Small Town Justice

Shane held up a hand as if taking an oath. “No tricks. I promise. This is a small town. Our reputations are very important.” He began to grin. “Besides, we all trust each other around here.”

“Is that why you left this pickup running in front of the hospital? If you tried that most places it wouldn’t be there when you came out.”

“Serenity isn’t most places.”

To his surprise, his passenger averted her face and muttered, “You can say that again.”

* * *

Jamie Lynn’s reunion with her dog was tearful yet joyful. When neither the veterinarian nor the groomer who had washed him would accept payment she was astonished.

“Told you so,” Shane said on their way out.

She buried her face in Ulysses’s soft, clean fur. “I don’t get it. Those people don’t know me. Why should they waive their normal fees?”

“Maybe because I explained the situation when I left Useless with them.”

“You’re determined to call him that, aren’t you?”

Looking at his profile, she could see half of a wide grin. “Yup. I like to see steam shoot out of your ears.”

“Fine. Suit yourself. I don’t imagine you and I will have much reason to talk again after you’ve fixed my truck, anyway.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” He shrugged. “It’s a pretty small town. If you hang around, we’re bound to run into each other.”

What Jamie wanted to say was, Not if I can help it, but she kept that thought to herself. It seemed impossible that a man as astute as Shane Colton had not yet put together enough clues to guess her former identity. Or had he? she wondered. It was remotely possible that he’d figured out her lineage and was toying with her. Was he the kind of man who would be purposely devious?

She honestly didn’t think so, not that she considered herself the best judge of truthfulness. After all, Aunt Tessie had lied to her for years about what had become of her parents and she’d believed every word.

Clutching Ulysses, she murmured endearments and let him lick her under the chin. He was clearly so glad they were reunited he could hardly sit still. Jamie Lynn sympathized. She was feeling such a strong sense of unrest she wanted to fling open the door and escape from the moving vehicle. The mere thought of such drastic action was unnerving. What was wrong with her? Shane, the hospital staff, the sheriff, the vet—everybody in Serenity had been so nice.

Yeah, if you didn’t count the men who had said they were going to get rid of her, one way or another.

“Speaking of small towns, what’s the latest on the two guys who set the fire?” she asked.

“Their truck was a dead end. It had been stolen that morning.” He glanced across at her. “What were you doing wandering around out there in the first place?”

“Like I told the sheriff, I was exploring and thought the abandoned house looked interesting.”

“Uh-huh.”

“You don’t sound convinced.” And neither had Harlan Allgood when he’d questioned her, but at least he hadn’t pressed for details that might have revealed her past before she was ready to do so.

“I might buy that if nothing bad had happened to you while you were poking around.”

“Guess I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” The whole truth would become obvious to everyone soon enough and she didn’t want to distract him while he was driving. Besides, she felt safer in Shane’s company and wanted to stay on his good side, not that that made much sense.

“That would do it,” Jamie muttered, realizing belatedly that she had actually voiced her conclusion.

One quick peek told her he had heard. Before he could start asking more questions, she said, “In case I didn’t tell you yesterday, thanks for saving my neck.”

“I got the idea you were grateful,” he replied.

A flush of color on his cheeks reminded her of the way she’d thrown herself into his arms after hearing that her little dog was safe and well.

“That hug was for saving Ulysses,” Jamie insisted, once again burying her face in the small dog’s silky fur.

“If you say so.”

“I do. He’s family.” The moment those words were out, she realized she’d opened another can of worms.

“What about the people in your life?” Shane asked.

“I—uh—I was raised by my great-aunt.”

“Your parents...?”

“Are gone,” she said, using the familiar expression to tell the truth while giving the impression both were deceased. For all she knew they might be.

“I’m sorry.”

Jamie Lynn nodded. “Me, too. So, how far is it to my truck? And how long will it take you to fix it?”

“I thought you’d want to go back to the motel. You know, kick back and rest. Maybe grab some lunch.”

“I ate at the hospital and I’ve done nothing but rest since yesterday. What I need is wheels.”

“Fine. We’ll swing by the garage I own so you can see the tire damage for yourself. Believe me, I’m not exaggerating. Nobody could repair those cuts.”

“Do you accept credit cards?”

“Sure. We may be rural but we aren’t primitive.”

Jamie couldn’t help smiling. “Oh? You could have fooled me.” They were passing the antebellum courthouse and modest businesses around the old square. “This place looks like it belongs in history books.”

“It does. One of the battles of the Civil War was fought on Pilot Hill.” He leaned over the steering wheel and pointed. “Right up there where the radio towers are now. See the flashing beacons?”

“Yes.” Leaning back against the seat, she closed her eyes and sighed. There was another page of Serenity’s history that interested her far more—the one that involved her brother and both parents.

As soon as news got out that she was in town to investigate the crime that had destroyed her family, chances were that most folks wouldn’t want to talk to her, let alone offer their help. The current sheriff had studied her as if he were close to figuring out who she really was when he’d interviewed her in the hospital. It was only a matter of time until somebody remembered Jamie Lynn Henderson, put two and two together and got four.

Correction, Jamie Lynn thought. Someone had already added it up. Whether her attackers had found her at the old farm or followed her there, their orders had been clear. They’d said it themselves. It was their job to eliminate her before she made any progress on her brother R.J.’s behalf.

Progress that might not only prove her big brother was innocent of vehicular homicide but also point the finger of guilt at someone else.

She knew she was on the right track precisely because they had sent thugs after her. Although her enemies might be ruthless, they were functioning on an emotional level rather than a rational one. As long as she kept her wits about her and stayed out of abandoned buildings, chances were she’d eventually dredge up enough truth to help her brother get a new trial. In a new venue.

She glanced at her handsome companion, chagrined that her goal was to disprove the accepted story of his father’s death. But could she trust him?

Who she could and couldn’t trust in that town was one of the first things she needed to know. Confiding in the wrong person could be worse than doing nothing.

* * *

As the hours passed, Shane was beginning to think the young woman was never going to ask to be taken to her motel. Considering the way she’d made herself and Useless comfortable in his tiny waiting room, he wondered if she intended to spend the entire afternoon. That would have been troubling by itself. Added to the concentrated attention she was giving him and his workers, it was getting downright creepy.

He pulled out his cell phone and punched in the number of his buddy Charlie.

“Tire shop.”

“It’s Shane again. Any word on those tires I called about?”

“You asked me the same thing an hour ago,” Charlie said. “Keep your shirt on. I’ve checked my own inventory and don’t have four alike but I think I’ve located a good used set in Batesville.”

“Think, or know?” Shane eyed his office through the grimy window between it and the garage. Being the only auto repair shop in town sometimes had its drawbacks. “It looks like she is planning to sit right here until I get her truck back on the road.”

“So?”

“So, I don’t like it.”

“What’s the matter, is she ugly?”

Shane shook his head and turned his back on the window. “No. She’s actually a knockout.”

“So, she’s raising a ruckus?”

“Not that, either. There’s just something strange about her. Maybe it’s the way she’s been staring at me. I don’t know.”

“You saved her life, right?”

Shane nodded. “Yeah.”

“Then I wouldn’t worry. She’s probably got a bad case of hero worship.”

“I suppose that could be it.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Give me a call as soon as you know anything definite, will you?”

“If she’s as pretty as you say, why not just enjoy her company?” He chuckled. “If I wasn’t so busy here I’d drop by and take her off your hands.”

Shane was shaking his head as he said, “No way. She’s not that kind of woman. She’s... I don’t know, sort of fragile.”

“Skinny?”

“Not at all. I can’t explain it. All I know is she seems lost. Even lonely. The first time she opened her eyes and looked up at me after the fire she reminded me of an injured deer surrounded by a pack of hungry coyotes.”

“Sounds to me like you’re as scrambled as she is. I’ll get back to you ASAP.”

“Okay. Thanks.” Shane pivoted when he heard the back door slam.

A bundle of energy raced toward him, arms raised, and Shane swung his five-year-old son off the ground. “Hey, buddy. Why are you here so early?”

“Memaw’s gonna go get beautiful.”

“Did you tell her she already is?”

Kyle’s head bobbed, making his honey-blond curls bounce. “Uh-huh. But she didn’t believe me.”

Holding the boy close, Shane looked past him to smile at Marsha. “Hey, Mom, we both think you’re pretty enough.”

“Well, I don’t. Look at all the gray in my hair. I don’t want Otis to start thinking he married an old lady.” She began to fan her overly rosy cheeks and giggle like a love-struck teenager.

It had pleased Shane when his widowed mother had finally fallen in love again and remarried, but it was still hard to picture Otis Bryce as a father figure, let alone see his own mother as a blushing bride. Just short of turning thirty, he’d pictured people his mother’s age as too old to care about romance.

About to reassure her about her good looks, Shane was stopped by a shrill squeal next to his ear.

“A puppy!” Kyle was squirming in his arms and pointing at the waiting room. “Let me go see!”

It took Shane a second to realize why the boy was so excited. “That dog belongs to the lady who’s holding him.”

“Okay.” He continued to struggle against Shane’s restraint. “I wanna pet him. Can I, Daddy? Can I? Please...?”

Taking the child’s hand, he cautioned him, “All right. Just go slowly and don’t yell or you might scare him.”

“Puppies love kids. Everybody says.”

“Well, that dog isn’t a pup. He’s all grown up. And sometimes little dogs bite because they get scared. We need to ask the lady if you can pet him and do whatever she says. Understand?”

“Uh-huh.”

The five-year-old was leaning forward, dragging his reluctant father along as if he were towing a semitruck behind a tricycle. Shane saw his customer gather up her pet and stand. Although she had looked wary when Kyle had screeched, she was currently smiling.

“This must be your son,” Jamie Lynn said.

The child beamed. “I’m Kyle. I wanna play with your dog!”

“Can you play nicely and be careful you don’t hurt him? He’s getting kind of old.”

“Daddy told me.”

“Kyle thinks every small dog is a puppy,” Shane explained. “I told him that Useless was all grown up.”

She cradled her beloved fur ball as she sat again, placing the wiggly white mound on her lap. “Let him smell your hand before you try to touch him so he knows you’re friendly.”

Ulysses sniffed, then started to lick the boy all the way from his fingertips to his wrist.

Kyle broke into gales of laughter. “It tickles.”

“What did you have for lunch?” Jamie Lynn asked.

“Um, a burger and a corn dog.”

“Both? What about vegetables or fruit?”

“I hate bedj-tables. Yuck.”

Shane could tell his customer wasn’t pleased with his son’s apparently haphazard diet. He knew he didn’t need to make excuses to a stranger, yet for some reason he wanted her approval.

“We were in a hurry this morning, partly because I still had a man out sick and was handling the tow truck again, so I fed him a corn dog,” Shane said. “I assume the burger was part of his school lunch.”

“Uh-uh,” the boy said. “Memaw bought it for me when she picked me up.”

Marsha piped up. “I have a hair appointment.” She patted her short locks and began to grin at the other woman. “You don’t approve of fast food?”

“Sorry. I have a degree in early childhood development and sometimes advice just slips out. Proper nutrition is critical, especially in the formative years.”

Shane had heard enough. “Look. I’m a single parent and I’m doing the best I can, okay? He’s happy and healthy.”

“It’s actually more than that,” Jamie Lynn said.

He watched her eyes begin to glisten. She had to be one of the most changeable women he’d ever met—more unpredictable than Ozark weather.

Just as he was preparing to defend himself further, she sighed and added, “I can see that you’ve given him something else that many children lack.”

“And what would that be?”

“Love,” she told him, speaking softly. “All the vitamins in the world can’t take the place of that.”

THREE

The rush of emotions the little boy had triggered had almost destroyed Jamie Lynn’s self-control. When he’d wrapped his arms around her neck to thank her for letting him pet her dog, she’d had to fight to keep from weeping for the loving family she’d lost so long ago.

It was this town, she reasoned. That was what was bothering her. She’d not only cheated death since arriving in Serenity, she’d done it in the very place where she’d spent her childhood. Of course she’d be upset. Confused. Perhaps a tad emotionally unstable. There was nothing disturbing about that. Instead of wasting energy dwelling on what she’d lost, she should be trying to figure out who wanted to get rid of her. Given the seriousness of that, all her other worries paled.

“I guess I’ll give up and head over to the motel,” she announced to Shane after he had settled his son in his private office with crayons and a coloring book.

She glanced at her truck, still sitting on flattened tires. “I don’t imagine you’ll be able to get me back on the road today.”

“Nope.”

“How far is it to the motel?”

His noncommittal shrug gave her the notion that she may have used up her chances to hitch a ride. “I can walk. Just point me in the right direction.”

Shane sighed. “I’ll take you. But right now I have to finish this job and line up tomorrow’s schedule.” He glanced at his watch. “Give me forty-five minutes.”

“It’s okay. Really it is. I walk all the time to exercise Ulysses.”

The stern look he gave her was unexpected. “Look, lady, you spent the night in the hospital after somebody disabled your truck and tried to barbecue you. Since Harlan has no idea who’s to blame, don’t you think it would be wise to keep a low profile?”

Jamie Lynn tried to mask the shiver that shot through her by gathering up her purse. “I thought the sheriff was convinced those guys were just local boys acting reckless. That’s the impression he gave me.”

“He may be convinced, but I’m not,” Shane said quietly. “Now sit down and wait for me the way I waited for you all afternoon.”

An urge to snap to attention, salute and shout, “Yes, sir,” came over her. With effort, Jamie was able to nod and appear compliant. She hated taking orders, particularly from folks she hardly knew, and her offbeat wit was overly fond of lightening that burden with problematic humor.

This time, however, she held it in check. Shane Colton had been nothing but nice to her and the more she let him do on her behalf, the more guilt piled up on her side of the equation. He was bound to be livid by the time he learned she was R.J.’s sister.

Nevertheless, she reasoned, limited options were keeping them together. If there had been anywhere else nearby to have her truck repaired, she’d have gotten away from him immediately. Even the tire store was thirty miles south. It made no sense to have her vehicle taken there when it was already in good hands.

Shane’s hands were good, she affirmed without hesitation. Judging by all the business he had coming and going, his reputation was sterling.

A perverse part of her wished he were not quite so honest or approachable or considerate. It would be a lot easier to work against the prejudices of this town if she didn’t have to worry about hurting such an amenable man.

Remember what the people here did to you and your poor family, she reminded herself. They banded together to convict your brother—and Shane Colton is one of them.

Jamie Lynn raised her eyes to watch him working. As little as twenty-four hours ago she’d had no trouble classifying Shane as just another narrow-minded local. Somehow, in that short span of time, she had begun seeing him as almost a friend, almost a potential ally. That was ridiculous, of course.

Trembling, yet decisive, Jamie Lynn snapped the leash on Ulysses before picking him up, got to her feet, smoothed the hem of the hospital garb she’d borrowed and walked straight out the door of the waiting room.

It was time to come clean.

* * *

Shane was startled when he heard someone at his elbow say, “Excuse me?”

“I told you I had a few things to see to before we left. Be patient, okay?”

“It’s not that,” she said. “I need to talk to you. Privately.”

Something in her tone slipped through his concentration and pulled him from his work as effectively as a lasso tightening around the neck of a bucking bronco. His glance swept the work area then returned to her. “This is about as private as it gets. What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want you to think I’ve been deceiving you.”

“Don’t tell me your truck is stolen.”

“No, no. Nothing like that.” She’d tucked Ulysses under her arm and was petting him.

“Won’t this wait?”

“Not really.”

“We can talk later while I drive you home.”

He saw her shake her head and marveled at the way her dark hair caught the light and gleamed as it moved. It was evident that once this woman got a notion to do or say something, nothing could stop her. “Okay. I’m listening.”

“My name used to be Jamie Lynn Henderson instead of Nolan.”

Scowling, Shane stared at her. “Okay.”

“I don’t think you fully understand,” she said.

Shane sensed the crackle of tension in the air and noted her easing away from him, although she’d barely moved. He faced her and folded his arms across his chest. “Spell it out for me.”

“Henderson doesn’t ring a bell?”

“There’s a town near Lake Norfork by that name.”

“Think closer to home, Shane. My mother’s name is Alice. Ray is my dad. And my brother is Ray Junior.”

Sensing that he was gaping at her, he snapped his jaw closed. “You’re that Henderson?”

“Yes.”

“Hold on. I don’t remember any daughter named Jamie Lynn.”

“Probably because my family always called me Baby Sister. I was in kindergarten before I knew that wasn’t my given name.”

“Why the charade?” Anger was building. Shane fought to keep it from spilling over and halting their conversation before he could learn more.

“It wasn’t a trick,” Jamie vowed. “My great-aunt adopted me years ago and gave me her last name. That’s why I can’t figure out why I was targeted so quickly after I hit town. It must be because I called the courthouse to inquire about my family and ask for the transcripts of my brother’s trial.”

“Go on.” His arms remained crossed, his eyes narrowing.

“I was kept in the dark as a child. When I was recently told that my mother ran away to save herself after my father disappeared, right here in your precious town, I decided to come back and see what else I could find out.”

“That’s crazy talk.”

“Is it? What if my brother wasn’t driving the car that hit your dad?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. He was not only tried and convicted, he confessed.”

“Because he was threatened. So were my parents. Mom sent me to live with an aunt in New England during the trial to keep me out of danger.”

“That doesn’t prove a thing except that your mom was paranoid. Maybe your whole family was.”

As he continued to observe her, he saw her scan the parts of the garage she could see from where they stood. She was plainly nervous. Wary. Uncomfortable. Considering what she’d just admitted, he didn’t blame her.

If he’d had the option he would gladly have hauled her truck to another garage and washed his hands of her.

It didn’t dawn on him that his thoughts were so transparent until she said, “Look. I know you don’t really want to deal with my problems anymore. Try to think of me as just another nameless customer. Once we get through this, I promise I won’t bother you again.”

“Of course you will.”

“I don’t understand.”

A deep breath and heavy sigh helped settle him enough to speak his mind without letting rancor overwhelm him. “You don’t have to tell me more about why you came back. You intend to stir up trouble. It’s a given, particularly now that I’ve seen how you operate.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. Really. Once you latch on to an idea, you haven’t got sense enough to drop it, even when it’s wrong.”

“Listen, Mr. Colton. The folks around here were so sure R.J. was guilty they did that very thing to him. He was convicted in the court of public opinion long before he ever stood before a judge.”

“Not true. He had a fair trial. I was there.”

Her shoulders slumped, and she looked away as if viewing the past before she said, “Sadly, I was not. My parents thought they were sparing me by keeping me in the dark. All they were really doing was giving my imagination free rein. That was a mistake. Now I have to go back and start from the beginning if I want to understand.”

“How do you propose to do that?”

“Court records, among other things. As I said, I’ve already talked to people at the county courthouse and requested other information that’s in the public domain.”

“Terrific.” He knew he was scowling and gave himself permission to continue. “My mother is just getting her life back together and you come along to ruin it.”

“This has nothing to do with your mother.”

His voice rose. “She was married to the man your brother ran down and left in the street to bleed to death. How can you say it has nothing to do with her? It has everything to do with her.”

* * *

Serenity had two main streets and two highways that intersected. Jamie Lynn knew she was currently on Third Street and that her motel was located on Highway 62. As soon as Shane’s back was turned, she slipped out the front door and headed toward courthouse square. From there, she figured she could easily get her bearings. There was no danger. Nobody would expect to see her dressed like a nurse just getting off duty.

One thing was definite. She was not going to spend one more unnecessary moment with any Colton if she could help it. This would mark a new beginning to her quest.

Ulysses trotted along beside her as if he’d strolled those roads all his life. As soon as they reached Church Street and could walk on sidewalks instead of the outside edges of narrow pavement, Jamie Lynn stopped worrying about passing traffic.

Looking down at her exuberant pet made her smile, as always. “What a good boy. I wish you could tell me how to relax the way you do,” she crooned.