The first man looked angry as hell as he threw up his hands yelling at Lori.
“Sorry, guy. You came out of nowhere!” Lori yelled back at him out the window.
“This isn’t the goddamn highway, lady. Slow the hell down.” He continued to yell at Lori as he and the other men rode the horses to the side of the road.
“Screw you, you jerk!” Lori yelled back out the window then stepped on the gas speeding down the dirt road.
Ben and Maggie were laughing as Lori turned bright red and carried on about the man on the horse, as she looked in the rearview mirror.
* * * *
“Hot damn, Charlie, why did you carry on like that? It’s obvious they’re not from around here,” Jasper said out loud.
“No shit she wasn’t from around here, driving like some kind of lunatic. Probably from the city or something,” Charlie said in a huff as he continued to ride his horse.
“Not with a beat-up car like that. That thing sounded like the muffler was about to fall off,” Freddie added to the conversation.
“Well whoever the hell she was, she’s gonna kill somebody if she keeps driving like that,” Charlie carried on with thoughts of the crazy driver filling his mind. They headed back to the ranch where Charlie’s brothers, Andrew and Matt Henley, were talking by the horse stables with their father Phil.
* * * *
Terry watched from the front porch as all her men gathered by the horse stables. It was a beautiful day for riding and as she watched her sons and husband talking she couldn’t help but smile. There was no mistaking which men were the Henley men. They each resembled their father and his strong, masculine, fit physique.
Andrew was the oldest at thirty-eight, married, and the local town physician. He was as handsome as some movie star or top male model but with a more masculine, sporty attitude. He wore his dark brown hair wavy and a little too long for his mother’s taste, but it enhanced his matching dark brown eyes. He had always been the local heartthrob.
His brother Matt was thirty-six and engaged to get married to Janie, a local nursery school teacher. Matt had short dirty-blonde hair and light green eyes and he worked for the local newspaper as a journalist part-time, and the rest of the time he helped his brother Charlie take care of the ranch along with her other two sons, Dante and Trevor.
Dante was thirty-two and quiet as a mouse since returning from serving in the military. Trevor was restless and almost identical in appearance to Dante with matching hazel eyes and dimples. Their cousins Jasper and Freddie helped run the ranch, too.
Charlie was thirty-four years old and very attractive with his dark reddish-brown hair, hazel eyes, and tough rugged appearance that went along with his attitude. He was a hard-ass and proud of it as he ran the ranch along with his father Phil who was soft-spoken and old fashioned.
“Do you boys want to come inside now for lunch? I’ve only been waiting a half hour you know?” yelled their mother Terry from the front porch. She was a thin woman in her late fifties with salt-and-pepper hair she wore short and behind her ears. She had the same brown eyes as her oldest son Andrew. She was tough and full of energy even though the arthritis was kicking in more lately than ever causing her to slow down a bit. She still kept holding her own around the ranch. Today’s lunch of cold cut hero sandwiches was a hit with all the men as they gathered around the large kitchen table. There was room for twenty if needed and when family got together, every chair in the house was taken.
“How was your ride?” Terry asked as she passed around the basket of hero rolls.
“Don’t even get him started, Aunt Terry,” Jasper answered as Terry looked toward Charlie.
Everyone listened as Charlie spoke about the rude, reckless driver from the city.
“Oh my. I wonder if that was Diana and Lou’s girls. She said they were coming to live with them along with their grandson. They haven’t seen one another in years. Excuse me while I go call her and see.” Terry rather excitedly rose from the table and headed into the other room.
“What is she talking about?” Andrew asked.
“It’s a long story, son, but from what Lou has told me, his two daughters and his grandson Ben have been through a lot in the past five years. They’ll be home safe where they belong. So did you get to fix that fence out by the Riley’s place?” Phil asked, obviously changing the subject. The men got the message as they continued to talk about the ranch and the jobs that needed to be done.
* * * *
Lori drove the car up the long dirt driveway and instantly saw their mother and father sitting on the front porch. The house was beautiful and appeared well maintained and country-like. Her hand was shaking as she felt the tears reach her eyes. They hadn’t seen their parents in years.
She placed the car in park and turned off the engine. Their parents were running toward them with smiles wide. Lori, Maggie, and Ben got out of the car, rushing to see them. In an instant they all embraced, tears flowing, and Diana cried hysterically as she held her daughters and her grandson Ben.
“Praise the lord. Oh God, praise the lord,” Diana cried out as her husband Lou joined the embrace.
Lori watched as her father picked Ben up and held him in his arms.
“Hello, son, I’m your grandpa.”
“I know you are and you don’t look old at all.” Ben hugged his grandfather as they all chuckled.
“This is your grandma,” their father told him.
“You have the cutest smile, Ben. You look just like your mama,” Diana said as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Lori gave her mom a hug as they headed toward the front porch.
* * * *
Diana turned to look at her two gorgeous daughters and grandson. She needed to touch them, embrace them, kiss them every chance she got. They had missed out on more than five years of parental love and guidance. They were forced to leave their homes because of the power and obsession of another human being. Diana was a believer in destiny. She felt that love conquered everything and anything thrown its way. She didn’t like violence, was turned off by television and watching the nightly news. It broke her heart to think of all the victims out there who didn’t have help or who couldn’t escape the violence. She was glad that Derrick was no longer walking this earth. She prayed to God to bring her daughters home safely, and here they were a bit worn out from the whole ordeal but alive and well.
“What’s a matter, Mom? You’re daydreaming and about to burn the bacon,” Lori said as she took the fork from her mother’s hand and took over the cooking task.
“I’m sorry, baby, it’s just that I’m so happy you and Maggie are finally home, safe and sound. Never mind my handsome grandson. How did you like your surprise, Ben?” Diana asked as she sat down in the chair next to him.
“I love it, Grandma. It’s the greatest swing set I ever had. We had a small, really old one at our last house but my daddy showed up and tried to hurt us.”
Maggie rubbed his hair with her hand. “No need to worry about that anymore.”
Diana’s eyes filled with tears just knowing what her poor little grandson and daughters had seen and survived.
Ben took his grandma’s hand and squeezed it.
“Don’t worry, Grandma. We’re alive because Aunt Lori saved Mommy and me. She was so strong because she loves Mommy and me so much that all her love kept us safe.”
“That’s right, big guy, and I do love you a whole bunch,” Lori added as she took the last piece of bacon out of the pan.
“You bet ya I do, and Mommy loves me and Grandma loves me and Grandpa, too.”
“You’re right about that. Now let’s make you something for lunch. You’ll have to tell me what all of your favorite things to eat are, so I can make them for you.” Diana rose from the chair then leaned down and gave Ben a kiss on the cheek.
“How about a grilled cheese sandwich? I could sure go for one of those with some bacon and tomato,” Lou added as he took a seat at the kitchen table.
“Sounds yummy, Grandpa, I’ll have one, too.”
“Make it three.”
“Four.”
“I guess we’ll all have grilled cheese sandwiches with bacon and tomato,” Diana said as she went to the refrigerator to retrieve the ingredients.
Chapter 2
Maggie and her parents sat on the front porch while Ben lay sleeping in his new bedroom. Diana and Lou brought him a new twin-size bed and a Power Ranger comforter set. Lori had told her parents that the Power Rangers were his favorite toys and dinosaurs were his second favorite. They had picked up a few dinosaur toss pillows and some dinosaur toys at a store in town.
Lori was upstairs taking a shower, annoyed at how much of an inconvenience a broken wrist was, especially trying to keep the plaster cast dry. She was having some sharp pains protruding up her forearm and into her elbow. The doctor she saw told her to check in with a local physician as soon as she was settled in her new home. Maggie was concerned.
“How’s Lori doing with that cast?” Lou asked Maggie.
“She’s pissed off as anything about it.”
“What did the doctor say at the hospital she went to?” Diana asked.
“That she had to keep it on for at least eight weeks but she needed to see someone locally to check it. She’s been having some pain in her arm and elbow,” Maggie told her parents and Diana showed concern immediately.
“I’ll call Dr. Henley. He’s a local physician in town and your father and I know his parents and family. They’re our neighbors actually. Well your neighbors, too, now,” Diana added with a smile.
“I’d talk to Lori about that first. You know she’s pretty stubborn and sometimes overly self-sufficient. She likes to handle things on her own and believe me she’s great at it. She should be the older sister, not me.” Maggie smiled at her parents.
“We’re so glad you’re here now and she’ll have to push that self-sufficient stuff aside for me and your father. We have five years to make up and we’re gonna.”
“I don’t doubt that, Mom, and thank you for the toys and Ben’s bedroom. He loves it all. Especially that swing set, he’ll live on that thing.”
“I hope he loves it and I hope he’ll like fishing with his grandpa because I plan on taking him real soon,” Lou said and Maggie smiled.
* * * *
Diana couldn’t help but worry about Lori, too. She was awfully quiet and really took care of Ben and Maggie.
Just then Lori entered the porch wearing a light T-shirt and a pair of cotton shorts. Her parents watched her as she sat on the rocking chair, crossed her legs and sat up perfectly straight. She was gorgeous with her long blonde hair, green eyes, and perfect body. It was obvious she kept in shape and enjoyed her daily jog. She was already twenty-one years old, young, and vibrant looking yet mature, a true respectable lady.
Diana had so many questions for her daughters but knew to take her time asking. They were forced to grow up so quickly she didn’t want to rush anything. She just wanted everything to go nice and slow.
“So what are you building above the barn house over there, Dad?” Lori asked as she slowly rocked the chair.
“Well, I’m turning it into a loft, kind of like an apartment separate from the house.”
“Really? That’s too cool. Who’s going to stay there?” Lori asked excitedly.
“Don’t look at me, Lori, I’m fine living in this house with Mom and Dad and Ben. I’d be too nervous living way over there alone,” Maggie said with a smile.
“Well there you go, honey. It’s yours if you want it when we’re done,” Lou added and Lori was excited.
“Can I check it out tomorrow? Who’s building it with you?” Lori asked.
“Yes, you can check it out tomorrow, and Phil Henley, our neighbor along with his sons are helping me.”
“Maggie said your wrist and arm were bothering you. I’m going to call Dr. Henley tomorrow and see if I can get you an appointment with him. He’s our neighbor’s son as well,” stated Diana.
“It doesn’t hurt that badly, Mom. I’ll get around to making an appointment.” Lori tried to argue with her mother but there was no use. By the time she woke up in the morning an appointment would be set.
They all sat on the porch a little longer talking about the town and some of their parents’ friends. They were invited to a barbeque this upcoming weekend and the girls and Ben were invited as well. Diana hoped that she could bring some normalcy into their lives and get to know her daughters quickly and with ease. But something told her that it wouldn’t be so easy.
* * * *
Business District, Houston, Texas
“I’m telling you right now, Don, that land up there in Valley Stream is calling to me,” Jerry Connor stated as he paced back and forth in his office. “I want it and I don’t care who owns it. That location someday will be worth millions. We’ve already seen the prices rise.”
“Well I don’t know what to tell you, Jerry, but Old Man Cantrell doesn’t want to sell to you. He’d rather sell off that land bit by bit if necessary and he’s already started.”
“Well he doesn’t know who he’s messing with. I have a plan and he won’t know who he’s selling the land to. If all goes well, I’ll own all that land and within the next ten years or less, we’ll be sitting pretty, partner. I don’t care if I have to buy it up piece by piece. I’m going to own that land.”
Jerry was determined, and Don knew when his partner got like this, there was no stopping him. He worried about just how far Jerry would go and to what measures to get what he wanted.
Chapter 3
Sure enough when Lori walked downstairs after her jog and shower this morning, her mom had made an appointment with Dr. Henley in town.
“Your appointment’s in a half hour. He had a cancellation and was happy to oblige. Did you bring your file from the hospital with you along with the X-rays?” Diana asked as she cleaned up the dishes from breakfast.
“No, I don’t have them. The doctor from the hospital said I could have whomever I see here in town send for them. That won’t be a problem.” Lori sighed and poured herself a cup of coffee. She hadn’t gotten a good night’s sleep, and hoped the nightmares she kept having would disappear as soon as possible. She figured being in a strange place was the culprit and that things should improve.
Her mom left the room to switch the load of wash in the laundry room and Maggie entered the kitchen from the back porch.
“How was your jog?”
“Pretty good. I’ll have to figure out a better route tomorrow because the terrain and dirt roads are going to do a number on my shin splints.”
“Mom said from here to town is four miles and paved roadways.”
“That’s good to know. I’ll probably try that tomorrow.”
“How did you sleep last night?” Maggie asked her sister. She hoped that Maggie hadn’t heard Lori jump up out of bed and pace back and forth in her room.
“Fine. How about you and Ben?”
“Ben was snoring away until he heard you and Dad get up this morning. After you left, he got up, dressed himself, and went downstairs to help Dad with the morning chores. He’s been on the swing set in between.”
“That’s great. I’m glad he’s easing right into things,” Lori said as she looked at her sister. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“The squeaky hardwood floors never lie, sis. Are you still having those nightmares?”
Lori knew there was no use in denying it her sister. They knew each other way too well.
“I’m sure once things settle down and I get into a routine I’ll be fine, so don’t worry and don’t say anything to Mom or Dad, okay?”
“Don’t tell me what?” their dad asked as he walked in on the conversation.
“Lori’s been having nightmares since the incident. She had one again last night and couldn’t sleep,” Maggie blurted out and Lori punched her sister lightly in the arm.
“Well, I suppose that’s understanda
ble, honey, everything considered. Maybe you need to talk to someone about it. A professional I mean,” her father said rather nervously.
Lori and Maggie looked at one another and then back at their father and simultaneously they laughed. The subject wouldn’t be brought up again.
“Are you ready, honey?” Diana asked as she entered the kitchen carrying her purse and fixing her lipstick.
“What are you getting all dolled up for?” Lou asked, as Ben ran inside the house and jumped into his Aunt Lori’s arms.
She kissed him and they hugged one another saying good morning.
“She’s dragging me into town to see some doctor,” Lori said, sounding annoyed.
“Oh…Dr. Henley, huh. You better keep an eye on your mother. I think she has the hots for that young man.” Lou gave his wife a tap with his hand on her backside. She scolded him for making such a move in front of the children and they all laughed.
“He’s married and has two children, Lou, so cut it out. As a matter of fact his mother Terry, and his wife Michelle, are going to stop by with the kids today for lunch. I thought Ben might like to make some new friends. Plus they’re dying to meet you two.”
“Sounds like women stuff to me. I’ll be working on the apartment. You stop by, Lori, when you get back, all right?” Lou said as Lori nodded yes. Lou headed outside.
* * * *
The town was really nice and all the small stores took up about a half block. The main supermarket was another mile past the small town, which was surrounded by farmland.
Lori’s mom pulled into the parking space in front of the hardware store, which was next to Dr. Henley’s office. An attractive man stood outside talking to three other men whom her mom recognized immediately.
The American Soldier Collection 4: Their Blue-Collar Girl (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 3