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

“No problem.”

* * * *

The stranger walked over toward the mirror in his hotel room and stared at the picture of the blonde he had taken.

He lifted it to his mouth and gave her a kiss.

“You’ll pay for cheating on me the other night. I saw you with them. Their hands all over you. Soon, darling, very soon.” He spoke to her picture, fantasized about having her, and knew he wouldn’t be able to hold off too much longer.

Chapter 13

“Why does your sister always have to make that damn meatloaf of hers? I don’t like the way she cooks those hard-boiled eggs in the middle. It kills the meat,” Tom complained as Lynn laughed.

Tom and Lynn were headed back home from town. They just had supper at Lynn’s sister Bet’s house. It was just starting to clear up after an early evening rainstorm.

“You always say that, Tom, but you eat it.”

“That’s because I’m polite but not your sister. I’ve even told that woman I don’t care for eggs in meatloaf and she still cooks it that way anyhow,” Tom told Lynn who just smiled and patted his leg.

Tom was heading up 9W and there was hardly anyone on the road. They made their way to Valley Stream when suddenly out of nowhere a car with its brights on came swerving toward them. Lynn screamed and Tom slammed on the brakes as the car ran them off the road then slammed on the brakes.

Tom released his seat belt, asked if Lynn was all right, and was about to get out of the car to see if the other driver was okay. Suddenly he saw the flash of light in the side mirror and instantly the glass bottle of flame hit the windshield, then another one hit the back window.

Molotov cocktails! He knew immediately this was bad as Lynn screamed and he pulled her from the seat. He couldn’t make out the license plate or the make of the car as the person sped off and both Tom and Lynn ran as far as they could from the vehicle.

Moments later the car exploded into a great ball of black smoke and fire as Lynn cried hysterically and Tom held her tight. The fire could probably be seen from miles as they heard sirens and fire trucks making their way to help them. The heat from the fire reached them from where they stood. They kept backing up but Tom was shaking profusely.

Tom didn’t even realize he had cut his arm badly and was bleeding until he released Lynn as the police responded and the paramedics came toward them. He could hardly speak he was so shocked. Did that really happen? Did someone just try to kill me and Lynn?

* * * *

Lori arrived home late that night and had heard about what happened to Lynn and Tom. She saw Sheriff Morgan’s patrol car still outside their house so she headed over to see if the Cantrells were all right.

“I just got home from Carl’s. I heard about what happened. Are you all right?” Lori asked Mr. Cantrell whose arm was bandaged up.

“Oh we’re fine, honey, just a little shaken up. Come on inside, Charlie’s here and J.R.,” he told her as she tried unsuccessfully as usual to pull down the short black uniform skirt.

Lori entered the living room where both J.R. and Charlie stood up to greet her. Immediately she went over to Lynn and gave her a hug as she said hello to Charlie and the Sheriff.

“I heard about what happened. I just got home from work. Are you okay, Mrs. Cantrell?” Lori asked as she stood back up.

“Lori, please, I told you to call me Lynn and it was very nice of you to stop by and see us. You’ve been working double shifts I’ve heard. That’s tough work you’re doing, your feet must be killing you.” Lynn motioned Lori to take a seat in the chair next to her.

“I’d love to but this uniform isn’t exactly made for sitting down.”

“Carl has all the girls wearing that uniform?” Lynn asked.

“Yes, unfortunately this is it,” she said, making it obvious that she hated it.

“But not everyone has the body to pull it off,” J.R. stated as he rose from his seat. Before anyone could respond he was saying good night.

He gave Lynn a kiss on the cheek, shook Charlie’s and Tom’s hands, then gave Lori a good-night kiss on the cheek as well.

* * * *

Charlie noticed how the sheriff nonchalantly placed his hand on Lori’s hip as he kissed her cheek good-night. He winked at her as he walked with Tom toward the front door.