The Last Target (16 page)

R
achel knocked on the door to the hospital room. A cranky “come in” sounded from the other side. She took Aidan’s hand and pushed the door open. Jack sat in his hospital bed, a scowl on his face and a bandage across his shoulder.

As soon as Jack spotted them, his eyes lit up. “I was afraid you were my doctor again, telling me I wasn’t ready to go home.”

Aidan scrambled away from Rachel and began climbing in bed beside Jack. “Mr. Jack, Mr. Jack—”

Rachel reached for him. “Aidan—”

Jack held up a hand. “It’s okay.” Aidan scrambled beside him in bed and looked up at him, his eyes glowing.

Rachel smiled with relief and lowered herself at his bedside. She took Jack’s hand in hers. “How are you?”

“I’ll be better once they let me get out of here.”

“They just released Aidan and me. My parents haven’t been discharged yet. Doctors want to do a few more tests on them.”

“Hospitals like to do that.”

Rachel reached into her purse and plucked something out. “This is for you.” She handed Jack an envelope.

His eyes glittered in curiosity as he gingerly took it from her. “For me?”

“For you.”

“From…?”

Rachel smiled. “Me.”

“Can I read it now?”

“Please do.” She rested her hands in her lap, waiting with anticipation for him to read the words she’d crafted to him. “Since letters are kind of what I’m known for, I thought it was only appropriate that I write you one.”

He gently opened the flap and pulled out the neatly folded piece of stationery inside. Rachel had handwritten this one on her favorite paper. Jack glanced up at her again before turning his gaze back to the words before him.

He cleared his throat and began reading aloud. “‘Jack, I shouldn’t feel safe with you. Your job is dangerous. But your job is also much needed and one that keeps our country safe. The truth is that I feel safer with you than I ever have with anyone. I like how Aidan and I feel like a family with you, like you were meant to be a part of our lives. I’ll never forget the way you jumped in front of that bullet for us. You showed us time and time again that you would give your life for us, and for that I am grateful beyond words. Thank you, Jack Sergeant, for being selfless, loyal and kind, for being a father figure to Aidan, a confidante to me, and for helping me to believe in love again.’” He looked up, emotion tearing in his eyes. “Thank you, Rachel. Can you ever forgive me for Andrew?”

She gently touched his cheek. “There’s nothing to forgive. You didn’t plant the IED on the side of the road, Jack. There’s nothing to blame you for.”

“You’re a very generous woman, Rachel.”

“I don’t know about that. I know I am grateful, though. I don’t know how we’ll ever repay you for all you’ve done.”

He grabbed her hand, his eyes intense. “There is one way.”

Rachel felt heat rush to her cheeks. “What’s that?”

“You could marry me. Make me a part of your family. I can’t imagine living life without the two of you.”

“Say yes, Mommy. Say yes!” Aidan said, bouncing on the bed. “I want Mr. Jack to live with us forever.”

Jack and Rachel laughed. Rachel’s laughter faded as she looked into Jack’s eyes. “Was that a proposal, Mr. Sergeant?”

“I’d get down on one knee if I could.”

She squeezed his hand. “I’d be honored.”

He let out a whoop, just as Aidan threw himself over Jack’s chest in a hug. Rachel wished she could do the same, but she restrained herself. There’d be time for that later.

“What’s all the commotion in here?”

Rachel looked back in time to see her parents enter the room.

“Rachel just agreed to marry me. If that’s okay with you, sir.” Jack looked at Rachel’s dad.

“Rachel has told us all about you.” Her dad grinned and reached over to shake Jack’s hand. “It would be an honor to have you as part of our family.”

“I was hoping that maybe Operation 26 Letters would team up with Eyes. I think we’d make a nice team. What do you say? I even have some office space you can use at our headquarters.”

“I think that sounds perfect.”

Jack looked past Rachel at her parents. “And you can bet that I’m not letting her out of my sight. Aidan, either.”

Rachel squeezed his hand again. “I’m not complaining. In fact, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than with you and Aidan.”

Jack brushed her cheek with his hand. “I love you, Rachel Reynolds.”

Rachel smiled, tears of joy rushing to her eyes. “I love you, too, Jack Sergeant.”

Dear Reader,

“I Love Jet Noise” is a popular saying often found on bumper stickers where I live.

I do love jet noise because, to me, the sound reminds me of the freedoms I have and those who have fought to give me those freedoms.

I live in an area of Virginia where I hear a lot of jet noise coming from the military bases all around the region. I have many friends who serve the country through the armed forces. I’m so privileged to be able to see their dedication to our country and the sacrifices they make daily. Each of them inspires me.

If you know someone in the military, I encourage you to send them a letter, just like Rachel does in
The Last Target.
Let them know how much you appreciate them and their service to our country.

Blessings!

Christy Barritt

1. Rachel Reynolds likes to encourage those in the military. We all need encouragement sometimes. Is there anyone you can encourage this week?
   
2. The Bible says in Proverbs that the right word at the right times is like a piece of custom-made jewelry (Message Version). Is there a time when you were down and someone’s encouragement lifted you?
   
3. Rachel tells Jack that if she succeeds or if she fails, it’s all a part of God’s plan. Success in God’s eyes is different from success in the world’s eyes. Do you ever find yourself buying into the world’s lies about success? What is God’s definition of success?
   
4. Rachel said that she long ago stopped asking why life wasn’t fair and that she’d come to the conclusion that despite life not being fair, God was still good. Sometimes it’s hard to separate our view of life from our view of God. We see negative things going on around us and we lose sight of God’s sovereignty. What are some things we can do to direct our gazes back to God when this happens?
   
5. Rachel tells Jack that God is the one who can lift our burdens. When was there a time that you felt burdened? Why? What made you realize you had to give your burdens over to God? Was it easy? How did you feel afterward?
   
6. Rachel comes to the conclusion that God can take the bad things in our lives and turn them into something
   beautiful. Is there anything tragic that’s happened in your life that you can turn around into a ministry to others?
   
7. Jack is still holding on to guilt for his past mistakes, so much that he won’t allow himself any pleasure in the present. Is there any guilt that you’re holding on to that you’ve asked for forgiveness for but have trouble letting go of?
   
8. John 15:13 tells us, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for friends.” This can be said of those who have died serving our country, but it can also be said of Jesus Christ, who gave His life for us. How does this realization change your daily life?
   
9. Rachel realizes just how important family is in her life once she’s left virtually alone. Is family important to you? What’s one way you can show your family how important they are to you today?
   
10. Rachel, at times throughout the book, fears that her days are numbered as the terrorists close in. How would you change the way you lived if you thought tomorrow might never come?