Uncommon Valor

By Rachel Ravenheart

Jason has just buried his brother, Sam, who was also his confidant. No one, other than Sam and Jason's best friend, knew Jason is gay, and after the funeral, he meets Sam's superior officer Lt. Chase Johnson, who has a letter for him. In the next few days after the funeral, Chase's platoon is reassigned to Miramar and he invites Jason to their new abode to meet a few members of the platoon to which Sam had been assigned before he died. Jason approaches Chase with Sam's letter to read it because Jason can't bring himself to read it without coming to tears.

But, Chase has had feelings for Jason ever since Sam had been assigned to his platoon and has little hope of anything coming from it. He finally decides to take a chance to see if maybe his feelings will be returned.

Then Jason is hit with the news that he is about to be a father from a night he doesn't even remember. The girl is intent on forcing Jason to marry her. Chase supports Jason when his father demands he marry the mother even though he doesn't love her, and when Jason refuses, he is disowned immediately. Out of spite, the angry woman outs Jason to his father. Chase continues to show his compassion by being there for him.

Realizing that Jason wants nothing to do with her, Tina places the baby up for adoption, but Jason blocks her plans by filing his papers declaring that he is the father and he has paternal rights

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rachel Ravenheart
• Release date: May 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463678732

Rachel Ravenheart

Rachel Ravenheart made a splash as a new author in the literary world with Uncommon Valor in 2015. She has had the desire to write since she was in junior high school. She moved from a small town in Iowa in time to start high school in Louisiana.Rachel lost sight of writing as she got bogged down with sports and school. Her dream of being a writer forgotten as she looked to the future to study Political Science with the hope of going to law school when she moved to Texas.To make her way in the world she got wrapped up in the field of nursing when she got a job as a C.N.A. and soon even her dream of law school was forgotten. Strangely, thanks to an injury she was at home recuperating and was bored when she remembered her love for writing. Never thinking she would ever get published she began.It was writers like Rob Colton, Mann Ramblings, and Alicia Nordwell that inspired her creativity. She found GayAuthors.org and after some encouragement, she decided to post her first story. With the enthusiasm of readers, her confidence grew and she took the step to send off her first story to be published. It was with great delight when she was offered her first contract.

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Uncommon Valor

Copyright 2020 Rachel Ravenheart

Published by Rachel Ravenheart at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

The Funeral

The Letter

The Storm

The Surprise

The Date

The Confession

The Anniversary

The Morning After

The Apology

Blackmail

Confrontation

The Visitor

Relaxing Time

Legalities

Choices

Moving

Discharged

Adam Samuel Stevenson

Epilogue

Dedication

Many thanks to Jordan and Sam for the motivation to keep going with the story when I wanted to give up.

1

The Funeral

In the silence, two soldiers removed the flag from my brother’s coffin and folded it meticulously.

I couldn’t believe my best friend was dead; the only member of my family who knew I was gay. Even though he was in the Marines, he was okay with having a gay brother and loved me regardless of whom I loved.

My parents stood opposite me, emotionless. Not one tear spent. You couldn’t tell they were burying their first-born son. Dad believed real men didn’t show emotion. I could feel his eyes relentlessly burning into my soul, disgusted because I was crying.

Several Marines from Sam’s unit attended the funeral, but one in particular caught my eye. He stood six foot six. Solid muscle. A typical guy’s guy Marine. All business and discipline. But there was something about him that mesmerized me.

The reception was held at my parent’s house and I knew I was in for a lecture for showing emotion at the service; I had no sooner walked into the house than my dad pulled me into his study.

You’re such a wuss, he snarled.

What?

You were crying like a baby. Your brother died a man. He doesn’t deserve your blubbering.

He would have been fine with me crying. You’re the only one who feels that crying makes you less of a man. There were Marines there who had tears in their eyes as well. It’s not like I was a blubbery mess.

There was a knock on the door and Mom opened it and stuck her head in. Guys, guests are arriving. Quit your bickering and get out here.

I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm. Man up, or get the hell out of my house.

Whatever you say, Dad. I stormed out of the room with a snarl. I was pissed that he would do this after we had just buried Sam, but his attitude didn’t surprise me because it was how he had always been. He was like that all throughout our childhood.

I stopped in the kitchen to get something to drink and came across the same Marine I’d noticed at the cemetery grabbing a beer from the fridge. He turned around and stared at me leaving me a little uncomfortable.

You must be Jason. He held his hand out. I’m Lieutenant Johnson. It’s good to meet the little brother Sam was always talking about.

It’s good to meet you, Lt. Johnson, although I wish it could’ve been under better circumstances. I shook his hand and he offered me a beer. Upon closer inspection, I noticed the firm thickness of his lips that seemed to invite a kiss. I hadn’t expected him to be quite as tall. I had thought we were closer in height, but it turned out that I only came to his chin.

Is there somewhere we can talk for a minute? The curiosity in his eyes overshadowed by sadness.

We can go up to my old room and talk. I led the way up the back stairs and into my room.

He glanced around at the playbills on the walls and hand drawn photos throughout the room. What seemed to grab his attention was a picture of Sam and me just before Sam left for basic training. I’d forgotten to take it when I moved out last year. I still had some things I needed to collect, and noticed Mom had packed some boxes up here for me to take.

What’s on your mind, Lieutenant? I asked, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

He pulled out a letter from his tunic pocket and handed it to me. Every time we get stationed somewhere, we write a letter and give it to a member of the team to deliver if something happens to us. I was the keeper of Sam’s letter to you.

Thanks, I’ll open it when I get home, I said, taking it gently. My hands trembled as I reached for it and I could feel the tears that threatened to fall. My dad has this thing about ‘real men don’t cry’. Knowing my brother, there’s something in here that will make me do just that. I had never heard of letter keepers but it didn’t surprise me that Sam would have thought ahead to write. I wanted to be strong but all I felt like doing was curling up in a ball and crying because I would never see Sam again.

Your brother loved you very much. You’re all he talked about.

You must be the Chase he spoke about. That’s assuming there’s only one Lt. Johnson?

Sorry, I’m so used to introducing myself as Lt. Johnson I sometimes forget I have a first name. He chuckled and ran a hand through his short hair. I also have his cell phone. I thought you could maybe get the pictures and videos off it, or at least try. I’ve never tried to get things off a broken cell phone before, but I’ve heard that as long as the memory card is fine you can retrieve your information and transfer to a new device.

I have a similar phone, so I should be able to connect it to my computer and download the photos and videos if the phone isn’t too damaged.

I want you to know if you ever need to talk, I’m a good listener. Have you got a piece of paper and a pen lying around? he said, searching the room.

I pulled my phone out and handed it to him. Just put the number in here, that way I won’t lose it.

He chuckled and took the phone from me, punched in his number and sent my number to his phone.

Remember, you need anything at all, even if it’s just an ear, give me a call. The team is going to be stationed at Miramar for the foreseeable future. It’s just a short jaunt down the highway.

I really appreciate it. When are you guys moving out here?

We report to Miramar in two weeks. We bought a house there so the team can stay together and not have to live in the barracks on base. You’re more than welcome to hang out with us on weekends.

I may take you up on that. What all did Sam say about me? I was a little worried he may have accidentally outed me.

Just that you’re an awesome little brother and you’re in law school. A huge football fan. You love to draw. He kept the picture you drew of the two of you in his bag, and he took it with him on deployment overseas. Otherwise, it was tacked up in his room. We were actually wondering if we could keep it in the house when we move, in memory of him. He looked around my room and I wondered what thoughts were going through his head.

Sam would’ve liked that.

I’d love to stay but I need to get back to Quantico and finish packing so we can get to Miramar in two weeks.

I put the letter in my jacket pocket, and we headed back downstairs.

The fragrance of the flowers sent over from the funeral home accosted my senses and no sooner had I walked into the living room I had to get out of there. I walked around and found Mom on the front porch talking to a couple of mourners.

I whispered in her ear. I need to get out of here. It’s too much for me right now, Mom. I need to be alone. I wanted to be alone when I read Sam’s letter.

Don’t close yourself off, son. I know you and Sam were close, but he would want you to move on with your life and not dwell on his death. I gave her a tight hug and a peck on the cheek.

Laters, Mom.

As I walked to the car, I could feel someone watching me. I looked back at the house and noticed Chase watching me from the window. I sent him a small smile and climbed into the car.

At home, I put on a CD and poured myself a glass of wine. I opened the letter, and the moment I saw his handwriting I returned it to the envelope and placed it on the coffee table. Then leaned back and began to sob like a naughty child in a supermarket.

2

The Letter

I needed to read the letter Sam had written, but I still had a hard time looking at his handwriting and not thinking about him. It had been two weeks since the funeral, and I had finally decided to bite the bullet and read it. Strangely, it was still on the coffee table where I had left it on the day of the funeral. I stared at it for about an hour before finally removing it from the envelope and flipping it between my fingers.

Slowly I unfolded it:

Lil’ Bro,

If you’re reading this, then something obviously happened and I’m not going to be around. I wanted to let you know how much I love you, and that you don’t need to tear yourself up over this. I’m the one who chose to enlist, and I believe I’ve served proudly for the last few years. I know this won’t ease your mind any, but I believe that I’m probably in a better place now.

Tears made my eyes blur and I wiped them with the back of my hand. As I wiped my eyes, my phone beeped with a text message. I grabbed the phone off the breakfast bar.

Hey. It was a message from Chase.

I’d thought of little else besides this man even though he was straight.

What u up 2? I replied.

I nervously waited for him to respond, and I was startled when the phone beeped and vibrated in my hands.

Unloaded truck. U?

Nothing much

Want 2 come over this weekend?

I had to think about it, because I knew that the more time I spent around Chase the more I’d like him romantically, but I needed him, the last link to my brother.

Sure, c u Sat

I could have shot myself.

Saturday finally arrived. Chase texted me the address earlier during the week; they lived not far from Linda Vista where I lived.

I pulled up in front of their house and double-checked the address; the number matched the green two-story house. I climbed out of the car and grabbed the pack of beer just as Chase stepped out onto the wraparound porch and waved.

It took everything in me not to stop and stare at the man. He wore a t-shirt and jeans that hugged him in all the right places, and as he approached to meet me, the muscles in his legs pulled firmly with every step he took.

It’s good to see you, he said, shaking my hand.

Full house I see.

Three guys come out of the house, all handsome, but none as good looking as Chase.

Jason, I’d like you to meet Sean, Ken, and Gil. We’re all in the same unit and were buddies with Sam. He pointed to each one as he named them, and we shook hands.

Heard a lot about ya, Jason. Sam spoke very highly of you, Gil said, as we walked towards the house. In the kitchen he grabbed the pack of beers and put it in the fridge.

Dude, he may not want to talk about Sam. Ken said.

It’s okay, I’m coming to terms with him never coming home again. I rubbed my hands on the front of my jeans then stuffed them into my pockets. I looked away from everyone to try to get my emotions under control because I didn’t want to seem weak.

We’ve got the grill set up in the backyard. Chase was about to throw some burgers on, Gil said leading me out the back door.

They’d set up a volleyball net in the back yard. Who all’s coming? I asked.

Just the five of us, Gil said. We have this set up for when the guys from the platoon come over to hang out. We can be a rowdy bunch of guys and need something to wear us down.

Understood. Sam told me how rowdy you guys are, so I can believe it.

Gil, you’re not telling all our secrets are ya? Chase asked.

Wouldn’t do anything like that, Sir.

Here at home I’m not Sir.

Sir, yes Sir. Gil snapped off a salute and everyone laughed.

Have you had a chance to read Sam’s letter? Chase asked, looking at me with concern in his eyes.

I read part of it, but couldn’t read it all. I was wondering if you would read it to me. I see his handwriting and it does me in every time. I pulled the letter out of my back pocket and held it out to Chase and waited.

He took the letter from me. Let’s go into the living room. He turned to Gil and said, Take care of the burgers. We’ll be out in a bit. Tell the rest of the guys to give us some time in the living room.

You got it. Gil said, grabbing the spatula from him.

Have a seat. He gestured for me to sit on the sofa. He sat down on the recliner.

He took a few seconds to read the letter silently. I nodded for him to begin.

"Lil’ Bro,

If you’re reading this, then something obviously happened