A Christmas Call of Duty (Sweet Christmas Kisses)

13. Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Colt

I pull up to the gate at Fort Drum, barely noticing the guard as he checks my ID and waves me through. My mind plays the disappointment I saw in Shay's eyes when the clock struck midnight on a loop. It was the perfect moment with the perfect woman, and I screwed it up like a perfect fool. How could I be such an idiot? I park and head towards the main building, my thoughts drifting to the shelter and anything I can do to help raise more money.

I straighten my uniform, taking a deep breath before entering my CO's office. "Sergeant Ralston reporting as ordered, sir."

Colonel Matthews looks up from his desk. "At ease, Ralston. Take a seat."

I sit and shift uncomfortably in the metal chair. This is it, Ralston. The moment you find out if you're staying or going.

"I have an update regarding your new assignment. You've been selected for the position of Liaison Officer," he says, retrieving several pages from a folder on his desk. I sit up straight in my chair and listen intently as he outlines the details of my new role. "As Liaison Officer, you'll be coordinating between our K-9 units and local law enforcement," he explains. "This includes joint training exercises, information sharing, and emergency response coordination."

Local?

Local is… good. I nod, my pulse quickening as I realize the potential. As long as I’m working close by, I can keep volunteering at the shelter, and I’ll be able to see Shay in my free time. But that’s if she’ll even have me.

"You'll also be responsible for organizing community outreach events," the Colonel continues. "We want to strengthen our relationship with the local population, showcase our K-9 capabilities, and potentially recruit new handlers. Any questions, Sergeant?" Colonel Matthews asks, closing the folder on his desk.

"No, sir," I say, my mind racing with possibilities. "I'm ready to take on this responsibility."

***

One whirlwind week after Colonel Matthews gives me my assignment, I'm still trying to find my footing. I settle into the plush, executive lounge chair at my new desk and glance at the title "Liaison Officer" on my nameplate when my phone buzzes with a text.

It’s from Tyler.

New donation came in! $500 from the Rotary Club. Every bit helps, right?

That's great news. How's Shay holding up?

There's a long pause before Tyler responds.

Staying focused. You know how she gets.

Yeah, I do know. Shay throws herself into her work anytime she's stressed or upset. And I'm pretty sure I'm the cause of both right now. I sigh, leaning back in my chair. I want to call her and explain everything, but I know she needs space. Maybe it’s best if I stay focused on what I can do from here.

Good. Any leads on more corporate sponsorships?

Working on it. Shay's got meetings lined up all week .

I nod to myself, wondering how she doesn't run herself ragged between volunteering and her work at the clinic.

Keep me posted.

And let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

Later that night, I sit at my desk, the glow of my laptop screen is the only light in my otherwise pitch-black room. It's well past midnight, and I should be sleeping, but I’m too busy poring over plans for The Retired Heroes Project. The plan was to start moving forward when my Army contract is up, but I figure, with my new position and the shelter still far from its goal, it can’t hurt to take another look. If only there was a way to expedite the process so I could leverage it to help the shelter. I rub my eyes, trying to focus on the document in front of me and the list of obstacles I've outlined.

The main problem is that the shelter needs immediate funding. I’ve already looked into any loans and grants I could apply for that would fund the non-profit, but with my current contract, it would be impossible to secure anything until the end of the year at best. That, and even if I was able to request special permission from my CO to start the process early, the paperwork alone would take months to process. We don’t have that kind of time.

I lean back, running a hand across the back of my neck. A part of me wishes I had a business partner I could trust enough to get the ball rolling. I even thought about talking to my dad, but the idea of bringing family in feels too risky. I already know Zane would steamroll my ideas and try to convince Dad to do things his way instead. I’m not ready to give up on the idea entirely, but it’s clear I’m not getting answers tonight. I shut my laptop and curse under my breath on my way back to bed when I stub my toe on a dumbbell I left out. Yep. Just another day in the life of Fort Drum’s finest. That’s definitely going to leave a mark.

***

The next day is filled with appointments, starting with a visit to one of our local police stations. Mostly, the police chief drones on about inter-agency cooperation and how my new role as Liaison Officer requires me to sit through these meetings anytime there's an update. It’s a mind-numbing orientation, to say the very least.

"And of course, we're always looking to improve our canine program." I perk up when Chief Daniels mentions the K-9 units. "Does anyone have experience in this area?" he asks.

Before I can second-guess myself, my hand is in the air. "Sir, I've worked extensively with military working dogs during my time in the Army."

The chief's eyebrows raise with interest. "Is that so? And what kind of experience are we talking about here, son?"

I clear my throat, acutely aware of all eyes on me. "I've been a K-9 handler for several years, sir. Worked with bomb detection dogs in Afghanistan and Iraq."

A wave of interest ripples through the room, and Chief Daniels gives an approving nod. "That's quite impressive. We should talk more about this after the meeting. I'd love to hear your thoughts on how we might enhance our own K-9 training."

“Yes, sir,” I say, trying to keep my excitement in check. If local P.D. offers in-house K-9 training, maybe I could get on with them next year when my contract is up.

It’s later in the afternoon when I’m pulling up to the gate at Fort Drum, and I’m still riding on a high after talking with the chief about career opportunities when a crazy idea starts to take shape. The shelter needs funding, and eventually, The Retired Heroes Project will need a home base. Suddenly, it hits me like a ton of bricks.

Tyler.

He’d make the perfect partner. He knows animals and the local community. He has experience working with a non-profit and the passion. Plus, he’s already invested in saving the shelter. What if I brought him on as my partner? It's a long shot, but it might just work. I lean back in my seat, a smile spreading across my face as the guard hands me back my ID. This could be it. The solution we've all been looking for. Now I need to figure out how to pitch it to Tyler without getting my hopes up.

***

I pull up to the Snowberry Creek Animal Shelter, my heart racing with anticipation. It's been a week since the fundraiser, and I've barely had time to breathe between my new duties and working on plans for the program. But I can't wait any longer to share my ideas with Tyler. As I step out of my truck, I spot a familiar blonde ponytail through the shelter's front window. My heart falls into my stomach. Shay. I wasn't prepared to see her today.

I take a deep breath, pushing open the door, and the little bell above jingles, alerting the staff of my entrance. Shay looks up from the reception desk, her blue eyes wide with surprise. "Colt? What are you doing here?"

I clear my throat, suddenly feeling like a teenager asking a girl out to prom. "I, um, came to see Tyler about some ideas for the shelter. Are you… uh—"

Before I can answer, Tyler pops his head out from the back room. "Colt! Perfect timing, man. I was just about to call you."

I nod, but keep my eyes fixed on Shay. There’s a million things I want to ask her since the last time I saw her. Like how’s work and how are her grandparents? How’s Brandon? And is she still talking to—oh, what’s his name? Hayden? Hamilton? Well, whatever it is, I’m sure it’s none of my business. It’s not like she owes me an explanation if she was. She's watching me intently, and I can't tell if she's more irritated or intrigued that I’m here.

"Sorry… I gotta run. I only have an hour before I have to report back to base. Catch up with you later?" I ask, hoping she hasn’t given up on me completely.

“Sure. Another time,” she says with an unreadable expression.

When Tyler waves me back, I follow him into his cluttered office and close the door behind us. "So, what's this big idea you want to talk to me about?" Tyler asks, settling into a chair behind his desk.

I take a deep breath, then pull out a folder filled with notes and sketches. "I've been working on this idea for a non-profit that rehabilitates and rehomes retired military dogs," I begin, spreading the documents across Tyler's desk. "It's something I've been passionate about for years now, and the plan was to have it up and running in a year from now, but with the shelter still needing over a quarter of a mil to keep its doors open, I’m wondering if there might be a way we can pool resources." I outline all the details of my business plan and how The Retired Heroes Project could operate as an extension of the shelter and watch Tyler's curiosity shift to a look of wonder.

"I'm impressed, man. It looks like you've really thought this through. I’d still have to run this all by Margo if we’re planning on making the shelter our primary headquarters, but I think you may be onto something here."

I lean forward with an earnest voice. "Here's the thing. If we’re going to act fast, I can't do this alone. I’ll need a partner I can trust to run day-to-day operations when I’m on duty. Someone who understands what animals need and is already in with the community." I pause, meeting Tyler's gaze, and my heart pounds as I say, "I'd like you to consider being that person."

Tyler drops his hands and adjusts in his seat, clearly shocked by the proposition. "Wow, Colt. That is... a huge opportunity. And it could be exactly what the shelter needs," he says, running his hands over his thighs. "I mean, I'm definitely interested. But it's a big commitment. I'll need to spend some time looking everything over before I can make any kind of decision."

“Take your time. But don’t take too much time, if you know what I’m saying. It may be a shot in the dark, but I’m just trying to think of ways we can keep this place up and running before the end of the month.”

He nods, no doubt understanding the urgency as a slow smile begins to spread across his face. “Tell you what. I’ll schedule a meeting with Margo for all three of us. And if you can convince her that this is going to work, then count me in, too. I’ve got you back, brother.”