by Dawn, M. K.
Britney needed to bring up the supply run, but the words caught in her throat. “Not good at all.” What the hell is wrong with me today?
“So….” A mischievous smile tugged at his lips. “Is that all? Or was there something else?”
“Um… I guess that’s it.” She turned to leave.
“Wait.” Axel laughed. “Is everything okay?”
Britney ran her hands across her face. “Yes. No.”
“Which is it?”
She rolled her eyes. “We need blankets. Actually,” she said, handing him the supply list, “we need a lot more than that if we want to survive the winter.”
Axel flipped through the papers. “Shit. That is a lot.”
“I’m sorry.” The words came out of nowhere.
“For what?”
Britney sighed. “I shouldn’t assume, shouldn’t be askin’ you to go out there. It’s too dangerous.”
“Here.” Axel handed her the paper he was looking over when she entered the room. “I was about to come and find you. We need some supplies to finish the wall. The gate in particular. Got to make sure it’s strong but also easy to open.”
“So you’ve already planned a supply run?”
Axel dropped to the bed. “Yep. Fun, fun. You coming this time?”
“What?” The question caught her off guard. “I didn’t even consider it an option.”
“We could use your help. Not to mention you’re the only one who knows this area.”
Britney tugged at her bottom lip. “What about the farm? The kids? I can’t leave them defenseless.”
“Speaking of that, the others need to learn how to shoot. I know they’ve been practicing on the kids’ BB guns.”
Carson’s idea, and a brilliant one at that. “They’ve gotten pretty good. Can even hit their target most of the time.”
“Good. But a BB gun is not the same as the real thing. The trigger alone….”
Britney leaned against the wall and pushed off again. Why was it so hard to find a comfortable place to stand in this room?
“Do you want to sit?” Axel patted the bed beside him. “I won’t bite.”
“Funny.” Britney took a seat and maneuvered her body so she could face him. “Anyway, yes, a real gun differs from a BB gun, but we only have so many bullets and shouldn’t waste them on target practice. What we really need are practice weapons, like an air gun or somethin’.”
“You have one of those?”
Britney shook her head. “Nope. But they might be easier to find since people can’t use them for protection.”
“Here’s your list back. Add that gun and the bullets that go with it. Plus regular old guns and any kind of bullets we need for the ones you already have.”
Britney did. “But you realize that should be a given, right? Find a weapon, pick it up, bring it home.”
“I thought you would say, ‘All day long you have good luck.’”
She chuckled. “I didn’t realize you were funny.”
“I have my moments.” Axel propped himself against the wall and crossed his ankles. “So, where do you suggest we go to get all that shit you have on your list? And how do we bring it home? The SUV doesn’t hold much.”
“There’s a Walmart a few towns over. And a Tractor Supply. Gun shops are everywhere.”
Axel rubbed his nose. “A few towns over in which direction?”
“I have a map. I’ll mark it all up for you, make sure you don’t get lost.”
“And what about hauling all this crap home? Any suggestion?”
“Ever driven a truck with a cattle trailer attached?”
“Can’t say I have.”
Britney smiled. “Do you think you can handle it?”
“Seriously?” Axel cocked his head. “Not like there’s going to be any traffic for me to have to maneuver through.”
“I just wanted to make sure you felt comfortable drivin’ somethin’ so big.” Britney nudged his arm before standing. Sitting still was making her antsy. “It can be challengin’.”
“We’ll manage.”
A small weight lifted from her shoulders. She came in here thinking it might be tough to convince him to go on another supply run, but he seemed fine. “Thank you for doing this.”
“Someone has to. And I’m not sure I would trust the others not to bail if things got dicey out there.”
She stared down at him. “That’s not a bad thing, you know. Gettin’ out of there if the danger is too great. Some might even say it would be selfish if you stayed. There are a lot of people here who depend on you.”
Axel’s eyes met hers. “Are you speaking on behalf of everyone or yourself?”
“Everyone,” she blurted. Too quickly. “We need you. So don’t do anythin’ stupid when you’re out there.”
“I’ll do my best to stay alive.” He shot her a wink.
“That’s all I ask.” Her heart pounded against her chest. What the hell was going on? She was around Axel all the time, and now, out of the blue, she felt nervous. “When do you think you’ll go? Who will go with you?”
“Gunner volunteered. As for the when, we haven’t decided. The sooner the better, I guess.”
“Plan for Friday.”
“We have something going on this week I don’t know about?”
“Thursday is Thanksgiving. Angie found a turkey in the freezer. We thought we would celebrate. And it’s important everyone’s here, together. As a family.”
“You think that’s the smartest thing to do?” Axel scratched at the scruff on his chin. “Are we talking a feast?”
“Not overboard, but yes. I think we deserve to splurge a little. We’ve been really good about portion control. I can’t remember the last time any of us had dessert.”
“But—”
Britney held up her hand to stop him from trying to talk her out of it. “No buts. Not to go all Game of Thrones on you, but winter is comin’. And winters here are a bitch. We need this. Not just the extra calories but the morale boost. Not celebratin’ Halloween already broke the kids’ hearts. I don’t even want to think about Christmas. This will be good for them, for all of us. We’ve survived this long, and we should take the time to give thanks for all we still have.”
“You’re right. Though let's not get carried away. Last thing we want to do is waste food.”
“Excuse me?” Britney pulled the waistband of her jeans a good two inches away from her skin. “These jeans haven’t fit me since before the twins were born. I promise you, we will waste no food.”
“All right. So we’re celebrating Thanksgiving this year?”
A genuine smile spread across her face. “Yes, we are. Are you excited?”
“For a shit ton of food? Hell yes.”
***
“How’s the turkey doing?” Axel asked as he joined Britney at the barbecue pit.
It had been years since she’d done any of the grilling. That was the only kind of cooking John insisted on doing.
Britney stuck the thermometer into the breast and watched the temperature rise. “Give it another hour and it should be good to go.”
“Perfect.” Axel took a big whiff. “It smells amazing.”
“Thanks. How’s everything else comin’ along?” Everyone had taken it upon themselves to make their favorite Thanksgiving dish.
“Not to brag”—Axel tugged at the collar of his leather jacket—“but my mashed potatoes are fucking awesome. Probably the best thing we’ll eat all day.”
Britney closed the lid of the pit and headed back toward the house. “You did pick the easiest thing to make.”
Axel’s mouth dropped open. “I can’t believe you just said that. Knife in the heart, woman. Knife. In. The. Heart.” He accented each word by thrusting his fist into his chest.
“I don’t know what to tell you. Sometimes the truth hurts.” The rest of the group huddled by the large fire, stirring pots and checking under foil covers. Her stomach growled. “I think you’ve all outdone yourself. Do I sm
ell apple pie?”
“That would be my specialty.” Angie beamed. “I can hardly wait until it’s time to eat.”
Gus closed the lid on his pot of green beans. “How’s the turkey?”
“About an hour and it’ll be perfect,” Britney told them.
“Same for my sweet potatoes,” Shifter said. “You really kept your pantry stocked up.”
John used to give her a hard time about her food-hoarding tendencies, saying her garden was too big for just the five of them. But gardening wasn’t about how much she grew so much as the process. She loved digging her fingers in the dirt and nurturing a seedling until it bloomed.
“That reminds me.” Britney looked to Axel. “I need you to add a large greenhouse or lots of small greenhouses to the list. The kind we can build around my garden. That way my plants won’t all die this winter.”
Axel jotted it down. He had made it a habit the last few days of carrying the thing around with him. “What did you do before?”
“Buy new seeds and replant. But I don’t want to risk not being able to find any.”
“Adding fruit and vegetable seeds to the list,” he said as he wrote.
She didn’t argue. She’d never used a greenhouse before and wasn’t sure how well the plants would survive even under its protection. “Thanks. I’m going to go check on the kids.”
“Don’t go in there,” Angie told her. “You’ll ruin the surprise.”
Britney spun around. “What surprise?”
Angie jutted her hip out. “Now if I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?”
It went against every one of her motherly instincts, but she stayed outside. “Fine. I’m assumin’ Rainey’s with them?”
“You know she is.” Angie went back to tending to her pie.
“Maybe you should sit down for a bit,” Axel suggested. “Take a break.”
How long had it been since she’d sat around doing nothing? Months, at least. “I’m sure there’s somethin’ that needs to be done. Firewood, maybe?”
Axel unfolded a chair and forced her to sit. “Gunner’s taking care of that, and checking the animals. There’s nothing else that needs your attention at the moment.”
“I can set the table.”
“Nope.” Axel grabbed another chair and sat beside her. “Taken care of.”
“Fine.” Britney slouched down and crossed her arms. “I’ll just sit here and do nothin’.”
Axel tapped his foot. “I can go get you something from the house. A book, maybe? You like to read, right?”
“I love to read.” Britney groaned. “But my e-reader is dead. And I gave all my paperbacks to the church a few years back for their rummage sale.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s one thing’ I miss the most. Gettin’ lost in a different world and forgettin’ about everything else.”
Axel poked at the fire. “What do you like to read? Harlequin romances?” He raised an eyebrow.
Britney laughed. “No. I like fantasy, paranormal.”
“Like ghosts?”
“Vampires, werewolves, shifters, stuff like that.”
“Like Twilight?”
“No.” Britney scrunched her nose. “Too much high school drama and love at first sight for me.”
“Gotcha.” Axel leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. “Why don’t you just rest, like me? Block out the world for a little while and enjoy the peacefulness that surrounds us in this moment.”
“That doesn’t sound very relaxin’. Now, if I were in the house in my bathtub, that would be a different story.”
“We could use the generator to heat the water. I’m sure no one would mind a hot shower.”
What Britney wouldn’t give to stand under a heated waterfall. “As much as I would love that, we have to save the generators for winter.”
“I know, I know. What about football? That’s a Thanksgiving tradition and would help you get out some of your restless energy. Pass the time.”
“Hey, Brit!” Rainey called from the house. “Gunner said the turkey’s ready! He’s going to bring it inside and get it carved up.”
Britney spun around. The turkey was her thing.
“Hey.” Axel laid his hand on top of hers before she argued. “Let it go.”
She turned to Axel. “But I’m doin’ the turkey. That was my job.”
“After all you’ve done for us, everyone here just wants the chance to do something for you. Please let them.”
“It’s been months. You guys have done plenty to repay me.”
“Brit!” Rainey called out again. “Is that okay?”
Axel’s eyes begged for her to agree. “Please.”
“That’s fine!” Britney called back. “Thank you. We’ll bring the rest of the food in.”
Before she had the chance to ask if she could carry something, they all headed back to the house, food in hand.
“At least let me get the door!” she shouted, running forward to hold it open.
The kids greeted them as they entered the house, each wearing a Pilgrim hat made of construction paper.
“You guys look so cute.” Britney pulled them into a group hug. “Did Rainey help you make those?”
“Yep.” Molly beamed. “She’s great at crafts. “You have to see what else—”
“Hush,” Carson hissed. “It’s a surprise.”
Britney’s mouth curved into a smile. “I heard somethin’ super-secret was goin’ on in here. When do I get to find out what you’ve been up to?”
“Right now.” Blake grabbed Britney’s hand. “But close your eyes.”
Molly took her other hand. “And no peeking. We’ll make sure you don’t run into anything.”
“Okay.” Britney closed her eyes. “I’m trustin’ you.”
She shuffled her feet as they guided her toward what she could only assume was the dining room.
“You can open your eyes!” Carson ordered.
Britney gasped at the sight before her. Brown, orange, yellow and red paper chains hung from the ceiling. Dozens of hand turkeys decorated the walls. A handmade cornucopia sat in the center the table, surrounded by the most delicious-looking food she’d ever seen. “This is amazin’.”
Molly dragged Britney to the wall and pointed at one of the smaller turkeys. “I made this one for Daddy.”
Tears stung Britney’s eyes. “I’m sure he loves it.”
“Come sit down, Mom.” Carson pulled out the chair at the head of the table. John’s chair. “Dad would want you to sit in his spot.”
Her heart ached at the thought of John not being there to serve the turkey, but she sat down anyway. The kids were handling his absence so much better than she ever imagined. She could thank Angie for that. The way she spoke to the kids about heaven and the signs all around them that meant their dad was present had made all the difference in the world.
“Should we sit anywhere?” Axel asked.
Britney hadn’t even noticed that the bikers were still standing. The boys were already in their normal chairs, Molly in the one where Britney used to sit.
“Axel should take the second head of the table,” Carson said with an authoritative tone. “Everyone else can sit where they like.”
Mac patted Carson on the back and took the seat next to him. “Thank you, sir. It honors us that you have invited us to your home and allowed us to join you for Thanksgiving dinner.”
Molly giggled. “You’re so silly, Mac. This is your home too.”
He shot her a quick wink, and she giggled harder.
Funny how they had never discussed how Britney opened up their home to the bikers but Molly picked up on it all the same.
Britney took in the feast before everyone dug in. Turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing and rolls. She’d never seen such an amazing meal in her life.
And with the good china being used, it almost felt like a regular Thanksgiving during any other year.
But there was one thing miss
ing. “I’ll be right back.”
Britney hurried into the kitchen and returned with four bottles of wine. “We can’t have a toast or celebrate without wine.”
She opened two bottles and passed them around. Carson ran to the pantry and brought back a bottle of grape juice for the kids.
Britney raised her glass. “A toast—to friends who have become family.”
“Cheers.” Glasses clinked and long sips were taken.
“Now eat up.” Britney gestured to the food. “And after we’re done, I believe Axel mentioned somethin’ about a football game?”
“Yay!” Carson and Blake cheered.
“I call cheerleader,” Molly said with her mouth stuffed with bread.
“Cheerleader?” Axel feigned a gasp. “Oh, no, young lady. I need you on my team.”
Molly eyes widened. “Really? Girls can play football too?”
Axel pointed at her with his fork. “Not only can they play, but I bet they can do some serious butt kicking.”
“You hear that, boys?” she sneered at her brothers. “I’m going to kick your butts.”
The room erupted in a mixture of trash talk and everyone trying to call who would be on what team.
Through the chaos, Britney’s gaze locked with Axel’s. She lifted her glass and mouthed, “Thank you.” Not just for Molly, but for everything he’d done for them. For everything he was about to risk.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Friday, Axel woke up to find half a foot of snow on the ground, and it was still snowing. Not having any experience driving in that weather, he delayed the supply run until Saturday. But then it snowed another three inches, so they pushed back the run again. But they couldn’t push it back forever.
“Maybe wait another day,” Britney said as she hooked the trailer to her pickup truck. “See if the snow lets up.”
Axel was tired of waiting. “We have no idea when that might be. The longer we wait, the worse the roads will get.”
“Or they could get better,” she huffed. “You don’t even know how to drive in the snow.”
“Isn’t that what the chains are for?” Axel kicked at the tires. He understood her concern, but with no weather app, they had no way of knowing when the snow would let up. If it ever did. Britney had said sometimes it started to snow in November and didn’t stop till spring.
