Chapter Twelve
Chloe didn’t want to hold on to those duffel bags any longer than she had to. So after the sheriff left, she lugged them to Ol’ Greenie, one at a time, then heaved them into the back.
After returning to the house to get her purse and to lock up, she climbed into the truck and drove to Rick’s veterinary clinic since she had no idea where he lived.
But when she pulled into the parking lot, which was nearly empty, she spotted Rick’s truck.
Apparently, this was where Joe had holed up. Well, she’d just leave the bags with him and be done with it.
Better yet, she’d tell him he could just come outside and get the fool things himself. So she headed for the entrance to the clinic and stepped into the waiting room.
The moment Joe spotted her, he got to his feet. She felt like lighting into him, but she didn’t see the use. “Sheriff Hollister stopped by with two duffel bags. I told him that I’d give them to you. They’re in the back of the pickup.”
His expression softened a bit. “Listen, Chloe. I’m sorry if I might have come across a little harsh.”
She stiffened. “A little harsh? You were a complete jerk.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean to jump you the moment I entered the house.
It just happened. All the memories and bottled emotions erupted.
And I should have at least thanked you for what you did for me.
You didn’t deserve to get reamed. I just need some time to think things through. ”
“Take all the time you want,” she said. “But first come outside and get those duffel bags.”
Before either of them could make a move, her cell phone rang. She glanced at the display. The Sheltering Arms?
“Excuse me. I need to take this.”
When she answered, Merrilee said, “Chloe, I’m sorry to bother you, but I thought you’d want to know.”
Her heart dropped to the pit of her tummy. Could this day get any worse? “What’s wrong?”
“Ethel took a turn for the worse, so I called 9-1-1. Paramedics took her to the Brighton Valley Medical Center.”
“Is she okay?”
“No, she’s had a complication.”
Chloe knew what her friend was going to say before she even said a word. Still, she asked, “What happened?”
“She was diagnosed with pneumonia and given an injection of penicillin. I’m afraid she had a serious allergic reaction, so they sent her to ICU.”
“I’ll head over to the hospital now. I’m going to ask the nursing staff to see if her allergy was noted in her chart. I bet it wasn’t.”
“What’ll you do if you’re right?”
Chloe left Joe standing in his brother’s waiting room and headed for the door. “After I talk to Dr. Nielson at the hospital and check on Ethel, I’m going to the Sheltering Arms. It’s time I took Sam’s advice.”
“What’d he say?”
“Sometimes you gotta stand up for what’s right.”
“What are you going to do? You don’t even work here any longer.”
“I don’t care. If Sarah lied to me about Ethel’s allergy being noted in her chart, or if she assumed that it was and didn’t double-check to make sure, I’m going to blow the whistle on her, as well as the entire administration for not doing something about my initial complaint sooner.”
“I was afraid of losing my job before,” Merrilee said. “But I’m not going to stand by and let Sarah risk another patient’s life. I’ll back you up any way I can.”
“Thanks. I’ll let you know if there’s anything you can do to help.”
Chloe was unlocking the driver’s door, sliding behind the wheel and turning on Ol’ Greenie’s ignition before she noticed that Joe had followed her outside.
He might want to talk, but she’d have to deal with him later. In fact, she probably ought to thank him for pumping her full of courage and spunk. Because right now, the normally mild-mannered, former nurse’s aide who’d avoided confrontations at all costs was cocked and loaded for bear.
After Chloe drove away, Joe stood in the parking lot, trying to make sense of it all.
He was still standing there, staring in the direction Ol’ Greenie had gone, when Rick came out of the clinic. If his brother noticed anything weird about the way Joe was gaping or at the confusion that had to be splashed on his face, he didn’t say anything.
“I’m finished here,” Rick said. “Let’s go home.”
“Okay.” Joe nodded at the duffel bags resting on the ground. “Let’s put these in the back of your truck.”
Minutes later, Rick pulled into the drive of a white, two-story house on Chinaberry Lane. After grabbing both bags and the sack of Joe’s clothes, they entered the front door.
“Honey,” Rick called out, “I’m home.”
The words had a nice ring to them, and Joe was happy for his brother.
When a beautiful blonde with an obvious baby bump entered the living room with a warm and welcoming smile, Joe reached out his hand in greeting.
Mallory took it and gave it a gentle squeeze, but instead of letting go, she blessed him with a smile. “Would you mind if I gave you a hug, Joey? You have no idea how happy your brother is to have you back in his life—and how excited I am to have you home in time for Christmas.”
As weird and awkward as it might have once seemed to be reunited with people he’d once thought he’d never want to see again, the sincerity in Mallory’s gaze made it pretty darn easy to...well, to lower his guard and step into her embrace.
“Thanks, Mallory. I appreciate...having a home where I can...spend the holiday.”
“Where’s Lucas?” Rick asked.
“He’s at Jimmy’s,” Mallory said. “He’ll be back at four. Do you want me to call and ask him to come home now?”
“No, let him play. There’s plenty of time to introduce him to his uncle.” Rick turned to Joe. “Why don’t I show you to your room so you can put that stuff away?”
“Sure.” Joe followed his brother upstairs and to the guest room.
“Would you like a soda or iced tea?” Rick asked.
“Maybe later. If you don’t mind, I’d like to go through my bag and see what’s inside.”
“Take your time. I’ll be downstairs.” When Rick stepped back into the hall, he paused and glanced over his shoulder. “Want me to close the door and give you some privacy?”
“That’s not necessary.”
Rick had no more than left the room when Joe began to rummage through his bag. When he found a couple of photographs, he paused to look at them.
One was a picture of him, Rick and Clay shooting baskets at the park. That photo must have been taken right before he and Rick had been separated and placed in different foster homes.
The anger that had exploded inside him back at the ranch began to make sense.
Only now, it was targeted at the people who’d hurt him the most—his uncle for being a mean drunk, his aunt for allowing her husband to abuse her and the system that had taken him away from the one person who’d always taken care of him.
But he was no longer angry at Rick, as he’d been when he’d first run away. Looking back, as an adult, Joe couldn’t blame his brother for wanting to escape their childhood. Or for wanting to create a home with Mallory.
His thoughts drifted to Chloe, to the night he’d held her in his arms after making love. At the time, he’d wanted to create a home for himself, too, a place where he felt like decorating Christmas trees, eating scones and sipping hot cocoa.
But Joe had pretty much ruined any chance of a dream like that happening, especially with Chloe. It hadn’t seemed to matter an hour ago, but he wasn’t so sure about that now.
Was it Chloe who’d made him yearn for home and hearth? Or was it just being at the Rocking C itself?
When things had escalated at his foster home and then again at school, Joe had made up his mind to run away for good.
He’d had enough and wanted to put it all behind him—the embarrassment following his uncle’s arrest for domestic violence, the trouble with the principal, the perceived abandonment of his brother.
He had a little money from working on the Rocking C that summer and, instead of purchasing a ticket all the way to L.A.
, where someone might find him—if anyone cared to look—he purchased tickets for the trek in segments.
He traveled first to San Antonio, then to El Paso and on to Albuquerque. He’d intended to end up in Los Angeles.
The only person who knew of his plan—and the only one he’d told goodbye—was Dave, who’d kept his secret as promised.
So at sixteen, Joe left town—and his past—behind him. And he never—well, he rarely—looked back.
He set the photo aside and picked up another, this one taken somewhere in Arizona with the marines who’d become his friends and family.
There’d been a bad accident on the interstate on the final leg of his trip. The marines had been on leave and were returning to their duty assignment in Yuma when they’d pulled up alongside his bus and immediately jumped out and became heroes that day.
Joe had always helped the underdogs, like Dave Cummings and Clay Jenkins, when they’d been bullied in high school.
He’d also tried to protect his aunt, only to get battered for his efforts.
But when Red Conway, an older marine, actually asked for Joe’s assistance, he’d stepped up, of course, gaining respect and hero status in the process.
After the accident, the sergeants were in a hurry to get back to Yuma so they wouldn’t be AWOL.
But instead of riding with the other passengers on a different bus to Los Angeles, Joe hitched a ride with his new friends.
Red offered him a place to stay, and they all took him under wing, each one replacing the big brother he’d once had.
The day he turned eighteen, in an attempt to embrace his future by shedding his past and everything that reminded him of the lost boy he’d once been, Joe began the process to legally change his name.
His marine buddies encouraged him to get his GED and to join the corps, helping him set a goal and find a purpose.
Joe set the picture aside and picked up one of him and Dave outfitted in matching camouflage. Dave had followed in Joe’s footsteps and enlisted a few years ago.