The Texan's Surprise Return. Jolene Navarro

stark coldness started at his core and spread to his limbs. He closed his eyes against the dizziness.

      He was disorientated. What had to be a memory rushed through his brain. He stood in the exact same place, but he was seeing different kids in another time.

      The children in the flashback were subdued, their giggles quiet as one dirty, matted puppy licked the little girl. She squealed with delight.

      “Hush, Belle. He’ll hear us,” he had warned her.

      A lanky boy in worn hand-me-downs that he knew was a young Elijah pulled scraps out of his pocket to feed the dog. She was black with four white paws and a crescent shape between her eyes. She was too young to be away from her mother, but someone had dumped her on the old country road.

      Footsteps outside charged his heart into overdrive. He frantically scanned the area for a safe place.

      If his father found them with a pup…

      “Xavier.” The soft plea pulled him back to the current time and place. Selena had his hand in hers. “Are you okay?”

      On his left, Belle put her hand on his shoulder.

      He looked at her. His blood pressure had to be dangerously high. “We tried to save a stray once. But he found us. The dog…” Did he really want to know what happened?

      Tears welled up in his cousin’s eyes. “You saved Luna. You hid her in time, but Frank was mad because you weren’t in the barn, cleaning.”

      He remembered now. “But he took it out on you and Elijah.” Why did he remember this, but not the details of his life with Selena?

      Belle shrugged. “That was the norm for us. But it was so worth it that time. Luna’s a great dog. We managed to keep her out of sight for almost a year. She still lives with Selena.”

      Selena put her hand on his other arm. “You gave her to me. She went on the road with me when I traveled with Dad. When I was in town, you’d come by every day to see her.”

      Belle laughed as she wiped her face. “I don’t think it was Luna he was checking on.”

      Nodding, he put that bit of past in its place and fixed himself in the present. Blinking to clear his blurred vision didn’t help. He could make out the forms of movement, but the details were too vague.

      Lowering his lids, he took in deep breaths that expanded his lungs.

      Selena’s grip tightened, and she leaned in closer. “We can still make an escape.” Just being near her made him braver.

      Not sure he could form any words, he jerked his head and took a step closer to the circle of kids and goats.

      The giggling stopped. Someone stood and moved next to Selena. All Xavier could make out was a thick gray mustache on a man a bit shorter than him, but not by much.

      “Xavier, this is my father.”

      Ignoring the hand Xavier offered, the man pulled him into a bear hug. “Boy, it’s so good to see you.” Tears were clear in the man’s smooth baritone voice.

      Blood rushed through Xavier’s body. He knew this man. “Riff?”

      The man pulled back, his large hands gripping his biceps. “You remember me?”

      “Your voice. You taught me to play guitar. We sang together. You like singing.”

      A robust laugh filled the barn. “Yes. I like singing. Much to my daughter’s displeasure.” He pulled Xavier back into a tight hug and his fingers dug into his back. The man was openly crying now. “You’re home. Praise God.”

      Breathing became difficult in the tight embrace.