Gambler

by KJ Dahlen

  The dog didn’t make a move against her but he watched everything she did.

  Cricket chose to ignore the dog and concentrate on Dusty and his thinking place. Looking around, she couldn’t help but admire his taste in thinking places. Turning toward the young boy, she smiled. “Nice place you got here.”

  “Do you really think so?” Dusty grinned at his aunt’s praise.

  “Oh yeah, I can totally see it.” Looking upward, Cricket could see where the trees formed the canopy. An idea popped into her head and she gasped and decided to run with it. “You know what? I can totally see a tree house up there.”

  Dusty frowned. “A tree house?”

  Cricket nodded. “Oh yeah. See up there where the trees all come together? That would be the perfect spot. What would make it even better would be to camouflage it. That way anybody just out walking, would even see it. You could be up there and no one would know it. It would be perfect.”

  Dusty’s shoulders fell. “But I can’t build a tree house.”

  “No that’s true enough but your dad and uncles could build it for you. They would make it safe enough to hold up,” She offered her suggestion.

  “But if they come here this place won’t be secret no more.”

  She hooked her finger under his chin and gently pulled his face up to hers. “Didn’t your dad tell you that if you told someone where you were going he would respect your need to come here?”

  “Yeah, but how did you know that?” Dusty frowned.

  “Your dad and I had a long talk. We needed to clear the air between us. I was mad at him for hurting you and he was mad at me for keeping him away from you. I was all ready to take you back but he made me see that you belonged with him. But I told him not to hurt you again or I would be taking you back.”

  Dusty’s face lit up. “You did? Did you mean it?”

  “I meant every word. That’s when he told me about the deal he made with you about this place. I love you kiddo and I don’t like to see you hurting.”

  Dusty chuckled. “Yeah, my dad says you’re worse than a mad mama bear about me. That’s not so bad.” He paused then looked around the area. Looking back at Cricket he asked, “Do you really think he’d build me a tree house here?”

  Cricket smiled. “I don’t see why not. It’s a very good place.”

  They were interrupted by a man who suddenly appeared at the edge of the trees. He was tall and an older man and he was carrying a shotgun.

  Cricket grabbed Dusty and pushed him behind her.

  The man stopped and studied them. Then he smiled gently. “I ain’t gonna hurt you. I was out hunting my dog there and finally found him.” The man stepped forward and rubbed ole Blue’s ears.

  Blue groaned at his master’s touch and Cricket relaxed.

  He grinned. “My name is Wes Wylde. I live on the other side of these woods.” He turned to stare at his dog. “Ole Blue has been disappearing every day for a good long while so I decided to try and find him. I didn’t realize he was coming here to keep you guys’ company.”

  “He was keeping Dusty company,” Cricket offered. “I just found this place today.” Holding out her hand she told him, “My name is Cricket and this is my nephew Dusty. This is his place.”

  “Do you mind if I sit?” Wes asked.

  “Please.” Cricket motioned or him to join them. “I wasn’t sure if Blue would bite or not.”

  He looked over at the dog and boy whose legs he was laying on. Wes grinned. “Ole Blue won’t bite nobody who doesn’t deserve it. I do believe he’s protecting young Dusty. He doesn’t like that the boy is here all alone.”

  Cricket smiled. “Yeah I get that but this is Dusty’s thinking place.”

  Wes nodded. “I’ve heard of those kind of places. Even had me one of them when I was a kid.” He chuckled slightly. “When you grow up with eight brothers and sisters, there are times when you just need to be alone, even if it’s just to think for a moment.”

  Cricket nodded. “Yeah, I only had one sister but sometimes it’s good to be alone.”

  Wes sat there and looked around the woods. In the distance, he could see the top portion of the chain link fence that surrounded the compound. He glanced over his shoulder at Cricket then seemed to make up his mind about something. “You know there are a bunch of bikers a short ways away from here. Will you and the boy be safe?”

  Cricket smiled. “Yeah, I think we’ll be all right. We live with the bikers.”

  Wes nodded slowly. “I see, my mistake then. I guess I’ll leave you to it.” He went to get to his feet.

  “Please feel free to stay with us.” Cricket nodded. “My husband is one of the bikers and he’s a brother to Dusty’s dad. They are in the construction business. The Moore Brothers, have you heard of it?”

  Wes nodded. “Yeah, almost everyone in this town has heard of the Moore Brothers. I work for the Morgan Brothers Hot Rods garage. I’m a mechanic.”

  “They all belong to the same club.” Cricket grinned. “I think with them on one side and you on the other side, Dusty and I will be just fine.”

  Wes nodded at his dog. “Don’t forget ole Blue. He’s a blue tick hound and once they take a shine to a person, they’ll protect them to the death. Ole Blue’s been a good protector for the boy.”

  Cricket tipped her head to Blue. “Then I thank you Blue.”

  Blue crept closer to her and licked her hand.

  She rubbed his head.

  Wes chuckled. “Looks like he’s got you to protect now too.”

  Cricket chuckled then turned to Wes. “I was just telling Dusty that this would make a great place to build a tree house.’ She pointed above them.

  Wes looked up into the canopy and searched out the place. “Yeah, I think you could be right about that. It could be hidden up there real good.”

  Cricket nodded. “I told him he should get his dad and uncles to camo it, that way he could hide up there, and no one would know you were there.”

  “True enough.” Wes nodded. He paused then looked at Dusty and finally he moved his eyes to Cricket. “You might want to warn his daddy, there might be more than one wolf in these woods. I found tracks in the dirt the other day.”

  Cricket stiffened and looked around carefully. “I’ll tell him, thanks.” She smiled down at Dusty. “Maybe we should head back. I’m sure Molly is ready to go crazy by this time. The babies were sleeping when I left but I’m sure they’re awake by this time. You know how crazy she gets when she’s left in charge.”

  Dusty chuckled, “Yeah, Grandma can’t handle three of them. Not the way you and me can.”

  “Three babies?” Wes frowned. “Are you running a daycare or what?”

  Cricket laughed out loud. “Or what. I gave birth to triplets about six weeks ago.”

  Wes whistled. “Bet that was a surprise for you.”

  Cricket nodded. “I was expecting two but got three so yeah, a little bit of a shock but they’re all healthy and growing like weeds, so it’s all good.”

  Wes chuckled. “And that’s why God gives babies to the young.”

  “Do you have any kids Mr. Wes?” Dusty asked.

  Wes nodded. “Yeah I got a couple of them. But my kids are all grown up now. Got a couple of grandkids now too. A boy Will, he’s three and a girl Kylie, who just turned nine. Well, if you guys are walking back maybe I’d better go as far as the fence with you. Just to make sure you get there ok.” He got to his feet and held out his hand to Cricket. Pulling her up she murmured her thanks and Wes tipped his head. “My mama didn’t raise us to be heathens.”

  Cricket nodded. As she turned to see if Dusty was ready to go, she noted Blue was staring at something beyond the trees.

  Wes swung his shotgun around to a shooting position and he was watching Blue too. “Come on Miss Cricket, we’d better move you and the boy closer to home,” he suggested in a way so as not to frighten Dusty.

  As they all moved through the woods Cricket got the feeling there was something mo
re than just them in the woods. The hairs on the back of her neck were standing up and she could feel a pair of eyes burning a hole between her shoulder blades.

  Each step she took made her think she was taking her last walk. When the fence was in her vision, she never felt so thankful in her life. This might be the last time Dusty went through this particular gap

  She would have to tell the guys about this and soon, before whoever was out there found his way in. She had a feeling she knew who was watching her now.

  When she slipped through the gap, she turned to Wes. “You be careful going back. The woods aren’t safe right now.”

  Wes smiled gently. “I’ll be ok. I got ole Blue and my shot gun.” He hesitated then added, “I’ve heard a bike in the woods and tracked bike tracks where they shouldn’t be. Maybe you should keep an eye on the boy. If bad is coming, you don’t want him caught in the crossfire.”

  Cricket nodded. “I will do that. The whole compound will watch over him.”

  Wes nodded. “Then I’ll leave you to it.”

  Cricket watched as he disappeared back into the trees. Then she turned and caught up with Dusty. On her way to her house, they passed the parking lot. She saw Sam and Deke’s bikes parked there. Turning to Dusty she said, “Go on ahead. I’ll be right behind you. I just have to stop here for a moment.”

  Dusty nodded and ran ahead.

  Chapter Eight

  Cricket pushed the door of the clubhouse open and stepped inside. The air was cooler in here than outside but that’s not what she was there to think about. She needed to warn Deke about the fact that Sinner hadn’t gone anywhere but was watching the compound and they should repair the gap in the fence line. If she could get through it to get outside then he could use it to get inside.

  That would put everyone in danger, not just her or Paige.

  She saw Bones and Deke sitting at one of the tables and she walked up to them.

  Deke looked up and noticed her. Looking over at his dad, he turned back to stare at her. “What’s up Cricket?”

  “You have a gap in the fence line and we may have someone watching the compound.”

  Sam frowned and looked at Deke. “What do you mean? Someone watching the compound?”

  “I followed Dusty to his thinking place today. He went through a small gap in the fence and went about five minutes into the woods beyond the fence. It was all good until an older man came walking over to where we were sitting. Dusty had made friends with his blue tick hound and Wes was looking for his dog. Seems his dog has been disappearing on him the last week or so and Wes wanted to know where he was going. We sat there for a few minutes then the dog alerted to something we couldn’t see. Wes brought us back to the fence and warned me that there were other things than wolves in the woods. He hinted that he’d heard a bike in the woods and he tracked bike tracks.”

  Deke sat up in his chair. He stared at her for a moment. “And you think its Sinner, don’t you?”

  Cricket nodded. “I’ve been feeling edgy lately, like someone is constantly watching me. Quite frankly, it’s beginning to freak me out.”

  “What’s this guy’s name again?” Sam asked.

  “Wes Wylde, he says he works for the Morgan Brothers garage. He’s a mechanic.”

  Deke glanced over at his dad. “That’s Mountain’s shop. Yes, Wes helped us out a while back. I remember him well.”

  Sam got to his feet and walked down the hall. “I’ll give him a call and check it out.”

  “We might need you to show us where Dusty’s place is at. We’ll want to search the woods too,” Deke informed her. “If you and Wes are right, we might have to go on lockdown until this bastard is caught.”

  “And if you can’t find any trace of him in the woods?” Cricket asked.

  “Then we’ll stay alert.” Deke stared at her for a moment then added, “Maybe you should keep Dusty inside the compound until we either catch this bastard or kill him. We really don’t want him to take Dusty hostage now do we?” The last part of his statement was a little short spoken. “But trouble seems to follow you around like a shadow doesn’t it? And it’s always someone else that has to clean up the mess your sister left in her wake.”

  Cricket frowned as she stared at the other man for a moment. “Have I done something to piss you off?”

  Deke glared at her. “Now what would make you say that?”

  Cricket shrugged. “For some reason, you seem a little hostile toward me. I was just wondering if there was a reason for that or not.”

  “There could be,” Deke admitted as he glared at her.

  Cricket waited to see what was wrong now. Staring at Deke, she didn’t notice Bones had joined them until he barked out Deke’s name. She twirled around and found him behind her glaring at his son.

  “You know we can’t ask her without Raine being here. Don’t do this boy,” Sam barked at his son.

  She looked from one to the other and then back to Deke again. “Ask what you want to know. Who knows I may even have an answer for you.”

  “I just got a call from Guenther again.” Deke growled as he stared at her, watching her every move.

  “Let me guess...” she told him instinctively. “He wants to know if there’s any money left.”

  Deke just stared at her.

  Bones went back over and sat down beside his son. “Well is there?”

  Cricket felt tears stinging her eyes but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of letting them go. “To tell you the truth I don’t know. Before we left town, she made me hide most of the money. I know I only told you she took two thousand but in fact, there was a lot more than that. She gave me a bag and told me to hide it where no one would find it. She said that was hers for the future. I never was told what was in the bag but when I got to where I hid it, I looked. It was a lot of money and a flash drive. I asked her about what was on the drive and she told me she didn’t know and didn’t care. She just wanted the money hidden in a place nobody but us would know where it was. Sort of a secret stash in case we needed it later on. So I did what she told me to do, I hid it. I learned the hard way a few times to follow orders, if I didn’t she would beat the hell out of me then force me to do what she wanted to anyway. So I have no idea if it’s still there or not.” Cricket’s shoulders slumped a bit. Then she looked at Deke with empty eyes. “Tell him if no one has found it yet, it’s in the seat of the confession booth, on the priests’ side of St Mark’s Church on Havor Street in My Holly. It was the closest area I could get to that night. I didn’t have a whole lot of time nor could I go far away, from where we were staying. I didn’t have my license yet and Cordy wouldn’t let me have to car, so I had to go somewhere close to where we were staying. Lucky for me the Priest was busy with Bible study down the hall. I could hear him talking to a group of people.”

  She began walking toward the door when Deke called out, “Thanks Cricket.”

  She turned then and he could see her tears. “Next time, just ask me. You don’t have to look at me like I’m the dirt on the bottom of your shoes.” Then she got mad. “I’ve had that look all my fucking life. Whatever she did, I caught the blame for. More times than not she would use my name without my knowledge or consent. Well, guess what? I never wanted to leave my Dad’s MC in Maine. But no one there cared if me and Cordy lived or died apparently.” She stared at Bones, then again looked at Deke. “I didn’t take the money and I didn’t set Sinner up to take the fall in Mt. Holly. Any more than I hurt or killed Hammer in the next town, we went to. Even now, years after she’s gone, she’s still stirring the pot with her sins I’m being made to pay for. I’ve done all I could to earn your trust and I am done doing it. So, next time, at least do me the courtesy of giving me the benefit of the dammed doubt. You know... since it is me that brings you so much trouble and all.” She went out and slammed the door.

  Deke didn’t say a word and neither did Sam. They just watched as she left the clubhouse.

  “She’s right you know,” Bones
said quietly. “You should never have blamed her for this.”

  Deke ran his hands down his face and sighed. “I know. I know. Dammit! I just am so sick of this shit continuously haunting and endangering our family. I’ve been worried that Guenther would come here and start some shit. We don’t need that. Damn her anyway,” he swore.

  “Cricket?” His dad frowned. “Now son, that is just wrong.”

  “No not Cricket, Cordy! That bitch is still causing trouble and she’s been gone for a couple of years now.”

  Bones snorted. “Not likely. Cordy made sure of that. I didn’t know back then that she didn’t want to go with Cordy back in Maine ya know? After her dad died.” Sam ran his hands along his jaw. “I should have seen it but I just didn’t care at the time. We had some shit or another going down with the club at the time, then they were gone before I got my head straight. She’s right about that.”

  Deke got to his feet along with Sam. “We all dropped the ball when it came to Cricket. We did it when she left Maine and we did it again when she came here. We did treat her bad because of what Cordy did without giving her the benefit of the doubt.” Deke ran his fingers through his hair and looked down at his dad. “Come on, we’d better check out the fence line. We sure as hell don’t need unwanted guests.”

  “Better call Raine and Gambler too. They’ll want to know about this.”

  Deke nodded and reached for his phone. “We’d better get Zipper busy installing more cameras too. I want eyes in the woods so we can see this mother fucker if he’s out there.”

  Twenty minutes later, several bikes rode into the compound and once they were in, the main gate closed behind them. Deke had ordered it closed and locked so they didn’t get unwanted company. Not that a gate would keep Sinner out if he really wanted inside.

  Raine and Gambler drove straight over to Raine’s house and when they got off their bikes, they could see the doors and windows closed off. Usually, the windows and doors were open to the breezes but not today.

  “Damn, I wonder what happened now?” Gambler asked.