Page 88 of Daddy’s Fortitude

She heard a gasp of horror and grimaced as she saw an older man and woman standing there, staring at her.

Oops.

“That was a joke!” she called out. “And you really shouldn’t listen to other people’s conversations, you know.”

She turned back to Ammo as the man and woman left with a huff.

Uh-oh, she really had to start thinking first before she opened her mouth and spoke, because the look on his face was pure thunderous rage.

“I didn’t do that. I didn’t do that.” She held her hands up. Did he really think that she’d done that?

He couldn’t think that, right? Because it was just crazy.

“You better not have done that,” he growled. “Come on, we’re going home.” Ammo placed his hand on the small of her back as he steered her away. Then he leaned in to whisper to her. “And by the way, I don’t make threats. I make promises.”

Yikes.

27

Instead of driving her home, Ammo pulled into the doctor’s office in Greasy Knob.

Aimee sighed, but didn’t argue as he got out, then came around the truck to help her down. They walked into the medical clinic.

Unfortunately for her, Kelly-Anne’s cousin, Sally-Anne, was working behind the desk. Yes, all of the women in Kelly-Anne’s family had Anne in their name.

Kelly-Anne’s mother was called Betty-Anne, and her sister was Melanie-Anne. She had another cousin who was Peggy-Anne.

It really was quite ridiculous. Aimee had thought it a joke at first. Probably hadn’t helped their attitude toward her when she’d laughed after being introduced to several of them.

Sally-Anne glared at her as they walked into the reception area. Aimee glared back. She was over letting these women bully her and make her feel like she was the one in the wrong when she was not.

“You got some nerve showing your face here,” Sally-Anne said to her. “Kelly-Anne has been so upset since Sunday, and the things that you said.”

“The things that I said?” she asked. “Kelly-Anne is the one who stood up at my husband’s funeral and claimed to be his lover and carrying his child. What the heck did I say?”

“You practically called her a tramp.”

“Oh, is that what she took offense to? Huh. I didn’t practically call her a tramp.” She had definitely called her a tramp. Because that’s what she was.

And she might have used stronger language if she hadn’t been at a funeral.

Sally-Anne got to her feet, her face growing red. She looked like she was going to come out from behind the desk and smack her.

Ammo tensed. He’d obviously read Sally-Anne’s intent as well.

Well, she could just bring it because Aimee was not going to run or hide behind Ammo.

“Why you bitch, I ought to⁠—”

“Is there a problem here?” Doctor Ian Melton walked out of his office. He’d opened a medical clinic in Greasy Knob about two years ago. Which meant that he was still considered an outsider.

Your family had to live here for at least two generations before you were accepted as a Greasy Knob resident.

But luckily for Dr. Melton, he was handsome and single, so that meant the women of the town easily accepted him.

Case in point, the fury in Sally-Anne’s face morphed into a dripping sweet smile as she turned to the doctor. “Nothing at all, Dr. Melton. I was just telling Aimee that she would have to wait, as you’re very busy.”

“Isn’t she my next patient?” he asked.