the hall like a formidable force, prepared to strong-arm Mitch’s crew into a much-needed break should anyone protest. He knew those guys well.
He also respected his personal limitations, plus the well-being of his overworked crew. “No argument here. Let’s give them a report, turn over the floor and head out.”
One of the PJs, Brockton Drake, approached. “You look whooped. Go home, man. Get a good night’s sleep.”
Mitch stretched. “I will but I have a unique date first.”
Lauren’s head popped up from behind a computer chart she took notes on. He couldn’t discern her expression, but knew it was one he’d never seen on her face before.
She blinked a couple times then closed the computer and walked off. Weird. He might’ve imagined it. Nope. Brock stared at her then faced Mitch. “Who’s she and what’s wrong with her?”
Mitch watched Lauren retreat like a soldier under fire. “She’s Lem’s granddaughter, visiting for the summer. She’s also a nurse who’s helping here sporadically. Name’s Lauren.”
“Why’d she walk off like that?”
“I’d like to know that very thing.”
Brock refaced Mitch. “It’s good to have you back in the States. Sorry your engagement with Sheila went south.”
“Thanks. We never actually got engaged, though. She turned me down even after I bought the ring she picked out.”
“Man, heartless. What happened?”
He shrugged. “She moved with her unit and moved on from me at the same time. Fell for another guy.”
“That bites. But, hey, better to have it happen now. I hear Ian couldn’t talk his wife out of a divorce.”
“Yeah. He’s having a rough go of it. Deployment and distance decimated a lot of relationships overseas.”
“Not all of them, though. And you have a date, so it seems you’re bouncing back okay.”
“Actually, the date is with one of Lem’s tractors. Specifically Lauren’s tractor, Bess.”
“Lauren’s the girl you’re into?”
Mitch handed Brock the patient roster. “I’m not into anyone. Especially not her. She lives in Texas.”
“What’s wrong with Texas? Part of our training’s there.”
“I have nothing against Texas. I love it, in fact. I just have a problem with being attracted to someone so far away.”
Brock grinned. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. You like her.”
Did he just say that?
Brock tapped papers on the desk. “We have training ops the next couple weeks, but let me know if you need help after that.”
“Might take you up on that. Lem added fixing Bess to my already-tight summer to-do list. I don’t mind though, and would never want him to regret asking or feel like he’s a burden.”
“I hear he’s done a lot for you.”
“More than I could list in a lifetime. Anyway, he says Lauren loved to ride the tractor. So he asked me to make fixing Bess my top priority. I want to oblige Lem, even though it’s another unexpected time-sucker.”
“I hear ya.”
“Hopefully fixing her tractor will put her in a good mood about my being at Lem’s tomorrow.”
“She has a problem with it?”
“Pretty much. It boils down to us both having lofty summer goals yet little time. Plus our plans clash on all fronts.”
“You’re innovative. You can figure out a way for them not to.”
“In theory. In reality I won’t be able to get Lem’s stuff done once the center hits full status in the fall. The way we’re getting slammed now, I only have this summer to do projects I put off due to deployment.”
“I don’t get what Lauren’s problem is.”
“I have to be at Lem’s to do the chores, and Lauren wants uninterrupted, undistracted time with her grandpa.”
“Doesn’t sound feasible.”
“It’s not. She’s struggling emotionally, so I’m giving them the space I can. But I need to be there most of my spare time or projects won’t get done.”
“I can help with the time-sensitive stuff a couple days before I leave and more when I get back. What all is
He also respected his personal limitations, plus the well-being of his overworked crew. “No argument here. Let’s give them a report, turn over the floor and head out.”
One of the PJs, Brockton Drake, approached. “You look whooped. Go home, man. Get a good night’s sleep.”
Mitch stretched. “I will but I have a unique date first.”
Lauren’s head popped up from behind a computer chart she took notes on. He couldn’t discern her expression, but knew it was one he’d never seen on her face before.
She blinked a couple times then closed the computer and walked off. Weird. He might’ve imagined it. Nope. Brock stared at her then faced Mitch. “Who’s she and what’s wrong with her?”
Mitch watched Lauren retreat like a soldier under fire. “She’s Lem’s granddaughter, visiting for the summer. She’s also a nurse who’s helping here sporadically. Name’s Lauren.”
“Why’d she walk off like that?”
“I’d like to know that very thing.”
Brock refaced Mitch. “It’s good to have you back in the States. Sorry your engagement with Sheila went south.”
“Thanks. We never actually got engaged, though. She turned me down even after I bought the ring she picked out.”
“Man, heartless. What happened?”
He shrugged. “She moved with her unit and moved on from me at the same time. Fell for another guy.”
“That bites. But, hey, better to have it happen now. I hear Ian couldn’t talk his wife out of a divorce.”
“Yeah. He’s having a rough go of it. Deployment and distance decimated a lot of relationships overseas.”
“Not all of them, though. And you have a date, so it seems you’re bouncing back okay.”
“Actually, the date is with one of Lem’s tractors. Specifically Lauren’s tractor, Bess.”
“Lauren’s the girl you’re into?”
Mitch handed Brock the patient roster. “I’m not into anyone. Especially not her. She lives in Texas.”
“What’s wrong with Texas? Part of our training’s there.”
“I have nothing against Texas. I love it, in fact. I just have a problem with being attracted to someone so far away.”
Brock grinned. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. You like her.”
Did he just say that?
Brock tapped papers on the desk. “We have training ops the next couple weeks, but let me know if you need help after that.”
“Might take you up on that. Lem added fixing Bess to my already-tight summer to-do list. I don’t mind though, and would never want him to regret asking or feel like he’s a burden.”
“I hear he’s done a lot for you.”
“More than I could list in a lifetime. Anyway, he says Lauren loved to ride the tractor. So he asked me to make fixing Bess my top priority. I want to oblige Lem, even though it’s another unexpected time-sucker.”
“I hear ya.”
“Hopefully fixing her tractor will put her in a good mood about my being at Lem’s tomorrow.”
“She has a problem with it?”
“Pretty much. It boils down to us both having lofty summer goals yet little time. Plus our plans clash on all fronts.”
“You’re innovative. You can figure out a way for them not to.”
“In theory. In reality I won’t be able to get Lem’s stuff done once the center hits full status in the fall. The way we’re getting slammed now, I only have this summer to do projects I put off due to deployment.”
“I don’t get what Lauren’s problem is.”
“I have to be at Lem’s to do the chores, and Lauren wants uninterrupted, undistracted time with her grandpa.”
“Doesn’t sound feasible.”
“It’s not. She’s struggling emotionally, so I’m giving them the space I can. But I need to be there most of my spare time or projects won’t get done.”
“I can help with the time-sensitive stuff a couple days before I leave and more when I get back. What all is
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