in the corner of the room. Had Valerie started potty training, yet? Changing diapers was something he’d never get used to. If Harper came to stay for longer periods of time, he’d make sure she learned to use the potty ASAP.

In the middle of wiping Harper’s messy bottom, his mom exited from her bedroom.

She shook her head as she approached. “Those wipes are full of dangerous chemicals. I can help you make some natural ones. And cotton diapers would be better for the baby’s skin.”

Storm bit his tongue. His mom meant well. She made most of her personal body care products out of natural oils, dried flowers, and herbs. But right now, he had too much on his plate to think about using anything other than what he could pick up at the store. “Maybe next time Harper’s here we can make some.”

She waved her hand in the air. “I was lying in bed, thinking about the little video you have to make. The commune’s garden would make a good backdrop.”

“I don’t think the commune will work.” For a number of reasons. First and foremost being, Rose had been asked to leave the commune and not return. She’d lived there for thirty years and the place had been her home. If she returned, she’d cause a scene. With Harper as his primary concern, he didn’t want to do anything that would upset his daughter.

Rose looked around the small apartment before taking a seat on the one upholstered chair in the room. “You know. I want to help. I hate thinking I’m a burden to you.”

“You’re not a burden, Mom. I’m doing what’s best for all of us. If I can get on this show, I’ll have a chance at winning enough money to take care of you and Harper. So, how about you grab my cell phone, and I’ll show you how to record a video. We can shoot my audition video right here, with Harper on my lap.”

Rose smiled so brightly, her face glowed. Since her official diagnosis twenty years ago, she’d lived with the knowledge of her mental illness. When Storm was a teenager, he’d convinced her to get treatment. For a few years, she’d been good about taking her medication. But then she heard she could treat herself with herbal supplements and all the prescription drugs went into the trash.

She experienced severe mood swings and often talked to people who weren’t there. Some days, Storm thought he’d go crazy. When he’d left town at eighteen, he’d turned his back on her. Now, the time had come to heal their wounds.

He gave his mom a tutorial on how to use his cell phone, and then dressed Harper in a pink sundress. Not bothering to change out of his yoga gear, he sat wearing a ripped superhero T-shirt and gym shorts. Storm settled Harper on his lap.

Here goes nothing.

They got a good video after only two takes. Harper looked so sweet. How would anyone deny her? His pitch was quick and to the point. He wanted to compete in The Great American Scavenger Hunt not only for the adventure but to provide a safe place for his daughter to grow up—a place where she could learn and be healthy. He wanted to share his love of growing food with Harper and to see her dig in the dirt and eat what they grew.

While Harper played with her favorite doll, Storm transferred the video to his laptop. He watched it one last time, said a little prayer, and uploaded it to the show’s submission link. If he was chosen, he’d have to leave for three weeks—a small cost for a shot at his dream.

One million dollars. The amount of money swum around his head. If he won, he could flat out buy the farmland, plus seeds and enough equipment to get started. He’d probably still need a small loan from the bank to really flourish. But the prize money was the key to opening doors that until now had been slammed closed in his face.

Harper walked close and handed him her doll. “My baby.” She brushed the doll’s yarn hair with a pudgy hand.

His throat tightened. He gazed at his precious daughter and smiled. “Yes…my baby.” He’d go to the ends of the earth to make sure she knew how much he loved her.

****

Colleen stood by the gate to a cattle pasture, self-conscious nerves fluttered in her chest. She was sure she looked like an idiot. Good thing True Horizon Ranch made a perfect backdrop for her audition video. The scenery would serve as a good distraction. Texas Longhorn cattle grazing on sweet grass spotted the hills behind her. This serene environment was what she wanted for the retreat. Texas prairie country was God’s gift of peace through nature.

She’d decided to change out of her power suit into something more casual. More sexy would be a better description. Colleen wore cut-off jean shorts and a plaid shirt tied at the waist, which showed off a hint of abs—the same part of her body now twisted into knots.

“Here, put this one on.” Grace handed her a straw cowgirl hat. “You need to look the part.”

Colleen set the hat on her head then swept her hair behind her shoulders. Hope I don’t look like a city girl trying to play country.

The baby monitor attached to Grace’s hip squawked. “John’s up.” Grace lowered the volume button. “He’ll want to eat. I’ll send out Heath to help you.”

With Grace on her way back to the white farm house, Jenny smiled at Colleen. “Relax, you’ll be great.” She lifted her cell phone and swirled her finger, the signal to begin.

Colleen inhaled the scents of grass and damp earth. As she shifted her weight, the ground underneath her boots squished. After one last deep breath, she began her pitch.

Halfway through, Heath appeared beside her. “Let me give it to you straight.” He looked into the camera and smiled. “This girl’s the real MVP. She reached out when no one would touch me with a ten-foot pole. She guided me back to the light. This veteran’s retreat she has planned will be a lifesaver. And I’m not saying that to be overdramatic. Vets and their families need a place like this.”

Colleen’s heart grew about ten sizes during Heath’s speech. When she’d first opened her practice in Liberty Ridge, Heath had been one of her first patients. He’d been a tough nut—angry with himself and the world. And with his healing, he’d become the motivation behind the urgency to start her retreat.

Wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, she faced Jenny and finished her audition spiel. Afterward, she replayed the video to watch the results. Her performance was cringe-worthy, but she had to admit the pitch turned out pretty good—mostly due to Heath.

“I love it.” Jenny twirled in a little dance.

Her twin girls appeared from the horse stables and ran across the yard. They were covered in dirt and hay and didn’t waste a second before jumping on Heath.

Colleen laughed and stepped out of the way. “I’ll take it home and upload it. Tomorrow’s the cutoff date.”

“They’d be crazy not to pick you.” Heath shook one leg and then the other in an attempt to remove his nieces, who had both wrapped themselves around his legs. “Hey, you little barnacles. I need these to walk.”

They giggled and held on tighter.

While watching the sweet interaction between the heavily tattooed, former soldier with PTSD, and the little girls, she hardened her resolve. She would get the retreat off the ground. So many veterans and their families needed her help. She had to win.