Page 53 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
In her younger years, she’d spent most of her time as a personal caregiver. Having a nursing degree meant she could pretty well take on any health-related position, but she found working in hospitals too confining. Instead, she’d preferred to work with seniors or better yet – youngsters.
Until she’d retired three years ago, she’d been in high demand as a private nurse. But it became too much for her, and she’d been forced to slow down. Physically, she’d known her body was spiraling into bad health, but crazily she’d ignored the symptoms, taking over-the-counter medications as a stopgap.
But now, she felt better than she had in years. The sense of peace that always engulfed her when she opened to it spread around her in a spiritual warm hug. It felt the same as when her man had swept her into his arms and held her against his hard body. She felt safe and cared for… and ridiculously happy.
Chapter Thirty
Today, after Angie broke out of the hospital, she’d see the work Jack had managed to accomplish to update her casita. Though he wanted to be there when she arrived, he had a full itinerary.
Umpteen hours working in his office building over the last few weeks had been spent on his campaign. So many, that it become headquarters, with Brian moving into a small cubbyhole in the front. Managing his contracting duties and giving any free time to help the volunteers, his employee appeared in his element.
Remembering the broken man he’d hired over three years ago, this image of Brian today made Jack glad he hadn’t given up. Some vets needed to know they had a role in life, and that they mattered. Just recently, shyness hovering in eyes that were clear from drugs, Brian had shared with Jack that his wife had returned with their twin boys, and they were giving their relationship another chance.
Happy for his friend, Jack had presented him with a new company van, a special handicapped vehicle with a chair lift and mobility adaptations. The argument being that Brian would be asked to do running around for Jack’s business, and he couldn’t be expected to do it by bus. Settling the discussion firmly, Jack made it known he expected Brian would be using it 24/7.
Brian wavered and finally accepted when Jack reminded him of the hours he wouldn’t be available himself now that he had other responsibilities. That he’d be dependent on Brian, who needed to be mobile and ready.
Jack had decided that others could speak for him in many areas, but when anything was to be said to the crowds, they needed to be his words. Therefore, he spent multiple hours late into the night researching the past, checking the ongoing government news and preparing his speeches to highlight the information he’d found.
Promises to do much better if he were elected became the focal point of his words. Terrible wrongs would be righted. And the city would become a place for all it’s inhabitants, not a playground for the rich while destroying the infrastructure and future water for the less fortunate folks.
While doing his due diligence, it didn’t take him long to see why Angie and many more in the city had a problem with Matt Lotborn. The man squeaked with corruption. His upcoming plans for the fancy playground for the wealthy would bankrupt their small coffers, to say nothing about the lack of fiscal responsibility. And don’t get him started on the jobs for the development.
Maybe if the plans were for local businesses to reap rewards by employment opportunities, it might not seem so bad. Unfortunately, Matt had already spoken to outside contracting firms about bids for the mega expansion, and they sure as shit didn’t involve any of the local companies, his included.
While pouring over the small print, frothing, seeing red everywhere he turned, Jack shook his head at the obvious dishonest exploitation.
After a while, he’d noticed other huge amounts of monies were being invested by wealthy corporations. Ones who cared less about their city and more about sinking a lot of money into a place where payback was assured and a future where they’d make a ton through the markets.
Because of the shortage of local water for such a huge development, the sleazy bastards were trying to pass a bill so they could take water from the Harquahala Valley, a region about 60 miles west of Phoenix. In the world of Arizona water, it is known mostly because it is one of a handful of rural areas from which the state or a political subdivision, like a city, can legally appropriate water and bring it into an urban area.
But there are strings attached that are meant to keep this precious commodity from being wrongfully used, strings that Lotborn and his cronies were taking corrupt pinking shears to so they could benefit.
Stretching after several early-morning hours of study, Jack felt his back creak like an old man’s. He needed to get moving; he still had a full day ahead.
Staring around, he noticed more tables set up at the back of the large room and another bunch of placards leaning against the wall.
Thankful for the spacious area he’d begun renting last year, more to help a friend who needed the rent money, he’d kind of liked having a spacious place.
When he’d taken over and finished his renos, he’d set up two nice-sized offices and filled the main space with couches and a large TV so whenever the men were there for their daily briefs, they’d be comfortable.
Even the lunchroom he’d organized was way bigger than necessary, but it suited them well. Now, he thanked the gods for his earlier decisions in modernizing it into a multi-functional space.
Though Brian kept up with their daily routine for the contracting end, more often Jack had seen him and many of the other fellows who worked for him over in the portion of the main room where volunteers had piled in, moving furniture to add a number of tables, and setting up ports where they could plug in their cellphones.
They’d started waging “Jack’s War on Corruption” and it had taken off with a bang. There were “Vote for Jack” signs everywhere, and each day saw more people wanting to help.
Deciding he’d leave before the others arrived back from an early lunch, he jumped into his truck and headed in the direction of Angie’s house.
As he drove, taking the less-traveled route he liked, he noticed a similar large truck, big and black, crawling along behind him. He’d never seen it in town before. Considering how much Maricopa had grown lately, that wasn’t a shocker. What did shock was the fact that the truck pulled up next to him and started aiming his way to force him off the road.
Normally, it wouldn’t be a problem to hit the ditch, but in a few seconds, they’d be driving on an overpass, and the drop below would be hundreds of feet, with a lot of traffic below.
Threatened, he pressed hard on the horn. When that didn’t get the hoped-for response, he turned his wheel so that he’d careen into the side of the truck unless they steered away. He hoped his move would wake up the idiot behind the wheel, and he’d pull over.
Except, it didn’t have the desired results. The driver in the truck next to his kept angling closer until he bashed into the side of Jack’s vehicle.
Pissed, Jack went to push on his brakes and found it didn’t help. His foot was down hard on the brake pedal, but he didn’t stop because he was being forced to keep going by the truck he saw in the rear-view mirror. Another black truck behind him, pushing his back end, forcing him forward.
