Sarah paused at the door and looked back at Richard.

“You don’t owe me a thing, Colonel.

Just take your daughter home.”

She went out into the hall, and the heavy door closed behind her with a soft pneumatic sigh, shutting out the hum of the corridor.

Emily turned her head toward the narrow window, where the dark pines of Fort Campbell stood motionless against the evening sky.

“Dad?

You there?” Emily whispered.

“I’m right here,” Richard said, keeping his chair pulled up against the mattress.