by Pj Fiala
“So, the morning of my birthday, I got up and I was afraid to be excited. My birthday presents usually revolved around taking a hike and finding a new flower or feeding chipmunks in the woods or going to Custer National Park and watching the baby buffalos play; I never knew what it would be. She didn’t like making schedules or keeping appointments. She said it interfered with her ‘peace.’
“I got out of bed, showered, and dressed casually in denim shorts and a tank and quietly walked into the living room. There on the coffee table sat my brand new boots with the prettiest orange flower sitting on the toe and a card next to them. The card was handmade from a grocery bag—we never wasted anything—and all it said was Happy Birthday. I’ll Love You Always. Mom.”
She swiped at the irritating tear that slid down her cheek. JT reached up and gently ran his thumb under her eye, collecting another tear.
“I wore those boots until they were clear wore out—scuffed, battered, and didn’t fit anymore. But they meant the world to me, especially because she died three weeks later.”
She glanced at JT. “They were the last gift I’d gotten that I never dreamed I’d get. I saved that grocery bag card and still have it. I took it to a tattoo shop in Sturgis before I left for college so I’d have her with me always and he duplicated her signature on my wrist. I look at it when I need her peacefulness inside me.”
And then it happened. He had to keep her. Whatever it took, he wanted Kayden in his life forever. He didn’t know what that meant right now, but he had never been surer of anything in his life—even knowing he could win the Biker Build-Off.
“Is that why your logo for Kayden’s Concealed Carry is an orange flower?” he asked.
She softly replied, “Yeah.”
He watched her swallow to keep her emotions in check. So many years had passed and still she was affected by those few moments that meant so much. She lightly fingered his hair and smoothed his brow with her thumb. “I sign every one of Dakota’s cards—which I make by hand—with I’ll love you always, Kota.” She let out a breath. “I want her to always have that from me.”
He leaned forward and lightly kissed her lips, running his thumb over her cheek and sliding his hand into her hair. Moments in time can imprint themselves on your mind; this day, this time, these moments were forever imprinted on his.
Rising over her, he reached behind her back and slowly pulled her down to a lying position. He consumed her lips, savored the taste of her sweetness. His tongue sought to touch every surface of her mouth. She wrapped her arms around him and held tight and his heart burst. He gently slid himself inside of her and moaned with her when they both felt the erotic sensations of joining together—heart and soul.
He moved in and out of her, savoring the feel of what her body did to his. He watched her eyes deepen in color from the greenish hue they usually held to the deeper color of warm chocolate. When she stared into his eyes like she was committing him to memory, it made him feel like climbing right inside of her and never leaving.
He pumped into her with more urgency, needing to leave an imprint on her. His muscles tightened as he increased his pace and a smile grew on her face, urging him on. Her moans of pleasure were better than the music still playing from the speaker and her increased breathing alerted him she was close.
He thrust forward several times more and as soon as he saw her mouth open in ecstasy, he spilled into her as he continued to push himself as far in as he could go.
He cradled her in his arms and he kept himself on his elbows so as not to crush her, breathing in her hair, her skin, and their unique scent together.
She squeezed her arms around him, holding him just as close and he reveled in the feel of her pulling him to her.
From the kitchen, a cell phone rang, muffled by the confines of her purse. He groaned and raised his head to look into her eyes. “Do you need to get that?”
Her lips spread across her face in a straight line. “Yes. It might be Payton needing something for Dakota.”
He rolled off her and she rose to a sitting position. She turned to look at him. “We didn’t use a condom.”
“I know.” He met her gaze.
“JT…” The phone began ringing again.
Taking a deep breath, she stood and silently walked from the bedroom, her spine straight, her ass perfection.
31
Kayden used the bathroom to clean up then padded quietly to the kitchen, rummaged in her purse and pulled out her phone. Three missed calls, all from Payton. Worry creasing her brow, she quickly dialed Payton and looked out the window facing the bar to see how busy it was out there.
“Kayden, thank God you called back. Where are you?”
Tamping down the panic rising to the surface, she said, “I’m home. What’s wrong?”
Payton began crying. “I’m on my way to the hospital. Duncan…” She sobbed and tried to speak again. “Duncan was shot today. I’m on my way to the hospital. The kids are with my neighbor, but it will be much easier if you are able to pick up Dakota.”
Kayden heard her friend sobbing and tears sprang to her eyes. “Oh, Payton. Honey, I’m so, so sorry.” Swallowing to keep her emotions in check, she continued, “Do you know how bad?”
“No. They only said…I needed to… get…get to the hospital...right away.” She broke down crying.
“Okay, listen. You focus on your driving; I’ll get the kids. It’s going to be okay, Payton.”
She continued to listen to her friend cry as she ran to the bedroom. JT had gotten up and already had his jeans on and was pulling on a t-shirt when she entered.
Rifling through her drawers for clothing, she continued holding the phone to her ear. Finally, Payton regained control of herself and said, “My mom’s coming for the kids, so don’t worry about Catcher and Ruby. I’ll call you as soon as I know anything.”
“Honey, do you need me there with you?” Her voice broke and she stopped so she wouldn’t set Payton off again.
“Thanks, Kayd, but let me get there and see what I’m dealing with. Duncan’s parents are on the way, too.”
“Okay. I love you, Payton. I’ll talk to you later.”
With shaking hands, she set her phone on the dresser and turned to JT. She broke down as soon as his arms encircled her. He held her tight and the comfort he provided was immeasurable. As soon as she could, she told him what happened. “I have to go and get Dakota. Depending on how shaken up she is, I’ll go to the hospital.”
“I’ll drive you.” The gruffness in his voice was soothing.
“I don’t want to burden you JT.”
“Nope. You shouldn’t drive as shaken up as you are, and if Dakota needs you to hold her, you can’t while you’re driving.” He kissed her forehead. “Get dressed. I’ll go and unhook the trailer.”
She nodded and watched his face for any signs of irritation, but what she saw was concern, and maybe…love. Hopefully…love.
“I never would have thought being a park ranger would get a person shot. She didn’t know any other details?” JT watched the road as he drove, but firmly held onto Kayden’s hand as they made their way to Payton’s.
“No, they must have just called her and told her to go to the hospital.” She squeezed his hand. “Right here on the left. The little tan house.”
He turned the truck into the driveway and put it in park. He opened his door and looked back at Kayden when she hadn’t moved. His brows rose. “What?”
She pursed her lips, but said, “Nothing.”
She opened her door and they walked together to Mrs. Harris’ front door. Kayden pointed to their right. “That’s Duncan and Payton’s house.” The brick ranch with the little overhang over the porch and sidewalk looked inviting. Two white rocking chairs and a little table in between them sat on the porch, beckoning a person to come and sit a spell.
Kayden knocked on the door and a tiny white haired lady with a floral blouse in a myriad of types and colors and blue capris opened the door. Her
smiled widened and she immediately reached up to hug Kayden and pat her on the back. She looked back at the door and then turned to Kayden. “The kids don’t know anything. Payton told them she had an appointment and she ushered them over here quickly and quietly. We’ve been making cookies, which pleases all of them, including Ed.”
Her white head turned to JT and she glanced between him and Kayden. Kayden chuckled, and said, “Doris, this is JT. I’ll bet you remember Dad talking about Dog from his war days. Dog is JT’s father and they’re here for Sturgis.” Kayden smiled up at him.
Doris beamed. “It’s nice to meet you; come on in out of the heat, you two.” She opened the door, and the first thing he noticed was the yummy smell of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. Then came the giggles and chatter of little voices and the slower replies from a voice clearly aged by years and life. Doris led them through the living room into the kitchen as she proudly proclaimed, “Kota honey, look who came to pick you up.”
Dakota’s beaming little face landed on her mom and then JT. Suddenly he was nervous about her reaction to him. She jumped up from her chair at the table and squealed, “Mommy!” as she ran and threw herself into Kayden’s waiting arms. He watched as Kayden peppered her daughter’s little face with kisses and the little girl giggled and squirmed.
Kayden set her down and she immediately looked up at JT and said. “Hi, JT. How did you know I was here?”
JT knelt down and said, “Payton called your mommy and told her. It smells like you’ve been making something very delicious.”
Nodding her little blonde head, she giggled. “We’re making cookies. I get to put the dough on the sheet. Ruby gets to put a M&M on them and Chance gets to carry the sheet to the oven for Mrs. Harris.”
Grinning at her exuberance, he replied, “It sounds like you’re all helping Mrs. Harris out a lot.”
“We are. Except Mr. Harris keeps eating them.”
They all laughed and Mr. Harris held his hand out to shake JT’s. “Name’s Ed.”
JT leaned down and shook Ed’s hand. He was a frail little man sitting in a wheelchair parked at the end of the kitchen table. His eye were blue, but the color had begun to fade with the years. His small bony hand still had a firm grip and his smile was friendly. “JT.”
“Mr. Harris, JT comes from Wisc…Wis…” Tilting her head, Dakota looked at JT. “What do you call it?”
JT chuckled. “Wisconsin.”
Dakota nodded her head, pleased he got it right. He couldn’t help but laugh; she was simply adorable. Maddy would be this age in no time.
“JT, you and Mommy need to have a cookie before Mr. Harris eats them all. Mrs. Harris said sometimes she can’t keep up.” Her little hands held up a cookie for him and he took the warm gooey cookie and bit into it. Looking at each of the kids, he said, “You guys did a great job on these cookies. Best I ever had, but don’t tell my mom that.”
All three little people giggled and nodded. Kayden introduced JT to Chance and Ruby and then the kids got back to making more cookies. Mr. Harris pulled his chair away from the table and looked at Kayden. “Do you know anything more?” He asked quietly.
Kayden shook her head no and Ed nodded to the living room. He glanced back at Doris and she nodded at his quiet communication.
Ed rolled into the living room and Kayden and JT followed. Ed turned his wheelchair around and motioned with his hand for them to sit on the sofa. They did as he asked, sitting close to each other.
Kayden leaned forward, her forearms on her knees, her fingers laced together. Quietly, she asked, “Did Payton tell you about the drugs they found in the park the other night?”
Ed’s lips pursed, his brows furrowed and he nodded slightly. “Damn dealers have been moving into this area more and more for a while now—the last couple of years, at least. I had no damned idea it wasn’t just the dealers, but the growers, too. Damn it all anyway.” His voice was weak and soft but he looked to the kitchen anyway, making sure little ears weren’t listening. All that was heard was more giggles and Ruby saying, “No, Chance, I get to put the MM’s on.”
Kayden smiled. “I think that’s what happened to Duncan. She was worried about that this morning when I talked to her, but neither of us actually believed it would happen.” She shook her head. “This place is going to hell fast.”
“How’s your dad doing, Kayden?” Ed asked.
Kayden looked up into JT’s eyes and he reached for her hand. He needed the comfort of touching her as much as she seemed to need him. Looking back to Ed, she responded, “He’s fine. Stubborn and not telling us the truth; that’s for certain.”
Ed looked into JT’s eyes. He fought against squirming under the man’s perusal, then Ed nodded slightly. “Oakes just better watch out. Those damned Devils are involved in this; I just know it.”
Kayden’s head popped up and she squeezed JT’s hand. “Why do you think that?”
“Just do. They’ve been running into town more and they sure as hell haven’t made it a secret around here that they want your place. If I were you all, I’d pack up and run from this place as quick as I could with that little peanut of yours.”
Kayden rose quickly and paced to the window. She’d put on a pair of denim shorts with frayed edges and a loose fitting orange tank top. She shouldn’t hide that figure from anyone, but he was glad she did. He wanted it all for himself. She looked out the window, and then back to JT. “We should go; I’d like to run by the hospital and see Payton.”
JT stood and shook Ed’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ed.”
32
JT and Kayden helped Dakota into the back of his truck. Kayden had gone into Payton’s garage and got the extra car seat that Chance had used. She’d never get Dakota into her old car seat again after letting her use Chance’s booster. She’d been begging for a booster for some time now, but Kayden didn’t have a ton of money, and she’d hoped to hold off on it for a little while longer.
JT had set the booster up behind the passenger seat. Once he had it all arranged and tightened down, he stepped back and let Kayden help Dakota into the truck. She sat in the booster and giggled. “This is really neat,” she said. Kayden closed the door and climbed into the front seat. “Mommy, I can see good out the window and it’s cooler. I’m not sweaty in here.”
She was certainly a happy little gal. He turned to look at Kayden. “What do you want to do?” When her shoulders fell, he reached over and squeezed the back of her neck. “Hey.” When she looked up, he said, “I have an idea. How about I take Dakota up to the house with my mom and sisters? You go see Payton and call me when you’re done and I’ll bring her home. Your dad is probably resting anyway. Deal?”
“I wanna go to the house. Can I, Mommy?”
He watched her process his offer. He quietly said, “It’s okay, Angel.” Her hazel eyes now looked more amber than the brown from earlier, but still so damned sexy. It was now about eight o’clock in the evening and close to Dakota’s bedtime. Since he’d never helped a little person get ready for bed, it scared the shit out of him, but he thought his mom and the girls could sure help if need be.
“You sure?”
“Yeah. I’ll drop you off to pick up your Jeep.” He gave her neck a reassuring squeeze and she nodded her head. Her hair had been pulled up into a messy whatever they called it. She was stunning even with the faint worry lines around her mouth.
He pulled into her driveway and she pulled her keys from her purse. She turned to look back at Dakota. “You behave for JT, Mrs. Sheppard, and the others; you hear me?”
“I will. I’m always good.”
Smiling, she said, “I know you are, Kota. Okay, love you always and I’ll see you in just a little bit. Okay?”
Dakota bobbed her head. “Okay. Love you always.”
JT looked back at Dakota. “I’ll be right back, okay? I just want to make sure Mommy gets inside all right.”
“Okay.”
He smiled at her. Cute. He glanced at
Kayden and hopped from the truck. He followed her into the garage, and as soon as they stepped into the service door, he wrapped her in a hug. He kissed the top of her head and murmured. “It’ll be okay, and I hope Duncan is going to be just fine.”
She pulled back and kissed his lips. “Take care of my little girl.”
He touched his lips to hers and stepped back. As she turned to climb into her Jeep, he swatted her on the ass. She turned, a sexy smile on her face. He shrugged. “Couldn’t help myself.”
He climbed back into his truck and backed up just a bit. Waiting for Kayden to open the garage door, he looked back at Dakota. “Your mom didn’t say you couldn’t have ice cream, did she?”
Dakota’s eyes lit up and the smile she beamed at him was blinding. “Really?” she squealed.
“Really. We’ll go to the store and pick up a big bucket and take it back to the house and share it with everyone. What do you say to that?”
She clapped her hands and squirmed in her booster. “I love chocolate. Can we get chocolate?”
“It’s my favorite, too,” he said as he noticed the garage door opening. He put his truck in gear and moved out of the way, but waited at the edge of the driveway until she pulled out and closed the door.
“Why do you have to wait for Mommy?”
He looked into the rearview mirror. “I want to make sure she’s safe.”
“Oh.”
Kayden pulled out of the garage and waved at them as she preceded them from the driveway and out onto the main road. She turned in the opposite direction they had to take, so he didn’t think she’d be any the wiser until Dakota told her they had ice cream. JT turned toward town and easily found a parking space in front of the grocery store, which was still called ‘The General Store.’ It fit. The outside was sided with cedar planks which gave it the old western feel. It seemed all of the stores in this town had tried to keep the look and feel alive. It gave Shady Pines the uniqueness that drew people here. JT walked around the back of the truck and opened the door for Dakota. He lifted her from the big truck and took her hand as they walked into the store. He looked down at her. “Is this where you and Mommy shop?”
