Page 21 of Cole's Joy
“Yes.”
“Well, I believe that was the time Tom was bombarded with both those women and he took his anger and frustration at them out on Lorissa. That was why he was so harsh with her. At least that’s what he said, and she believed him. I’ll go along with it for now, but if I see him treat her badly, he’ll have me to deal with.”
Cole wiped his mouth to cover his smirk, because from what little he knew of Lois, if she had to step in, she might never have any great-grandchildren with Tom being the father.
“So what happened with the accident? What were the results?”
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to go off on a tangent. Somehow, no one knows for sure, but somehow Melissa, the gold-digger, and Leslie, the thief, got together and they started stalking Tom. When Melissa confronted him, Lorissa was there, he grabbed her and kissed her to try to prove to Melissa that he had moved on. That was the day that Lorissa came home with Rose and Baby. Anyway, the two women got together over at Gunny’s in town and began drinking. They were drinking so much, and bad-mouthing Tom, that the bartender cut them off. However, thebar owners didn’t know the women had bottles of alcohol in their purses.”
“Ah, so they were helping themselves.”
“Yes. Before anyone knew it, they had left, then the sirens were going off. One of them, I’m not sure which, left, saw Lorissa driving through town, and went to get the other. They plowed into Lorissa’s truck, and by the time it was all over, those two didn’t survive the accident.”
“Damn, you probably don’t know, but what were their blood alcohol levels?”
“All I overheard was three times over the legal limit.”
“Shit, they shouldn’t have been behind the wheel. I hope the families don’t go after Gunny for serving them.”
“Jake said he viewed the video of the bar and told the police that it clearly showed those two women opening their purses and pouring alcohol into the drinks, before returning the bottle to their purse.”
“Got it. How badly was Lorissa hurt?”
“Not as bad as it could have been. I think she survived because of her quick reflexes, and the fact that she was in her truck while Melissa and Leslie were in very small cars. Melissa drove one of those electric cars that look like you could pick it up and put it in the back of the truck. When she hit Lorissa from behind, it did so much damage everyone thinks it was the alcohol that had her hit Lorissa’s truck repeatedly. There was literally nothing left of the car.”
“Damn, and Lorissa?”
“Oh, sorry. She had a moderate concussion, but with the promise of us all keeping an eye on her, she will be released this afternoon.” Lois reached down and put her hand on the outside of her left thigh. “A metal bar from the inside of the driver’s door broke loose when she was hit there by Leslie’s car, and it scrapeddown her leg. She has a hole, which isn’t that big, it’ll leave a puckered scar, and sixty-eight stitches.”
“Damn. Anything else?”
“No, when the women first went after Lorissa their lights were on bright, and when Lorissa reached up to flip the rear-view mirror, she hit the On-Star button and they heard everything, and were able to call it in.”
“Thank god for small miracles. What’s going to happen now?”
“She’s going to be home later, and Tom said we can come over, but he doesn’t want us to tire her out. We’re having dinner over there. She had put a roast in the crockpot, but didn’t get to eat it, so Laurie came home and put one together. We’ll combine them, then make some biscuits. Would you like to join us?”
“I would love to. What about her vehicle?”
“Totaled. She’ll have to wait a couple of days before she can do anything. Once she has all the reports she needs, then she’ll contact the insurance company.”
“She can use my truck while she waits,” Cole said, and held up his hand to ward her off. “Hear me out. If she has her farrier tools to deal with, would they fit in your car if she got called out on a job?”
“Probably not, but I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking, I’m volunteering. I hate to say this, but I’m in the middle of something right now, that’s why I haven’t been around. I think this was the first time I drove my truck in two weeks. If she needs it until she can get back on her feet, then it’s there. If I need a vehicle, Clem’s truck is there.” He shook his head at her when she started to protest. “Trust me, I won’t be left without. When we moved everything here from Wyoming, there were several ranch trucks that came with us. I won’t be left without a ride.”
“Okay, but I’m going to leave it up to you to decide. I’m not saying yes, nor am I saying no. I’ll leave it between the two of you.”
“That sounds fair.” He settled back and drank his tea, then sighed heavily. He looked around, then stared at her. “Is there anything I can help you do around here to earn my supper?”
Lois laughed and after finishing her own drink, rose to her feet and had him follow her outside to the greenhouses. By the time dinner rolled around, Cole could only hope there was enough for everyone, because Lois had worked him so hard, he was starving.
CHAPTER 9
Mid-morning on a Saturdaythree weeks later, Lois pulled into the driveway to New Double and when she parked before the house, she put her SUV in park and sighed heavily. Before getting out, she looked around and saw a lot of activity, but it was closer to the barns and hoped she didn’t have to go over there. Not that she was scared, but she didn’t want to interrupt the work of the men. She was there for a particular reason, and as much as she wanted to see and talk to Cole, she didn’t think he could help her in her reason for being there.
As she exited her vehicle, she looked around and sighed in relief when a gruff voice called out to her. “Help you?”
