Chapter 1
Jackson
"Do you know where to now?" That would be my best friend Jace. Our tour ended and I feel... nothing. With nowhere to go, no family, I was stranded in this moment, looking around our home base. We both decided that this would be our last tour after 10 years of serving together. 10 years of keeping each others back through thick and thin. "I have no idea, brother." That's the only thing I knew now.
"You know you could come with me. My dad told me our police is looking for officers and with your background you would definitely get the job." Jace was a good, old Montana boy. His family has a ranch with cattle and horses in a small town of Rock Creek. I know, cheesy, right? But at this point I had nowhere to go and nothing to do.
"Yeah, maybe. Would your family be ok with me tagging along? Couple of days, to reset. I've never been to Montana." I've been all over the world with this guy, but every time he asked me to come when we had time off, I always stayed at our home base. I always thought that I wanted to move up in military. This last tour was the end for me. For us both.
He saved my life. And all I have left of my military career are deep rooted discipline and scarred face. In the last couple of months we've been healing, if you can call it that. The IED that exploded near us left me with a scar across my left cheek going from my temple to my mouth. Jace had some on his leg but nothing that couldn't be covered.
"Of course, you can come. My parents really want to meet the man I've been with for the past 10 years." He said, laughing and nudging me with his elbow. "Geez, you sound like we dating or something." I couldn't help the full on belly laugh that left me. Haven't done that in a while. What stopped me was the tugging feeling in my face since the scar was still fresh.
"Hey man, you'd be lucky to date me. I mean, look at me." I knew he would have some shit to say back. "Yeah, looking. Not impressed, dude!" Gotta say, I love him like a brother, but he stupid sometimes.
"Ok, ok. My flight is tomorrow if you still want to tag along." With that he turned and left me standing, in a place I'm not so sure I'll see ever again.
Time for a new chapter in my life.
