Sunrise Point (Virgin River #19)(50)

“I didn’t have you arrested, ass**le! The woman you beat up had you arrested! I just happened to be there when she said, ‘It was him!’”

“No, you called the MP’s and told them it was me!” Coop said, advancing on the bar. “I wasn’t even there!”

Instinctively, Colin and Luke each held one of Coop’s arms. “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Colin said. “What’s this?”

“This didn’t really happen,” Luke said, holding Coop back.

“Something happened,” Jack said. “She had a funky jaw and a black eye and a bunch of other bruises and—”

“And called you? How’d she have your number? Ever ask yourself that?”

“She said she was in a bad situation and I told her if she ever needed help…”

Coop laughed cruelly. “And where were you after I got arrested, huh? Because I didn’t stay arrested!”

“What?”

“You heard me! She was lying, did you know that? She was going to get me arrested. She was going to replace me with a jarhead!”

“I shipped out with my squad,” Jack said. “I was only at Benning to get them through Airborne. She knew I was leaving—she didn’t want me!”

“No, pal. She didn’t want me,” Coop said. “And she was going to have me locked up for something I never did.”

“She was beat up,” Jack said emphatically.

“She got it behind the bar. There were people who knew what happened, knew it wasn’t me. She blew off some guy who wanted a date, he followed her to her car and when she didn’t have a change of heart, he slapped her around. She went home and called you. And even though you didn’t see a goddamn thing happen, you had me arrested! Did you ever think about checking this out, since you didn’t see it happen, either?” Coop shook off Luke and Colin and straightened. “Hey. I’m outta here. Ever hear that old saying, this town isn’t big enough for both of us? It’s today, man.”

And with that, Coop turned and walked out.

Luke shook his head. “He didn’t do it, Jack,” he said. “We’re going to have to get this straightened out. I’m not ready for Coop to drive out of here. He just got here.” And then he left to join Coop and Colin in the truck.

* * *

Three men and Shelby had a beer together on Luke’s front porch.

“I never would’ve believed it was Jack,” Luke said, dropping his head, looking down. “In a way it makes sense, but that’s even more reason to get this worked out.”

“In what way does it make sense?” Coop demanded. “And why would I want to work it out?”

“Jack’s a good guy,” Colin said. “On the upside, he’s got a reputation for defending the underdog. On the downside, he obviously didn’t get all the facts. Or thought he had the facts when he didn’t.”

“The fact is, I had orders for Ft. Rucker and I wasn’t taking Imogene. It would’ve been a disaster—she didn’t really want to settle down. We hadn’t been together very long, definitely not long enough to be a couple… I think she just wanted a way to a new town. And so we fought, broke up what little there was to break up, I went out with some of my boys and got hammered. Not over grief at leaving Imogene—if you want the truth, I was happy to be leaving Imogene. And I’m sorry if she got hurt, but I don’t know why she had to pin it on… But I do know why. She was pissed off and would rather see me sit in jail for refusing to take her to Alabama than see the guy who smacked her around punished.”

“Who did beat her up?” Luke asked.

“Some sergeant who was permanent at Benning. I think she might’ve dated him once. I spent a few days in the brig until my boys tracked him down. And that damn Imogene wouldn’t finger him! He admitted he might’ve slapped her.” He laughed bitterly. “Might’ve slapped her. To hear the boys tell it, he punched the crap out of her. He bragged about it at the bar but wouldn’t confess to the MP’s. And why she wouldn’t want him behind bars—I have no idea. I never saw Imogene again.”

“I think we should explain, since Jack got half the story,” Luke said. “The wrong half.”

“I’m not explaining anything to anyone,” Coop said. “I’m more inclined to move on.”

“Not this time,” Luke said. Luke rested his elbows on his knees and leaned a little closer to Coop. “I think there’s a trait the three of us sometimes share and that’s taking the easy way out—”

“You don’t say that to a veteran soldier who’s been to war,” Coop said.

“Okay, let me put this another way,” Luke said. “The place you’re in right now, where it’s too easy for someone to just assume the worst about you. I’ve been in that place more than once and it sucks. I think Colin can probably relate—”

Luke was cut off by the bark of a laugh coming from his brother. “Me?” Colin said. “The guy who got caught by his brothers chewing up oxycontin like candy? Yeah, there’s been a time or two the worst was assumed about me, and a time or two they were right. I gotta agree with Luke here. We might not get it all straightened out between you and Jack, but I don’t see how that matters much. Here’s what I think matters—that you stand down, Coop. Hold your position—you got framed. You might’ve been a suspect, briefly, but you were never a convicted felon. Don’t let anyone run you off.”