Beard With Me

by Penny Reid

  But I did notice something. At Ben’s greeting of me, Jethro reared back an inch and glanced between us. “I—uh—are you two . . .?”

  Ben squeezed my shoulders. “Don’t ruin things for me, Jet. I’m still working on her.”

  Error. Error. Cannot compute.

  Jethro returned his attention to me and studied my face with a thoughtful kind of bewilderment, as though he were calculating all manner of incomprehensible things. I rolled my lips between my teeth and told myself not to look at Billy, though every part of me burned to do so. Instead, I met Jethro’s gaze, working to hide my shock. Good thing I was so afraid, I’m pretty sure all Jethro saw was my fear.

  After a protracted moment, Jethro released a quiet breath, his narrowed eyes coming back to Ben. Lowering his voice, he said, “What are you doing? Why are you doing this?”

  “It doesn’t seem like she wants to go with you.” Ben’s smile waned, but it didn’t extinguish. “So maybe I’m trying to save you from your worst impulses, my friend. Or maybe I’m telling the truth.”

  “You know I have to take her.” Jethro’s words sounded pained, truly remorseful.

  Now he feels remorse? Now?

  “I do not know that.” Ben’s smile persisted, like what Jethro had said was funny, and he shook his head. “Also, I don’t know what’s going on, but she looks terrified. I’ve never known you to terrorize women, Jet. So until I sort things out, Scarlet is staying with me.” I glanced up at Ben in time to see his smile soften, turn tender. Looking at Jethro with infinite patience, he added, “And you can thank me later for sparing your soul another dark mark.”

  Jethro winced at this last bit, as though Ben had landed a punch instead of speaking gentle words. “You don’t get it, Ben. This ain’t so simple. You might delay things, but her daddy wants her. Scarlet belongs to the Wraiths.”

  “She doesn’t belong to anyone but herself.” This severe, impassioned statement came from Billy, and my heart lodged somewhere in my esophagus as it tried to escape my body, seeking him.

  I had to close my eyes so I wouldn’t look for him, or do something completely insane like reach out for him and beg him to run away with me. I would never do that. I would never ask that of him. He had a family, brothers and a sister and a momma who counted on him, who needed him. And I suspected he needed them just as much.

  Meanwhile, Ben ignored Billy’s statement, saying to Jethro, “Then tell him she belongs to me now. Tell him whatever you need to. If she doesn’t want to see her daddy, then I think she shouldn’t have to, unless you can change my mind.”

  Close behind me, I heard Billy make a low, rumbly sound, impatient and angry. Jethro and Ben stared at each other.

  At length, Jethro released a huge exhale, his eyes dropping to mine. “This is about Carla,” he whispered. “Razor knows. King knows. They’re not mad at you, they just want to make sure you didn’t have anything to do with it.”

  I licked my lips, struggling to find my voice and finally managing to croak, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Jethro nodded. “Good. But you and me need to talk. I’ll find you in our spot, just me. And if you see Carla before I do, you tell her it’d be better for her to disappear. Okay?” Jethro wasn’t making a threat. I could tell he was wanting to warn her before anyone else got to her first. I could also see he was concerned about me.

  Taking a step back, his eyes lifted and locked with his friend’s. “I’ll let her daddy know Scarlet had plans tonight that would’ve been hard to break without causing a scene. But I’ll also tell him I questioned her and she didn’t know anything. I’ll see if that matters. If it doesn’t, I can’t guarantee I’ll be the one to pick her up next time.”

  “You make it matter, Jet.” Ben smiled warmly at Jethro, maybe so anyone who was watching would think this was just a friendly conversation, or maybe because all he felt for the other man was warmth. “But if Scarlet’s daddy is worried about her, just tell him she’s with me.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to go to Daisy’s? Get a milkshake?”

  I shook my head, dividing my attention between the road and the rearview mirror. I didn’t hear any bikes, I didn’t see anyone follow us out of the parking lot, but that didn’t mean it was safe.

  I’ll have to go see Razor. I shivered at the thought, cold dread a heavy, suffocating weight around my neck, making me slump. My cuts from last Tuesday—was that just last Tuesday?—had scabbed over and now itched instead of hurt.

  “Scarlet.” Ben’s sunny voice interrupted my thoughts. “Talk to me. Why didn’t you want to go with Jet?”

  “It’s a long story.”

  “He would never hurt you.”

  I tried to paste on a smile. “I know that. I trust Jet.”

  That was a lie. I didn’t trust Jethro.

  It’s not that I thought he would hurt me, but he was a recruit. His father was important in the club. Once you wore the patch, that was it. Even if Jethro had second thoughts, and the few times we’d interacted I suspected he did, there was no way out. There was no escape.

  So maybe it was more accurate to say I trusted Jethro more than I trusted any of the other Wraiths.

  “Can you drop me off at the Corner Shoppe? It’s right up here.” My knee was bouncing. I pressed on it. Not just the Wraiths had my nerves going haywire, it was also Billy.

  Dear Lord, please, please, please let him be at the campsite. Please don’t let him be doing anything stupid.

  After Jethro backed off, Ben had walked me to his truck and opened the door for me to hop in. I’d turned, looking for Billy. He’d disappeared. In my experience, boys (and men) did seriously stupid stuff when they were mad, and Billy had been pissed.

  Ben laughed lightly; I felt his gaze move over me. “You’ve already asked me three times to drop you off at the Corner Shoppe. I told you, I don’t mind.”

  “Okay. Thanks.” I caught myself biting my thumbnail and stopped. I should’ve just gone with Jethro. If I’d gone with him, I’d be at the club. Maybe my father wanted to talk, maybe he wanted more, but then it would be done and over with and I’d be able to get back to . . . to Billy. He’d take care of me. He’d change the bandage and make me hot chocolate and kiss me.

  But now I didn’t know where Billy was, or what he was doing, or if he was okay, and it was my stupid fault. Next time, I would just go with Jet and be done with it.

  “Hey, so.” Ben shifted in his seat. “There’s supposed to be a party tonight up at Bandit Lake. Are you going?”

  “Uh . . .” I blinked at the road, then at Ben, then at the road again. A party? What? “I don’t know.”

  “If you need a ride, I don’t mind taking you. You could be my date.”

  I frowned, my gaze dropping to my lap, my mind working to sort through his words. And actions. And everything.

  He likes you.

  He’d said as much last week at Daisy’s, when we’d had breakfast. Or, he’d almost said it. But then he’d gone on to say I was too young, right? So why was he asking me to a party as his date?

  “Ben, I’m sorry. But, can I ask you something?”

  “Sure, Scarlet. Anything.” His eyes flickered to mine, a shy smile on his face.

  “I’m real confused. You said last week that I was too young for you, that you being nineteen and me being fourteen meant I was too young.”

  His eyes widened and his smile disappeared as his lips parted, as though he had something to say. He said nothing.

  So I continued, “The thing is, I think you’re a great person. I always have. But I have to agree with you. I’m too young to be dating someone nineteen. And anyway, that doesn’t really matter because I’ve got strong feelings for someone else, someone closer to my age. Real strong feelings.”

  Goodness, I was getting choked up. And my hands were fisted in my pants so tight, I had to close my eyes and use a mental crowbar to relax them. Please let Billy be okay.

  The truck slowed, jostled, and I
opened my eyes. Ben had pulled us into the parking lot of the Corner Shoppe and placed his car in park. His attention fixed to some point beyond the windshield, Ben was frowning.

  “So you can see—” I cleared my throat because I sounded funny and started again. “So you can see why I might be confused. I thought we were friends, and I want us to be friends, but that’s all we’re likely to be, and I thought it was important that you know.”

  His stare dropped to the steering wheel and cleared his throat. “You can be real blunt sometimes, Scarlet.”

  I frowned, struggling to look past the weeds of my own worries and understand what he was trying to tell me. What did me being blunt have to do with anything?

  Impatient, I said, “Okay. And?”

  Ben chuckled, shaking his head. “But I guess, given your upbringing, I’m not surprised you got sharp edges.” He looked over at me, a frown in his eyes but a smile on his mouth. “Is it Cletus? Cletus Winston? I’ve seen y’all together.”

  I shook my head, reaching for the door. “Ben, it doesn’t matter who it is. I just wanted to be honest, because I value you as a friend and—”

  “I’m not surprised. You’re gorgeous, innocent, sweet. Of course someone would want to snatch you up.” Ben’s blue eyes moved over my face, a wistful smile on his lips. “But you should be with someone who softens those sharp edges, not someone who cuts new ones. Cletus Winston is a troublemaker. My momma says he’s always getting into fights. Based on who his daddy is, I guess that makes sense too. But you could be with someone better, if you wanted.”

  I stared at Ben, searching his face, confused all over again. He looked worried for me, concerned. I leaned forward, covered his hand with mine and squeezed it.

  “Are we still friends?”

  He glanced at our fingers and turned his palm up, speaking to our joined hands. “We’ll always be friends, Scarlet. And if you’re ever ready to be more than friends, we can be that too.”

  My fidgety levels skyrocketed at his words and suddenly, I just wanted to get out of the truck. Arranging my face in what I hoped looked like a smile, I squeezed his hand one more time and then took mine back. I didn’t know what to say, but I felt like I needed to say something.

  So I opened my mouth and hoped I wouldn’t make things weirder. “Good to know, Ben. Good to know.” I tossed my thumb over my shoulder and opened the door. “I got to get going now, but don’t be a stranger. Unless you want to be, then be a stranger. But I hope you’ll be a friend instead.”

  He pressed his lips together, peeking at me and shaking his head like I was funny. “See you soon, Scarlet.”

  “Okeydokey!” Blah. Whatever. I didn’t have time to worry about my awkward.

  So with one more little wave, I hopped out of the truck, shut the door, ran to the road, looked both ways, and then darted into the woods. I ran the whole way to my campsite, which wasn’t far but did require me leaping over logs and tree roots like a friggin’ gazelle. Which I did.

  And as soon as the campsite came into view, so did Billy. He turned, straightened upon spotting my quickly approaching form, and then started running toward me.

  THANK YOU LORD THANK YOU LORD THANK YOU LORD!

  I didn’t stop, but I did drop my backpack so I could run faster. He met me halfway, opening his arms, and scooping me right off the ground as soon as we met.

  “Oh, thank God.” His face came to my neck, breathing me in, one hand fisted in my hair and the other at the small of my back.

  But then suddenly, he jerked his hand away from my spine. “Sorry. Did I hurt you? How’s your back?”

  “It’s fine. Just itches.” I didn’t let him set me away, instead wrapping my arms tightly around his neck and hugging him to me again. “Thank you for coming here right away and thank you for not doing anything stupid.”

  His face was bowed to my neck again, his lips against my skin. “You thought I was going to do something stupid? Like what?”

  “I have no idea. Boys do such stupid things sometimes, I’ve found it best not to contemplate it.”

  I felt his small smile beneath my ear. He placed a kiss there and we held each other for a long moment, our hearts slowing along with our breath.

  I slid my hands to his shoulders and backed up a step, taking a good look at him. “Are you okay?”

  His eyebrows did a funny little up and down dance on his forehead before he said, “Are you kidding? You’re asking me? Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” I said, and then—because this was Billy—decided to add a touch of honesty. “Just a little rattled.”

  He captured my hand with his, bringing my knuckles to his lips, kissing them. “I would think so, your hands are freezing. Scarlet—” He tugged me toward the campsite and we walked together, him rubbing my fingers to warm them. “What are you going to do? I can’t believe they let you go.”

  Needing to be closer, I leveraged our touching hands to move his arm along the back of my shoulders, pressing my side to his. “I’m hoping Jethro can smooth things over with my father, make him believe some story so when I head over there tomorrow, he won’t be too—”

  “What?” Billy pulled away suddenly, holding me at arm’s length, examining me like I’d just grown another head. “Head over where?”

  “To the club. To the Dragon.”

  He reared back. “You can’t be serious.”

  “I am serious.”

  “Scarlet, no. No. There’s no way you can go back there. He’ll—he’ll cut you again, and—”

  “It’s okay.” I reached for Billy’s hand.

  He flinched out of my reach before I could touch him. “It’s not fucking okay!”

  “Listen. It’s not like it takes very long. It’s usually pretty quick. A half hour tops.”

  “Oh my God.” His hands came to his forehead, his fingers spearing into his hair. “Listen to yourself. Just listen.”

  Now I flinched, sputtering, “What other choice do I have? I’m his daughter. I belong to him.”

  “Like hell! You don’t belong to him, Scarlet. You’ve never belonged to him, just like my mother never belonged to my father. Go to the police. Tell them. Show them your scars.”

  What? Is he serious?

  Stumbling backward, I shook my head. “I can’t go to the police. You know my father has people there too. I might be safe for a while, but then—”

  “Leave!”

  “What?”

  “I have money saved. I will give it all to you. You have to leave.”

  My mouth opened and then closed. I couldn’t think. He wants me to leave?

  “I can’t,” I choked, my mind a mess. I thought Billy cared about me.

  “Why?” he demanded.

  “I don’t . . .” I started, my words more breath than sound because I was so confused. I can’t believe he wants me to leave. “I don’t have anywhere else to go. I have no one.”

  Billy exhaled like his lungs were broken, like he couldn’t hold in the air. The next thing I knew, he’d pulled me against him, wrapping me tight in his arms, and kissing my cheek and neck.

  “We’ll get you out of town. We’ll—”

  I pushed him away, stepping out of his embrace, unable to listen. “I don’t want to go. I won’t go. It’s not your decision.”

  “Scarlet—”

  “No. No! My father doesn’t think I know about Carla. He’ll let me go after. He usually lets me go.”

  “Usually?!” he exploded, his eyes moving over me like I was crazy. “And who is Carla? Carla Creavers? Gears’s daughter? What does she have to do with you?”

  I glanced to my right, wrapping my arms around myself to hold the feelings inside, betrayal, shock, and so much more. “It’s nothing you need to worry about. Just—I have to go see my father. If I don’t go, he’ll just send someone after me again, and they might—”

  “Please. Please don’t do this.” He reached for my shoulders, held them, his fingers flexing. “We’ll take out my savings and
send you someplace safe. We’ll—”

  “It’s not your decision.” I shrugged Billy off, stepping around him and marching to the camp. I couldn’t believe him. I couldn’t. Out of everyone, I thought he’d understand. I didn’t have a choice, not if I wanted to stay in Green Valley with him. Didn’t he want to be with me?

  He wants to send me away.

  From directly behind me, voice firm and low, he said, “I can’t let you do this. I won’t let you go back.”

  I stopped short, the hairs on my arms rising, and I turned slowly to look at him. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  Before Billy could answer, the sound of a branch snapping and several pairs of shoes crunching on leaves had me twisting toward the newcomers. A shock of fear traveled up my spine, but it was followed immediately by relief, then confusion, then fear again as I saw who was coming.

  It was Cletus. And next to him, tucked under his arm and looking scared out of her wits, was Carla Creavers.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  *Billy*

  “I wonder if things can happen too early or too late or if everything happens at exactly the right time. If so, how sad and beautiful.”

  Simon Van Booy, The Secret Lives of People in Love

  I glared at Cletus. He glared back.

  “That’s your plan?” I asked, unable to keep the frustration from my voice, just like I was unable to fathom any part of this situation now that everything had been explained to me.

  “That’s the plan. And if you’ve got a better one, I’d be happy to take it under advisement. But we’re running out of time.”

  I clenched my jaw, my gaze shifting to Carla Creavers. She was lying on her side at the edge of the fire, rolled into a ball. Her face was tear streaked, and her skin was the color of ash. I’d known of Carla prior to now. She was Gears’s daughter by his first old lady. Gear was a high-ranking member of the Iron Wraiths in charge of their chop shop. He was also a real SOB who liked to beat his kids with tools, like long wrenches.

  Cletus had just spent the last twenty minutes laying everything out, how Carla had informed on Prince King and the other Wraith kids, got them expelled; how it had taken until just this afternoon for the Wraiths to figure out it was her; how Cletus had snuck her out of school and used Scarlet’s trail through the woods to escape; how Cletus planned to send Carla to a niece of Mrs. MacIntyre’s in California where she’d live and go to school. Carla would go by bus, on her own. He just needed the $500 for the ticket and her food, which brought us to the party tonight.