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

“Well you let me know if you change your mind. I’m going to go check on your lunch orders. I’ll be right back.”

John Luke headed into the kitchen. He saw Eve, Jasper, and Davie and told them about Lou and Diana.

“I wish there was something we could do. It’s seems so unrealistic that two young women and a child have to remain on the run in hiding from some abusive man and his domineering, wealthy family. Why don’t laws apply to people like that?” she asked as she shook her head and wiped down the counter.

“It has to be pretty bad. They explained the situation and I for one think it best if the girls remain in hiding. Perhaps they won’t have to for too much longer,” Jasper said then gave his wife Eve a hug.

John Luke shook his head in annoyance and prayed that the two women could come home to their parents sooner rather than later.

* * * *

Lori looked out across the yard and watched Ben. He surely was a blessing and the one amazing miracle that came from such a tragic, abusive relationship.

Maggie met Derrick when she was seventeen. Lori remembered how excited her sister was. Maggie had a crush on him big-time. He was a handsome, rugged, bad-boy type that all the girls wanted to date. He chose Maggie and the sparks were flying between them. While she attended community college, he worked with his father and uncle as a correctional officer at the county correctional facility. After they were dating for a year, Derrick started to become abusive and Maggie was too scared to tell anyone. Derrick had just proposed to her on her twentieth birthday, and they decided to wait until she was twenty-one and at least finished a year or two of college before getting married. During that year he continued to control Maggie, pulling her away from her family and controlling every move she made. Maggie confided in Lori and Lori convinced Maggie to leave Derrick and break things off before they became worse. Unfortunately Derrick and his family were well known in the community and there was nowhere to turn for help. Derrick convinced Maggie that he would change and that he loved her more than anything and she believed him.

As Lori recalled those days of denial and fear, her heart clenched with trepidation. As far as Lori was concerned, Maggie and Ben weren’t safe until Derrick was either behind bars or dead. But the man seemed invincible, especially with all the family connections.

She remembered that one fateful night that proved Derrick’s capabilities and evilness. One night, in an intoxicated and abusive state, Derrick forced himself on Maggie, they had unprotected sex and she became pregnant. Only Maggie, Lori, and Derrick knew the truth, and as their families celebrated the news, Lori and Maggie planned their escape from the small town in upstate New York.

Lori and Maggie’s first attempt failed as Derrick and his friend Jed caught them bef

ore they could cross the border into the next state. They both suffered the consequences and Maggie nearly lost the baby after Derrick roughed her up. Still no one came to Maggie’s aid and Lori came up with another plan along with her mother.

Maggie was six months pregnant and Lori was nearly seventeen years old when they escaped from Derrick and his family. Those first three years away were intense as they moved from town to town and Derrick continued to follow them just missing them, sometimes by a day or so.

They never stayed in one place too long and it had been a good two years since they heard anything from Derrick or his family. Maggie and Lori kept contact with their mother as they called from pay phones and sent pictures or letters from towns they were passing through.

They spoke to their mother a year ago, and she said Derrick was back home in New York, working at the jail again and seemed to give up hope of finding Maggie. He would harass their mother Diana, every chance he got when he first returned home. But soon he stopped and seemed to go about his life again.

Maggie and Lori made the decision to finally settle down now that Ben was almost five and starting school. Lori attended the local community college during the day and worked weekends. Maggie took Ben to and from school during the day and worked nights. It was tough but at least Ben always had someone with him.

One afternoon, months ago, their mother Diana called saying that Derrick had gotten into some trouble. He had been drinking a lot lately, got involved with another woman who he beat up pretty badly and the local police were on to him. It didn’t matter who he was or what family he came from. He was out of control, lost his job at the jail, and one night got into a bar fight with another local guy named Ted Duncan. Derrick was drunk and started a fight with Ted. Ted apparently put Derrick in his place and knocked him onto the floor with one punch.

Derrick waited for Ted to leave the bar later that night and he jumped him. Diana told her daughters that Derrick killed Ted Duncan and was on the run. He was a wanted man and all surrounding police departments were looking for him.

“Oh my gosh, I knew something like this was going to happen, Lori. I just knew it. What are we going to do?” Maggie asked her younger sister Lori, who always seemed to stay in control despite her younger age.

“We’ll be even more cautious than usual, Maggie. He doesn’t know where we are unless someone leaked the information to him. I told Mom not to let Uncle Jack know. He has a big mouth and drinks too much,” stated Lori as she tapped her fingers on the kitchen table.

“Should we call the police? Tell them where we are and that he’s probably coming after us?” Maggie asked.

“What, are you kidding me? They can’t protect us from him. Besides we took off with you carrying his child. With the people his family knows we’ll wind up in prison and he’ll wind up with Ben and everyone feeling sorry for him. They’ll blame his actions on us.”

“You think that could happen, Lori?”

“It wouldn’t surprise me at all. We need to keep hidden and keep Ben safe. He’s our top priority, sis. He’s our son. Yours and mine,” stated Lori, and Maggie knew it was true. Her sister Lori loved Ben as if he were her own. The bond between them was strong and there was no way she would ever let anything happen to him.

“Okay so let’s make some changes with our schedules. I’ll wait outside the school every day to make sure I don’t see Derrick.”

“That’s a good idea, Maggie. He may try to kidnap Ben. He’s not thinking with a straight head. He’s on the run from the police and he’s already killed a man.”

“Oh my God, Lori, what are we going to do?” Maggie asked as she began to cry. Instantly her sister was at her side pulling her into a hug.

It was funny how different their personalities were. Maggie was average, about five foot six with short blonde hair and blue eyes. She was preppy looking, wore hardly any makeup, and showed her emotions. She practically wore them on her shirtsleeve. Lori always knew what her big sister was feeling and what she was going to do. She was predictable.

Lori on the other hand had long golden-blonde hair that fell halfway down her back and had beautiful dark, jade-green eyes. Green eyes that hid all her emotions, dreams and desires. She held her wants and needs in life deep within and always put her sister and Ben first.

Lori was unpredictable, petite at five foot three, but filled with strength, self-confidence, and self-assurance. She was forced to grow up fast and take responsibility for herself, Maggie, and Ben. Maggie would have never been able to do any of this on her own. She knew that and continuously thanked Lori for it.