Biker's Claim: The Broken Angel is Mine

Chapter 7

Cora POV

My head was spinning from all the new names and faces at the table, looking at me, then at Gunner, who was happily eating, and ignoring the question looks he was being given.

"Gunner, didn't you say I would be meeting Karen at breakfast?" I asked, since I hadn't heard her name mentioned yet.

"Bluey, yeah, she's not down yet, soon," Gunner replied between mouthfuls.

"Bluey? Why does she need to see her?" Scrubs asked, looking at me suspiciously.

Gunner didn't answer him, and I wasn't about to fill him in. I started eating some of the food from Gunner's plate, since I wasn't going to be allowed to have one of my own. Gunner's chest rumbled low as he chuckled at me, grabbing a fork and tucking in. The plate emptied fast with the two of us eating from it, and Gunner piled the plate high again, when a chirpy voice entered the room.

"Bluey," Gunner murmured softly, and the woman came and sat next to Scrubs.

"Hello, you're a cheery lot." Bluey's voice rang around the table.

Greetings were returned, but not as loud and chirpy as hers.

"Bluey, this is Cora. She was to meet you tomorrow." Gunner introduced us, using his fork to point at me.

"Oh, Cora, I guess you won't be getting a tour tomorrow. I heard about the shooting. My husband, Scrubs, informed me when I arrived home last night that he was full of praise for your quick thinking, setting Gunner's shoulder, and then protecting him. He also mentioned your first aid kit. I can check it out later and replace anything you used." Wow, this woman can talk; that was more out of her mouth than from anyone else combined.

"Hi Bluey, thank you, no need to replace anything yet." I hadn't used much of it, and it was easy to replace. I claim all the materials I use for tax.

"I insist." Bluey pushed, her smile never leaving her face, like she knew she had won before she even started to argue.

"Better quit while you can. Bluey rarely loses this type of argument," Scrubs said between mouthfuls.

"Piddly-poop," I mumbled, but it must have been loud enough to be heard, because Gunner and Scrubs laughed, while the rest stared at me, like I was crazy or something.

"Piddly-poop? What does that mean?" Dozer asked, a frown that marred his handsome face.

"I think that's Cora's way of saying Sht," Gunner replied as he reached for more food and loaded our plate for the third time. This man can eat. So can most who sit at this table.

"Cora, how's the leg? Do you need any painkillers?" Bluey asked, before getting a nudge from Scrubs.

"Her bag is full of them, plus I gave her some too." Scrubs sounded insulted to think he would leave me with no pain relief.

"I am good, thanks for asking." Gunner moved to put some food in my mouth, guess it was his way of saying, shut it.

Taking the food into my mouth, it was spicy, something I hadn't expected, and it nearly burned my taste buds off my tongue. I moved to grab some water to cool my mouth, but there was none on the table, so I opted for juice.

"A bit hot, sweetheart?" Oddball chuckled. He was sitting opposite me and would have seen my surprised face as the heat hit me. I am sure my face and neck were now red, both from the hot food and a blush.

"That was not nice, Gunner. She's wounded; you should be spoiling her." Bluey admonished, "It wasn't that bad; I just didn't expect it." The food didn't look spicy. This must be their way of having fun. Catch the newbie.

"Cora can handle it." Gunner defended.

How would he know?

Just because I tried to protect him, now I am this strong woman who can take anything?

Nope, that's not me.

If given time to actually think, I doubt I would have jumped in front of a bullet, would have tried to find cover, somehow.

"Cora, while you are convalescing, you can help Scrubs with anything that comes in, so we can see how you work. The reports we had on you were glowing, but no one can be that good. I need to see it to believe it. Even if you are half as good as those recommendations, my hospital will be pleased, and so will I. I need a good right-hand man, or woman; the last few didn't last a month. We might be a small town compared to the big cities, but we cover a large area, and the mountains can be dangerous. The nearby mine often brings in injured men who forget they are not Superman. Sometimes you have to think fast on your feet." Bluey was rabbiting on about ED.

"Bluey, are you trying to scare her away before we have a chance to break her in?" Scrubs interrupted her. I guess the table was used to her taking over the conversations; she does like the sound of her own voice.

What? No!" Bluey stopped in her tracks; whatever she was going to say next didn't get voiced.

"Next, you will be warning her of our brawls and the wounds she will be treating. I tell you, woman, you will scare her away." Scrub was making it worse by telling me that. Now I wonder if I made the right choice.

"Give me your number, and I will send you mine. You need me. Call or text me." Bluey said that my boss had never given me their personal number before. Eek, Bluey's my boss! It has just hit me now. Talk about brain freeze.

I pulled out my phone and turned it on. The battery had gone flat, and I put it on charge at the motel. I hadn't thought about turning it back on yet, and it immediately went crazy with pings. I had forgotten I hadn't turned it on since leaving home. I ignored the pings, gave Bluey my number, and waited for her reply. It came amongst all the other messages. I located it, put it in my saved numbers, as Bluey, (Karen), work boss. Then I sent a message back, confirming it was me.

"You're a popular girl." Oddball chuckled, as my phone was still pinging.

I didn't bother looking at the messages; I just let the phone keep ringing, placing it face down on the table, hating that it was receiving all these messages.

"Quit it, Oddball. The girls are on the run, hiding from a bad experience." Great, just what I needed. I thought I would have a fresh start.

"Gees, thanks for sharing that, Bluey.' I said sarcastically.

"Now, secrets in the club, dear, best to get used to everyone knowing your business around here." Well, it saves me from having to wonder who to trust. Absolutely no one.

"Don't listen to her. Cora. If you tell me you don't want something shared, I won't share it." I looked at Gunner. His face was stern as he looked around the table until he looked down at me, and his face softened a little.

"Agreed, the only one that can't keep a secret is Bluey. You want everyone to know something, tell her." Dizzy, Dozer's woman, joined it. Strike Oddball's woman nodded in agreement.

"I packed up and left without informing anyone. The job opportunity came, and I took it, thinking it would be good for my career," I replied in an answer to my phone, being hot.

"Don't know about good for your career. Once you are in, no one leaves." Bluey started, but I jumped in before she could continue.

"You said you had loads to stay."

"Yep, many didn't make it through the trial period. We are not exactly the Royal Hospital. Many come thinking small towns mean low patient volume, low turnover, easy money, and slack jobs, but they are wrong. Winter brings a lot of accidents in the hills, dangerous curves, choppers bring in someone every day, all wanting immediate attention, harvest time, and animal birthing time bring in bad backs, cuts, and abrasions that need treatment. That's on top of the normal run-of-the-mill emergencies."

"Sounds like I am going to be busy," I replied, not caring for the volume of patients. I am used to running off my feet, doing long shifts. That doesn't sound any different to what I had before. This break sounds like something I needed.