Military K-9 Unit Christmas. Valerie Hansen

the Lord she hadn’t made this trip to see Angela alone! A sense of divine presence and peace flooded through her. The fear she had defined as a personal weakness her heavenly Father had used for her good. If her pride hadn’t gotten in the way, she might have recognized the hidden blessing sooner.

      Their path took them to a side door. Rachel glanced over her shoulder to ask, “Now what?”

      “We can circle around or I can bring the truck to you, depending on whether or not this Peter guy spots you. If he came inside the way I suspect, we can make a run for it together.”

      “Okay.”

      She started to lean on the push bar to the exterior door as she heard Kyle shout, “No!”

      It was too late. A claxon horn was blasting and warning bells sounded. Rachel immediately realized her error. That door was supposed to stay closed and she’d triggered an alarm.

      Frustrated, fearful and more angry with herself than anyone else, Rachel faced him with a grimace. “You said we were going to circle around so I thought...”

      “Inside, not out there,” he shot back. “Come on. Follow me before the guards catch us.”

      Rachel didn’t argue. They turned back into the hallway. Curious employees and patients glanced at them in passing, but nobody approached with questions.

      “Walk calmly and slowly,” Kyle ordered. “Don’t hurry and don’t look back. Pretend you think that noise is a nuisance the way everybody else does.”

      “Okay.”

      “And stay close. We want to look like a normal family.”

      Rachel could see wisdom in his suggestion even if heeding it did place her in an awkward position. Putting aside her personal misgivings, she moved to Kyle’s side and slipped her hand through the crook of his bent elbow.

      That touch was a mistake. His arm was muscular beneath his sleeve, his countenance commanding and sturdy as well as comforting. She knew his hands were especially skillful because she’d watched him do delicate surgeries, but nothing had prepared her for this potent an assault on her senses.

      Distracted by the masculine presence beside her, she almost missed spotting a familiar figure fidgeting in front of a bank of elevators.

      “Stop,” she hissed, giving his arm a tug.

      Kyle halted. “What is it?”

      “There. Up ahead. See the scruffy man with a ponytail, cutoffs, bomber jacket and flip-flops by the elevators? That’s him. We got here too soon.”

      “It’s still better than coming face-to-face when those doors open upstairs.”

      “Right.” Slinking backward into a shallow doorway, Rachel was relieved when Kyle turned and handed her Natalie.

      “Hold her tight and stay behind me so he won’t spot you if he looks this way.”

      “Gladly.” Rachel couldn’t tell whether the elevator had come and gone until Kyle told her. “The coast is clear. Remember, act normally.”

      Rachel huffed. “I doubt I’d recognize normal if it walked up and bit me in the leg. The only part of my life that ever seemed well ordered was my time in the air force working with K-9s. I can hardly wait to get back on base.”

      As he ushered her and Natalie toward the automated sliding doors leading to the parking lot, Kyle was shaking his head. “I’m afraid that by the time you get through all the red tape involved in gaining legal custody of your niece, nothing will feel the same. Not even life on Canyon.”

      A childish, barely audible “What’s that?” sounded in Rachel’s ear.

      “Canyon Air Force Base,” she told the child. “That’s where I live.”

      “Do you have toys?” the wan little voice asked right before a big yawn.

      “Well, we have what Senora Alvarez brought for you and there’s a wonderful store where we can buy more.”

      “I don’t wanna leave my mama,” Natalie whined, rubbing her eyes with her little fists.

      “I know you don’t, sweetheart. I don’t want to leave your mom, either, but we have to go before Peter sees us.”

      Thin arms tightened around Rachel’s neck, reminding her that she had just accepted an immense responsibility, one she was far from certain she was ready for. Suppose her efforts at parenting failed? Or suppose Peter won in court and she had to give Natalie back to him?

      That possibility was so unacceptable it brought tears to her eyes. No, no, no. She would not fail. She would never give up no matter who or what came against her. She couldn’t disappoint her sister—or the frightened child now clinging to her. No matter what happened she was going to stick it out. To win. There was no acceptable alternative.

      Glaring sunshine barely warmed the winter day. Kyle loaded the sleepy little girl and her scarce personal belongings into the second seat of the SUV, then began to adjust her seat belt before fastening it. “She should have a booster seat, too, but this will have to do.”

      “Not if it isn’t safe. I hadn’t thought about how she was going to ride with us.”

      Seeing Rachel’s tears begin to glisten, Kyle said, “Look. A lot has happened already and I know you’re not thinking clearly. That’s where I come in. Trust me. I’ve got this.”

      Shoulders sagging, Rachel nodded. “I know. I just feel so confused. I’d finally reconciled with my sister and now she’s gone again. It’s like I was robbed. Twice.” She draped her jacket over Natalie to serve as a blanket before sliding into the front passenger seat.

      Kyle fought to keep from identifying too closely with Rachel’s plight. It was no use. And, considering how bereft she seemed, he figured he owed it to her to commiserate. “I do understand, believe me. It’s hard. Any unexpected loss is, especially when it’s a younger person.”

      She sighed. “I really did love my sister even if we hadn’t had contact during the past six years. I keep wondering if things would have been different if I’d stayed with her instead of letting Peter scare me off.”

      “Sure. Maybe he’d have beaten you senseless, instead.”

      Kyle noted her sidelong glance at the second seat as he started the vehicle, and toned down his responses, beginning with, “Sorry.” He started to back out of the parking space. “How much do you know about the whole home situation?”

      “Not a lot beyond what I witnessed years ago. Angela managed to tell me some things but it’s probably not enough to get him thrown back in jail. At least not until the forensic report is in.”

      He knew she was purposely being evasive by not mentioning a medical examiner. Surely anyone who had been so severely beaten and had named her attacker on her deathbed would be believed. The problem was whether or not this Peter guy was going to accept any legal edict. Even if he wasn’t put in prison for killing Rachel’s sister, he should never gain custody of the sweet little girl nodding off in the back seat.

      “We can take her home to your apartment and look over what she brought with her. Then I’ll go down to the base exchange and buy whatever else she needs.”

      “You don’t have to do that.”

      “I know.” Backing out, he joined a line of cars waiting to leave the lot.

      “Then, why?”

      “Let’s just say it’s the right thing for me to do and I don’t mind a bit. Okay?”

      “Sure. I get it. I have the Christmas spirit, too.”

      Kyle’s head snapped to the side. “Who said anything about Christmas?”

      “I’m sorry. I thought, since there are decorations hanging from every lamppost and store windows are all