An Accidental Hero by Loree Lough

Author:Loree Lough [Lough, Loree]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2003-10-22T20:00:00+00:00

The steady clop-clop of Lamont’s cowboy boots on the hardwood floor announced his entrance. Obnoxious left the warmth of Cammi’s arms, climbed off the couch and trotted up to his master, oblivious of the man’s messy hair or the sheet wrinkles crisscrossing his left cheek. Lamont bent to ruffle the dog’s fur.

“I thought I heard voices,” Lamont told Cammi. He stood and snugged the belt of his buffalo plaid robe.

Cammi considered evading the question, but decided against it. “The man I crashed into—the one who took me to the hospital…?” She swallowed, not knowing what to make of his deepening frown. “He stopped by to see if I was all right.”

Lamont didn’t move, but narrowed his eyes. “At this hour? That boy never did have a lick of sense!”

“He didn’t want to wake everyone by calling, so—”

“Fool. He should’ve waited till morning.” His mouth formed a thin, taut line. “Then I coulda poked a finger into his chest, made sure he got the message loud and clear when I told him to take a hike.”

Maybe Reid had been right, maybe she was cranky, because her dad’s unreasonable attitude grated on her nerves. “What do you have against cowboys all of a sudden?” She posed the question in the most respectful voice she could muster, but just in case she missed the mark, she smiled—as camouflage. “You’re a cowboy, let’s not forget.”

“True enough.” He crossed both arms over his chest as Obnoxious sat beside him. “But this cowboy never killed anybody.”

She sat up straighter.

“You heard me.”

Smoothing the bangs back from her face, Cammi shook her head.

He stomped across the room and flopped onto the seat of his recliner, and the dog joined him. “I don’t have anything against cowboys. It’s just one in particular I don’t cotton to. The boy did a good deed, driving you to the E.R., staying with you till I got there. I’ll give him that. So we’ll send him a box of cigars, some beef jerky, apples for his horse. Doesn’t matter what, long as we show our appreciation.” He aimed his pointer finger at Cammi. “When you get the last of this accident mess cleaned up, you’ll be done with him, once and for all.”

Done with him? Dad had issued an order, no question about it. Cammi was about to start listing Reid’s better qualities when her father said, “Reid Alexander is the polecat who killed your mother.”

Cammi couldn’t admit that she’d already figured that out. Lamont had always been big on family loyalty; he’d see her defense of Reid as a betrayal.

“He was the lowlife who was driving the other car that night.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me this before?” Cammi responded.

Scowling, he shook his head. “Didn’t want to say his name, for one thing. Didn’t want you girls havin’ to deal with more facts than necessary. It was hard enough on the lot of you, just grappling with…” Sighing, he ended with a flick of his hand.

“But half a dozen eyewitnesses said Mom ran the red light, said it wasn’t Reid’s fault.

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