Home to Wind River by Lindsay McKenna

Author:Lindsay McKenna
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2018-10-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

June 29

“Could you come over for a visit sometime soon?” Shay asked Lily.

Lily nodded, watching Shay slowly savor the last of the cinnamon roll. “Sure.”

“I have your cell phone number. How about I call you tomorrow?”

“That would be fine. I’ll be done helping Jenna with her exercises around nine.”

Shay sighed, watching her husband, Charlie and Jake jawing at the counter. “I often wondered when Jake would get interested in living again,” she murmured, giving Lily a keen look.

Frowning, Lily asked, “What do you mean?”

“It’s no secret a very high percentage of the employees in this valley are ex-military. And they all have PTSD. Heck, I have it myself, although it seems to have lessened since I got pregnant.” She swallowed the last of the roll. Wiping her lips with a paper napkin, she said, “When Jake came to Wind River Valley three years ago, he was in rough shape. Maud hired him, and I didn’t see what she saw in him.”

“Oh?”

Shay gave her a painful glance. “He was really jumpy. You sure didn’t approach him from behind. He broke one guy’s jaw who did that, when he was here to buy some stuff in Charlie’s place. The wrangler didn’t know what hit him. Charlie understood, of course, but the guy was a civilian and new to the area, so he didn’t realize how many combat vets are in our valley. You don’t come up behind them, pure and simple.”

“Did Jake get thrown in jail?”

“No. But you know how fast word flies around here. After that, you could see men and women giving Jake a wide berth, no matter where he went.”

“It must have been a really painful adjustment for him to make, too,” Lily said, watching Jake laugh with the two men. He was all male. Hard muscle. Tall. Well-proportioned. She always enjoyed watching Jake’s facial expressions since he rarely let that mask dissolve and she could read him better.

“I’m sure it was. I know you said you had PTSD also.”

“Still do. But for some reason, it’s been getting better since I came out to live with Jenna and Jake.”

“Hmmm . . .”

Giving her a wry look, she saw a sparkle in Shay’s blue eyes. “What?”

“I think Jake’s sweet on you.”

Her heart hammered once to underscore her surprise. She saw Shay’s smile grow. “I don’t think he is, Shay. Really.”

“I saw him give you a very special look when you weren’t aware just a few minutes ago.”

“What look?” Lily demanded, confused.

“A man who’s claimed his woman and is just checking to make sure she’s okay. You know that look?”

“Of course I do.”

Shrugging, Shay said, “It’s the first time I’ve seen Jake interested in a woman. He’s pretty much of a loner. He’s had no love life since landing here in the valley. Did you know that?”

Squirming, Lily said, “I sort of guessed it because his home is pretty sterile-looking, no decorations and only two photos of loved ones or family. I never see him talking to anyone other than wranglers.

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