Read Online Small Town Doctor by Marissa Dobson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marissa Dobson
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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
“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
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