Jeremiah by Kris Michaels
Chapter 17
The sense of community that flowed around him after the tornado was something to behold. The damage could have been so much worse. As people emerged from their shelters, everyone gathered on main street. Phil Granger waved him over. “We need to get them organized. You take the lead, and I’ll make sure they do what they need to do.”
“What?” He blinked at Phil, confused as to why he’d be the one to take charge.
“Look, Doc, we all have families and businesses to look after. We need someone to note who doesn’t have insurance. I can help you with that. There are some that can’t afford it, but some may have had to let it lapse because of a hard year. We figure that out and get the work crews going.”
“Work crews?”
“Yep. The ranches here will send in who they can, but it will be a mess if we don’t know who to help and how to prioritize. First thing is shelter. Roofs, doors, and windows. After that, we’ll help to patch and rebuild if necessary.”
Carson Schmidt walked up at the same time as Reverend Olsen and Father Murphy. “Where do we start?” Carson asked. He was clipping a work belt around his hips. “The hardware store has a bit of roof damage and a window broke out. I’m going to board that up and put a tarp on the roof, then I’m game to help. I’ll put all the tarps and nails and hammers we have out front. Those that need them can have them.”
“My sanctuary roof flew away,” Father Murphy said.
“Looks from here like ours made it through with no major damage. We can move services an hour earlier and your congregation can use ours until the parsonage insurance comes through.”
Father Murphy extended his hand. “As always, my friend, I appreciate the help.”
Jeremiah blinked at the selflessness. He glanced back at Carson, who was shielding his eyes from the drizzle and looking at roofs around him.
“You’ll be out some serious money.”
Carson shook his head. “Nope, not an issue. The Hollisters have made it clear that we support this community any way we can, especially in times of need. I’ll be back. Who’s in charge?”
Phil nodded in Jeremiah’s direction. “I’ll set him up and then go take care of my issues. The business problems are minor like yours; the house lost the roof. I’ll move Maude and the kids to the garage until we can get it closed up.” He turned to Jeremiah. “I have insurance. You’ll need to make a list.”
Jeremiah watched Carson turn away and Phil grunted, “You’ll need something to write with.”
Jeremiah pulled out his phone, pulled up a document, and stopped Phil from moving away with a hand on the shoulder. “I’m ready.”
* * *
Jeremiah lifted and wiped the sweat away from his brow. In the last ten days, he’d roofed five houses, learned how to install glass into windowpanes, reframed two more roofs, put down sheeting while awaiting more shingles, and worked fourteen-hour days. He worked with an alternating crew of people on every job. He met, sweat, cussed, and laughed with people he hadn’t yet had the chance to meet. Neighbors taking care of neighbors with baked goods or a hammer and nail.
The weathered cowboys from the ranches were the hardest workers. There was no give in them. They put their heads down and worked until they finished the job. When Father Murphy worked with them, he kept them all entertained with his stories and jokes. Gen fed everyone and Eden took care of the occasional thumb smashing. Those usually occurred when someone wasn’t paying attention, like when Father Murphy had them laughing so hard they couldn’t concentrate.
“What’s next?” Gregg Koehler stood on the roof with him, holstering his hammer in the tool belt he wore.
Jeremiah wiped his brow again and glanced around the town. “We’re done until the last shipment of shingles comes in from Rapid the day after tomorrow.”
Gregg nodded. “All right. I’m headed back then.” He moved to the ladder.
“Hey, would you like to have a beer over at the Bit and Spur? Declan is offering a free tap pour to anyone who volunteers.”
The man shook his head. “Thank you, no. I have to get back. I have chores.” Gregg descended the ladder, taking the last of the shingles with him.
Jeremiah assessed the rooftops. With his hands on his hips, he stared at the work the town had finished. Simply amazing. Some of the uninsured houses had mismatched shingles, donated by people who had excess or left over from outbuildings they’d constructed over the years. He’d bought what they needed to complete those projects. The patchwork wasn’t beautiful, but the houses were watertight.
“Hey, are you coming down anytime tonight?” Eden shouted the words from the ground, and he whipped his head in her direction.
“Actually, I was thinking about camping out under the stars tonight.”
She laughed. “Come on, I want a beer. Let’s grab one from the Spur.”
And damned if that didn’t sound like a fine idea. He did a double-check of the roof and picked up a box of nails that had slipped down the far side. He scrambled down the ladder and wrapped his arm around Eden, pulling her in for a kiss. They’d had little time together recently. The hours he worked were backbreaking and when he’d finished for the day, he was bone tired.
“Hey, handsome.” Eden reached up and moved his sweaty hair from his brow. “Let’s go have a beer and then maybe I’ll take you home and give you some TLC.”
He growled and pulled her closer. “Let’s skip the beer.”
She laughed and spun out of his grasp. “Put away the nails and take me for a drink.”
Jeremiah rolled his eyes but did what she said. He’d turned Gen’s truck into a handyman vehicle. There were bits and pieces of just about everything organized in boxes and staged in the truck’s bed. He put the nails back into the box he was taking back to the hardware store and unbuckled his belt, laying that and his gloves in another box.
“Let’s walk. It isn’t far and it will give us time to visit.” She grabbed his hand.
He glanced at the scant city block he had to walk and nodded. He dropped his arm over her shoulder, and they ambled down the little town’s street. “Have you heard from Jamison lately?”
“He called this morning. Nothing new.” They’d lucked out and caught an ATM picture of Cyrus in San Diego. He’d used Docker’s card with the correct pin number. No doubt Cyrus forced the agent to tell him the number. That was five days ago.
“Well, that… sucks.” Eden gave a half-hearted laugh. “But at least that means he probably hasn’t killed anyone else.”
That we know of. He hummed his agreement.
“Are you almost done with the repair work?”
“We are. It went faster than I thought it would that first night.” He pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head as they walked. “You picked a damn good town.”
“Right?” She smiled up at him. “They all love you.”
He grimaced. He’d worked people hard, but he put in just as much effort. “I doubt that.”
“It’s true.” They stepped off the blacktop into the pea gravel in front of the Spur as the locals called the Bit and Spur. “It’s kind of hard to believe it’s only been a few months since we met outside this door.”
He stopped and pulled her into his arms. “Time is irrelevant when you know what’s in your heart.”
She smiled up at him. “I’m going to quote you on that. The scientific journals will have a field day. ‘Psychiatrist who understands what a woman needs to hear.’ That is banner news, Doctor Wheeler, but not exactly what the Freudian scholars would approve of, is it?”
He stepped to the side of the door and tugged her to him, staring into her eyes. “Screw the medical journals and anyone else who hasn’t been in our shoes. I know what my heart wants and it’s you. I’m in love with you, Eden Wade.” He lowered, capturing her gasp in his kiss. She wound her arms around his neck while he claimed her. He hadn’t planned on saying the words so soon, but he knew what he felt. It was fast, but he didn’t care.
When he lifted away, she stared up at him. Her kiss-swollen lips were glossy as a smile spread across them. “I love you, too. And yes, it’s fast, and no, I don’t care.”
He smiled as her words echoed his thoughts. Glancing at the door he suggested, “Let’s just go home.”
She blinked and stepped back. “Ah, no, let’s just go in for a quick drink. We’re here already. It will be a celebration.”
He lifted an eyebrow at her. “What is going on?”
“Nothing. Come on.” Grabbing his hand, she dragged him into the bar.
When they entered, close to a hundred people were there. Someone started a rendition about him being a jolly good fellow and the rest took it up. Eden beamed up at him. Just about everyone he’d worked with in the last ten days was present. Handshakes and congratulations on a job well done came from friends, new acquaintances, and the people he’d helped after the storm. He kept Eden by his side as he worked his way through the congratulations.
Gen hugged him. “You did well, big brother. Thank you.”
“I just did what everyone else was doing.”
Gen shook her head. “No, you did more. The only time you took away from the repair work was to see your patients. You’re one in a million.” She lifted her empty beer. “I’m having one more of these and then heading home.” She kissed him on the cheek and headed toward the bar.
Phil stood up on a chair and whistled to get everyone’s attention. “Someone get those two a drink while I talk. Now, Doc Wheeler here isn’t a typical city slicker. We saw that fact with our own eyes as that man worked beside us. He’s learning. Give him two or three more storms and he’ll be able to roof a house by himself.” The crowd laughed and Jeremiah lifted his beer glass in acknowledgment of his deficiencies. “But I want to tell you things you didn’t know. The Doc bought and paid for all those shingles that miraculously showed up to finish up the Johnson and Voight houses. He also bought the sheeting for all the non-insured houses.”
A mumble of gratitude sounded around him. He shrugged. “I did what we needed and gave what I could. So did everyone here.”
“Yeah, but Doc, most of us have grown up on this land. What you did wasn’t just an act of kindness, it was the action of a true neighbor and friend.” Phil lifted his beer. “To Doc Wheeler.”
The cheer roused around him, and to his embarrassment, he blushed, not that anyone could notice with the amount of sun he’d gotten the last ten days, but it was humbling. He accepted some more thanks and congratulations on a job well done before he had a moment to pull Eden closer to him. “You knew.”
She laughed. “I did, but you deserve the recognition. You were wonderful to everyone.” She lifted on her toes and he bent down to kiss her. The crowd hooted and they broke apart, laughing. He scanned the faces of the people he considered friends. This was his home.
* * *
Eden watched as Jeremiah laughed with a group of men back by the dartboard. There were still dark marks under his eyes. His bad dreams had been worse since that maniac had escaped. She knew he roamed the house at night, that he was worried, and the nightmares terrorized him. Last week he’d screamed her name and jumped out of bed while still asleep. The long hours of physical labor knocked him out for a couple hours, then his dreams would strike. She knew he was working with Jamison, but she hated to see him suffer.
Zeke strolled over and leaned next to her barstool. “I hate to admit it, but he’s a damn good guy.”
Eden smiled and nodded. “He is.” She glanced up at Zeke. “Any word on you moving north?”
He nodded. “The county has approved my move but…”
She turned to see him better. “But?”
“Eden, that would mean we would work together, sharing the clinic. Is that going to cause a problem with—” He nodded in Jeremiah’s direction.
She frowned and tried to decipher what the question actually meant. “A problem? You mean will he have a problem with two professionals doing their job? No. I can’t think of a reason… Wait, you know I’m with him, right?”
Zeke snorted. “Yeah, you’d have to be blind not to know that.”
“Then I don’t see any reason for problems. I let Jeremiah use the office if he has a patient.”
Zeke’s head snapped her direction. “He has a license to practice in South Dakota?”
She nodded. “He does.”
“And he’s staying here?”
“He is.”
“Permanently?”
She nodded again. Zeke’s eyes moved from her. She felt Jeremiah’s hand slip around her waist. “Zeke.” Jeremiah acknowledged the man. Zeke nodded at him in return.
Eden jumped off the stool. “Zeke got approval from the county to work out of the clinic. Isn’t that great?” She bounced her gaze between the men.
Jeremiah straightened and extended his hand. “Damn happy for you. That drive is long on a good day. I can’t imagine how you navigate it after a full day at work.”
Zeke took his hand and shook it. “Thanks. Red Bull is the secret.” The men released hands and Zeke looked between them. “I’m happy for you two.” He lifted his beer and wandered off into the thinning crowd.
She turned to gaze up at Jeremiah. “How much longer do you think we need to stay?”
He smiled at her and then turned to assess the crowd. “As much as I hate to say it, let’s stay for a while longer, I don’t want to seem unappreciative. Then I believe you promised me some TLC.” He bent down and kissed her before Doc Macy, the vet, called him over to a group of five or six men.
Allison slipped onto the barstool next to her. “Hey, stranger,” her friend quipped and tossed her long red ponytail off her shoulder and signaled Declan for a beer.
Eden hopped back onto her stool. “Hey back. How are things at the store?”
Allison rolled her eyes. “The insurance agent is being a pain in the butt; however, we have it tarped up, waiting for them to release the money. I didn’t see any damage to the clinic.”
“Nope. Well, a couple shingles blew off, but Jeremiah fixed that the first morning. He boarded up Gen’s picture window that shattered and then started working on everyone else’s issues.”
“Have I told you this week how sexy that man is?” Allison took her beer from Declan and thanked him.
“Not this week, but it has been insane lately.” She took a sip of the beer in front of her as Allison drank half of her glass in one go. “Whoa, lady, what’s with the power chugging?”
Allison sighed and shook her head. “How in the heck am I going to ever find a man? I’m thinking of moving south.”
Eden sat down her glass. “What brought all of this on?”
Allison shrugged. “Guess I’m feeling sorry for myself.” She smiled and waved a hand. “Never mind me. I’m pulling the party mood down.”
She put her hand on Allison’s arm. “Before you decide to move, maybe you should ask yourself if moving is going to help.”
Allison snorted. “So, I’m undateable?”
Eden bumped her shoulder against her friend’s. “No, I didn’t say that. But there are options here.” She pointed to Zeke. “Doctor number one. Trent Macy is Doctor number two. Carson from the hardware store, Kerry Ross out at the processing plant.” She waited until Declan passed by and pointed at him. “Prime options. They have jobs and are good-looking.”
Allison rolled her eyes. “They know me and have never looked twice in my direction.”
Eden shrugged. “So, give them something to notice.”
“How?”
Eden lifted an eyebrow. “You sure you want the answer to that?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Stop chasing after them.” Her friend could scare away a man in two seconds flat. “Men enjoy the chase.”
Allison turned to face her on the barstool. “Did Jeremiah chase you?”
Eden felt her face flame. “Well, he really didn’t have to. But Zeke tried harder each time I said no. Think about it, at least.”
Allison took another sip of her beer. “I don’t know. I mean, what I’ve been doing hasn’t worked, has it?”
“Just don’t take it too far.” Eden glanced over at Jeremiah, who seemed to know she was looking. He turned and winked at her, which sustained the blush that her conversation with Allison had caused.
“Geeze, Eden, I want to date, not balance on a tightrope.” Allison’s comment drew her back into the conversation.
“Moderation, Alli. Be yourself, how you are with me and Gen when we’re having a girl’s night. Be fun but don’t crowd.”
The woman snorted. “But I am an in-your-face person. Why should I change? You either like me or you don’t.”
Eden stared at her friend and digested her words. She put her arm around her friend. “Oh, crap, honey. You know what, you’re absolutely right. Disregard everything I said. You be you. There is a man out there for you. I’m sure of it, and if these guys don’t see how great you are, to hell with them.”
Allison leaned her head against Eden’s. “Thanks.”
“Nothing to thank me about. Someday, some man is going to walk in and sweep you off your feet.”
Allison lifted away and groaned, “Well, damn it. Now I have to lose twenty pounds.”
Eden felt Jeremiah’s hands on her shoulders. He leaned between them and spoke to Allison. “Bullshit. Never change for a man. If he doesn’t love you for you, then he’s the wrong guy.”
Allison’s eyes widened and her face flamed. “Yeah?”
Jeremiah nodded. “Definitely. Now, if you will excuse us, my woman made me a promise I intend to cash in on.”
She watched Allison light up. Her friend looked directly at her. “Have I told you this week how lucky you are to have this guy?”
Eden laughed and jumped off the barstool. “You have, but feel free to remind me.”
“You are so lucky to have this guy,” Allison repeated.
“I agree. See you later.” She grabbed Jeremiah’s hand and they made their way to the door, saying their goodbyes.
They strolled out of the parking lot to the blacktop before he spoke. “I’ve experienced nothing like that. I mean, I’ve attended political rallies with my father, but the people there were plastic. They had their hands extended for one reason or another. Here, the only reason they extend a hand is for a handshake.”
Eden hummed in agreement. “Life here isn’t easy, but it is… fulfilling.”
Jeremiah dropped her hand and placed his arm over her shoulder. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to make a living as a doctor here.” She glanced up at him and waited. “I don’t need to. I’ve told you I have money, right?”
She nodded. “Your grandma and grandpa gave you some when they passed.”
He toggled his head back and forth. “Some is a slight understatement.”
She lifted her eyebrows. “Slight?”
“Okay, massive understatement. Anyway, all of this is to tell you that even if I don’t have a full practice, I’m staying here in Hollister. I can find things to occupy my time if I’m not busy. Maybe I’ll buy some land, get a couple head of cows to raise organic like the ranchers around here are doing. You know, for meat for Gen’s cafe and us. Till up a garden. Build us a house, and maybe a small office building for me if my practice actually grows.”
Eden stopped him and stared at the man she loved. “You are the most amazing person. Your ideas for the future sound like heaven. Now, take me home, Doctor Wheeler.”
“Your wish is my command.” He swept her off her feet, and despite her protest carried her the last bit to the clinic entrance where he had to let her down to get the keys to open the door.
She led him up the stairs through the apartment and into the bathroom. “I seem to remember a promise of some tender loving care. So, first, I’m going to wash every part of this sexy body, then I’m going to give you a back rub.”
Jeremiah lifted his eyebrows and smirked down at her. “And a front rub?”
She chuckled and lifted his t-shirt. He took the hint and pulled it off. “If you’re a good boy.”
“Oh, woman, I might not always be the best, but I’m always good.”
She unfastened his jeans and belt after he toed off his boots. She pushed him back into the shower under the water. He stood there, a solid mass of shifting muscles and gorgeous inked skin, and he was watching her as she removed her clothes. She joined him in the shower. His erection was hard and ready for her, which was what she wanted, but first, she adjusted the showerhead and then moved him closer to the back of the shower. He steadied her as she stood on the bench seat. Her breasts were now at eye level and he moved to capture one. She pulled away. “Be good,” she chastised him before she reached for the shampoo.
Lather streamed down over his shoulders and down his back and chest. When she finished washing his hair she stepped back down and lathered a cloth to wash his body. Methodical, slow, and sensual were her goals. She hid a smile when he groaned and bucked into her hand while she lathered his shaft. His balls were tight and full as she pulled the cloth over them. His fists clenched at his side. She moved him to rinse the suds before she dropped the washcloth on the floor by the bench. “Sit down.”
He huffed, “You don’t need to wash my feet. In case you missed my rather obvious predicament, I’m dying here.”
“Be good and sit down.” When he arranged himself on the bench seat, she knelt and placed her hands on his knees and moved his legs further apart. Jeremiah stared at her; the heat in his eyes could have evaporated the water in the shower. She smiled and ran her hands up his inner thighs. The springy dark hair under her hands thinned as she went higher. In all the times they’d had sex, she’d never taken the time to leisurely admire him, and he was something to behold. She positioned herself between his legs and moved the washcloth to pad her knees. She leaned in and kissed his chest, taking time to circle each flat disk of copper and flick the taut nipple with her tongue. His hands went to her hair, but he didn’t move her or rush her. She smiled against his skin and licked lower, trailing the beads of water that trickled over his abs. She spent time Frenching his belly button, a tactic she’d learned from him. A pleasure to be sure, but in his state, she wanted the slow tease to pitch him into a fiery need.
Licking down lower, she tongued the very base of his cock and the hands in her hair tightened. She looked up and caught the intense fire in his eyes. He was letting her have her way, but she could tell it wasn’t easy for him. She smiled up at him and palmed his balls before she lowered her head and opened her mouth to take his shaft. His size prevented any attempt at a deep throat, but what she couldn’t do didn’t matter. She used one hand to stroke that velvet skin up to her mouth as she lowered on his cockhead, and when she pulled off her hand moved down. It was a slow, sensual pace. Her tongue teased and circled, moving faster as she sped up. His thighs trembled beside her and she slowed. A long, agonizing groan from Jeremiah was music to her ears. She pushed until he peaked and she tasted precum, only to slow and back off the stimulation. His groans and panted breath filled the small shower enclosure. Finally, that stoic man whispered a plea.
“God, Eden, please…”
She sped up. It took less than a minute for him to arch up, barking out a shout as he released into her mouth. She swallowed as much as she could and licked up what she couldn’t. He shivered and grabbed her shoulders. “Sensitive.”
Trailing small kisses up his torso, she reached his lips and kissed him. Her man was languid, loose muscled, and relaxed in his response. He had to be exhausted. He’d been pushing himself, working hard in the summer sun all day, sometimes with only necessary breaks.
Standing up, she repositioned the showerhead and washed them both quickly. Jeremiah caught her as she turned off the water. “Your turn.” He dropped to kiss her.
She sidestepped and looked back at him. “No. I still owe you a backrub.” She handed him a towel and wrapped her towel around herself. “When you’re dry, go lay down on the bed.” She moved to the small cabinet where she stored toiletry items and reached down to the bottom shelf. She removed two bottles of massage oil and followed him out of the bathroom. He pulled the comforter down to the foot of the bed. “Lay on your stomach, please.”
He did as she asked, and she climbed onto the bed, straddling him while still wrapped in a towel. Warming oil between her hands, she leaned forward and started with his shoulders. He released a low moan of pleasure. “Does that feel good?”
He mumbled something; the tone let her know it did. Falling into a rhythm, she made small circles with her hands, enlarging them and constricting them as she made her way down his back. She’d been working on his lower back for about three minutes when she heard the first snore. Slowly reducing the pressure, she listened as he fell into a deep sleep before she stopped and carefully got off the bed.
She prayed he’d sleep for more than a couple hours. One of his clean t-shirts was on the dresser so she helped herself and left the bedroom after closing the door. With a quick glance at the clock, she realized she hadn’t eaten and neither had Jeremiah. She popped one of Gen’s take-and-bake casseroles into the oven. If he woke, at least there’d be something for him to eat.
While she waited for the food to cook, she dropped onto her comfy couch and curled up in the corner. She smiled into the darkness. The man she loved and who loved her was sleeping peacefully—for now—in her bed. He had plans for a future. With her. Her eyes lifted to the picture of her and Riley. The smile held. “I found someone, Riley. He is so good to me, and as much as I didn’t think I could, I love him as much as I loved you.” She sighed and closed her eyes. Life was almost perfect. A sliver of dread tickled through her thoughts, and she batted it away. She wouldn’t taint this night with fear of what might be. Tonight, she’d reflect on the love she’d found in the most unlikely place: the aftermath of a knife fight.
