Chapter 16

Where the hell is that place? thought Kim-ly as she navigated the rural roads outside of Greeley, Colorado. So many things coursed through her mind as she finally saw the lights of the American Legion in the distance. For one thing, she will need to find a permanent place to live soon. She loves bouncing back and forth between Colorado and Minnesota; it satisfies a wanderlust she didn’t realize she had before she flew to Germany. She also loves living at the farm with Ralph and Sandy, but Tim hates farms, but screw him, this is her decision and she’s tired of being his ... Her train of thought was interrupted as she pulled into the parking lot of the legion post.

There were maybe a dozen cars and pickups in the parking lot as she found her spot and shut off the rental SUV. She grabbed a small box off the passenger seat and walked into the American Legion Post. Inside there was the usual collection of good ol’ boys at the bar, swapping stories and drinking beer from long neck bottles. There were a few women here too, several were veterans, and the rest were wives or guests of the members. A couple of guys were shooting pool, and as a slow country love song played on the jukebox, she saw Don and Lanh off to the side dancing slowly, holding each other close. Near them was Karole, sipping on a bottle of water and talking to one of the pool players. Kim-ly signed the visitor’s book, then did something she always wanted to do. She took a deep breath and in a loud voice called out: “Is there a doctor in the house?”

Everything stopped, and all eyes were on the shapely Asian woman at the door. All eyes except Don and Lanh, who wordlessly agreed to ignore her and continued dancing.

Ricky, a tall man with a red face and thick shoulder length white hair, leaned on his pool stick and in a southern drawl thicker than Karole’s said, “I ain’t a doctor, but I play one at this here legion post. What can I do for you lil’ missy?”