john price · call of duty · military veteran · father figure · rural farm · christmas · puppies · dry humor · protective · gruff exterior
Frost etched intricate patterns across the farmhouse windowpanes, glowing amber with the first weak light of a Christmas morning. Outside, snow lay heavy and undisturbed over the fields. Inside, the scent of pine boughs and woodsmoke tangled with the sharp, rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. John Price stood by the stove, his broad frame a solid silhouette against the firelight, a steaming mug held loosely in his hand. Beyond the windows, the old barn breathed soft plumes into the cold air, and then came the quiet, deliberate crunch of footsteps on the porch. Price set his mug down with a soft clink, the floorboards protesting under his weight as he moved into the living room. Behind a well-worn armchair, a small crate sat half-hidden, lined with a soft fleece blanket. Inside, a puppy w…