Military Daddy by Patricia Davids Page A

second before clasping her hand. She squeezed his fingers and cast a sidelong glance at Annie before bowing her head.
    Marge closed her eyes and said, “We give You thanks, Lord Jesus, for the bounty You have bestowed upon us. Let us be ever mindful that our true strength comes through You. Bless the people gathered here and grant that through Your intercession we may come to grow in love, faith and wisdom. Amen.”
    â€œAmen,” Shane added to chorus of voices around him. If he couldn’t convince Annie of the wisdom of accepting his help, he certainly wasn’t above asking God to give him a hand.
    â€œHow long have you been in the Army, Shane?” Marge asked as she passed the platter of meat to Olivia.
    â€œSix years now.”
    â€œAre you making it your career?”
    â€œYes, ma’am. The pay isn’t great, but it offers me the chance to serve my country, to travel and to learn new things. I can honestly say if it hadn’t been for the Army, I never would have learned to shoe a horse.”
    â€œYour performance was so cool, wasn’t it, Annie?” Olivia slid a thick slice of ham onto her plate and passed the dish to him.
    â€œYou mean, the part of it you actually saw?” Marge asked, giving her daughter a disapproving stare.
    â€œYeah. I wish I had stayed to see all of it,” Olivia replied, clearly chastised.
    â€œMaybe you’ll get another chance to see us in action.” He took a piece of meat and handed the platter to Marge.
    Olivia gave him a half smile. “I kinda doubt it.”
    Marge’s stern features relaxed. “I would be interested in seeing your unit in action someday.”
    Olivia’s eyes brightened as she looked at her mother. “Like, after I’m not grounded anymore?”
    â€œYes, like then.”
    Crystal leaned toward Shane. “Do you give special tours of the stable?”
    â€œTours can be arranged through the Department of Public Affairs. The captain assigns the personnel for each tour.”
    â€œSo it might not be you?”
    â€œNot usually. I have other duties.” He forked a piece of meat into his mouth.
    â€œOh.” Clearly disappointed, Crystal turned her attention back to her meal.
    â€œThis ham is great,” he said. Hoping to draw Annie out, he asked, “Do you like to cook?”
    Olivia and Crystal both burst out laughing. Annie stared at her plate.
    â€œAnnie can’t boil water,” Crystal said. “Never let her cook you a meal.”
    â€œAnnie is learning,” Marge said. “Cooking is a skill that takes practice, like everything else.”
    â€œShe makes an okay tuna casserole,” Olivia added as if trying to make up for her unkindness.
    The sound of thunder suddenly rumbled through the house. Annie flinched and grew pale. “It’s storming.”
    Marge laid a hand on her arm. “It’s just a shower. It will be over soon.”
    â€œPlease excuse me.” Laying her napkin on the table, Annie hurried from the room.
    Shane looked to Marge for an explanation. Smiling sadly, she said, “Annie is deathly afraid of storms.”
    He could have kicked himself for teasing her earlier, but how could he have known? Still, it must have made him look like a first-class jerk in her eyes.
    â€œWhat made her scared of them?” he asked.
    â€œI’m not even sure she knows.”
    Olivia tossed her napkin on the table. “May I be excused also?”
    â€œAre you scared of thunder, too?” he asked, glancing at the others in the room.
    â€œNo, but when it rains, the roof leaks in my room. I need to put a pail under the spot before my floor gets wet again.”
    â€œOf course, dear. Would you check on Annie before you come back?”
    â€œNot a problem.”
    â€œThanks, honey. The pail is under the sink in the bathroom.”
    Crystal rose, too. “I noticed a spot on the ceiling in the laundry room after the last