Page 122 of The Doctor's Irreplaceable Love

Harper literally growled.“Thank you.I’m actually quite proud of myself.But believe me, Shelley-bells, that man is trouble, and I’m not going to let him get away with a damn thing.”

Brooke let out a short laugh.“I was waiting for one of you to say something, but I think your silence spoke louder than words could have.Has anyone ever told you that you ladies can be scary?”

They exchanged a smile, and Harper nodded.“Maybe a time or two, yeah.”

They all looked up again when a shadow fell over the table.

Shelley relaxed when she saw it wasn’t Gavin again.This time it was Laney, and she was smiling — although her smile faded when she saw their faces.

“What the hell’s going on?Who pissed you guys off — and should I warn them that they’re in danger?”

“Gavin Sheridan,” said Brooke.

Laney scowled.“Shit.Right.I get it.What did he want?”

“I believe he’s trying to lay the groundwork before making a case that Jim isn’t mentally competent,” Shelley said.

Laney barked out a laugh.“Jim’s probably still one of the sharpest men in this valley.There’s no way…” She met Shelley’s gaze.“There’s no way, legally, that he could do that.Is there?”

“No,” said Shelley firmly.“There’s no way I’ll let him.What worries me is that he’s going to try.”

“Let him,” said Harper, who was still visibly fuming.

Laney met her gaze and said, “I knew I liked you.”

Harper nodded curtly.“Likewise.And if it comes down to it, I’ll be calling on you for help, cowgirl.That okay with you?”

“You can bet your ass it is,” said Laney.“Is there anything we can do right now?”

Shelley shook her head slowly.“I don’t think so.I think it’s going to be a waiting game.We need for him to make a move — and then we’ll know how to counter.If we start preemptively trying to prove anything, it may look as though Jim has something to hide.”

“Okay,” said Laney.“But you probably need to understand that the law and the courts don’t work the same way as you’re used to out here.Who you know plays a part — and everyone knows and loves Jim.Gavin never understood that.I don’t think he’ll be anything near as big of a problem as he’d like to be.Not legally, anyway.But that doesn’t mean he won’t cause trouble.”

“Thanks,” said Shelley.

“So, since we can’t do anything about him right now,” said Laney, “I just wanted to check in with you and see if you’re coming to Chico this weekend.”She turned to Brooke as she added, “For Blane’s birthday.”

Brooke looked shocked.“He’s coming home for it?”

“Shit,” said Laney.“Did I spoil the surprise?He is.Although, to be fair, he may not know himself yet.Apparently, it was Cash’s decision.”

All three of them laughed at that.Shelley didn’t know Cash all that well yet, but she knew him well enough to be able to see that Laney was probably right.

She turned to Brooke with a smile.“That’ll be lovely.And since you won’t have a shift at the gas station, you’ll be able to go, won’t you?”

Brooke nodded happily.“I will.I’m going to have to get used to this.My immediate thought was that I hope I’ll be able to see him — it didn’t even occur to me that I’d be able to go out with everyone.”

Shelley thought about the soda Brooke had savored like it was a luxury.Yeah—between her, Trip, and Harper, they could make sure the girl never had to pull her wallet out again.

Laney pushed Brooke’s shoulder.“Does this mean I can start harassing you again about coming to hang out with me?I only gave up because you were getting so stressed about not having the time.But if you’re only going to be working one job, you can start coming over to our place—ride with me, or just…” She laughed.“I don’t really know what people do if they’re not riding or working, but I reckon we can figure it out.”

Shelley and Harper exchanged a smile when Brooke said, “I have no clue what other people do, but I know I can help with the horses.”

“Awesome,” said Laney.“I’ve been threatening to teach these two to ride, but they haven’t made the time to come over to see me yet.”

Brooke grinned.“You have to do it,” she told them.

“We will,” Shelley agreed.

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