Book excerpt: When Raquelita Muro and Matthew Buchanan meet by chance on a Greyhound bus, neither suspects their journey has just begun. To Raquelita, a gentle girl under the heel of her abusive mother, this kind young man is a miracle. To Matthew, an idealistic young soldier, the sweet-natured girl he meets between Texas and Tallahassee is an angel in need of a guardian.But fate is rarely so kind. The next stop on Matthew's journey is Fort Benning to report for deployment to Vietnam, with Raquelita to be moved at her mother's whim. When they find a way to secretly span the distance, they end up closer than ever. Until the vagaries of war'and the unstable tempers of Racquelita's mother'intervene, leaving both ill-fated lovers feeling desperately alone. Fifteen months later, living without each other has all but left Raquelita and Matthew in pieces. When a friend reminds Matthew of what is important, he seeks out the woman he loves, and even under the weight of lost faith, shattered memories, deferred dreams, and broken promises, two damaged souls begin to craft a life together, stronger and sweeter than either might live alone.