by ML Mystrom
I felt a tingle at the back of my neck and looked up into Table’s soft gaze. His eyes touched me and I was drawn into them. Something was changing in me. No, not changing. I was rediscovering a part of myself I’d thought I’d lost. I had already noted my admiration of this man as a father and as a grandson. I had seen his abilities once as a lover. He had laid out his concerns that night at the creek and instead of giving me the boot, he had given me his vow of protection. Now I found myself looking at him as a man worthy of my trust. I found it exhilarating and a bit terrifying; this was a new feeling and I didn’t know what to do with it.
Table seemed to sense something was happening with me. Something monumental that he didn’t quite understand, but was a good way to be. His solemn face transformed as he nodded and winked at me.
“Truck’s loaded ’n’ ready. I ain’t doing no fancy lunch. I need to get on back to th’ house an’ check on Carol.” Martha’s dry voice pierced the air. She seemed blithely unaware of the magnitude of what had just happened. Then again, if a sudden tornado had just whipped through the market, leaving behind broken stalls, piles of debris, and injuries, I’d bet every last hoarded dollar I had that the first thing out of her mouth would be, “Whelp, we got work to do. Let’s get to cleanin’.”
“All right, Nanny. Can you take Angel home for me? She’s needs a change and a nap. I’ll unload the truck when I get there in about an hour or so.”
Martha grunted, which he took to mean “yes,” and he loaded the sleepy child into the car seat that was kept in the back of the extended cab. Table had another one in the back of his truck’s cab as well.
Home. I was starting to use that word more and more about these people. I had mixed feelings about that. I wanted a home. I wanted to have a place where I belonged and that had space just for me. There was that possibility here, but in giving me that place, there was a risk they didn’t know about. If they did, would I still have a place?
My brain spun in circles as we drove into downtown Asheville to go to a local brewery restaurant, Wicked Weed. We had to park in a crowded parking garage, as finding a street space for Table’s big truck was an issue. Ditch and Connie had ridden Ditch’s motorcycle and didn’t have any trouble finding a spot close by.
We sat on the patio despite the chilly air. I didn’t particularly like cold weather, but it didn’t seem to faze the other three. There were several heaters on the patio, which helped. Music was played quietly over outdoor speakers. We took more time ordering beers than we did burgers, as the selection of different beers was huge.
Table handed me a menu. “Get whatever you want, baby girl. If you can’t make up your mind, try a flight. I’m only having one seeing as I’m driving and I gotta work later. You got big plans tonight?”
I wondered if this was a trick question. “An exciting night of housework for Martha and Carol, followed by laundry and maybe a date with a book.”
“Hmm, you’ve got it as good as I do. Next free night, we’ll go for a ride if it ain’t too cold for you.” He tapped a few beer selections on the menu to the hovering waitress.
A flutter clenched my stomach, but I didn’t freeze up at the thought of riding on the back of a motorcycle. The beers and food came quickly, and the conversation turned to other subjects. Ditch and Table talked about bike rides, rallies, the River’s Edge bar, some place called the Lair, and other members of the club.
“I heard Mute got hisself an old lady. Nurse down at the hospital,” Ditch said, draping an arm around Connie’s shoulders. It seemed if he was anywhere in proximity to her, he was going to be touching her. Connie didn’t seem to mind.
“Yeah, he did. Fucker deserves some happiness in his life.” Table took a sip of the beer he had ordered.
“No doubt about that. Heard tell Stud’s down as well. Word is he’s got a bun in his lady’s oven. Never thought I’d see that brother settle down. Too wild for women, the skankier the better, but as I’ve been told, he’s completely and totally done for.” Ditch took a healthy swallow of a darker brew.
Table’s face changed a bit. “Yeah, Stud’s a lucky man.”
I wondered what that meant, but Ditch kept going.
“Word is Blue’s having trouble again with his ex. Finally got rid of her. A real bitch, that one! Shoulda scraped her ass off long ago. Still fightin’ with her sorry ass from what I hear.” Ditch sniffed and poked a french fry into a pond of ketchup on his plate.
“Give him a little credit, man. He’s got two kids by her and was tryin’ to make it work for their sake. Man’s got more at stake than his pride when it comes to his children.” Table swallowed a big bite of burger. “I know better ’n most about trying to make it work.”
Ditch looked both ridiculous and contrite with the red sauce smeared across his face. “Sorry, brother. I forgot you got troubles like that.”
“I had trouble like that. Tamara is long gone. I have no idea where she went or who she’s with now.”
I couldn’t help myself. “Did you love her?” My voice was small but my words seemed to jar him. He looked at me, those beautiful brown eyes deep and honest.
“I thought I did. Love dies with betrayal.”
There wasn’t much I could say after a comment like that that. We finished up, said our goodbyes, and left. Table led me back to the truck and opened the door for me to climb in. The silence in the cab was uncomfortable and he turned on the radio for a little noise. Country music filled the air, but I only listened with half an ear. Table sensed the change in me and wisely stayed silent the rest of the drive.
Back at the farm, Table and I quickly unloaded the truck and put away the heavier stuff that Martha couldn’t manage. I went to my room and he went into the big house to spend more time with his daughter before he had to go to work. After he left, I spent an exciting Saturday night mopping a kitchen floor and scrubbing toilets. The ladies were by no means sloppy in their living habits, but dirt still happened and needed to be cleaned.
Angel was a gem as always, cooing and rolling around on a giant blanket on the wood floor in the TV room. Carol was eased back in her recliner, covered with several of her knitted afghans and watching some entertainment gossip show on the giant flat-screen TV. Martha was puttering around the house, trying to find something to do with her hands.
“Opening night at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra featuring rising opera star Genevieve Blandford. Her voice is incredible!”
“Yes, indeed it is! What do you think it’s like to be that young and talented?”
“I don’t know, but check out her husband, Victor Blandford, in the front row balcony.”
“Did you notice Senator Townsend is attending? He’s one of the big supporters of the arts through his daughter-in-law’s foundation.”
“I’m surprised to see him here with all the hullaballoo on the hill. The senator is making other news now with the scandalous investigation of his finances. The search is on for his son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey Jr. and Vivian Townsend, since their family foundation is part of the investigation. The authorities are saying they went to South Africa on a humanitarian and philanthropic mission for the Townsend Foundation and haven’t been back in the country for over a year.”
“Rumors are abounding now, Phil, since a picture has surfaced on social media of Jeffrey Townsend piloting a speedboat around Rio De Janeiro. Sources say that he has been seen in the company of several fashion models, but no one has seen Mrs. Townsend with him yet.”
“Hmm—that bears for speculation, eh?”
“It sure does, Phil, but tonight we’re here for some wonderful music. The curtain to the season is about to rise, folks!”
My palms started sweating around the mop handle I was pushing across the linoleum kitchen floor. I could see the TV screen from my position, and though the picture was now of the two hosts, the photo they’d shown was burned into my brain. A handsome man, his tanned chest shiny with sweat or oil, in an expensive-looking boat with
the wind blowing his dark blond hair back. He was smiling a brilliant white smile and wearing dark sunglasses. Next to him was a thin brunette woman in tiny strips of cloth some may call a bikini. She was also wearing dark sunglasses. Two perfect people. The camera’s date stamp stated the picture was taken only a week ago. My heart pounded and the blood roared in my ears.
The spell broke when the image changed again to the home shopping network. Two women were extolling the virtues of an immersion stick blender and I blinked at the sudden change.
“What the hell happened to the TV?” Martha yelled from a back room.
“It’s time for the kitchen stuff for sale.” Carol shifted her mound of yarn blankets to the side. “Imma gettin’ some tea.”
“The floor’s wet. I’ll get it for you.”
I shuffled on the wet linoleum and nuked a cup of water in the microwave.
A few minutes later, Carol took the steaming mug from my hand. “Oh, that’s wonderful, dear! We’re so glad to have you here.” The old woman took a cautious sip of the hot brew and settled back in her chair. Angel cooed, waving her hands, and heaved herself over onto her stomach. She was getting more and more active. It wouldn’t be long before she figured out how to crawl. I put the news piece to rest as I eyed a few of the lower shelves and the knickknacks that would have to be moved and stored someplace else.
I helped Martha bathe Angel and get her ready for bed. The soft baby scent wafted to my nostrils as she curled up in the pretty white crib, her round diapered bottom stuck straight in the air, secure in the love this household had for her.
Later, in my bed, I remembered the photo of the playboy and his model. My head churned and I got up to check the lock on the door. I lay awake for the rest of the night, staring at the ceiling until the pale fingers of dawn crept through the windows. Someday. My mind cycled the word over and over again. Someday.
Seven
I found out how fickle North Carolina weather could be at Thanksgiving. One week, it was cold, wet, and snowy, and the next week the temperatures had risen up to over seventy degrees and the skies were as bright and sunny as a summer day. I’d spent the last few days on double duty, cleaning houses for the upcoming holiday with Connie and helping Martha and Carol prepare their big holiday meal. Instead of using the ovens in the kitchen, Martha had lined up a bunch of huge mismatched Crock-Pots to roast a variety of different meats. Wild turkey, deer, beef tips, and a couple of gigantic hams were all bubbling away on the counters in the kitchen. Outside, Table and some of his cousins were setting up folding tables and chairs that had been unearthed from the storage building. Some of the people there were from the Dragon Runners, wearing their club insignias. Table had laughed when I called them vests and informed me they were called “cuts.” Martha huffed and simply stated, “They’s all family here.”
Everyone brought a dish of some sort. It seemed like the women and a few of the men were in competition to see who could make the best of the best of homemade foods. Vegetables, casseroles, salads, breads, and a small mountain of desserts were spread out over the plastic-covered tables. I was glad that the weather had changed, as I was sure this many people and this much food would never have fit inside the house and maybe not the small church either. As it was, Carol said the blessing over the food as it was being set out and people served themselves buffet style.
Table looked like he was having the time of his life, walking around and greeting people with Angel, dressed up in a turkey onesie, in his arms. He wore his own Dragon Runners cut over a black Henley, worn blue jeans that molded his behind into something special, and his heavy black boots. His bald head was bare except for the dark sunglasses he had perched on top. Every inch of him declared him to be a baddass biker, and I was hyperaware of him all day.
“Martha tells me you’ve been a big help to them this fall.” An older man came up to me as I was moving casserole dishes around on the table to make room for more. I couldn’t remember his name, but I knew he was one of Carol’s sons.
“They’ve been good to me and I’ve learned a lot about maintaining a garden.” I heard Table’s laugh and glanced up to see him standing next to a blonde woman—the one I’d seen him with my first night at the farm. A thread of jealousy ran through me as I watched the easy way Table acted around her. Charlotte was her name, as I recalled, and the sudden spurt of possessiveness caught me off guard. Then I saw another Dragon Runner come up to them, put his arm around the woman, and tilt her head back for a long kiss. Her hand came up and caressed the man’s cheek and I spotted the flash of a diamond on her finger. Table didn’t flinch or get angry. He laughed even louder and seemed happy to be shaking the man’s hand in a congratulatory movement. Charlotte smiled and nodded, her eyes on the man who was obviously her fiancé.
“I’d say you’ve been good to all of us. Them two women are stubborn as hell about this farm and keeping it going. It’s too much for them sometimes, but James is a good one. Makes some trouble sometimes with his biker friends, but still a good man to have at your back.”
My ears burned a little. “Trouble?” I asked, trying to sound casual and only semi-interested in the answer.
The man shrugged and flopped his hand dismissively. “Nothin’ big. Just rowdy sometimes. Got into some fights ’n stuff like that. He was a wild one back in high school, but the military straightened him out right quick. Did a couple of tours in Afghanistan before coming home. Still had some trouble, but managed to keep his nose clean. Pretty amazing he’s turned out to be the way his is even after his upbringing.”
I wanted to ask more, but a loud roar sounded, grabbing everyone’s attention. Two large motorcycles carrying two people each came rolling down the gravel driveway. I saw Table out of the corner of my eye throw back his head and let out a howl. Angel looked startled at the noise, but instead of crying she raised up a tiny hand and popped her daddy in the mouth. I stifled a giggle. Table looked up, walked over, and pushed Angel into my arms before dragging us both to meet the newcomers.
A woman dismounted from one bike and removed her helmet, shaking out her long curly ginger hair. “See? I told you it was this driveway! But noooo! The big studly man can’t take directions from a woman! Took two wrong turns and three double backs before you finally listened.”
“Ease up, Cactus.” The man laughed as he dismounted and removed his own helmet. He was one of the most handsome men I’d ever seen, with gorgeous long blond hair and Chris Hemsworth blue eyes. “You know men don’t ask for directions. I told you we’d find it eventually. You feeling okay?”
“No, I gotta pee again and needed it done twenty minutes ago, ya stubborn feck.”
“Love you, Eva.”
The woman stopped her tirade and her face became tender. “Love you too, mo rún. Now where’s the bathroom?”
“Straight up in the house, darlin’,” Table directed as he approached the quartet. The ginger-haired woman hugged him briefly before making a beeline to the white building. “Stud! Glad you made it, brother! Great to see you.” He extended his hand to the Viking god and they pulled in for a man hug accompanied by several back slaps. “I heard Eva’s pregnant. What’s she doing on the back of your bike?”
Stud shook his head and laughed. “It was either that or she was gonna ride her own. By all means, brother, if you think you can stop her, have at it. Doctor said it was safe for her to ride since she’s used to so much physical labor, and she’s taken that seriously. Short of tying her to the bed, I can’t get her to slow down much.”
Table grimaced. “Better you than me, brother. I think she made the right choice when you finally pulled your thumb out.”
“Asshole!” Stud said, smiling as if it were a term of affection, and lightly punched Table’s shoulder. “Had to rub it in, didn’t you?”
Table turned to the other couple. I shivered at the dark look of the ginormous man dismounting from the second, heavier motorcycle and taking off his own helmet. His long black hair was held back in a ponytai
l and his glowering countenance could freeze someone to the spot. His menacing air was only broken by the petite brunette who slipped under his huge arm and curled into his side, completely comfortable and sure of her welcome.
“Mute! Kat! Great to see you both!” Table approached the scary giant. “I see you gave up the brain buckets and finally got some full face shields.”
They repeated the man hug and back slaps. Mute didn’t say anything, but Kat thanked Table for the invitation and said that she had some of Betsey’s barbeque in the saddlebags for him.
“It’s been in the freezer since the Halloween picnic, and probably thawed on the way here, but I’m sure it’s still good,” Kat stated.
Table acted like she just handed him a bar of gold. “Oh, Katwoman! If you ever decide to trade up and leave this brute all you have to do is bring me some of Betsey’s barbeque and I’ll take you on.”
Kat laughed lightly at the joke while Mute all but growled.
Table shook it off. “I’m messin’ with you, brother. Come meet my best girls.” He gestured to me to come closer and my heart fluttered for a moment. He took the baby from my arms to present her to his friends. “This is my little girl. My little Angel,” he said with pride. “This is Lori. She’s been helping out around here for a while now.”
“Nice to meet you, Lori.” Kat extended her hand for me to take. Mute didn’t say anything, but gave me a sharp nod. From what I gathered about his name and his demeanor, he couldn’t talk. Someday, I might know that story.
“Glad to meet anyone who can put up with this bunch! I’m Eva.” The ginger-haired woman had returned. I couldn’t tell that she was pregnant, but I could tell that she was a strong woman. Not only in attitude, but physically. I was afraid if I tried to shake her hand she would break it just by being friendly.
I noticed all of them had cuts with the same Dragon Runner symbol as Table’s, with the exception that the women had “property of” patches sewn above the names of their men. I didn’t like it. The concept of a woman being the property of a man was appalling to me, but as I watched the interaction between Eva and Stud, it was hard to recognize her as being property. She stood toe to toe with him throughout the day, and he seemed to love every minute of it. I watched the silent Mute take care of his Kat with a tenderness that belied his don’t-fuck-with-me appearance. These were truly devoted people. Table told me in passing that these were two of his closest club brothers from his home chapter in Bryson City. I could hear the longing in his voice as he spoke of the people there. Betsey and Brick, Taz and Tambre, Cutter and Molly; all of those names passed over his lips with respect and I knew he missed this part of his life fiercely.