Lost MC (The Nighthawks MC Book 4)

by Bella Knight

  “Best ventilation we’ll ever have,” she said. He laughed.

  Tito found them, chatting away as Inola installed hooks where she wanted them. “Chow’s on,” said Tito.

  He held out two bags. “Barbecue.” He handed over the pulled pork sandwiches and small bags of chips. “David’s an amazing cook. We were going to start calling David ‘Cookie,’ but we were afraid he’d shut down the chow line.” Henry laughed. Tito took two sodas out of his pocket and went back over to the house.

  “That man will eat us out of house and home,” said Henry. “He can eat three of these himself.”

  Inola laughed. “The kids and a house mother is coming next week.”

  Henry goggled. “They barely got it framed and roofed! They’re installing doors and windows now.”

  “And that’s why I’m here,” said Inola. “Don’t want to get in the way of the electricians and plumbers and HVAC guys. Drywall goes in soon.” She washed her hands with a wet wipe. “Besides,” she said. “It’s my damn barn.”

  He laughed, then looked down. “Great floor,” he said.

  “Rubber pavers,” said Inola. “I got them to order extra for the other barn. Like it better than the asphalt.”

  “We just move the horses in here…” said Henry.

  “Fix up the other barn with the new pavers, and move them back. Easy,” said Inola. She bit into her sandwich. “Wow,” she said. “Can David move in?”

  Henry took the question seriously. “He has discussed it with me. I have agreed.”

  Inola remembered to chew, to swallow. “Excellent,” she said. “We need him.”

  “We do,” said Henry. “But, he is very cruel, making me do chores. Walking, sweeping. Dusting.”

  Inola laughed. “Chores as physical therapy!”

  Henry pretended to be affronted. “I can still use a broom.”

  Inola looked at him. “We’re getting help and work at the same time coming in.”

  He sighed. “I must ask. Are we running a business or a nonprofit?”

  “A nonprofit,” said Inola. “Bella told me how they’re busy at Dirty Vegas because they’re having a rally for scholarships for foster kids, and to pay for housing for them. We should work with our people, but can we get some foster kids aging out of the system, too?”

  “Not a lot of call for ranching as a profession,” said Henry. “And we’re way out on the res. Res kids, sure. They’ll be used to our lives, want to do it.”

  “There’s more cutting-edge things on the table,” said Inola, finishing her sandwich. “This isn’t good farmland, but we can grow crops indoors. Vertical farming, it’s called. The LED lights are pretty cheap, and the new ones use ninety-percent less water. It will be good for the res, for the environment, and great training for the kids.”

  Henry finished his sandwich and chips, meticulously cleaned his hands, and stared up at the ceiling. Inola put away the trash and left it in the doorway. She came back.

  “It isn’t traditional,” he said, “but it’s smart,” he said. “It can be very good for the res, for all our people.”

  “It won’t cost that much if we use PVC pipes,” said Inola. “Or trays. We just need plank shelves for that.”

  Henry smiled. “I am perfectly capable of researching this,” he said. “It would seem I can’t walk around so much just yet.”

  “Speaking of hanging out in front of computers, I planned to work on my classes tonight,” she said. “We’re losing the light anyway.”

  Henry nodded. “I’ll need Arrow,” he said. She smiled and went for the horse.

  Transition

  Lily finished the last entry, sat back, and rubbed the back of her neck. Callie popped in. “Can I talk to you?” she said.

  “Shouldn’t you be getting home?” asked Lily.

  “Waiting on Ivy,” she said. “Ivy wants me to cut my hours here, and let the new ladies Trish and Amalie do their thing. She also says she’ll be hiring one more, probably.”

  Lily pointed to a stack. “Wanted to hire three; told Jessa I’d be calling her. Was waiting on Ivy to talk to you. All the ladies are experienced, all know how to hustle. We’ve got enough work and tips for them. Also, you’re under Ivy’s insurance, and these girls need a crack at it.”

  Callie flashed a smile and nodded. “It’s just that… it’s new. I know how to sling booze. Working with two kids, yes, fine. But a whole classroom?”

  “I’m going to go with a weird piece of advice I heard once in a podcast by an ex-teacher, the one that makes stick figure videos. You know the dog whisperer guy?”

  “Yeah,” said Callie. “Been using his videos to train Daisy, not that she needs much training. She’s a real-good dog.”

  “Watch the videos before you go to sleep, a little at a time. They’re real-good for figuring out how to, very gently, get people to do what you want.”

  “Good to know,” said Callie. “So, we’re good?”

  “I’ll text Jessa now,” said Lily. She typed out a text message. She put the phone down, saved her file, and shut down the software. Just as she picked up the deposit envelope, her cell phone beeped. Lily looked at it and laughed.

  “What does it say?” asked Callie. Lily showed it to her. “This is Dirty Vegas. You’re hired. How does 2pm tomorrow sound?” Lily had typed.

  “Woo hoo! I’ll be there!!!” Jessa had typed back.

  Callie pushed out her lower lip. “And here I was, worrying about putting you guys out. And you’ve already replaced me.”

  Lily gave her a hug. “You are a mom. While there’s nothing wrong with waiting tables, wouldn’t a job that involved less running around in circles be good for you?”

  Callie laughed. “I hate to tell you this, but teaching involves running around in circles, too. But without the beer.” They both laughed.

  “Hey!” said Ivy, coming into the office. “Get your hands off my woman!” All three women laughed. “

  “Just fired your honey, and hired Jessa,” said Lily. “Get her to bed so she can teach tomorrow.”

  “They really need me,” said Callie. “Henry is better, but it looks like he might not be coming back.”

  “That’s not a bad thing,” said Ivy, shooing the women out, turning off the light, and locking the door. “He was retired before, but we sucked him back in. He can retire again, and concentrate on the ranch.”

  “Doesn’t that create a whole lot of work for you?” asked Lily.

  “No more so than for Ace,” said Ivy. “Besides, we have help, with Gregory and Katya, and Tito and the rest. And, we don’t take so many rides in winter.”

  “Besides,” said Ace, coming up behind them. “We’re working on Henry and Inola’s youth/horse project. We gotta work fast; we got people coming in next week.” He locked the door behind everyone.

  Ivy scanned the parking lot, looking for threats, and waved to the Iron Knight keeping an eye on their back door. She walked toward their bikes, all lined up and ready to go, next to Callie’s little car.

  “Fuck!” said Ivy. “I forgot to put money in the basket for the horse ranch kids.”

  “We’re making a Wal-Mart run next week and Costco,” said Lily, naming several big box stores in the area. “We’ve raised seven hundred dollars so far.”

  “And I’m making the pods,” said Callie, proudly. “Kids love having their own bunk bed pods. In fact, I’ve been asked to do them from moms and dads at the school who have seen pictures of where Grace and Hu sleep.”

  “Make ‘em pay you,” said Ace. “The parents, not the Inola/Henry thing.”

  “Already on it,” said Callie. “My girls are getting a college fund.”

  “Let’s go, woman,” said Ace, kissing Lily. “We’ve got a bank run to make before ice drinks at Sonic.”

  “Damn you,” said Callie. “I gotta get the girls.”

  Ivy laughed. “Do a run, get what you want. Meet you at home.” She kissed her and followed Callie’s car out into the street. They separated
at Sonic.

  Ivy stumbled in the front door, and nearly tripped over the dog. “Sorry, Daisy,” she said.

  She took her for a quick walk, then back to the house. She prepared the kids’ lunches for the next day, cutting out the sandwiches with the biscuit cutters, just as Callie had shown her, and made little skewers out of the fruit, apples, bananas, strawberries, and grapes already cut up in little containers. She put in yogurts and was right on time for the stampede of little girl feet on the stairs. She hugged and kissed them, made sure they brushed their teeth and supervised getting them into night clothes. Callie read them a story, then both women headed for the bath.

  Ivy drew a deep bath and got in first. Callie slipped in beside her with an audible groan. “My God,” said Callie. “Nothing like a hot bath for a sore back and tired feet.”

  Ivy cradled her feet, washed each one, rubbing her feet. Callie groaned. She worked her way up each leg, moving to her thighs. Callie laid back, and let go. Ivy turned her around, washed her hair, then put her back, using facewash on her face, and delicately washed her ears, then her neck. She flipped her over, washed her back, her buttocks, and flipped her over again to wash her thighs. Callie took Ivy’s hand and had her stroke her breasts, then her thighs. Ivy put one hand on her breasts, and licked and sucked each one, taking her time. She slid her fingers into Callie’s moist center, finding the sweet spot inside that made Callie arch her back, thrash, and moan. Callie laid limpid as Ivy washed and conditioned her own hair, and scrubbed herself.

  Ivy drained the tub, helped Callie out, dried her, blow-dried her hair, dried herself, and put her wife in a cami and underwear, and put her in bed. She partially dried her own hair and put it in twists, put on a cami and silk shorts, and slipped into bed. She put her arms around Callie and slid into sleep.

  In the morning, Callie fed the girls, letting Ivy sleep in. Callie pounded out several lectures, taking notes, while the girls created “stuffed animals” out of paper and shredded recycled newsprint. Ivy came out and received the caramel drink with great joy.

  “My God,” she said. “You’re whipping through those classes, aren’t you?” She kissed Callie.

  “Trying to,” she said. “On my copious downtime, I’m going to write two papers.”

  “You rock, baby,” said Ivy, eating some fruit in a bowl, as opposed to eating them on sticks. “Want me to do anything?”

  “Nope, dog’s walked, pictures sent to Hu’s mom, everything is copacetic.”

  “Okay,” said Ivy. “Have a great first day at work. Lily wants me to do the Wal-Mart thing today to get all the sheets and bathroom stuff for Henry and Inola’s thing; says it might as well get done.”

  “Have fun,” said Callie.

  “We need anything?”

  “Nope,” said Callie.

  “Weird,’ said Ivy. She put on her boots and pounded down the stairs.

  She hit up Wal-Mart, finding the sheet sets in a rainbow of colors, and followed the suggestions of people with large families to get everything in one color, from sheets to towels, toothbrushes to trash cans. She went with red, green, yellow, pink, blue, mint-green, ice-blue, black, white, silver, gold, orange, pale lemon, and burgundy. She scanned all the items and took the registry to the customer service desk. She paid for all the items, keeping just under Lily’s upper limit, and had it all delivered to Henry’s farm. Then, she headed to work.

  Henry took a stroll around the front porch, delighted that he didn’t need the railing to hold onto. Arrow was happily munching in the paddock and eying the new rescue horse. Jumper showed no sign of jumping but was also falling in love with Jeffrey Bearclaw, causing some jealousy issues with Chenoa, the other gray rescue mare.

  A white truck emblazoned with the Wal-Mart logo drove up to the house. “Henry Nighthawk?” asked the driver, a round-faced young man with pasty skin and enormous biceps.

  “That’s me,” said Henry.

  “Delivery from somebody named Ivy.”

  Henry smiled. “Must be for the dorms. Bring it into the living room.”

  He read the bill and laughed out loud at Ivy’s trick of color-coding. He signed for the shipment. He took out his pocket knife and slid open the boxes, counting everything. The white truck drove away.

  David came out, saw the loot, and gaped. He realized Ivy’s color coding scheme, and laughed.

  “Whose idea was it to use a color system?”

  “Ivy,” said Henry.

  “Your white daughter,” he said. “She has her father’s intelligence.”

  “Yes,” said Henry, “she does.”

  There was a knock on the door. David leaned on the entryway between the kitchen and the den; Henry snorted and headed toward the door. A man stood there, long hair caught in a clip near the bottom. He had a strong, Apache face. He was wearing leathers and steel-toed boots.

  “Henry,” said the man.

  “Yes,” said Henry.

  “I am Nantan,” he said. “The Iron Knights spoke to me about your vertical farm.”

  “I will go out,” said Henry. He nodded at David and walked through the house to the back door. “You want a soda or water?” he asked.

  “A cola,” said Nantan.

  Henry stopped, and David passed him two colas. He gave one to Nantan.

  “Thank you,” he said. Henry nodded.

  They went out the back and sat in the Adirondack chairs. “I am a biologist,” said Nantan, “specializing in Native crops. I have many useful seeds.” He popped his Coke and drank.

  Henry drank as well. “That sounds good,” he said. “I was deciding upon a simple system or the more complex one from the people in New Jersey.”

  “The ones in New Jersey are expensive to start, but they use far less water and power. I saw a windmill and solar panels on my way in; you already went to green power.”

  “I agree,” said Henry. “But the cost is prohibitive.”

  “You may be able to get federal funding,” said Nantan.

  “Already? Wow, you are helpful,” said Henry. “What have you been doing?”

  Nantan sighed. “I was an agricultural specialist in desert farming and started to get into vertical farming. I was sidelined by alcohol. I have been sober, two years. I worked at a large farm, but then lost my job nearly nine months ago.”

  “Why?” asked Henry. “The economy?”

  “I am too Indian. I am Apache.” He sighed. “My former employer was very christian. He discovered that I was seeing a man, and it took little for him to fire me. I have been looking for work since, working anywhere I could find.”

  “I do not yet have a system for you to oversee,” said Henry. “I don’t even have a building. The barn is for rescued horses and the dorms are for Paiute young people to finish their GEDs and to learn animal husbandry, and building, and farming.”

  “Are there abandoned barns near here?” asked Nantan.

  “Several,” said Henry.

  “Then, you can simply move an existing building. Or, build a modular building.”

  “I would like to investigate moving a building,” said Henry. “We can pour the foundation near the dorms while the workers are still here.”

  “Is there a really old barn, built before 1900, anywhere near here?” asked Nantan.

  Henry thought a while. “In the next county, but relatively easy to get to,” he said. “The property is owned by an elderly person that would be happy to earn extra money by selling the barn.” Henry clapped his hands and took out his phone. “We must arrange for a flatbed truck, and to get the foundation… Martha? It’s Henry. How much do you want for us to buy and move your old barn?” Nantan smiled, hearing the woman exclaim on the other end. They agreed on a price.

  “Done,” said Henry. “Your salary will be terrible because we will spend much to get this started.”

  “If I could have a room in the dorms and three meals and drinks, I would be satisfied. I have no debt and no children. I shall be satisfied for some time with that
arrangement. I would like some money for gas and maintenance of my Harley.”

  “Done,” said Henry. “You may choose to move into Inola and Bella’s room. Inola will move into the house. The apartment is above the barn.” He stood. “Now, we have to find a good site for the concrete pad.”

  “How large is the barn?” asked Nantan, standing as well.

  “Hmm. Larger than the double one we’ve building.”

  “Excellent,” said Nantan. “Did you want to feed the res, Las Vegas restaurants, or both?”

  “I’ll feed the restaurants for a premium and the res for a rock bottom price,” said Henry, walking around the building. “I must tell you,” he said, “I am recovering from a very serious head injury. I am still somewhat weak.”

  “I have heard of this from the Iron Knights,” said Nantan. “Please let me know if I may do anything for you.”

  They stopped at the paddock. “Jeffrey,” said Henry, waving the edge of his hand. “Our first Paiute resident.”

  “He has the touch,” said Nantan.

  “Yes,” said Henry, leaning on the fence.

  Jumper came to the fence. Henry took a carrot out of his pocket and handed it to Nantan. Nantan fed it to Jumper, who delicately took it out of his hands.

  “Aren’t you a lady,” he said.

  She whuffed his hair. He patted her, and she whuffed again and turned so he could scratch her neck. She sighed in equine pleasure.

  “You’ve made a new friend,” said Henry.

  “She’s a rescue?” asked Nantan. “She has excellent bloodlines.”

  “She was abandoned by rich people who, apparently, lost their riches.”

  “She is lovely,” he said, scratching the mare. She lowered her eyelids in pleasure.

  They ambled along the paddock. The horse followed, receiving pats from time to time. They stopped past the building; cabinets and wardrobes were being moved into the dorms. They walked the land.

  “Here,” said Nantan. “The land is especially flat.”