“Don’t tell your mother.”
Jack grinned and accepted the cold bottle. His father was a bear of a man, scared of nothing, except possibly a severe tongue-lashing from his wee wife. Liam Callaghan claimed his bonnie bride before emigrating to the United States years earlier, but was still every bit in love with her as he was the day they first met. Even now the man’s eyes softened as his gaze found her.
Many people scoffed at the notion of love at first sight, but Liam had sworn the phenomenon was every bit as real as they earth upon which they tread. The best thing that could happen to an Irishman, he’d told his son, was to find his croie, his heart—– the one woman divinely fashioned by God to be the other half of a man’s soul. Young Jack had grown up on stories of such things, and hoped to find his own someday. But first he had to make it through the next six years.
“Good lad. If you’re old enough to fight for your country, you’re old enough to share a cold one with your Da.”
Jack turned slightly, away from his mother’s direct line of sight, and took a long drink. Less than a week earlier, he’d been proudly accepting his high-school diploma in his cap and gown. Soon he’d be heading out as a member of the United States Armed Services. It still hadn’t quite sunken in. All his life, he’d looked up to the men who were willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of God and country, and now some of the younger boys were looking up at him the same way.
He didn’t feel like he a hero, though. He felt like a teenager in way over his head. He wondered if the others felt the same way. If they did, they wouldn’t admit it. Neither would he.
Every now and then someone would catch his eye and nod. Jack took it for what it was—– a show of approval and respect. He’d grown up here, had known most of these people since he was a kid.
But not her. Jack was certain he’d never met her before. Once again, his eyes were drawn to the pretty little thing with black hair, alabaster skin, and flashing green eyes. As if sensing his gaze, she turned and locked eyes with him. And in that moment, his heart stopped entirely.
“Bonnie lass, isn’t she?” Liam commented, following his gaze.
“Who is she?” Jack asked without looking away. It was hard to tell from that distance, but he could have sworn he saw a pink tint blossoming on that perfect white skin. Though he willed her to look his way once again, she didn’t.
“Kathleen O’Leary. Her father, Conlan, is a friend of mine. Owns the diner across the river in Birch Falls.”
Birch Falls. That explained why he hadn’t seen her around. He definitely would have remembered her.
“Why don’t you go over and introduce yourself? The lass has been eyeing you all night.”
Had she? Jack was doubtful, since he’d been sneaking glances at her throughout the evening and other than that brief visual lock a minute ago, she’d hadn’t given any indication that she’d noticed him at all. But the mere possibility was enough to make something unexpected and powerful swell in his chest.
Jack wasn’t the smoothest operator when it came to females, but he was no choir boy, either. Most of his previous encounters hadn’t required much thought, but now he found himself at a loss. Should he hang on the fringes, hoping she would see it as an opportunity to make her way over to him? Or go over there and try to strike up a conversation? The idea had him more nervous than his enlistment.
Don’t start anything you can’t finish, a little voice warned in the back of his head. You’re leaving soon. Chances are, they’re going ship your arse off to Vietnam sooner rather than later.
All the more reason to make the most of the now, countered another.
“There can be no courage without fear, lad,” his father said softly. “That applies to war as well as women.”
Had his father read his mind? Jack tipped back the bottle and let the smooth, cold brew glide down his throat. It warmed his belly and bolstered his nerve.
“And who knows? Maybe the lass will give you yet another reason to come home.” Jack turned to look at his father and blinked. In that moment, he realized that as scared as he was about the future, his father was even more so. He’d never admit that, but his eyes spoke volumes. With the Vietnam conflict intensifying, too many young men left Pine Ridge and came back with flags draped over their coffins.
Jack nodded in silent acknowledgement, resolve pushing away the doubt. He wasn’t going to be one of them.