The Pancake Club Anthology by Jennifer Conner & JW Stacks & Marilyn Conner Miles

Author:Jennifer Conner & JW Stacks & Marilyn Conner Miles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance anthology
Publisher: Books to Go Now
Published: 2017-03-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Three

Jennifer jumped out of the back seat of Claire’s little hatchback before it came to a stop. Larry hurried over and stopped her before she could get inside the garage. The older man kept twisting his hat between his hands.

“What happened?” she asked, trying to keep her rising panic under control.

“Bart didn’t pay attention when he was inflating a tire and the inner tube blew.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” she asked in annoyance. “What happened?”

“The loud noise?” Larry replied, confused.

“What?”

Understanding crept over Larry’s worried expression.

“Ms. Defoe, he didn’t tell you he’s got shell shock did he?”

“I didn’t want to disturb him,” Larry explained as they entered the garage and found Mike on his stomach, breathing hard and staring off into space. “I knew guys like him back in ‘Nam. You never knew how they were going to react so you left ‘em alone until they came out of it.”

“Why didn’t you call an ambulance?” Jennifer turned on him.

“Because I’m not going to embarrass the boy like that,” Larry shot back, heat creeping into his voice. “What’re they gonna do? Send him in to a head doc that’s what. That ain’t nobody’s business and I’ve got too much respect for him than to have everyone in this town call the boy a basket case.”

Jennifer looked at Mike’s body sprawled on the dirty concrete floor and her heart went out to him. There was something pitiful about seeing a strong man in the grip of the terrors of his own mind. Despite that, her investigative nature took that moment to assert itself. “Why’d you call me then?”

“You’re the only person he’s ever talked about so I figured...ah sh—” Larry caught himself. “—oot. I’ve put my foot in it haven’t I?”

Jennifer knew Larry was only trying to protect Mike and, as much as she would like to think better of people, the mechanic was right. Gossip traveled fast in Mercy Ridge. “You did the right thing,” she said.

“Miss Defoe, please don’t tell him that I told you.” Larry wrung his battered cap again.

“Don’t worry. My lips are sealed, but we can’t just leave him down there. What do I need to do?” Jennifer surprised herself by taking charge. This went against all her natural inclinations to stand back, observe, and report.

“I don’t rightly know,” Larry said, and scratched his head. “Back in the jungle, the gunny usually yelled at them until they snapped out of it. Pro’ly not an option here.”

Jennifer rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yelling at someone who freaks out at loud noises was real smart.”

“We were soldiers, Ms. Defoe, not shrinks. Therapy kind of takes a back seat when someone is trying to kill you. I’m not making apologies for what we did.”

“All right. No, you’re right.” Jennifer conceded his point. She stooped down next to Mike and called his name. She wanted to touch him, to share some of her compassion, but Larry’s words still rang in her head. Startling him could do more harm than good.

She

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