Chapter Three
A persistent ringing grated on T-Rex’s nerves. He didn’t like to look away from the road when he was driving, so he waited until he pulled to a stop sign before glancing at his cell phone.
GALLAGER
The name on the screen made his heart tighten. The man had gotten out of that Afghan village alive, barely. He hadn’t lost his life, but he’d lost so much more. “Hey, Gunny, how’s that baby?”
“Great. I got to hold him today. With a little help.”
T-Rex swallowed hard before saying, “That’s great, man.”
“Did I tell you that I’m getting some of the feeling back in my fingers?”
“No kidding?”
“No kidding.” Gunny sounded more upbeat than T-Rex had heard him since he’d returned to the States. The hand squeezing his heart loosened a little. “Glad to hear it.”
“I’ll be throwing a football for slugger before long.”
“Please tell me you didn’t put ‘Slugger’ on his birth certificate.”
“No. The wife wouldn’t let me. Officially, he’s Lance Gallagher. But I drew the line at Junior. Nothing shoots a man’s ego down more than being called Junior.”
“True.”
“So, how’s your TDY going?” Gunny asked. “About ready to head back to home station and ship out again?”
“Past ready.”
“That boring?”
T-Rex had to think about that. “Not really boring, just not what I want to be doing.”
“What? Kidnappings and big-game hunters not exciting enough?”
“How’d you know about that?” T-Rex asked.
Gunny snorted. “I read the news.”
“I could do without some of the excitement. I want to get back to the front line.”
“You know you won’t find the guys who did this to us,” Gunny said, his voice softening. “You could hunt every last member of the Taliban and still not know whether you got the guys who staged that trap.”
“Maybe, but if I don’t try, they get away with what they did to you.”
“Oh, is this about me?” Gunny laughed. “The way you blew up in front of the command psychologist, you’d think it was all about you.”
T-Rex’s hand squeezed the cell phone so hard, he was surprised it didn’t crack. What he was feeling was in direct response to what had happened to Gunny. The man had taken the full brunt of the attack. He’d suffered spinal cord damage and might be a quadriplegic the rest of his life. The thought of the father of four spending his life in a wheelchair made T-Rex want to rage at the universe. “It’s just not fair. I should have been the one injured. I didn’t have a baby on the way.”
“You didn’t get to pick,” Gunny said. “It’s the way the cards fell. Or the grenade, in our case.”
“Anyway, things might be settling down here. I feel like I’m spinning my wheels.”
“Yeah, but I doubt the commander will want you back so soon. He was pretty hot when he sent you off.”
“If he knew what a boondoggle it is, he wouldn’t have sent me.”
“Boondoggle?” Gunny snorted. “Sounds like another day in the life of a marine. You’ve got enemy hiding in the hills, you’ve been shot at and you’ve taken out some of the bad guys.”
He had a point. Still, T-Rex would rather be back where his world had come apart. Then maybe he could put it back together. “I don’t know which strings our team lead pulled to get a loan of highly skilled military men to work for the Department of Homeland Security.” Luckily the team had been there, or there could have been a bunch of kids dead or trapped in a mine. “It’s like the Wild West out here in Wyoming.”
“Dude, Wyoming is the Wild West. Who lives there, anyway?”
“Exactly. Mostly a bunch of cowboys. There’s not much more to do out here than ranching or work for the pipeline.”
“What’s wrong with that? You’re in the most beautiful part of the country. Take in some fishing in your time off. If you get to know Wyoming, you might not hate it as much.”
“I don’t exactly hate it.” He didn’t. In fact, the area was beautiful. If he wasn’t in the military, and maybe when he retired, he might consider living there. The rugged mountains were majestic and appeared serene. “I just want to get back to the real war.”
“And some unhealthy fixation on retribution against the Taliban. Do you think you could do more good for the US in a foreign country than here at home?”
“There are other people who defend the home front.”
“Clearly there aren’t enough people with your skills in Wyoming.” Gunny sighed. “Look, I’m not going to change your mind about the need for you to be where you are now. Let’s change the subject.”
T-Rex relaxed some of the tension from his shoulders. “Good.”
“Good,” Gunny agreed. “What have they got you doing now?”
T-Rex hadn’t realized he’d slowed nearly to a stop on the main road until a honk reminded him he was in a truck and he should be driving to where he was supposed to go. He pressed his foot to the accelerator and the truck leaped forward. “I’m on my way to the County Records office to look up who owns property along an existing gas pipeline.”
“Okay, now you’re talking boring. I practically fell asleep as you talked about it.” Gunny laughed. “Just kidding. Sounds like you’re having to do a little sleuthing. That could be interesting.”
T-Rex had to admit, after all they’d been through in the few weeks he’d been in Grizzly Pass, the need to resolve the open issues had crawled beneath his skin and stuck with him. “It’s all part of figuring out who’s behind the problems they’ve had lately in this little backwater town.”
“I thought you caught the guy.”
“We caught some of the guys we think were involved. But not the one who had enough money to purchase a couple crates full of AR-15 rifles for distribution. Nor have we found those missing rifles.”
“You think you have something bigger going on? Wow. You are in up to your eyeballs.”
“Maybe. Or maybe we’re marking time. If someone is truly out there planning a takeover of a government facility, they might be lying low until the Department of Homeland Security releases us military augmentees. Then they’ll do their damage.”
T-Rex turned onto the street that would lead him to the Grizzly Pass Community Center and the County Records office. As he pulled into the parking lot, he noted a truck, with a mashed front fender, parked at an odd angle, taking up more than its share of the available parking spaces. But that wasn’t all. A man was dragging a woman by the hair toward the truck. By the expression on her face, she wasn’t at all happy about it.
“Gunny, I gotta go.” Without waiting to hear his friend’s response, he dropped the cell phone into the cup holder, slammed the shift into Park and slid out of the truck, his hands balling into fists. Nothing made him madder than witnessing a man abusing a woman.
* * *
SIERRA STRAINED HER NECK, trying to get Clay to release his hold on her hair. “Let go of me. I have a job to do. I have children to take care of.”
“You have a husband to take care of, and you’re not doing it here.”
“We. Aren’t. Married,” she said through gritted teeth. The pain of having her hair pulled so hard brought tears to her eyes.
A loud crack sounded behind Sierra.
Clay grunted and dropped to the ground, taking her with him.
Sierra fell to her backside. Clay’s hand loosened its hold on her hair. She rolled to the side, bunched her legs and shot to her feet, putting several feet between her and Clay before she looked back and came to a complete stop.
Clay lay on the ground, his hand clamped over his cheek.
A big man with massive shoulders and an iron jaw loomed over Clay.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Clay demanded.
The big guy growled. Literally growled. “Your worst nightmare if you lay another finger on that woman.”
Sierra watched in wonder. The children gathered around her legs, clinging to her, shaking in their fright.
“I’ll do whatever the hell I want,” Clay said. “That woman’s my wife.”
“Ex-wife,” Sierra reminded him.
“I don’t care if she’s your great-aunt Sue.” The man poked a finger at Clay. “If you ever lay another hand on her, you’ll have to reckon with me. Do. You. Understand?”
“I don’t have to take this.” Clay rolled to his feet and came up swinging.
The big guy ducked and, in one smooth uppercut, popped Clay in the chin, knocking him to the ground again. This time, Clay lay for a moment, blinking. “I’ll kill you for that.”
“Big talk for a man who can only seem to push women around.”
Clay rubbed his bruised chin. “You gonna let me get up?”
“You gonna apologize to the lady?” He tipped his head toward Sierra.
Her ex-husband’s lip curled into a snarl. “Ain’t got nothin’ to apologize for. She’s the one who walked out on me.”
The big guy shot a glance at Sierra. “Seems to me she had reason.”
“That’s a load of bull.” Clay started to rise.
Big Guy pushed his foot into Clay’s chest. “Not until you apologize.”
Clay’s cheeks burned a ruddy red and a muscle ticked in his jaw.
Sierra held her breath. She’d never seen Clay apologize for anything.
“I’m sorry,” Clay said, his voice tight and angry, not apologetic in the least.
“Say it like you mean it,” Big Guy warned, his fist clenching.
The color deepened in Clay’s cheeks and his lips formed a thin line. “Fine. I’m sorry,” he said, his tone measured, softer this time, but just as tight, the anger simmering between the surface.
Big Guy stepped back.
Clay rolled over, pushed to his hands and knees and staggered to an upright position, glaring at the man. “Who the hell are you anyway? And don’t give me that crap about being my worst nightmare. What makes you think you can get in between me and my wife?”
“Ex-wife,” Sierra repeated. “The divorce has been final for months. I have the signed copy to prove it.”
“Not in my mind.” Clay turned toward Sierra, his gaze boring into hers, his hands tightening into fists. “I never would have signed that paper if the judge hadn’t threatened to throw me in jail.”
Sierra planted her fists on her hips. “Yeah, well, it’s done, legal and final. I’m not going back to you. I have a life now. And it doesn’t include you.”
Clay shot a look at Big Guy. “But it includes him? What? Is he your new boyfriend?”
Sierra lifted her chin. “If he was, it’s none of your business.”
Clay’s eyes narrowed and he studied Big Guy. “So, you ditched me to hop in bed with him?”
“If she did, it has nothing to do with you.” Big Guy crossed his arms over his massive chest and stood with his feet braced slightly apart, like a conquering warrior. “What she does is her own business.”
Sierra’s heart fluttered. By all appearances, Big Guy was a man’s man. He didn’t need to push a woman around to make himself feel big. He was larger than life and, at that moment, a hero in her eyes.
“Yeah, well, you can’t be everywhere she is.” Clay faced her. “I’ll see you when your boyfriend isn’t around.”
Sierra’s cheeks heated at Clay’s reference to the stranger being her boyfriend. She figured now wasn’t the time to correct him. Perhaps if Clay thought the guy who’d kicked his butt was her boyfriend, he’d be less likely to target her. “Just leave me alone, Clay.”
“You belong to me,” her ex said. “No hulking ape takes what’s mine.”
“Okay, buddy.” Big Guy gripped Clay’s arm and marched him toward his truck. “I can take a man swinging at me and I can take some verbal abuse, but when you start calling me a hulking ape, I draw the line.” He opened the door and shoved Clay into the driver’s seat. “Leave my girlfriend alone, or you’ll be reckoning with me.” Then he slammed the door and stepped clear of the truck.
Sierra held her breath, fully expecting Clay to push the truck into gear and run Big Guy over.
Clay lowered his window and yelled, “It ain’t over.”
“Oh, yes, it is.” Brenda Larson stepped out of the building with a phone in her hands. “The sheriff is on his way.”
Clay slammed his truck into Reverse and backed up so fast, his tires spit up gravel. He swung around and left the parking lot and Sierra in stunned silence.
Brenda waved. “Gotta get back to my babies.”
“Go. I’ll get the kids inside.” Sierra waved toward her friend. Brenda ducked back inside, leaving Sierra with Big Guy and the thirteen crying children, clutching her legs.
“Are you all right?” her hero asked, turning his full attention to her. He had reddish-brown hair, cut high and tight like a military man, and his eyes could have been brown or green depending on the way he turned his head toward the sunshine.
Sierra gulped and tried to remember his question. “Uh, yes. I’m okay.” She rubbed her arm absently.
“Did he hurt you? You know, you can file a report.” The man closed the distance between them and took her hand, his face darkening. “He did hurt you.”
Sierra stared down at the bruises forming on her arm. She pulled against his grip. “I’m fine. Right now, I need to get these children calm and inside.”
Eloisa sobbed against her leg, clutching Sierra so tightly, she couldn’t move without knocking the little girl over.
Several of the children who couldn’t get close enough to Sierra turned to Big Guy and wrapped their arms around his legs, crying.
Sierra laughed and gulped back a ready sob. “I’m sorry. But it seems we are trapped by a handful of toddlers.” She held out her hand, forcing herself to sound normal and upbeat, putting a game face on for the children. “I’m Sierra Daniels. And you are?”
“Apparently, I’m your boyfriend.” His lips curled into a sexy smile that nearly bowled her over. “Rex Trainor. My friends call me T-Rex.”
Sierra raised her brows. “As in the dinosaur?”
He nodded. “That’s right.” He engulfed her hand with his big one.
Warmth flowed all the way up her arm and into her chest. “Thank you for coming to my rescue... T-Rex.” She glanced down at the toddlers. “Okay, gang, the show’s over and everybody’s okay. Let’s go play in the gym.”
“I want my mommy,” Eloisa wailed. Sierra lifted her small body and settled the redhead on her hip.
Several other children joined in the chorus.
“Who wants a ride into the gym?” T-Rex reached down and lifted a little boy named Nathan and settled him on his shoulders.
At first the little boy’s lip trembled, and then he gripped T-Rex’s hair, grinned and giggled.
“Who else?” T-Rex asked. With Nathan clinging to his hair, Sierra’s hero scooped up a little girl and a boy in his arms. “Follow me!” he called out in the best impression of a drill sergeant’s tone Sierra had heard in a long time.
Without hesitation, the rest of the toddlers lined up behind T-Rex and marched with him into the community center.
Sierra hugged Eloisa against her chest and followed. This must have been what it felt like to follow the Pied Piper. She didn’t know this man, but she trusted him with her life and those of the toddlers in her care.
And if he had hazel eyes that she could fall into and dark, reddish-brown hair she’d like to run her fingers through, that shouldn’t matter in the least. He’d come to her rescue. That made him a hero in her eyes and the eyes of the children.
Her heart beat faster and butterflies fluttered their wings inside her belly. Her day was looking up. And all because of a stranger who’d arrived in time to save the day. Talk about heroes.