The American Soldier Collection 4: Their Blue-Collar Girl (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  Her head throbbed terribly as if she had hit her head or something and she turned to look for the vehicle but it was gone. The road was dark except for her headlights that shone straight ahead. She could hear yelling and she remembered the phone. Her hands were shaking. She couldn’t even pick it up. She dropped the cell phone once then pulled it to her ear.

  “Trevor,” she said in a very shaky voice.

  “Lori. We’re on our way. We called the highway patrol. Are you okay?”

  She was shaking profusely and she felt the burning pain and throbbing in her arm and shoulder. Her head hurt.

  “Lori?” Trevor yelled.

  She dropped the phone and stared out the window, she could hear the rumble of an engine and she lowered against the side door. With eyes barely open, she played unconscious as the truck slowly passed by. The driver was looking to see if she were injured. She just knew it as her heart felt like it would leap from her chest. Tears filled her eyes and she begged herself not to show consciousness and not let the tears roll down. He wanted to kill her, whoever it was. Then suddenly he turned around and took off, speeding down the roadway.

  * * * *

  Sheriff Morgan felt sick to his stomach. He couldn’t believe something like this could happen in his town. He looked at the dead body of Sylvia Masters. She was so young and beautiful before this sick bastard had his way with her. J.R. hadn’t wanted to call Lori and Carl or stop by just yet. He’d waited and figured he’d explain things in the morning, and then Lori was run off the road and nearly killed.

  He ran his hands through his hair. He was grateful that Lori survived and there was an all-points bulletin out on the dark pickup truck who ran her down. There were numerous reports from homeowners who saw the speeding truck minutes after the accident.

  “That truck was reported stolen yesterday morning in Bruxton, Sheriff,” his deputy told him, and J.R. was pissed off.

  “Have the state police look it over with a fine-tooth comb. Maybe this asshole left prints in there. He had to. I’m going to head to the hospital to see Lori.”

  “Your Texas Ranger friend, Gunner McCallister, is here.”

  “Great. Send him in.”

  Gunner walked in and shook J.R.’s hand.

  “Is there a chance my friends’ woman is in trouble?” Gunner asked as he leaned his hand on his holster. J.R. thought he looked downright mean and ornery. But he also knew he was good friends with Charlie, Dante, and Trevor. They had become friends, too, over the past few years and worked cases that crossed his desk.

  “I’m afraid there’s something going on here. Let me explain what I have and what my gut is thinking, and then we’ll head over to the hospital.”

  “I just spoke with Charlie. He has some things to discuss and something about threats to him, his brothers, and the land they’re excavating for construction.”

  J.R. widened his eyes.

  “He thinks this is connected to it? Sylvia’s murder, too?” J.R. asked.

  “That’s what we’re going to figure out,” Gunner said as J.R. rose from his chair and felt his gut clench. Thank God he had the Texas Ranger to assist him with this. He would need every law enforcement resource he could get to help him keep Lori and her loved ones safe.

  * * * *

  Lori kept opening her eyes and seeing little images. Trevor’s concerned face, Dante’s hand squeezing hers, flashing lights, the sheriff and then Charlie, his head surrounded by white light and people in white.

  When she finally opened her eyes, feeling groggy and achy, she saw her mom and Maggie.

  “Oh God, she’s waking up,” her mom said and instantly she saw her loved ones.

  She shook and shivered.

  “It’s okay, baby. You’re safe now,” Trevor said as he leaned down and kissed her cheek.

  “The driver. The driver,” she repeated.

  “Don’t talk. Don’t worry about a thing,” Charlie whispered.

  She tried to sit up when she felt the pain in her shoulder.

  “Stay still, sweetheart. You have some injuries from the crash,” Dante told her.

  “Injuries? Oh God, he was going to kill me. He came back and hit the car. He looked right at me. I pretended to be unconscious. Oh God.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “Shh, baby, just rest. Don’t talk about it right now. We don’t want you to get more upset,” Maggie whispered.

  The door to the room opened and the doctor walked in. “Sorry, folks, but there are way too many people in here. Could y’all step outside, so I can speak with the patient?” An older nurse stood right next to him holding the door open for Lori’s family to leave.

  “We’re not leaving her,” Trevor stated firmly.

  “Trevor, let’s go out in the hallway. The doctor will tell you everything when he’s done,” Lou said.

  “I will talk with you once I’m finished with Lori,” the doctor added then smiled.

  Lori started to panic. She grabbed onto Dante’s hand and squeezed it.

  “Relax, sweetie, just relax,” Dante said as he helped Lori sit up. She wanted to tell the doctor to keep the men there. She didn’t want to be away from them.

  “Stay…stay,” she blurted out in between trying to catch her breath and remain calm.

  Do not have a panic attack. Remain calm. They’re here with me. The driver can’t get me.

  “We stay and that’s final,” Charlie stated firmly as he took position on Lori’s other side. He placed his hands against her cheeks and stared into her eyes.

  “Focus on me, Lori. Calm your breathing and just focus on me.”

  She stared into his hazel eyes. She absorbed the firm tilt of his chin and the way his eyes crinkled when he gave a calm, yet stern order. She blinked a few times, felt the tear roll down her cheek and then the second set of hands on her back. They were caressing her, and as Charlie brushed his thumb lightly back and forth across her lower lip, she closed her eyes and just breathed. In and out, her chest opened up and the airway felt less constricted.

  “Stay with me,” she told him and he smiled.

  “Not going anywhere without you.” He leaned forward and kissed her.

  * * * *

  Once the doctor checked her over, he was preparing to release her. She didn’t have a concussion, nothing was broken, and Lori was insistent that she would be better off at home with her family.

  Trevor wasn’t sure if she were minimizing the pain she was in out of fear of him, Dante, and Charlie leaving her here at the hospital. The doctor prescribed some painkillers that would help the bruising he said she had on her shoulder and ribs. Plus it would help her to sleep. As he stared at the cut on her forehead, he felt his own blood pressure rise. Someone was really trying to hurt her on purpose to get them to stop building on the land with Tom Cantrell.

  “Excuse me, can we come in?”

  Trevor turned toward the door and saw Sheriff Morgan. His chest tightened immediately. They had heard about Sylvia’s body being found in some piece-of-shit motel outside of town. She had been raped, beaten, and murdered. Trevor swallowed the sour taste in his stomach.

  Could that have been Lori?

  Then Gunner McCallister entered, too, shocking Trevor and his brothers.

  “Sheriff, Gunner, what are you doing here, buddy?” Charlie asked as he reached out to shake Gunner’s hand. Gunner gave a small smile then glanced at Lori.

  “I came to help. How’s the patient?” Gunner asked as he moved closer to the bed.

  Trevor looked at Lori as she held on to Dante’s arm. Dante was sitting there caressing her hair.

  Trevor looked at Gunner and saw his concerned expression.

  He touched Lori’s hand as he bent lower.

  “You doing okay, sweetheart? These men taking good care of you?”

  “Yes, Gunner,” she said with tear-filled eyes, and he smiled.

  The sheriff cleared his throat and Gunner moved out of the way. The sheriff approached, holding his Stetson in his hands an
d caressing the rim.

  “Hey, gorgeous. I don’t want you to worry about a thing now except for healing up. You let your men take care of you and leave this to me to find the man responsible.”

  Lori gave a small smile.

  “Thank you, J.R. Have you heard from Sylvia yet? Carl is so worried, just like the rest of us. It’s not like her to do something like this.”

  Trevor noticed everyone’s expression change. Did they seriously think that Lori, a person who cared for everyone she met, would not ask about Sylvia? Shit.

  “What is it?” Lori asked as she looked at all their faces.

  “What happened?” she asked then tried sitting up and cringed from the pain. The sheriff placed his hand on her leg as Dante placed his hand on her chest.

  “Lie back, baby, rest now,” Dante whispered.

  “Why don’t we go out into the hall a minute, Charlie? I want to catch you up on the progress of the investigation,” Gunner stated.

  “Sure thing. Honey, Trevor and I will be right outside in the hallway. Dante will stay with you.”

  She just stared at them as they left the room.

  * * * *

  “How the hell do you know that the person who killed Sylvia is the same one who went after Lori?” Charlie asked Gunner.

  “Well, we weren’t sure at first, not until we figured out that the flowers left in Lori’s car with a note were the same flowers left at the crime scene where Sylvia’s body was found,” Gunner stated.

  “We talked to the restaurant staff at Carl’s. One of the kitchen helpers saw Sylvia helping a large man into the passenger seat of her car. The worker said he appeared to be drunk,” Sheriff Morgan stated.

  “That’s something Lori would do. She’s done it before for people she knows though. Do you think that Sylvia knew this guy?” Trevor asked.

  “We’re going to have to question Lori,” Gunner whispered.

  “No. Absolutely not. Not now, not when she’s on the verge of a panic attack. No way,” Trevor stated adamantly.

  “Trevor, I understand how upset you are and worried about Lori, but she could have information that could help us solve this faster and get the one responsible off the streets,” Gunner replied.

  “He’s right, Trevor. I guess if we’re going to do this, then you two should do it here in the hospital in case she needs medical assistance. God, this is going to really upset her. She liked Sylvia a lot,” Charlie added.

  “You three can be in the room with her when we tell her about Sylvia and then ask her some questions,” the sheriff stated, and Trevor and Charlie nodded their heads.

  “Hey, I called Sandman, and Big Jay in on this. With their connections we can maybe find out more about this Jerry Connor and his associates. Big Jay is already tailing Connor and Sandman is working on a warrant to tap his phones,” Gunner told Charlie.

  “That’s great. I can’t believe these people are willing to kill over land. There’s plenty of land elsewhere, what’s so big about ours and Cantrells’?” Charlie asked.

  “Could simply be its location. It’s not far from the city, yet it is still far enough out there to be considered country life. The town is booming fifteen minutes away and the views and the land are appealing. There are numerous natural springs and water supplies, wildlife, fishing, you name it. It’s prime land.”

  “I guess it is. Gunner, we need to protect Lori and her family. We need to protect all the families living on that land.”

  “We’ll do it. Don’t worry.”

  Chapter 19

  Lori lay next to Trevor who held her while she slept. As she opened her eyes, surprised by the total darkness she was in, a worried feeling consumed her. Then she felt Trevor’s arms tighten around her, and he adjusted his hips.

  She tried to relax and absorb the warmth of his embrace and knowing that she was safe, but then her mind started thinking about everything. Flashes of different images swarmed her mind. Sylvia was dead. Raped, beaten, and murdered and it could have been her. If the sheriff hadn’t told Sylvia that he was waiting inside Carl’s for her, then perhaps it would have been Lori who was taken by the stranger. Surveillance cameras couldn’t catch the perpetrator’s face, but saw his act as he pretended drunkenness, or at least that is what the sheriff thought. Why would Sylvia give a complete stranger a ride home? Had she known him?

  Lori released an uneasy sigh. As she closed her eyes, she thought about the flowers in her car and the card. They were from the man that killed Sylvia. The same man who kept bumping into her car, who ran her off the road and who came back to see if she were dead or at minimum badly injured.

  Lori covered her chest with her hand as she clenched her eyes tight. She could see the headlights. She saw the smoke coming up from the right corner of her car where the tire blew out.

  The fear, the anticipation as she waited, eyes closed, pretending unconsciousness made her shiver even now. The dark truck rumbled, slowly passed her. She ever so slightly opened her eyes. It was as if she wanted to know if he would kill her, shoot her, take her out, and finish her off. The tears rolled down her cheeks and there he was. She saw his face and gasped.

  “Trevor, Trevor, wake up,” she said as Trevor placed his hand over her waist and slowly came awake.

  “What is it, baby? Can’t sleep?” he asked as he sat up. He was bare-chested and she was only wearing a T-shirt. One of theirs.

  “I saw him.”

  “Saw who?” Trevor asked as he rubbed his eyes then reached over and caressed her hair from her face.

  She locked gazes with Trevor.

  “The man in the truck who tried to kill me.”

  Trevor’s eyes widened and then the bedroom door opened.

  “Is everything okay?” Charlie asked. He was fully dressed and he appeared tired.

  “She said she saw the driver’s face.” Trevor got out of bed and pulled on his jeans.

  “Are you sure, baby? You said earlier that you kept your eyes closed and pretended to be unconscious.”

  “I opened my eyes slightly as he came right by the driver’s side window. I saw him, but I guess with all the trauma and the fear being in shock, I had forgotten.”

  “Can you describe him for us?” Charlie asked, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. Dante entered now, too, only wearing dark jeans.

  “Yes. We need to draw him or something. I’m not good at drawing.”

  “I’m okay. What are we drawing?” Dante asked.

  Charlie turned to look at Dante.

  “The killer.”

  * * * *

  Dante drew the picture, erased parts then redrew it about five times before Lori was satisfied with it. They scanned the sketch into the computer and sent it to the sheriff and to Gunner.

  As they ate breakfast and gave Lori as much loving as they could, they heard the doorbell ring.

  Trevor went to answer it and returned to the kitchen with the sheriff and Gunner. Gunner placed a picture down onto the island in front of Lori.

  “Is that him, honey?” he asked her, very seriously. Dante nodded his head for Lori to take a look. She appeared so uncertain and fearful even now, in their home and surrounded by him and his two brothers.

  Lori looked at the picture and stared up at Gunner.

  “Who is he?” she asked.

  “Is it him, baby?” Charlie asked her and she nodded her head.

  “You did awesome, Lori. Really great job remembering his mug. This guy is badass big-time. Sandman got the warrant for phone taps on Connor. Big Jay was watching Connor’s place and monitoring the calls. One came in from Fellington, five miles from here and about twenty minutes from where Sylvia’s body was found,” Gunner stated.

  “Oh shit. Is this the guy?” Trevor asked.

  “Well, in the recorded conversations between Connor and this guy he calls the stranger. This is the nickname this guy goes by. He’s got a record a mile long, no convictions though and no main place of residence. He’s a free spirit,” Sheriff Morgan adde
d.

  “So what do we do?” Charlie asked as he placed his hands on Lori’s shoulders and squeezed them.

  “Yeah, how do we catch this guy and prove that Connor is responsible for all of this?” Dante asked.

  “Well the phone taps are key. Connor blatantly stated to the stranger and to Don Henshaw, that piece-of-shit real estate guy in town, about threatening the Cantrells and upping the pressure. Sandman used his resources to find out what else Connor is involved in and it isn’t pretty stuff. He’s been doing this kind of shit for years. He threatens landowners, forces them to sell to him, and then builds these shit-ass condos and spas in the middle of nowhere. Except he left a trail along the way and a few battered individuals willing to testify,” Gunner explained.

  “How do we prove that the stranger killed Sylvia?” Lori asked.

  “Hopefully the fingerprints we found at the crime scene and the evidence under Sylvia’s nails match this guy’s. She put up a fight. Direct transfer of DNA onto the victim,” Gunner stated.

  “Damn. I’m still in shock at all of this. I hope Connor and this stranger guy rot in hell,” Dante said, and they all agreed.

  “Now what?” Lori asked.

  “You rest, let your men take care of you,” Gunner said, “and the sheriff here will have some extra deputies patrolling around the ranch while I round up these two assholes. We’re posting the stranger’s picture on television indicating how important it is that we question him. Hopefully someone will see him and report his whereabouts.”

  “Great. We really appreciate your help with this, Gunner. You, your brothers, and the sheriff have been awesome,” Dante said then shook their hands.

  “We’ll catch them and put them away. Don’t you worry,” the sheriff said then reached over and gave Lori’s hand a squeeze.

  They said good-bye then left the house.

  * * * *

  Trevor didn’t feel as relieved as he thought he would. Identifying the suspects, locating them, and building evidence against them should be giving him peace of mind, but it wasn’t. He glanced at Lori, noticing the bandage on her forehead and part of the large, wide bruise that peeked out from the sleeve of her T-shirt. Her blonde hair was in a low ponytail to the side and she looked so youthful and innocent. He felt the rage at the situation getting the better of him.