Losing to Win (Clearwater) Read Online Free

shout out orders only served to remind JC of his
military days. He wasn’t adjusting to civilian life as quickly as his superior.
All he ever wanted to do when he was growing up was to join the Marines. On his
eighteenth birthday he signed his name on the dotted line, vowing his life to
the core. Two months later, he boarded the bus to boot camp, never looking
back.
    He had been the man of his
family, providing for their needs since he was fourteen. His father was a drunk
most of JC’s life, but when he was fourteen his father left. He’d return once
in a while, and his mother would take him back, but his father never stuck
around longer than to get JC’s mother pregnant again, and then leave her and
the family again. His mother was pregnant with Kelly when his father died.
    The core offered a way for him
to help his mother support the other eight children. It also forced his next
oldest brother, Lee, to step up and be responsible for the family. There was no
longer time for Lee to goof-off with his friends, not when he had to make sure
his siblings were cared for. JC’s mother couldn’t do it alone, and when he was
in the Marines, the family responsibility fell to Lee and his twin sister,
Laya. Laya was like a second mother to their younger siblings, making sure they
were washed, fed, and reading them bedtime stories. JC’s mother worked two jobs
to support her family, so Laya helped with the chores and children.
    After the loss of his leg, JC
prayed for an infection to take him. At least with his death, his family would
receive his death benefits. How was he supposed to support his family with a
missing limb? For months he grew hopeless, unable to get out of the bottomless
pit of depression that had sucked him in. When he awoke in the hospital after
his surgery, he saw his mother crying by his bedside—not for the loss of the
body part that he grieved. She was thankful her son survived and made it home
to her and the family. She didn’t care about money or his missing leg. She had
told him that he was all she cared about.
    It took a while for him to
realize it too, but he was thankful to be alive. His mother and siblings needed
him. Not for material things, but for love and support. He needed theirs as
well. If it wasn’t for his family’s strong bond, he may have given up.
    Thinking of his family made
him homesick. Were Lee and Laya managing the younger children okay, or were
their grades falling because of their extra duties around the house? Maybe he
could convince his family to move to Clearwater. Cameron was paying him a hefty
salary to run the shop, and he was sure his mother could find work in
Clearwater or Jackson Hole. With his family closer, it would allow him to help
with his younger siblings, and still repay the man who saved his life.
    “JC, do you want help with
those?” The screen door banged shut behind Tessa, pulling him from his
thoughts.
    He made a mental promise to
check into housing for his family, and to find out if any shops were hiring in
town before he approached his mother with the possibility of moving. “I’ve got
it, but I sure could use a glass of your heavenly sun-brewed tea.” Stepping
onto the deck, he smiled and winked.
    “Like you even have to ask. I have
a glass poured and sitting on the table inside for you.” She opened the screen
door, letting him pass with the boxes.
    “You’re amazing. If Cameron
didn’t snatch you up first, I would have fought him for you.” He teased. There
was something about Tessa that made him forget his worries. She had a calming
vibe that put him at ease.
    “If he doesn’t start getting
up with his daughter in the middle of the night, you might not have a hard
fight.” She teased back, while suppressing a yawn.
    “Maybe Daddy should be on duty
tonight?”
    The screen door opened. “Hey
man. I leave you alone with my wife for two minutes and you’re trying to
convince her I should have baby duty all night.” Cameron stood just inside