How long would it take for Dell to get all her supplies up to Montana? More than a week and her limited options might have her making a trip to wherever they might actually have art supplies.
Parking her car, she grabbed her stuff and set it up before sitting down and unrolling the fabric with pockets where she kept her paint brushes. Digging out a half drunk bottle of water, she dipped the bristles of her medium brush and sat with her back to a tree. Before her, a bed of flowers were starting to bud and she determined how much she wanted to capture.
When she was in a place like this, all else around her faded away and she continued on her painting without another thought of anything. Mixing the colors, she had to imagine what the garden would look like in full bloom. What was before her was just a start. An idea. A base to grow from.
Much like the night before, the start of something more. A place where she didn’t have to check in even when he knew where she was. Wind caught her hair and she used the stick of another brush to hold it in place as she wrapped her hair into a bun.
Right as she was going to continue with her painting, a shadowed figure from above her sent a chill down her spine. Letting out a little yelp, startled as she caught sight of a stranger. At this point, she should be used to men in heavy boots with rough faces, but this man was different. First instincts were often tamped down by social etiquette.
A lady is gracious at all times.
Only this time she didn’t want to be. The man made her nervous. Clive had made her stomach uneasy at first, but she didn’t want to be rude. She wasn’t that person anymore.
“You belong to the Steel MC,” the gruff voice of the man standing over her stated as if it were a fact.
Why did it feel as if she were being held down like a bug by the wings? The man wasn’t even touching her, yet the idea of moving made her stomach lurch. “I’m here with them.” Her voice trembled with fear.
Obviously, the leather clad man wasn’t one of the Steels sent to fetch her. There had been so many at first, she’d hoped that was the case when the shadow crossed her canvas. But outside of the fact he wore a leather jacket, nothing about him was familiar. His dark hair hung down past his shoulders, the full beard he sported gave off the mountain man vibe as he stood, hugely over her.
“Let them know we are only going to wait so long then we’ll find someone else to help us out,” he warned her.
Meadow tripped over her response, “I-I—I’m sorry, but—but I don’t understand.”
“Tell them Blood Sport will only wait so long and we’ll move along.” He stepped closer.
Meadow stared up as she recoiled in fear
“But we ain’t leaving the area.” He stalked back to his motorcycle and mounted it.
She now noticed the cadre of men parked on bikes next to the curb. She didn’t hear or see any of them before and that fact alone scared her more. How could she become so lost in her own world to not hear the rumble of bikes? No matter how accustomed she’d become.
The warning screamed in her mind. She didn’t know what to do. Freaky was at a house, but who knew if it was close to the park, let alone in the town? Packing up her things, quickly she got in her car and drove to the clinic. Would it even be open on a Sunday? Should she call Dell? Or someone else? Baldy said he’d be at the garage, but that seemed distant and the last thing she wanted to do was go to the bar and try to weed through who was and was not a Steel.
Relief washed over her as she reached for the door handle and pulled. Inside the clinic, she found a familiar girl, but at the moment all the women melded together, sitting behind the counter.
“Dreamer right?” the woman asked.
Meadow nodded.
“Can I help you?”
Meadow approached the counter. “Can I talk to Roadkill?”
“Can I tell her what you’re here to see her about?” the woman wobbled a pen between her finger and thumb then it tapped on the counter as it bounced.
“It’s personal.” Her voice shook.
The woman leaned in. “It’s a doctor’s office, we do all sorts of personal.”
A lady is ways forthright and honest. Her father’s rules pounded in her brain.
“How about you get off your fucking ass and get Roadkill before I stop being nice and find her myself.” She was nervous about coming here, but she didn’t know where else to go.
“One second.” The woman held up her hands in surrender. “I’ll go and tell her.”
Something annoyed Meadow about the woman. There’s no way she would pull that shit with Dell or anyone else, was she testing her? Well, too bad, because Meadow was scared, unsure and threadbare because too much had happened in the last twenty-four hours. She hadn’t had the chance to settle herself and meditate. She was an animal backed into a corner and that little bitch shouldn’t have pulled out a stick to poke her.
Sitting down in one of the clinic chairs, Meadow’s leg bounced nervously. Part of her was ready to sprint in the back and open every door until she found Roadkill. She needed to tell someone what happened and who else should she go to go, but the President’s woman. Roadkill had to know what to do.
Roadkill walked out into the reception area wearing a set of scrubs and pair of clogs.
The stark contrast took Meadow a minute to recognize the blonde with a look of concern on her face.
“Hey Dreamer, what in the world are you doing here?” Roadkill asked sitting next to her as the receptionist slid behind the desk and messed with the mouse for her computer. “Thought you’d be resting after all the work you did yesterday.”
“You guys don’t rest,” she stated still amazed the world even spun after that party the night before. Meadow was so upset she couldn’t contain the tears that threatened to spill out of her eyes, so she let them go.
Swiping her face Roadkill put her arm around her and helped her get up. “What happened?” she asked as she ushered Meadow down the hall to an exam room and shut the door. “Did Clive come around again?”
“A man came to me while I was at the park. He wanted me to warn the Steels.”
“Okay?”
Meadow closed her eyes to capture all the words. The last thing she wanted to do was say the wrong thing. “He said Blood Sport would only wait a bit for them to decide or they would go to someone else.”
“Why are you so upset? Did he hurt you?” Roadkill held Meadow’s face in her hands and began turning it from side to side then moved down to her arms. “Meadow, this man what else did he say to you?”
“Just that this was a warning.” Meadow took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves. The man scared her, but didn’t do anything else to hurt her. “He said they’d stay in the area either way.”
“Okay, so he didn’t hurt you?” Roadkill helped clear Meadow’s cheeks of tears and finished checking her over.
“No, he stood over me and it made me nervous. I panicked a bit, but I wasn’t paying attention, I was painting so it scared me when he did this.” The words were tumbling from her lips and she wasn’t even sure what was being communicated.
“Okay. I have to tell Red. No one should have approached you. Especially, another MC with a warning for our club. I don’t like what he did. This shouldn’t have happened.” Roadkill held tight to Meadow’s hands. “It is not allowed, at least he didn’t touch you. We never want you to feel anything but safe when you’re with us, Dreamer.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t want to cause any problems.” Meadow instantly felt bad. Roadkill was upset and she felt like she had started something.
“It’s not you. Are you okay to go back to the trailer?”
Meadow nodded. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? I can get you an escort.”
“No, I’m not—this place…”
“Takes a bit to get used to,” Roadkill assured. “Trust me, I had to make decisions and choices early on that I reflect on now and think, how did I do that? Now, I couldn’t live in the regular world where you
have to let shit slide.”
“And be a lady.” Meadow sighed.
“Hey, we’re ladies, just not ones that put up with shit because we have men that will stand behind us if it gets too deep.”
Roadkill walked Meadow out of the clinic and to her car. Scanning the street as she did. “Go to the trailer. I’ll call Maggie and Dell and they’ll meet you there.” Roadkill’s eyes bored into her. “Dreamer, you are safe with us.”
“I’m not one of you.”
“Ah, you are,” Roadkill said with a wink. “I see the way Freaky looks at you.”
“Please,” Meadow replied as heat burned up her neck.
“The only thing I don’t know is which one of you is more in love.”
“It’s been a week.”
Roadkill flipped her left hand around, shining a big diamond in Meadow’s face. “We’ll talk more in three years.”
15
Freaky’s phone buzzed once from the counter top while he was working on a floor. Before he could stand, the phone set off multiple times. Stretching his back, he grabbed his phone to see Red had sent out a group text.
Adding the group he texted, I’ll be there.
They were scheduled for Church at six o’clock. Emergency meetings were never good. Especially, since the other MC’s hadn’t even rolled out of town yet. Something happened.
His plan to go to the trailer and see Dreamer right after work would have to wait until after the meeting.
He hit the hardwood floor board with a mallet and put it in place before grasping another piece and doing the same thing. He wanted to get this floor finished before he had to leave for the day. This house was almost done. Once the floor was in, they could do the cupboards and counter. The kitchen just needed appliances and a little staging. Maybe Dreamer could use her artistic eye to make the place pop.
If there was one thing he’d noticed, the women that stayed were more comfortable once they had a purpose. Roadkill, Lil’ Mama and Preacher Girl all worked at the clinic and not in some shuffle paper way. Lil’ Bit was a damn good mechanic. Cream passed the bar and started helping with all the legal documents that needed to be filed. Free, hell, she worked a pole better than most and still helped out some days at the little day care they were setting up in town.
An hour later, he’d finished the job and admired his handywork. A sense of pride made his shoulders straighten.
The front door opened as Shark walked in and whistled. “Looks good.”
“Thanks. I worked all day on it. We can finish this house by next week.” Finish the house, put it up for sale and hopefully get his cut from the labor. The club would get their investment back plus interest and the three men would split the profit.
“You ready to hit the road. We have to meet with Red.” Shark glanced at his phone. “It’s a fifteen minute ride back to the compound, we only have twenty.”
“Right, let’s go.” Freaky locked up the house and mounted his bike.
The roar of his engine and the vibration energized him. This was his favorite time of the day. The freedom was something he lived for. Only once had he felt more alive, that was in bed this morning.
Pulling up to the clubhouse, he shut off the engine and had to find his bearings to come to the real world. His ride was over and reality was about to hit him. Hopefully, this was about an emergency rescue and nothing more pressing. Those were usually last minute and urgent, but only required a few men.
Shark patted him on the back. “Wish I had time for a shower.”
“No shit.” Freaky walked in behind him and up to the bar.
“Hey Topaz, can we get a beer?” Freaky asked.
“Sure.” She quickly got each of them a bottle.
Freaky twisted the top as he followed Shark to the conference room.
Men were milling around and making their way to the room.
Taking his spot at the table, he sat down and waited. Drinking his beer, the cold amber liquid a perfect end after a hard day of work. He hoped this wasn’t going to take too long he wanted to still have time to go and visit Meadow.
A cold look on Red’s face silenced the room as Red sat at the head of the table and leaned his forearms forward. “Something happened today and we need to make an important decision tonight.”
Baldy spoke up, “What the hell happened?”
Red’s blue eyes stared directly at Freaky, singling him out or sizing him up, like he was ready to take him down if he stepped out of line. “Blood Sport came to the club through Dreamer.”
The room spun as every hair on Freaky’s body rose. His first instinct was to run to her side, but he knew if she’d been harmed, the meeting wouldn’t have been the first place he’d heard of this transgression.
“She was at the park and one of their members approached her and gave her a warning.”
“We haven’t fucked with them why the hell—”
With a swipe through the air of his hand, Red silenced Freaky.
“They wanted a decision from us regarding the guns. They threatened to move on if we didn’t.”
“Let them,” Freaky snarled, no longer enthralled with the idea.
“According to Dreamer, their area isn’t going to change,” Red said. “Blood Sport is here to stay.”
“Is Dreamer hurt?” Freaky leaned forward. His heart had hit his stomach and sitting like a loyal soldier wasn’t helping the situation.
“No, she’s fine. A little shaken and Roadkill calmed her down. She went home and as far as I know, stayed at the trailer the rest of the day. Dell and my mom went to check on her, but she didn’t want people around. Someone should go and check on her, bring her some dinner.”
“I’m going over there right after this meeting,” Freaky announced.
“What are your intentions with her?” Red asked.
“I’m not sure. Why?” Freaky didn’t want to think about that right now.
“She came here as a rescue. That carries a heavy weight for every member.” Red leaned forward staring at Freaky. “Just wanted to know our girl is safe around you too.”
“She’s good. You think I’d ever intend on hurting her? Not my thing.” Freaky tapped the table.
“Steel and Hawk both told me about that ex,” Red said. “He ain’t going to take no. If she’s staying, not moving on with the Hard Road, then we need to adjust for her safety and Porsche’s.”
The anger and fear from the morning discussion with Porsche weighed heavily on Freaky’s mind. She was a good woman. One who’d been allowed to be free and was now, trapped somewhere in the clubhouse. That, he had to own because he didn’t want to let Dreamer go. “If she’ll have me and feel she has a place here outside of by my side, I want to claim her,” he said.
The room shifted as men shared judgmental glances.
“Fuck you all.” Freaky seethed at them.
“Nah man,” Shark said. “We’re just pissed because Hack won the pool.”
“She’s claimed, she’s ours,” Red ordered. “We protect her the same as anyone else. Steel and Hawk will transfer the tracking they have on Clive, but that doesn’t help us with today’s situation.”
“Blood Sport, they’re new,” Baldy reasoned and glanced at Freaky. “Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t explain the rules, but we need to assume they don’t understand them.”
“They should have come to one of us, not our women. This is bullshit.” Cass pounded his hand on the table. “I know it’s fresh, but if they’d have stopped Lil’ Mama on the street—”
“I agree. This isn’t sitting well with me.” Red combed his fingers through his hair. “The only way they should come close to our women is with a bill to their G-string.”
“They’re not going away,” Brick said. “As much as I’d like to practice the fine art of demolition, we have an opportunity we didn’t get with the Roadkillers.”
“Gun running, we know we have the skill,” Freaky said. “Nevada has the contacts. It sounds like Blood Sport wants an answer
or their going to move on to someone else and we won’t know what’s moving through our territory.” Upset they went to Meadow, but they didn’t touch her and Baldy had a point, even the way they approached in the bar showed they were shaky on protocols. He needed the extra income, but he wasn’t in the mood to have the threats on the ranch.
“I think we should relook at this tomorrow. I need to sleep on my decision I don’t like how this went down,” Red announced.
“This is bullshit,” Freaky said. “You said after the wedding we’d have a decision and you keep pushing it off because of a feeling. Shit we could run guns without the Blood Sports, but why not have a built in customer?”
Red glared at him, but it wasn’t his woman that had been approached. He wasn’t the one wanting more, he had the nice house, a comfy job and sat at the head of the table. The weight of the responsibilities aside, the man was sitting pretty.
Freaky’s jaw tightened. “Don’t want to deal with the Blood Sports, fine, let’s cut out the middle guy and go with the pipeline that Nevada uses. Either way, we’re making cash now, not in three months to a year.”
“I’m not making a decision today.” Red pounded his fist on the table.
“I second the decision, Red has come up with. Let’s meet tomorrow and we can figure this out,” Baldy agreed, but gave Freaky a look. “Until then, no women on their own.”
“Agreed,” Red said. “Escort all club women to and from destinations. We’re not taking any chances.”
The club hadn’t decided shit in Freaky’s opinion. This was pure bullshit and he was pissed. There were other guys that he could see didn’t agree with Red. They needed a decision and they needed it now before the Blood Sports go to someone else and competition started. They fucked up by approaching Dreamer, but they did respect the Steels enough to come to them first.
Baldy tapped him as they left the room. “Hey, before you head out to check on your girl, let’s talk.” Baldy ducked into a room.
Freaky followed.
“The thing you gotta know about Red is he’ll cross lines when needed, but he’s got his mama around. Roadkill and now Harlow, he hates being called a hero, but needs to be one. Ya get me?”
Dreamer: Book 7 of The Steel MC Montana Charter Page 16
