“Sorry, man. I hoped to get Ryan to help, since Cameron and J.C. are teaching a class at Clearwater Combat and Guns,” Jordan called to him as he came around the front of the truck.
“No problem. Let’s see if we can get him out without causing a scene and disrupting Daniel’s lunch crowd.”
“Who’s the woman?” Jordan nodded to the truck where Ella was staring at the bar, her eyes wide.
“Ella Carmichael and her daughter Abbi.”
“The Carmichaels from the mountain?” Jordan raised an eyebrow at him, shock evident in his gaze. “Ryan’s been trying to get them into town for years. How’d you do it?”
He had a number of smart-ass comments in mind but he wanted this over so he could get back to Ella before she could talk herself into blocking him out again. “I thought we had someone we needed to rescue from the bar.”
“Yes, right, Gioven.” Jordan turned toward the bar while James glanced back at the truck.
He wanted to slip back into the truck and wrap his arms around Ella, to ease the discomfort she was feeling. If bringing her to On the Rocks destroyed what he accomplished already, he’d have a battle that was twice as hard. She’d close in on herself until he had to chisel away at the outer edge, begging her to open up again. There was no chance it would be as easy as the first time.
Damn it, I’m risking her to help someone else. She’s supposed to be my top priority.
* * *
The two story brick building that housed On the Rocks stared back at Ella almost in a taunting manner, reminding her of the last time she’d visited the bar and the horrors of that night. Her thoughts took her back, changing the beautiful day into the dark wintery night. Everything crumbled away until it looked like it did then.
She remembered staggering out of the car, her head splitting, blood spilling down her face. The first thing she remembered seeing as she came out of the bar was the little red truck they’d come in parked across from the exit, but Josh’s friends were nowhere in sight. A moment of relief filled her with the knowledge she hadn’t been left behind. That was until she scanned the parking lot and found Josh hunched over the man he had been fighting with in the bar. She’d tried to stop him from following the man to the parking lot, but what she received for her efforts was a punch to the jaw that sent her staggering backward until she fell into the corner of the bar and hit her head. That was when everything went black. While she lay unconscious on the barroom floor, Josh was out in the parking lot fighting. That showed the concern he had for her.
“Josh!” She pushed her way through the crowd when someone grabbed her arm to stop her. She wasn’t sure who had been there that night; the only one she could recall to this day had been the bartender, Daniel. Everyone else was just a blur.
She was trying to fight her way from the guy’s grasp when Josh looked over at her. His face and shirt were covered in blood as he continued to beat the man’s head into the ground. What she saw in his eyes, the pure hatred, rage, and the excitement of what he was doing, scared her enough to recoil, to stop fighting the hold the stranger had on her arm.
Torn between trying to stop Josh and terrified his rage would turn on her, she was frozen in place. Over and over, Josh slammed the man against the pavement. People shrieked for him to stop, but no one dared touch him. She couldn’t figure out why until she saw two others on the ground. One with a bullet hole in his chest and the other with a bleeding skull. What had happened while she was unconscious?
“Mommy?” Abbi shook Ella’s shoulder with her small hand, pulling her back from her thoughts. “Mommy, are you okay?”
“I…” She fought to push the memories away and find her voice. “I’m fine.”
“You’re shivering. Do you want my blanket, Mommy?”
She looked down at her hands and sure enough she was shaking, though it wasn’t from the cold like her daughter thought. It was from the memories, a chill that couldn’t be chased away by turning on the heater or adding an extra layer. “Thanks, sweetie, but I’m okay.”
“Look, he’s coming back.” Abbi pointed to the bar’s main entrance where James and Jordan were struggling to get Gioven out of the bar. He fought them with every step as they practically carried him out.
“Abbi, I want you to stay in this truck. Don’t you dare get out! Do you understand? I’m going to help.” She didn’t wait for Abbi’s answer; she’d always been a well-behaved child who listened when Ella told her something. Before she could talk herself out of it, she slipped from the truck, shut the door behind her, and crossed the parking lot.
“Ella, get back in the truck,” James hollered over Gioven moans.
“Let me help.” She closed the distance between them.
“H-hey, hey, beautiful, care to have a drink with me?” Gioven leaned toward her. “Mmm, you s-smell delicious.”
“Gioven.” James growled, making it clear he was pushing the limits.
She laid her hand on Gioven’s chest to help steady him. “I think you’ve had enough.”
“I’m s-still awake…so I haven’t had enough.” His voice was thick and his words slurred.
They leaned Gioven against the truck as Jordan opened the passenger door. “Oh-oh, b-beautiful, you deserve someone better than me. I’m broken, a…a useless shell of a man.”
“Hey, now.” She cupped the side of his cheek, tipping his head back to look at her. “There’s none of that. You’re an attractive man and any woman would be honored to have your affections.”
“Just not you.” His head fell back against the truck with a thump. “Because I’m broken.”
“No, because there’s someone else. At least I think…it’s all happened so quickly.” She glanced at James before forcing her attention back to Gioven. “Can I give you some good advice?”
“Sure, beautiful, but I can’t promise I’ll take it.”
“You can’t run from your problems.” When he started to interrupt her, she placed her finger over his lips. “I tried for years, hiding up in the mountains. Do you know today is the first time I’ve been in town after nearly five years of living in a cabin in the woods? Alcohol or being a recluse, neither of those take the problems away. I don’t know how much help I’d be, but if you’d ever want to talk…”
“There’s no chance I can make you change your mind and come home with me instead of him?”
“No. I think what’s best is you go back and get some sleep.” Her heart broke for the sadness she saw in his eyes. It wasn’t sorrow because she was rejecting him, but because of what he saw during his time as a Marine. He was suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder and needed help. “I’d like to come talk to you once you’re sober, if you’d be willing call James’s cell, Jordan has the number, and he’ll get the message to me.”
“Come on, Gioven, let’s get you into the truck.” Jordan nodded to the open door. “Get in and I’ll drive you back to Winterbloom so you can sleep.”
“What about my truck?” Gioven nodded toward the black pick-up across the parking lot.
“Give me the keys.” James held out his hand. “I’ll drive it back.”
“What about your truck?” Jordan asked as Gioven handed the keys over.
“If you’re okay with it, I could drive and follow you.” When everyone turned to her, looking surprised. “Don’t look so shocked, I still have my license.”
“Okay. We’ll follow behind you and leave your truck at Winterbloom, as long as you don’t drive drunk.”
Gioven agreed as he climbed into the passenger seat and rested his head against the back of the seat. “Thank you, though I think the beautiful woman should be driving me home instead.”
“I’ve got my daughter in James’s truck. Now don’t give Jordan any problems.” She shut the door and stepped back only to find the other two men watching her. “What?”
“He was a belligerent drunk and then you showed up.”
“Jordan’s right, we couldn’t have done this without you.” James
wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. “Thank you.”
She leaned her head against his shoulder when her gaze caught a woman exiting the bar. Daniel was trying to stop her but was having no luck. They were headed right for her and the men, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Something was wrong, she could just feel it.
“How dare you come back here!”
“Doris.” Daniel tried to take hold of the woman’s arm and stop her, but she managed to slip out of his reach.
James slipped his arm from Ella’s waist and stepped in front of her. Not completely blocking her from view, but making it clear he’d protect her if things got out of hand. Jordan mimicked him, while Ella stood there wondering who the woman was.
“How dare you, the two of you? Especially you, Jordan, I expected more from you. She helped kill my brother. He was ex-military just like you, and now you’re going to protect her.”
Just like that, the pieces fell into place, and her stomach twisted until it was one big ball of knots. Doris Bagwell, the sister of the man Josh murdered.
“Now, Doris, I was there that night and we both know that’s not what happened.” Daniel’s voice, brimming with a heavy country twang, cut in. “She was as much of a victim as your brother.”
“Victim?” Doris swung her body around to face the bartender, her fists balled as if she was ready to fight anyone who disagreed with her. “She brought him here.”
She had to give Daniel credit that he didn’t back down to the woman’s rage.
“That might be the case, but that doesn’t mean she’s responsible any more than you’re responsible for your brother’s actions. Those two men had a disagreement they decided to settle with their fists. The few who were here that night tried to break it up and two of them nearly died.”
Ella took a deep breath. “Doris…” When the woman turned to her, hatred in her eyes, she paused, trying to find the courage to continue. “You’re right…I brought him to Clearwater. But I didn’t know he’d do anything like that. I’d have never brought him here if I thought he was capable of murder.”
Daniel gestured to Ella. “She was unconscious on the bar floor when the fight started,” he reasoned. “You remember that, don’t you? Damn it, Doris, you were the one who applied ice to her head.”
“The man who attacked your brother was not the man I thought I knew,” Ella said, her voice soft. “I’m sorry for what happened and—”
“Don’t you think she feels guilty enough?” Jordan said boldly. “She’s been in hiding since that happened, letting the guilt eat at her. The first time she comes back into town, you rush at her like you’ve got something to settle with her.”
“What do you know about it, Jordan? You were still off servicing your country when this happened. You weren’t here, either, Doctor…and you seem very willing to protect her. Do you have something to gain from it?” Doris countered.
“You’re right,” Jordan began, “I wasn’t here, but I’ve heard enough about what happened—”
James cut him off. “I’ve gotten to know her, and like Jordan I know what happened. I’m not willing to let you make a stupid mistake because you’ve had a few drinks. I suggest you go back inside.” He nodded toward the bar.
“He’s right, Doris, come on.” Daniel laid his hand on her arm.
“Doris, I met your brother a few times when I was in town, he was a good man,” Ella said. “I’m very sorry for your loss. It’s a tragedy what happened that night, one I’ll never forget.” She didn’t say what she was thinking, that it was a tragedy she’d finally come to realize wasn’t her fault. She couldn’t have controlled Josh’s actions any more than she could control the weather.
She might never be able to forget what happened, but she’d begun to put it behind her. It was time to move on with her life, and maybe love again. James had shown her there was so much she was missing. For her and her daughter’s sakes, she was reclaiming her life with both hands—and this time, she wouldn’t back down.
Chapter Eight
James wasn’t sure when he had made the decision, but somehow after dropping off Gioven’s truck at Winterbloom, he’d decided to swing past his house before going back to Ella’s cabin. They needed to give Abbi dinner so she could have her pill, and he didn’t want their time together to end. While Abbi dozed on his sofa, he had Ella to himself.
He came up behind her as she stood by the window and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’m proud of how you handled things with Gioven and then Doris.”
“She lost her brother because of a decision I made.”
“No.” He kept his arm around her but turned her slightly so she was in front of him. “Her brother is dead because of a decision he and Josh made. They chose to take the fight outside and then Josh, not you, chose to commit murder instead of stepping away from the fight when it was clear he had won. None of that is your fault.”
“Somewhere in my thoughts I know you’re right, but there’s that nagging guilt reminding me I brought him to Clearwater. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been here and this would have never happened, but then again…she’d have never happened. She’s the light of my life.” She looked past him to Abbi.
“She’s worth it all, isn’t she?” He smirked. “You’ve got an amazing little girl, and as I told you before you have nothing to worry about. She’s got to be the calmest child I’ve met, no temper hiding under the surface.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded. “We spoke while you were getting ready, and I can see it in how she acts. You have nothing to worry about.”
“What a relief.” She let out a sigh. “I guess that means I don’t have an excuse for hiding in the mountains any longer.”
“I never said you had to leave your home, just come into town sometimes. Let Abbi play with the other children.” He ran his hand up her back. “Though it would seem as if you already agreed to come back to town since you offered to visit Gioven while he’s staying in Clearwater.”
“He’s running from what he saw while he was deployed. I can’t help him with that, but maybe I can use my experiences to help him get away from the booze. I thought about turning to the bottle myself to help ease the nightmares of what happened. What saved me was I found out I was pregnant. I couldn’t drown my sorrows in booze and hurt an innocent child. He doesn’t have that but he needs help, more help than I can give him.”
“Jordan mentioned he’s been trying to get him to see a therapist to help him through the PTSD, but Gioven refuses. He seems to like you, maybe you can convince him.”
“I’ll try. He seems like a nice guy who just lost his way.”
“Unfortunately, many of our military men and woman who come back from deployments suffer with some degree of PTSD. Many of them go untreated, either because of shame, embarrassment, or they just don’t understand the options available for them.”
“I’ll see what I can do for him.”
He decided this was as good as time as any to broach the subject that had been on his mind since the parking lot excitement. “Earlier you deflected his advances by telling him there was someone else. Were you being truthful, or using it as a way to sidestep his advances without hurting him?”
“I just met you…but I feel this connection to you. Maybe it’s because I’ve been alone for so long, or maybe it’s because last night I got to know you better than I’ve know anyone my whole life. Either way I’m willing to explore it. I just ask that you have patience with me.”
“I will as long as you don’t shut me out.” He kissed the top of her forehead. “Since I think we’ll be seeing quite a bit of each other, you should explain to Abbi she can call me James. I don’t want to hear Doctor Macis all the time while I’m off duty.”
He couldn’t believe how the last two days had turned out. He’d gone from a medical call he wasn’t sure about, to finding a woman he was beginning to fall for—not to mention a little girl he was very fond of. It wouldn’
t be long before Abbi had him wrapped around her little finger; the adorable little blonde was hard to say no to.
I’m a goner for sure.
* * *
Night had settled over the sleepy town as they made the final climb toward the mountain home. Ella sat there feeling quite happy with herself. She had made it through a full day in town, faced her fears of On the Rocks, helped a man, confronted Doris, and made progress with James. It had been a day of challenges, but in the end everything worked out better than she could have hoped. She could pat herself on the back for how many challenges she had overcome in such a short time. Now she didn’t want it to end. She didn’t want to see him drive away from them. Would he come back? Or had their brief encounter been a fluke?
“Ella, there’s a silver SUV in the driveway. Do you know them or do you want me to turn around?”
“Shit.” She leaned forward in the seat to get a better look at the SUV, and her fears came true. So much for the perfect day, now she had to face two of her biggest opponents. Her parents. During the past few years, every time she spoke to her parents it turned into a fight. One she didn’t want to have in front of James or with Abbi in hearing range.
“I can turn around.”
“It’s no use, they’ll only follow. You’re about to meet Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael. My parents.” She let out a low growl. “If I find out who called them I’m going to have their head on my wall.”
“What?”
“Last time they made an impromptu visit it was because town gossip started swirling again and someone from Clearwater called my parents. They showed up at my door at two in the morning.” She turned to look back at Abbi. “I damn near shot them that night.”
“What?” He asked again as they neared her parents’ waiting SUV.
“You’re beginning to sound like a stuck CD,” she joked. “Come on, do you think I would really be out here all alone with my daughter if I didn’t have protection? There are animals in these woods, not to mention anyone could show up and there’s no way to get help. I don’t have a phone and the cell I have for emergencies only works about a mile up the mountain.”
Small Town Doctor Page 6