Valerie Hansen - Small Town Justice

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?”