A Hero In Uniform - The Complete Series (11 page)

Her type of man was someone who knew how to handle himself and protect those he loved without using his muscles to hurt and intimidate others.

Muscular guys who thought they were Gods and had a God-given right to hurt those weaker then them made her sick.

A brief intermission was called and Jessi went with Eve to the toilets.

The lines were long so Jessi waited under a tree while Eve spoke with a girl while she waited in line.

Tucking her hands into her pockets, Jessi dug her boot into the dirt, making circles with the small as she waited. The rest of the group were off getting food and beers.

A man walked by then, a cigarette dangling from his mouth as he patted his pockets. He spotted her and said, “You got a light, doll?”

Jessie shook her head. “No.”

But the man didn't move on. Instead, he came closer and leaved against the large trunk as her leered at her and asked, “You out here alone?”

“
I'm waiting for my friends.”

“
That's nice. You look incredible, doll.”

Jessi smiled politely as she prayed he would just leave. She couldn't handle men well and it worried her that she was going to be a victim yet again...

The man pulled the cigarette from his mouth and leaned in a little closer. “You smell good. Single, doll?”

“
Yes. But I'm not looking.” Jessi tried to leave, but the man grabbed her arm.

“
What's the rush, doll?” He drawled, pulling her back. His breath stunk of alcohol and had bad BO. One of his hands snaked up her side until it found her breast, and Jessi froze, her entire body going stiffer then a board.

“
Relax.” The man purred into her ear. “You'll enjoy this, doll.”

A whimper escaped her and she clamped her eyes shut as the man moved, lifting his other hand to cup her other breast. She was panting and her heart was racing, and she knew that, at any minute, she was more then likely going to pass out, which would leave her vulnerable and allow this man to do anything he wanted to her.

“
Please.” She whispered. “Don't.”

The man's mood shifted so suddenly, Jessi didn't have time to prepare for the blow. He slapped her, and the blow was hard enough to make her head snap to the right and hit the trunk of the tree with a loud thud. Stars danced in front of her eyes, but she didn't have time to recover as the man suddenly wrapped his hands around her throat. He squeezed hard, holding on until unconsciousness claimed Jessi.

Neither of them saw the man coming to her rescue.

Chief Petty Officer Ric Jordan – the mechanic for the Armidale Class Patrol boat HMAS Sydney and known to the crew as the Charge – was at the Cairns Rodeo with some mates from the ship, taking in the show as they docked in port for some much needed R&R.

At intermission, while everyone headed to the eatery for something to eat, Ric headed to the toilets. When he found the ridiculously long lines, he decided to wait. He was hungry and he didn't wish to spend intermission in a line.

As he headed back to the eatery, he passed two people fooling around under a tree. At least, that's what he thought they were doing. But when he noticed the woman seemed to slump over, something in him said this wasn't two people who couldn't keep their hands off each other. Slowing, he moved in a little closer and paid attention. When the man lowered the woman to the ground, making it very obvious she was no longer conscious, and started to pull her jeans down, Ric was shocked.

“
Hey!”

His shout startled the man, who took off running as other people turned to see what was going on. Ric went over to the woman and straightened her clothed before lifting her and heading for the make-shift hospital that was on site.

As he passed the eatery, his mates noticed what he was doing and followed. After he told the doctor what he'd come across, the ships Radio Operator, Steven Leigh, asked, “What happened?” 

“
I think I interrupted a rape.” Ric said again. “It looked like they were just fooling around at first, but then I realised she wasn't moving.”

“
Did you get a good look at the guy who attacked her?” Ethan Conrad, the ships XO, asked.

“
No. It was dark and he took off before I could get close enough.” Ric said, crossing his arms over his chest.
Kelley Harmon, Daniels fiance, patted him on the shoulder and said, “You did good, Charge.”

Ric smiled at her and said, “Thanks, Kel.”

The doctor came out then and informed them the woman was going to be fine; she just needed to wake up.

Ric thanked him before telling his mates, “I'm going to stay here and make sure she's okay.”

“
Sure. Just make sure you're back at the ship by 2300 hours.” Ethan said, referring to the time they'd be heading back out.

Ric nodded and headed over to the cot that held the woman as he mates left.

Two

Ric was napping when the woman woke up.

She sat up slowly and took in her surroundings before her eyes landed on him and she asked, “Who are you?”

“
Ric.” He stood and asked, “You are?”

“
Jessi.” She stood as well and asked him, “Where am I?”

“
The medi-tent at the show-grounds.”

She frowned. “I'm still at the rodeo?”

“
Yeah. Don't you remember what happened?”

Jessi shook her head as the doctor came over. After a quick examination, he declared her well enough to go home, but he cautioned her to go to her GP or the hospital if she got any of the usual concussion symptoms. Ric followed her out of the tent and took a few minutes to take in her form; she was very attractive, her jeans and the short-sleeved denim shirt she wore outlining her curves. Her light brown was pulled back into a ponytail, showing off the graceful curve of her neck.

Jessi stopped and turned to face him. “Can you tell me what happened?”

Ric noticed the shine of unshed tears in her green eyes and realized she was scared about he might or might not tell her.

“
You ...” He paused, not really sure how to tell her. When she kept looking at him, an expectant look on her face, he just came out and said it. “You were knocked out and almost raped.”

She drew in a quick breath and nodded before asking, “Almost?”

“
I interrupted him.” Ric said.

Jessi smiled and stuck her hands into the front pockets of her jeans as she said, “Thank you.”

“
Don't mention it.” He replied, captivated by that smile. It made her look very youthful and beautiful. Clearing his throat, he asked, “Can I give you a ride someplace?”

She bit her lip and looked in the direction of the rodeo-after-party, making Ric think she might have come with someone – boyfriend, fiance, lover, husband – and he was stepping on toes.

But then she looked back at him and said, “I guess that'd be okay. If it's not too much trouble.”

“
Absolutely not. I don't have to be back at the ship until eleven.”

“
Ship?” She looked at him. “Oh. You're with the Navy.”

Ric grinned and said, “Uniform kinda gives it away, right?”

Jessi laughed, a warm rich sound that washed over him and made him want to hear it more.

He didn't know Jessi. They'd only just met and all he knew about her was her name.

But he already liked her.

Maybe more then he should.

Jessi sat alone in her apartment, her feet tucked up beneath her on the couch and a cup of hot tea nestled between her hands as she relived the events of the night.

It'd all come back to her, and it scared her to think about how close she'd come to being the victim yet again.

The events that had taken place under that tree had been too similar to what had happened just a few short months ago. She'd sworn she wouldn't let anything like that happen to her again, and yet she hadn't been able to do anything to stop that creep who'd attacked her.

If it hadn't been for that sailor, who knows what might have happened to her?

Ric Jordan.

Jessi smiled as she remembered her handsome rescuer.

She'd thought, after her attack, that she would never find another man attractive ever again. But she'd been proven wrong tonight when she'd laid eyes on the man that had been asleep next to the hospital cot when she'd woken up. When she'd taken in his typical Navy uniform, she'd felt something deep inside her wake up and take notice.

He'd given her his card and told her to call anytime she wanted to, so she decided to give him a quick call now, before he left for that patrol he'd told her about on the drive to her apartment.

Crossing to the phone, Jessi dialled the number on the card, wincing when she saw the red marks still marking her neck when she got a glance of her reflection in the mirror she kept by the front door.

“
HMAS Sydney, Lieutenant Conrad.”

“
Oh. Hi. I'm looking for ...” Jessi glanced down at the card. “Chief Petty Officer Jordan.”

“
Can I ask what this is about, ma'am?”

“
I just want to talk to him about the help he gave me at the showgrounds tonight.” Jessie said, hoping she wasn't going to get Ric in trouble.

“
Oh, you're the woman he saved.” Conrad said, the authoritative tone in his voice disappearing.

Jessi was a little surprised he knew about her, but she said, “Yeah, that's me.”

“
Hold on for one sec and I'll get Jordan.”