Their Blue-Collar Girl (The American Soldier Collection 4)

“Does it really matter how I broke it? All want to know is why the pain is extending through my forearm and elbow?”

Andrew looked at her, obviously shocked by her abrupt response. She really didn’t care. It was none of his business or anyone else’s for that matter. He seemed to have gotten the message. Lori had a shell around her that he picked up on immediately. She was cautious and he didn’t push the issue. Good, or she was outta here.

They spoke about the town a little and about his wife Michelle and two children. Lori was polite and felt that Andrew was sincere. He couldn’t find anything wrong with her arm and felt maybe the tendons and muscles were still bruised. Lori gave her permission for Andrew to order the X-rays and her file from the other doctor. His secretary was already on the telephone with them as they exited the examination room. Dr. Henley then walked her to the front door. As Andrew opened the door, Sheriff J.R. Morgan was entering.

“Hey, Sheriff Morgan, how are you?” Andrew asked, and Lori was stuck between the two men. The sheriff tipped his hat toward her as Andrew introduced them to one another.

“Pleasure to meet you, Miss Shay. Your parents said you were due in town soon. Glad everything went all right for you and your sister.”

She was caught off guard at the intimidating sheriff and then his comment. Had her mother told the sheriff about Maggie and her being on the run? She wasn’t pleased to say the least. But if there was one thing she learned fast, law enforcement couldn’t be trusted, but it also wasn’t wise to piss them off. She played shy in hopes of getting out of there quicker.

“Thank you, sir, if you’ll excuse me please, my mom’s waiting for me over at the pharmacy. It was nice meeting you and thank you again, Doc,” Lori said as she squeezed by the two men.

* * * *

“She’s a real beauty, huh?” the sheriff asked as they watched Lori cross the street and head toward the pharmacy.

“She sure is but a bit on edge,” Andrew added.

“You’d be on edge, too, if you’d gone through what she and her sister did. It’s a miracle they’re alive.”

Andrew asked what he was talking about.

“I figured you and your family knew about it because your mom and Diana are such good friends. Your brothers and cousin are helping Lou out as well, aren’t they?”

“They are but no one has said anything about what happened to Lori or Maggie.”

“Well, it’s not my place to say but you take good care of her and that wrist. She’s a hero, that girl. I can tell you that much and tough as nails.” The Sheriff headed out the door.

* * * *

Andrew’s curiosity had the best of him as he went back to his office and called his mother. She was out already and the questioning would have to wait until later.

His secretary already had the hospital doctor on the phone from New York so he took the call to discuss Lori’s X-rays.

By the end of the conversation he knew exactly how Lori had sustained her injury and he just sat there astonished. No wonder why she was so cautious and careful. She had every right to be and he would make a point of being more understanding at their next meeting.

* * * *

Lori was walking down the street and looking for the pharmacy. There were a lot of people around and everyone greeted her as if she were a local. Were they for real? What kind of a town was this Valley Stream? It also appeared that there weren’t many places to work. She would have to head a little further out of town to get a job bartending or waitressing. She’d ask around when she met some people. She could have asked that guy Matt Henley or his brother the doctor. They seemed nice. Immediately she thought about the tall cowboy with the brown hair and thick accent. Man, was that guy mean looking. She turned around to glance back in that direction, now seeing the pharmacy across the way. When she turned back, she bumped into someone. Or they bumped into her.

“Whoa, sweetheart, are you okay?” She looked up, her head nearly reaching her shoulders, before she locked gazes with the man. He was a tall, handsome cowboy and he stared down at her. The glare of the sun cast a shadow over his face but she could tell he was good looking. She cupped her hand over her eyes as she apologized.

“I’m sorry. I was looking for the pharmacy.”

“Oh, that’s down this way and across the street. I’m headed that way.” He gave her sleeve a tug as two nonstop-talking older women walked by them, nearly bumping Lori out of the way.

“Good day, ladies.” He tipped his hat at them. They glared at the cowboy and he chuckled then looked at Lori and winked at her.

“I don’t know who the hell those two old biddies think they are. They walk around town like they own the streets.” He turned and gave her a nod to follow him.

She hesitated.

“Oh, how rude of me. I’m sorry, the name’s Trevor Henley. You must be Diana and Lou’s daughter.”

Another Henley? How many of them are there?

“And you figured that out how?” she asked as she placed her hands on her hips.