“Really, Running Wolf, it’s not a big deal.” Mason and her Uncle Stephan melted into the woods, but there were other men stationed there, protecting them while he spent the night with his woman.
From now on, their guard would always be on the lookout, not knowing what was going to happen or when. He wasn’t about to allow anything to happen to his world, his wife.
“What?” Kizzy took a bite of the roasted pig on her plate.
“Just realizing how much you mean to me. To think, a week ago I had no clue you were going to come into my life, and now, here we are married.” He tasted the meat. “Damn, your family can cook.”
“Should we have waited?” Doubt played on her face.
Running Wolf rose and moved to her side right away, not liking the doubt on her face. “Little Gypsy.” He swung her chair around, and moved between her legs, smelling their combined scent still on her. “We might have had a short courtship, but you were meant to be mine. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s like your gift you have soothing people. But once I heard your voice, I knew I had to be with you. When you died, it was like there was a hole in my heart. Never, never doubt that we were meant to be together.” He cupped her cheek. “I was thinking about why now and so quick. With the dark times closing in on us, the Great Mother knew we would need our women standing next to us, helping those who will join us. But never for once think I don’t love you, because I do.”
She ran a hand through his hair. “You really believe the Great Mother is doing all this? Leading us where she wants us to be? Or some other supreme being is planning something? Do you ever think maybe they’re not gods but aliens who helped populate this world and got tired of seeing it destroyed?”
Running Wolf covered her mouth, loving her beyond words. “You, Little Gypsy, are crazy. After our own wedding, do you really believe that?”
“Do I believe that there are others out there? Yes. But as to the Great Mother? I believe she is as real as you and me.” Kizzy bit her lip. “Go eat before your food gets cold. I’ll tell you something that happened to me when I was fourteen, but if you laugh at me, I’m throwing our cake at you.”
“I would never laugh at you, baby.” He kissed the top of her head and moved to his seat. “And don’t think I forgot about what you have hidden in your home.” He took a bite of potato salad. “We will discuss that next.”
“My cousin Ella makes the best potato salad and coleslaw.” She took a bite, chewed and swallowed. “Anyway, when I was fourteen, my best friend was killed by some nutjob. He had come for me. I had started drawing the creeps the year before, but really thought nothing of it till that day. So this whacko slit her throat in front of me. My uncles, dad, and brother came running before he could get me. For days after Trish was buried, I couldn’t sleep. If I tried to eat, I’d get sick. Mom and Dad were flipping out, afraid I’d die because I was losing weight, hair, the whole thing. They finally took me to the hospital. After running all their tests, the doctor gave me something that knocked me out. That’s when she visited me.”
“Who?” he asked, hearing the hurt and uncertainty in her voice. “Your friend?”
“Trish told me she was, but she was also mad she had to leave so soon and would miss everyone. Then a woman appeared, surrounded by light, but plants grew up around her as she moved forward. Beautiful and so caring, she pulled Trish into her arms, holding her, and stared at me. I can’t remember what she looked like, but I can still remember the peace I felt in her presence. She didn’t talk. Her thoughts were in my head.
“She told me not to worry, that I had a long journey ahead, and then they vanished and I woke up. It was the next day, fluids had been pumped into me, and they let me go. Mason laughed when I told him about it, so I tackled him. He wasn’t expecting it. I had never done anything like that before, but it hurt that he didn’t believe me. Anyway, he stumbled and fell backward onto a table, breaking it. Mom and Dad came running into the room. My dad had just fixed that table from when Mason and his friends broke it the week before.”
“Did you tell your folks?” Running Wolf asked.
“Yeah.” She fed him a bite of her aunt’s Waldorf salad. “They thought I dreamed it, but I knew she was real. I was visited again after my parents were killed by the same woman. But even that visit didn’t ease the ache. And now we all know it was my fault they were killed.” She pushed her food away.
He took her hand. “It is not your fault. It was your aunt’s. She was sick in the head, Little Gypsy. I’m afraid we’re going to have a lot more of those crazy people to come, especially when things start to get nasty.” Running Wolf rose and drew her along with him. “Let’s take a dip before we have our dessert.”
Chapter Fourteen
“How can this be called work when your heart knows it must be done for others to survive?” Running Wolf, President White Buffalo MC
Kizzy lifted her disposable camera, happy her cousin had given it to her last night and took pictures of her honeymoon suite/forest. How gentle Running Wolf had been making love to her in the water, his love words for her, placing little hickey bites all up and down her neck and shoulders.
They hadn’t fallen asleep until at least two in the morning after finishing their cake and the bottle of champagne. She’d tucked the cork in her backpack. Kizzy giggled, remembering the look on Running Wolf’s face as she made him search for the cork after he popped it open.
“You want me to what? In the dark?” he had said. But, in about ten minutes, he found it. She’d made sure her husband was truly rewarded for his hard work. She’d dropped to her knees and taken him into her mouth, performing her first blowjob.
Oh sure, many boys had asked, but before Running Wolf, the thought had been gross to her. The camera clicked again as she took another picture of the waterfall. Her sex life was going to be interesting.
“There you are.” Running Wolf slid his arms around her and pulled her back against his chest, placing a kiss on her neck. “Weren’t you told not to wander off by yourself?”
She slid her hands around his neck, staring up at his handsome face. “I’ve decided to take all the pictures of things that are beautiful on our ride, starting with our honeymoon night. I want our children to know how precious our world was, at least the parts we didn’t destroy. If we get a chance, maybe we can do a before and after.” She shrugged. “When we stop for a break, I’d like to buy some more cameras, if that is okay with you?”
He placed his chin on top of her head. “I have no problem with that. I’ve got the bike packed and the rest of your stuff is in the truck. Sir, you ready?”
Tears forming in her eyes, Kizzy slid out his arms. It was still early morning, and the sun had just risen, but already she could tell the difference in the land as if it was rolling under their feet. “Do you know if any of the townspeople have left?”
He ushered her toward the bikes. “I think about half of the town has taken our warning seriously. You’ll be happy to know those who considered you a friend are moving north. The baker, nursery owner, that coffee shop lady. I told each of them where we will be going yesterday.” He stopped beside his bike. “We’re driving through town on the way out. Are you going to be okay with that?” he asked, brushing a strain of her hair back.
“I’ll be fine as long as I have you and my family next to me.”
Running Wolf placed the helmet on her head. “This has a two-way microphone in it so we can speak to each other. Dark Horse and Sun Bull will hear us also. They will be right beside us as we ride out. Has your family already started out?” He donned his helmet and climbed on the bike, holding it steady while she joined him.
“Yeah, most of them are heading toward Canada, but the he-men of my family insisted on going with us.”
“Let me guess. Your brother?” Running Wolf lifted his hand. Everyone around them started their bikes. “Your uncles and some of your cousins.”
Kizzy wrapped her arms around him tight, feeling the vibrations o
f the bike. “Okay this is almost as strong as my…” Her face heated. To her left, Dark Horse was grinning like a fiend. “Never mind.”
Running Wolf squeezed her leg as they pulled out on Highway 224. She looked over her shoulder once more at site of her magical wedding night.
“It will always be in our hearts, and we have your pictures to help us remember,” Running Wolf said as if sensing her mood.
“I know, but it feels like part of me is being left behind.” She rested her head on his back, watching as they drove through town. Half the businesses were closed, and Kizzy swore that the remaining business owners were glaring at them. “Do you get the feeling we are not welcome here anymore?”
“It will only get worse now,” Running Wolf said as they finally moved out of the town and headed toward a new destination.
Kizzy took one last quick glimpse back at the city that had been her home. The buildings behind her shook. “Running Wolf do you feel that?”
“Yes, it seems it’s starting already. Hold on.” The wind ripped by as they raced away from the doomed city. Her heart sank as the three-story bank building swayed and started to crumble.
“It’s almost as if she waited for us to leave,” Kizzy murmured.
“The Great Mother is giving us a chance, and we must listen and watch for her signs, now more than ever.”
After leaving 224, they drove for two hours. No one said anything much as they drove down I71 until Running Wolf pulled off at an exit with a coffee house. Kizzy slipped off the bike. “We’re going to have to find a hotel with a hot tub when we stop.” She took her helmet off, shaking her head, hoping she didn’t have helmet hair.
“We won’t be staying at a hotel. We’ll be camping out, Little Gypsy. But I promise to rub you down.” He took the helmet and kissed her hard. “Did I mention I can do amazing things with my hands?”
Her face heated as she remembered the number of times he’d slid his fingers into her.
“You remember last night.” He nipped her lip. “Let’s get something to drink and some food before we take off again.”
Kizzy placed her hand into his, noticing the small store across the street. “I’d like to run over there. Would you order me a large coffee with double cream while I check it out?”
“I’ll come with you.” Running Wolf waved Sun Bull over. “Get us two large coffees and some type of scones if they have any. Blueberry?”
“Blueberry would be great.” She squeezed his hand.
Her brother and Stephan followed them to the store.
“Shopping already?” Mason teased, and she slapped him.
“I want cameras to take pictures so we’ll remember,” Kizzy said as Running Wolf opened the door for her. She stepped inside.
“Hey, I was only kidding.” Mason placed a kiss on the top of her head as she adjusted to the light in the store. She took in all the homemade things. Her brother was right. She would have bought many things in this store.
Kizzy stopped at the postcard rack. “Perfect.” She selected five cards from the rack showing the town they were in then approached a rack of handmade quilts. A stunning dark-green and blue one called to her, and she stroked the soft fabric.
The saleslady approached her. “My grandma just finished that one today. Said someone coming here would want it. I’m Nella Greenleif, and over there is my grandma, Bertha.” Kizzy lost track of the conversation, her eyes glued to the scene on a small TV mounted on the back wall.
The woman moved to stand next to her. “It’s so sad. That whole town gone. From what they have been saying, over seven hundred may have been killed.”
A strong arm wrapped around her. “Do you have everything? I want to get on the road as soon as possible.” He kissed the top of her head. “There was nothing we could have done.” He grabbed the quilt she had been touching and headed to the counter.
“Hey, you don’t have to do that,” Kizzy said, grabbing several cameras from a display rack.
Running Wolf laid the cameras and postcards on top of the quilt. “Yes, I do. My gift to you.” He kissed her forehead as the older woman grinned at them both.
“You need this, too,” the older woman said, laying a pink-and-purple baby blanket next to their purchases.
Kizzy stared. “What?”
“You will have a cute little girl soon. She’ll need this.” She put their items in a bag and pushed it toward them.
“But…”
Running Wolf placed his hand on her back. “Thank you, ma’am. How much do I owe you?”
“Hey, I’m paying for this.” Kizzy tried to step around him, but Running Wolf held her at his side.
“You are my wife, and I take care of you as it should be.” He pulled out a credit card, but the woman waved it away.
“No, this is for you, my gift. We will be meeting you later. I already have my granddaughter and son packing. We’ll be leaving next week for Canada.” The old woman took Kizzy’s hand and squeezed it. “We are bringing three families with us and are canning all our produce and will ship it all up there before we go. We will be there to help you both.”
“You thought we would be the only one to hear the Great Mother.” Running Wolf bowed his head to the woman. “We thank you for your gift and will see you in a few weeks.”
“Do you believe her?” Once outside, Kizzy placed her hand on her stomach. “Could I be pregnant already?” she asked, stumbling over the curb.
Running Wolf grabbed Kizzy around her waist, keeping his wife from falling flat on her face. Behind them, Mason snorted.
“You’ll have to just wait to find out, but at least we know what you will be having.” Stephan opened to the door to the coffee shop.
Running Wolf took a deep breath, enjoying the scent of fresh coffee. “I hate to say it, but this is one thing I will miss.”
Her face scrunched up, and he could almost hear the wheels turning in her head. “I have an old coffee pot Mom and Dad used over the campfire. Maybe we can get some canned coffee and tea to store.” Kizzy spun around and headed back outside. “I need to go to the bike.”
“What are you doing?” Running Wolf followed her.
“I need my pad of paper. It’s in my backpack.”
“A pad of paper?”
“I always carry a pad of paper, a small notebook with me. Everything is so up in the air, I am afraid I’ll leave my head next.” Kizzy opened her backpack and pulled out her purse. “I’m afraid if I don’t write things down, I forget them.”
“Come on, Little Gypsy. Let’s get our coffee,” Running Wolf said.
They settled at a table by the window where, for the next thirty minutes, Kizzy showed him her little notebook-calendar.
“Little Gypsy, what is this payment thing you have noted each month? It says hospital? Were you in the hospital?”
“It’s nothing, just something I’ve been paying on, but it’s almost paid off.”
Her brother caught her gaze. “I don’t remember you being in the hospital. Answer your husband’s question.” Mason grabbed her book out of her hand, flipping through it.
“Give that back. You have no right.” Kizzy reached for it, but he held it out of her reach.
Running Wolf snatched the book from her brother, daring him to say anything. “Now, tell us what happened, please.” He handed her back the little book.
She stuffed the book into her purse and tore her scone apart, stuffing a piece in her mouth. “It was about two weeks after Mom and Dad died and the first time I was on my own. I wasn’t paying attention to those around me at one of the rest stops when one of those crazy people found me. I got roughed up a little bit. Let’s just say I was lucky the police rode in, but I ended up in the hospital overnight.”
“Why didn’t you call me?” Mason was furious.
Kizzy shrugged. “All my life everyone had been protecting me. I needed to handle this. Plus, I wasn’t staying there. I was just driving by the city, so I really didn’t see any reason to call. A coup
le cracked ribs and bruises I can deal with. You had your own problems getting your family situated.”
Mason took her hands. “Little sister, I don’t want to lose you. When Mom and Dad were killed, I knew I had to make sure I didn’t lose you, too. Don’t do that again. Something happens, you tell us.” Mason glanced at her husband.
“There will be no more secrets, right?” Running Wolf said as Sun Bull came back into the dinner. “Eat up, Little Gypsy. The bikes are all filled, time to roll out.”
“I’m done, a scone and a half is enough for me. Let me run to the bathroom first.” Kizzy stood up and stretched. “Now you guys can talk about me.” She made her way through the throngs of his people and the locals.
“That one is going to have to be watched always.” Soaring Eagle came up to him and patted his shoulder. “But she has a heart of gold.”
Chapter Fifteen
“The first day my wife stands beside me, we look towards the future with nervousness, but together we can face anything.” Running Wolf, President White Buffalo MC
Kizzy ground her teeth and glared at the nutcase in front of her. She would never be allowed to take a walk by herself again if this jerk wouldn’t allow her to pass. “Please, sir. My husband and family are waiting for me. Kindly step out of the way,” she asked for the sixth time.
The creep had one front tooth missing, greasy hair, a bald spot on the top of his head, and dead eyes. He took a step toward her, and she backed up. “You’re the one sent for me,” he said before reaching out and trying to grab her arm.
“I don’t think so.” She yanked away and kicked the man square in the balls, sick and tired of the creeps thinking she was there for them. When the man dropped to his knees, she scooted around him, but he grabbed onto her leg, bringing her down.
The air rushed out of her chest, and her head hit the floor hard. “Running Wolf,” she yelled, tired of this crap and this man who was now grabbing her ass. “Get off of me!” Kizzy tried to kick the man again, but he covered her legs, his stinky breath on her face.
Hunger of the Heart (White Buffalo MCs Book 1) Page 9
