Seven Days to Forever by Ingrid Weaver

of a typical day at Cherry Hill Elementary School. “It’s difficult to ignore.”
    “Believe it or not, you get accustomed to all that testosterone after a while.”
    Abbie smiled crookedly. “Is that what it is? I thought it was the smell of canvas.”
    “You’ll get used to that, too.” Sarah tugged her sweater over her head and stripped off her pants, leaving her in an olive-colored undershirt and shorts. She grabbed a hairbrush from the duffel bag she’d stored at the foot of her cot and leaned over her ankles, flipping her hair forward so she could brush it from the roots. “Don’t let the men’s appearance fool you,” she continued, her voice muffled by her hair. “They’re all extremely bright. Their brains are just as impressive as their brawn.”
    Abbie watched Sarah’s easy movements and marveled at how relaxed she seemed. Sarah appeared to have a comfortable camaraderie with the men. She treated them with a combination of the authority of a ranking officer and the protectiveness of a sister. Her manner toward Abbie had warmed considerably after their brief chat with Rafe—Abbie suspected Sarah’s manner would have cooled just as quickly if Abbie had shown any sign of revulsion to his scars.
    “Are you the only woman in Eagle Squadron?” Abbie asked.
    “That’s a tricky question. Officially, the only women in Delta Force serve in the support squadrons, not the assault squadrons, because of the rules restricting us from combat roles. I’m an intelligence specialist, part of what’s affectionately known as the Funny Platoon. When Major Redinger was putting together a team from Eagle Squadron for this mission, he needed someone who could speak Ladavian, so I’m on temporary duty.” She chuckled. “Actually, I’ve been ‘temporarily’ assigned to the Major’s teams on and off for over three years now.”
    “You must be very courageous to have chosen a career in the military.”
    “I grew up in the military, so it was a natural choice. This is my family.” Sarah straightened up, pushing her hair back from her face so she could look at Abbie. “I understand this whole experience must be tough for you, Abbie. We really do appreciate your cooperation. It’s a lot to ask.”
    “I couldn’t refuse.”
    Sarah smiled. “Sergeant O’Toole does have a way with words. He could charm the hairs off a camel if he could speak Arabic.”
    “Flynn’s charm has nothing to do with why I’m here. It’s the child. Matteo Vilyas. How could I refuse to help?”
    “Yes, it’s a sensitive situation. Ladavia is a small nation, but its location makes it crucial to our government. It also has untapped oil reserves that several countries besides us are vying to develop.”
    Abbie frowned. “I would have agreed to help if he was only an ordinary boy from Baltimore. Am I the only one who realizes he’s still just a kid?”
    Sarah stored her hairbrush. She was silent as she twisted around to draw back her blanket. “No, you’re not the only one, Abbie. It’s easier for us to function if we maintain our objectivity, especially in a situation like this. We have to focus on the mission.”
    “I’ll try.”
    “You’re doing fine so far.”
    “I don’t seem to be doing anything.”
    “That’s all you need to do for now. Just like the rest of us, we wait for the LLA to make the next move.”
    “When do you think that will happen?”
    “It should be soon. With any luck we’ll have you back home within a day or two. You’ll be able to pick up where you left off.”
    “I hope so.”
    Sarah punched her small pillow and stretched out with a sigh. “You must be exhausted, Abbie. You should try to get some sleep. It’s going to be daylight soon.”
    “I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep.”
    “Sure, you will. I can see your adrenaline high has already worn off. Your hands stopped shaking ten minutes ago.”
    Abbie held up her fingers and saw that Sarah was right. She twisted her wrist to check