Two Days Of A Dream (10 page)

Kelly wasn't sure what to say -- with all her training she was stunned to find her emotions conflicting and her brain not working -- so she kept her mouth shut.

He was a little young, but Kelly found him very tempting, especially to her lonely heart. It had been a long time since a man held her hand.

Coleman yanked Kelly to her other side. "Back off, Parker. I happen to be guarding her, and I was instructed to keep her safe."

With a move so swift Kelly didn't see it start. Coleman stepped into a stomach punch that doubled Parker. She followed with an upper cut, flipping him to his back. Coleman jumped back with her fists up, ready to knock him down again. Coleman glanced at his two bigger friends. Would she have to defend against them as well? When Parker moaned but didn't move and his friends stayed put, she went back to washing her last shirt. The water trembled around Coleman's hands. Kelly was the only one to see it.

The two big ones just stood there smiling down at Parker.
Some friends
, she thought, too stunned to do anything.

He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. "Then we'll just haul this mess away." He and the other guy lifted Parker to his feet.

Parker, holding his jaw, raised his head. "I think I'm in love."

"Shut up, Parker." The shorter, dark haired one picked up Parker's cap and shoved it into the moaning soldier’s chest. "Sorry, Coleman, we'll keep him away."

Coleman looked up with a slight smile. "Thanks, guys."

The tall Dvorak smiled back as his eyes lingered on Coleman, and he pushed Parker ahead of him. Kelly choked back her amusement.

When the men were out of sight and Kelly was sure they couldn't hear her, she let the laughter rip. "Boy, does Dvorak have the hots for you."

"No problem, I'll just stick close to you and I'm sure he won't bother me." Kelly snorted. “’Sides, he’s in loooove with you.”

"Is what true, Tiff?" Coleman was playing it all cool. Kelly shook her head knowing if it had been her, she would have been bragging all over the place.

"Is it true that you knocked Parker on his butt."

"Oh, that." Coleman shrugged.

She couldn't believe Coleman's blasé attitude. "Are you kidding?” The two newcomers turned their attention to Kelly. “She didn't just knock him on his butt; she knocked him flat! The woman is awesome! I need her on my team."

Coleman laughed at her enthusiasm. "You need to bring it down a notch, Kelly." Coleman stopped her from bouncing.

"Well, it’s about time somebody hit him." The tall one slapped Coleman on the back.

Tiff picked up a pair of pants that had fallen to the sand. "You would think a Marine, of all people, would understand that you don't disrespect a Marine woman."

It didn't take them long, after they were left alone, to get the rest of Coleman's dirty clothes thoroughly wet. Kelly wasn’t sure of their cleanliness. With all the clothes wrung out -- as best the two of them working together could get them – they headed back to Coleman's tent.

It amazed Kelly how Coleman could find her way back through the sand and tents, since they all looked alike to her.

All along the way, soldiers told Coleman 'way to go' or tried to high five her, but uncomfortable with the attention, Coleman merely mumbled, “Thank you.” Kelly didn’t understand. Coleman deserved the victory dance, so why wouldn’t she take it? Coleman wasn't a manager or even an officer. The soldier woman didn't make any sense.

Coleman pulled out her clothespins when they got back, and the two hung everything up to dry on a rope strung between Coleman's tent and the one next to it. When done, they went in the tent and returned to where they had started. Well, that had killed a good hour and a pound of sweat.

Kelly was tired but didn't want to keep Coleman from her chores. "So, what else had you planned for today?"

"I've got some letters to write."

A mop of brown hair popped in the backside of the tent and whispered, "Hey, Coleman, Pendle's headed this way." The head disappeared.

Coleman rolled her eyes. "Now what does she want?"

The hair stood up on the back of Kelly's neck as she had the urge to run. She settled her heart, reminding herself she feared no one.
Then why is my stomach churning?

"Pendle, that must mean you don't multitask, since you have less brains than she does. You know the old adage, ‘It takes one to know one,’” There were times when Kelly spoke before she thought and she always regretted it.

Pendle swooped over, rocking Kelly's chair backward. Shoving her face within inches of the smaller woman's nose, Pendle growled at her. "If I want to hear your pathetic voice, I'll tell you when to speak and what to say."

It took a couple of tries for Kelly's heart to restart. Then it beat her ribs mercilessly.

Pendle let go, and Kelly had to jerk forward to keep from tumbling over backward. Pendle turned her back and strutted over to Coleman.

"As I recall, the captain only said the colonel wanted me guarded. He never said it had to be here." Kelly looked at her fingernails, slowly raising her eyes to Pendle's glare. "I believe the only restriction was that I didn't have shoes." Kelly wiggled her shod feet at the irate lieutenant.

If Pendle's frown deepened any worse, it would have connected under her chin.

Kelly rolled her sleeves up, which had slid down, back up above her elbows. "Now, Coleman, being the very capable and resourceful Marine that she is, saw an opportunity to keep me busy. You know, idle hands are the tools of the devil, and all that. Plus, she could accomplish a much-needed chore."

Pendle took a step toward Kelly, and Coleman sucked in a breath.

"At least I'm sure that's how the colonel will see it after I talk to him." Kelly tilted her head with a smile.

Pendle crept up to Kelly. "Oh, you think so?" She stood over Kelly, her eyes hungry once again. "You think you're so smart."

"Yeah, well two degrees and eight years of executive experience have taught me a few things."

"Did it teach you how to keep from getting your neck snapped?"

All bullies are alike
. "Actually, I learned that on the playground in elementary school."

"You must have gone to a very tough elementary." Pendle raised an eyebrow.

"No rougher than most."

Narrowing her eyes, Pendle scrunched up her face. "So, how did elementary teach you not to get killed?" She looked confused and Kelly stifled a snicker.

"All bullies are afraid of something."

Pendle stiffened. "So?"

"Colonel Broan would be very upset if
his
prisoner turned up dead. As much as you huff and puff and terrorize those under you, you are still just a scared kid trying to protect herself."
Maybe I should have been a psychologist
.

Pendle snapped down, rocking Kelly's chair back again. This time, ready for Pendle, she controlled her expression, not letting the unpleasant lieutenant ruffle her.

"He wouldn't mind if I broke a few bones."

"Yes, he would and you know it." Kelly allowed a chuckle and a toss of her hair. The action had the intended effect on the lieutenant. Pendle was too easy.

Pendle all-but growled. "I'll tell him you fell down."

Kelly locked steady, unflinching eyes on the steaming lieutenant. "Oh yeah, all this hard sand would definitely break bones."

"No, she wouldn't. Your sorry carcass would be kicked out of here, and she would be rid of you. It would be in her best interest to tell all
and
embellish, too."

Pendle glared back at Coleman, who forced a smiled.

"You may be protected by Broan now but don't turn your back. I'll choose the place, and there won't be any witnesses. Once he has his answers, you're mine."

"Pendle, you're not my type, and you're too little of a fish in this small pond to do more than nip at my heels. I wasn't afraid of bullies on the school playground, and I'm not afraid of you on this war playground." Kelly hadn't had this much fun in a long while.

"Argh!" Pendle pushed Kelly's chair, causing it to wobble precariously. Kelly struggled to stabilize it as Pendle stomped to the tent entrance.

Turning with her hands on her hips, Pendle scowled daggers at Kelly. "I'll be keeping my eyes on you and it'll be more than nipping I'll be doing and it won't be at your heels!"

Kelly flapped the front of her T-shirt to dry off some of the sweat soaking the fabric. "That’s only the outside. Inside my heart is doing a UNL drum cadence."

"Man, you looked like an ice block. I never would have guessed." She dropped heavily on the sagging canvas chair.

"This is one of the thrills of my life. The verbal fight can be just as exhilarating as the physical." Kelly took a deep breath to slow her breathing.