by Dawn, M. K.
“God gave us one child.” Patty leaned back in her chair. “And bless her heart, she can’t keep her mouth shut.”
Makayla had a reputation for being a gossip, and as one of Britney’s closest friends, they talked a lot. “It terrified her to think she might lose her father and knew I would understand.”
Patty’s eyes softened. “We were all scared. A week after the initial treatment, we went back for his follow-up and found out Thomas had been given the placebo. Heartbroken isn’t a strong enough word.”
Britney faced Thomas. “The experimental treatment didn’t work?”
“It did work!” Patty nearly jumped out of her seat. “It worked so well that all the placebo patients received a dose. We go back in a month for a follow-up.”
“That’s crazy.” Britney knew a little about drug testing since her sister was a surgeon. “A week seems pretty fast to determine if a drug is safe or not.”
Patty cupped Thomas’s cheek. “I’m so grateful. God has smiled down on the world with this amazing gift.”
Britney opened her mouth to ask about side effects when John’s firm hand grasped her leg.
She looked up at him and he shook his head. “Let it go.”
“Who’s hungry?” Tammy arrived with a tray of food in hand.
“Meeee!” Molly squealed.
“Toys away,” John told the kids. “Should I take them to wash their hands?”
“No point.” All three of them had already dug into their food. “A few germs never hurt anyone.”
John snorted. “If Sloan heard you say that….”
“That would require her to visit, which I doubt will happen anytime soon.”
A raspy cough broke through Thomas’s belly laugh. He pounded on his chest for a second and cleared his throat. “Sorry about that. Food must have gone down the wrong pipe.”
“Does that happen—” Before Britney could finish her sentence, boisterous laughter filled the room.
The entire dining room turned to stare at a group of bikers being taken to the back party room.
“Those guys are awesome. Their leather jackets are so cool.” Carson’s eyes widened. “I wonder what kind of motorcycles they ride.”
“Fast ones,” Blake said with the same awe. “Can we go see them?”
One man in particular caught Britney’s eye, younger than the rest with jet-black hair and a five-o’clock shadow. A few tables over, a group of ladies swooned as he walked by. Britney didn’t see the appeal. He scared her; they all did. Maybe it was her overactive imagination, but there was something about bikers that sent a chill down her spine.
“Mom!” Carson shouted, drawing her attention away from the group. “I’m done. Can we go check out their motorcycles?”
“Yeah!” Blake pointed out the window. “There are so many of them. I like the one with the flames.”
Molly scrunched her nose. “I hate motorcycles.”
“That’s because you’re a girl.” Blake stuck out his tongue. “And motorcycles are for boys.”
“Is that so?” a woman said.
The kids froze, and Britney turned around. A tall woman, head shaved and covered in countless tattoos, stood behind her.
Britney’s breath hitched. “I’m so sorry, ma’am. They meant nothin’ by it.”
The woman smiled. “You don’t get many of our kind in these parts, do ya?”
“Um.” Britney turned to John, but he was on his phone talking about cattle, oblivious to what was happening a foot away. “Mostly just people passin’ through. There’s not much to do around here.”
The woman took in the room. “It shows.”
Britney hadn’t noticed before, but everyone in the dining hall had halted their conversations and were staring at them. It was this sort of thing that gave small towns a bad name.
“Can I help you guys with somethin’?” Britney barked at the room. “No? Then mind your own business.”
Heads snapped away and conversations picked up. Probably all about her, but at least they stopped staring.
The woman snorted. “Thanks. You happen to know of a hotel around here that can handle our group?”
They were staying the night? Interesting. “There’s a motel off Main Street. Few blocks over, right at the streetlight. Can’t miss it.”
“Thanks again. And you, little lady,” the biker addressed Molly. “There ain’t a damn thing in this world that’s just for boys. Excuse my language.”
“That’s okay.” Molly beamed. “Our mommy says lots of bad words.”
Britney glared at the pint-size traitor. “Molly.”
“My kind of people.” The woman patted Britney’s back. “Have a good one, folks.”
“Same to you.” John waved as she walked off.
“Oh, now you can speak. Where were you when I needed help?”
John laughed, a hardy sound that warmed her heart. “Honey, we all know you can take care of yourself.”
CHAPTER TWO
Axel tossed back the remainder of his beer and set the mug back on the counter.
“Want another?” The bartender, Jed, continued drying the glasses that had just come out of the dishwasher.
“Nah.” Axel pulled a twenty from his wallet and tossed it on the bar.
Jed rotated around with a grin. “Only two beers today? Did I do something wrong?”
Axel chuckled and scratched at the stubble on his chin. “Day drinking isn’t a sport I play too often these days. It takes a toll on this old man.”
Jed threw the dish towel over his broad shoulder. The man looked more like a linebacker than a barkeep. “Old? Your ID says you’re thirty-five.”
“There are different types of old, my friend.” Axel shook Jeb’s hand. “Thanks for the hospitality.”
“You guys heading out already? Dammit. Going to be losing my best customers in years.”
“Not till Sunday morning.”
“Well then.” Jed took back his hand. “It’s only Friday afternoon. Chances are good I’ll see you back here tomorrow.”
Axel and the other bikers had been stuck in this small town nearly a week. The meteorologist said the rainfall had been record-breaking. And even though the storms had moved out early yesterday morning, the flood waters hadn’t receded enough for them to get the hell out of this place.
“The others, maybe. Not me. Riding while hungover isn’t my idea of fun.”
“I hear ya, man.” Jed went back to drying the dishes. “Have a safe trip.”
“Thanks.” Axel left the bar and squinted as the harsh sunlight hit his eyes. After five days of clouds and rain, the sun, while welcomed, hurt like hell.
He dropped his glasses from his head to the bridge of his nose and took in the small town. The locals were out in full force, strolling the streets, having lunch, grocery shopping. They were everywhere but the bar, which was why he’d spent the past few days there throwing back a couple of cold ones and watching ESPN. The barkeep didn’t ask questions like the others around these parts.
Across the street, the white church was setting up for some kind of festival. In the middle of the dozens of women was the hot redhead from the restaurant last Sunday. She’d put the entire place in check when she caught them gawking at Queenie. Most people in the small towns they’d passed through wouldn’t have bothered. It meant a lot to Queenie and the others that the woman spoke up in their defense. Least he could do was say thanks.
Axel checked the streets for traffic, which he had yet to see since arriving, and jogged across. A few ladies smiled as he passed. Most turned away, their cheeks flushed.
He wasn’t a hundred yards from the redhead when a woman stepped in front of him.
“Hello there, stranger,” the bleached-blond cooed. “How can I help you? I’m Susan Boyd. I’m the one in charge here.”
“I’m just checking things out.” He peered over Susan, who stood way too close for comfort. “Actually, I wanted to speak to that woman over there. The one with the red
hair.”
Susan threw back her head and huffed. “Britney Campbell? Do you know her or something?”
Axel took a step back. “No.”
“Then why do you want to talk to her?” Susan tapped her foot.
“Uh—”
“Susan,” a woman called from across the parking lot, “we have a hayride issue over here.”
The vein in Susan’s neck pulsated. “Imbeciles.” Then she plastered a smile on her face and squeezed Axel’s arm. “Come by tomorrow, honey, won’t you? We’d love to have you.”
Axel had no words. All he could do was nod and watch the crazy woman storm off.
“That’s what we call bein’ Susaned,” a southern woman said. “Washin’ the ickiness off is the hard part.”
“What?” Axel jerked his head toward the sound of the voice. The redhead, Britney, stood a few feet away, brush in hand and white paint all over her jean overalls.
“The way you were standin’ there, all confused. She has that effect on everyone.”
Axel blinked a few times. “What the hell’s wrong with that lady?”
“She’s a ragin’ bitch.”
He couldn’t help but laugh. “So it’s not just gawking at outsiders in restaurants that excites people here?”
“Excuse me?”
“Sunday.” He’d expected her to remember. Everyone else in this town seemed to know who he and his friends were. “You were talking to my friend, Queenie.”
“Oh.” Her eyes widened. “I didn’t recognize you without the….”
“The what?”
She brushed at her lips, smearing white paint all over her mouth and cheek.
He reached out to wipe the paint away, but she flinched back. “What are you doin’?”
“Sorry.” He pulled his hands back and held them palms toward her. “Not trying to grope you, but you have paint all over your mouth and cheeks.”
Her face flushed. “Shit. I have to go.” She ran off in the direction of the church.
Axel followed, feeling bad for embarrassing her, but stopped just outside the entrance when he noticed how big of an audience he had attracted. He should go back to the motel. Small towns like this loved gossip, and a stranger talking to a clearly married woman would probably cause a stir. On the other hand, he should apologize for reaching out to touch her face. The last thing he wanted was to be labeled a creeper.
Britney came out a few minutes later, clean-faced and rubbing her brow. “Why are you still here?”
“I’m Axel, by the way.”
“Axel?” She cocked her head. “What the hell kind of name is that?”
He shrugged. “What can I say? My parents were both bikers. And an axle is a—”
“I know what an axle is.”
“Sorry. You’re Britney Campbell, right?”
She brushed past him and headed down the stairs. “I’m married.”
“That’s great for you.” He trailed close behind. “And I’m sure your husband is real proud.”
She whirled around. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” Were all the women in this town crazy? “I mean, you’re a lovely person and all—”
“Why are you here?” She waved her hands outward. “Here. In our town. You and your little biker gang.”
“Biker gang?” He chuckled. “Is that what you and this insane town think of us?”
“We’re not insane! But you have to understand, the majority of this town has been here for generations. We all know each other. Strangers who look like you and your friends are….”
“Care to finish that sentence?”
She peered over her shoulder, her face flushed. “I have to get back to work. The rain has screwed everything up. We have to set up in the parkin’ lot because it’s too muddy. The booths, which of course are my job, aren’t even out of storage yet. Susan is already runnin’ her mouth about that. What was I supposed to do, set up the wooden booths in the pourin’ rain?”
Axel scanned the area. “Where are all the men?”
Britney’s brow furrowed. “Why?”
“I’m guessing the wooden booths are heavy.”
“Listen.” She held up a finger. “I run a cattle ranch. Carryin’ a couple of booths is nothin’ compared to what I do on a daily basis.”
“I believe you. I just thought if you were running behind, you might need some help.”
She fiddled with her bangs which sat just above her green eyes. “Why? Are you offerin’?”
“Uh.” Was he offering? That wasn’t why he’d come over, but he had nothing else to do. “Yeah. Sure. Direct me to the storage building and tell me where you want them.”
“Around the back. It’s open. Taped lines on the asphalt mark where they go. All you have to do is line them up.”
“No problem.”
Her eyes fell on him, and then she quickly turned her head with a frown. “Uh… thank you.”
“See?” he called out to her as she walked away. “Bikers can be nice guys too.”
***
The sun was long gone before Axel finished setting up all the booths. Not only were they heavy as hell, there were a shit-ton of them. After the third, he ran back to the hotel to grab some of his buddies to help. It would have taken him all night to get those things out of there if he did it alone.
He found a bench and plopped down, laying his head back on his weary shoulders and closed his eyes.
“Axel?”
“Hey.” He rubbed his eyes and straightened as Britney approached.
She handed him a beer. “Where are the others?”
“Thanks.” He grabbed the bottle and pointed across the street. “They hit the bar.”
“You didn’t go with them?”
“Noooo.” He took a drink. “I can’t keep up.”
She sat beside him and crossed her legs. “Seriously? How old are you?”
“Why is everyone around here so focused on a damn number? There are other ways to age besides a birthday.”
“Yes, there are.” She took a long drink of her beer. “I’m sorry about earlier. Susan’s been on my ass for weeks about this fall festival. And she’s been tellin’ the other women in the congregation how bad I’ve been screwin’ up. They already look down on me. I don’t know why I even care.”
“Why do they look down on you?” From what he could see, she was by far the hottest of the bunch.
“They all went to college, partied, slept around, got fancy degrees while I came home, got married and started ranchin’.”
“Couldn’t hack it?” He smirked.
“My father died.”
Axel bent over on his knees. “Fuck. Sorry.”
“It’s fine. I dropped out of college and came home, because my sister was still too young to live alone, and the farm couldn’t run itself.”
“What about your mom?”
“She died when I was sixteen. Breast cancer.”
He hung his head, knowing all too well the pain cancer caused. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“A year later, Sloan, my sister, left for college. I was pissed. After all I sacrificed, she just up and left. But it worked out for the best. John and I got married shortly after, had a few kids.” She took another pull on her beer. “I don’t know why I’m tellin’ you all this. I just came over to give you the beer and say thank you for all your help.”
“You’re very welcome.” He tapped his beer to hers, leaned back and draped his arms over the back of the bench. “I’ve also been told I’m an excellent listener.”
She stood and drained her drink. “I’m goin’ to go.”
“Should you be driving? I mean, you just told a stranger your life story.”
“After one beer?” She tossed the bottle in the nearby trash can. “I’m not drunk, just don’t know when to shut my mouth. I’ll see ya around, Axel.”
“Hey,” he called out to her as she walked away. “We aren’t a biker gang. We’re on a charity
ride.”
“What’s that?” She moved closer.
He didn’t know why he felt the need to explain, but he didn’t want her to think they were a bunch of criminals. “People donate money based on how many miles we ride.”
“Oh.” Her eyes brightened. “What’s the cause?”
He swallowed hard. “A little girl who died of leukemia a few weeks back.”
“Jesus. That’s awful. Were you close to her?”
“Yeah.” His chest tightened. “She was a great kid.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
He couldn’t help but smile. “We’ve been saying that—‘I’m sorry’—a lot.”
“I blame my mother.” The corner of her mouth twitched. “Anyway, I need to get going. The kids are probably starving.”
“I’ll walk you to your car.” He stuck his hands in his pocket. “Since it’s dark.”
“Truck.” Britney laughed as she made her way toward the line of vehicles parked in the back. “You’re in Myrefall, Montana. The safest damn place in the entire world. Nothin’ excitin’ ever happens around here. This is me.”
He held open her truck door. “My mother taught me if it’s dark, you walk the woman to her car.”
She climbed in and started the engine. “Too bad I don’t have any single friends.”
He sucked in a sharp, audible breath through his teeth. “I’m pretty sure I’m not a small-town kind of guy.”
“Never underestimate the length you’d go for the love of the right woman.” Britney slammed the door. “Have a good night, Axel.”
He stood there and watched her drive out of sight, his mind spinning. For a second, he considered what it would be like to live in a place like this. With a woman like that. A ridiculous notion he would have never thought twice about until now.
***
Axel wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped out of the bathroom. The local news played silently on the TV. He’d fallen asleep with it on.
The news switched over to traffic, and Axel turned on the sound.