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Back The Land Beneath Us
Chapters (62)
  1. Cover
  2. Endorsements
  3. Books by Sarah Sundin
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright Page
  6. Presidential Radio Broadcast
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. Epilogue
  58. Acknowledgments
  59. Discussion Questions
  60. About the Author
  61. Back Ads
  62. Back Cover

Leah brimmed over with questions. What had happened in Normandy? What about his recurring dream? One question felt safest. “Tell me about becoming a medic—and a physician.”

Clay dunked a slice of cornbread in his chili. “Wyatt paid me back and far more than he stole. That money and the benefits from the GI Bill will pay for college and medical school. I may have to work summers for Daddy, but I can afford it.”

“I’m so happy for you. Your original dream is back.”

“It is. In the meantime, there’s no reason I can’t start healing people right now. I helped in the hospital in England as part of my rehabilitation. It felt right. It’s who I really am. So I’ll serve as a medic for the duration, then go to college afterward.”

Leah sipped from her glass of milk. “Then in eight years you’ll be a physician.” Dr. Clay Paxton. She could see him in a white coat warming the bell of a stethoscope in his thick hands. He would be the best doctor ever.

Clay set down his spoon and leaned back in his chair, although his bowl wasn’t empty. “What do you think about all this?”

What did she think? Her heart wanted to be a part of this grand plan, but her mind knew she’d only hold him back and get in the way.

She had her own plan. When Helen started first grade, Leah would find a job so Clay wouldn’t have to support her any longer. She might even be able to work as a librarian.

“Leah?” Clay’s mouth turned down at the corners. “What do you think? I’d like your opinion.”

She forced a smile, and then her love for him made it real. “I think it’s perfect. You were meant to be a doctor. Your parents say so, and I see it too. I’m so glad you’ll be able to make that dream come true.”

A half smile, then Clay turned his attention to his chili.

Releasing him was for his own good. If only it didn’t have to hurt so much.

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49

TULLAHOMA
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1944

Where was he? Clay turned his vision ninety degrees and oriented himself. Leah’s house. His house.

The savory smell of chili lingered, and he smiled and sat up on the couch, the blanket discarded on the floor.

When Leah had told him she’d made Mama’s chili, he’d come awfully close to taking her in his arms and kissing the daylights out of her. But that would have been the stupidest way to declare his love to a woman who had been attacked and violated by a man.

After a good belly scratch, Clay stood to do his chest and shoulder exercises.

Sounds rose from Leah’s room and the adjoining nursery, with Leah using her singsong mama voice.