After the Storm: Clean Historical Western Cowboy Romance Novel (Dawson Chronicles Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

his mind drifting into the recent past.
     
    December 20, 1918,
     
    After receiving a stern reprimand from her superior, Hailey had been reassigned as an ambulance driver.  Hailey drove wounded soldiers back from the front, humming as she pulled in to the unloading zone and cut the engine.  It had finally sunk in to many that the fighting was really over after so many months at war. 
                  She helped transfer patients to the hospital, joking with the five men, who thankfully weren’t severely wounded.  Only one of them had a gunshot wound to the leg.  The others had broken bones. 
                  One of them, a spunky nineteen-year-old, asked, “So where are you from, beautiful?”
                  “You can call me Dwyer and I’m from Montana,” she said, grinning.
                  “Ok, Dwyer, I’m from California, but I could be persuaded to move to Montana.” His blue eyes twinkled as he hobbled along on a pair of makeshift crutches.
                  She laughed.  “Wow.  Willing to move to see a redheaded Indian, huh?”
                  “Indian?” he asked.  “You ain’t no Indian.”
                  “I sure am.  Half Lakota,” she said.  “Still want to move to Montana?”
                  Revealing her lineage was usually an effective way to ward off unwanted advances because of the prejudice that existed towards Indians, even the ones serving in the war.
                  The young man wasn’t sure what to say.
                  Hailey patted him on the shoulder.  “That’s ok, soldier.  Have a nice life.  Glad you made it.”
                  Smiling to herself, she went back to her ambulance to clean the back just in case she got sent out again.
                  “Mmm mmm.  There’s that fierce warrior woman,” said a male voice.
                  Turning around, she saw Art coming towards her.  She couldn’t hold back a grin.  “Hey!  You made it!  Glad to see you.  Are you hurt?”
                  “Shot in the foot,” he said, smiling as he limped.  “No, I didn’t shoot myself, either.  It’ll be better before I’m married.  So I see they didn’t send you home or throw you in the hoosegow.”
                  “Nah.  I had ‘em by the balls since I threatened to tell every newspaper about my story.  Besides, they needed me.  I convinced them to let me drive ambulance in exchange for my silence.”
                  “That’s good.  Am I keepin’ you?” he asked.
                  “Nope.  I can talk while I clean,” she said, gathering up her supplies.  “Where’s your partner in crime?”
                  “Your cousin?  Around here somewhere.  He came with me to get stitched up from some shrapnel.”  Seeing the instant concern on her face, he said, “He’s ok.  They got it out and it didn’t hit anything vital.  It was mainly on his back.  He’ll have some scars, but that’ll give him something to talk about.”
                  Hailey laughed.  “He doesn’t need any help in that department.”
                  “No, he doesn’t,” Art agreed.  “So when you’re done here, can a soldier buy you a cup of coffee?”
                  She smiled.  “Why, Art, are you asking me on a date?”
                  His dark eyes gleamed with amusement.  “And what if I was?”
                  “I don’t know.  They say war romances don’t work out,” she joked, climbing up into the back of the ambulance to start wiping it out. 
                  He chuckled as he moved closer so they could still talk.  “Who said anything about romance?  I’m just talking about a cup of coffee.”
                  “Well, first it’s a cup of coffee