by Jamie Begley
“Can I have another hotdog, please?”
Rachel ruffled her nephew’s hair while reaching onto the platter to hand him another.
“Rachel, it’s his third one,” Holly reprimanded her.
Rachel could never say no to him; she spoiled him shamelessly.
“Last one, I promise.” Rachel winked at Logan, giving Holly a hotdog to pacify her. Holly threw her a mock dirty look, taking the hot dog to go sit at one of the patio tables they had set up around the pool. Her brothers had hung fairy lights around the area, and with all the food and birthday balloons, the area looked very festive.
“What did you get in trouble for this time?” Lily asked, picking up a hotdog for herself.
“Giving Logan too many hotdogs. It’s a good thing she hasn’t noticed how many cupcakes I’ve let him sneak.”
As Lily laughed, taking a bite of her hotdog, a loud giggle drew Rachel’s attention. Greer and Diane were swimming in the pool. Rachel hadn’t been happy that he was seeing the woman often, nor that he had invited her to the party.
“I see Greer has a new girlfriend,” Lily stated as they watched the couple play in the pool.
Several of the guests had brought swimsuits, many of them members of The Last Riders. Rachel had been shocked when she had looked up from the grill to see Cash sitting on the edge of the pool next to Rider. She thought he would avoid the party with her brothers present. Bliss, Jewell, Stori, and Nickel were swimming.
Another squeal drew her attention back to Greer and Diane.
“It’s the longest he’s seen someone.” Rachel stared at her brother and the woman whose bikini top was tiny and completely out of place for the occasion. The Last Rider women were in more conservative swimsuits and were acting appropriately while Diane was acting like a drunken slut. To give Greer credit, he was trying unsuccessfully to calm her down.
Rachel reached into the cooler, pulling out a soda for herself.
“Want something to drink?” Rachel offered.
Lily looked into the cooler. “Lemonade would be great.”
After Rachel handed her the lemonade, she and Lily took a seat and sat chatting until their conversation was interrupted by raised voices. Rachel winced when she heard Holly’s angry voice. She and Greer were at the edge of the pool. Rachel could guess she was giving him hell over his behavior with Diane. Everyone was watching their fight.
“I better go break this up,” Rachel excused herself, rising from the table and hurrying to avert a full-scale fight between the two. Holly was constantly on Greer because of his behavior in front of Logan, and Greer would become angry often, saying hurtful things to her.
“I don’t need your advice on how to act!”
“Obviously, you do!” Holly argued back.
“If you would get that stick out of your ass, you might have some fun of your own and quit worrying about what I’m doing,” snarled Greer.
“I don’t give a darn what you’re doing. Just don’t do it in front of Logan.” Holly had lowered her voice, but it didn’t quiet Greer down.
“Don’t give me that holier-than-thou attitude. I’m not the one—”
“Greer,” Rachel loudly whispered. “Shut up.” Rachel wanted to smack her brother at the hurt look on Holly’s face.
“You deal with her. I’m done listening to her sanctimonious bullshit.” Greer jumped back into the pool, spraying both of them with water.
“He may be your brother, but I hate him.” Holly’s low voice was filled with tears.
“He’s always been a hothead. I’m sorry, Holly; he didn’t mean it.”
“Yes, he did. He hates me for keeping Logan a secret.”
“We all know you did it to protect him,” Rachel soothed, reaching out to place her hand on her arm.
The guests were all gathering at the large table set up with the birthday cake. Mrs. Langley was staring in awe at the huge cake. Beth motioned for her.
“I need to go. They’re getting ready to cut the cake.”
“Go. I’m fine.”
Rachel’s smile slipped when she heard another argument going on behind her.
“What now?” Confused, she turned to see Cash still sitting by the pool. However, Diane had managed to climb up and sit next to him, pressing her breasts against his arm and placing her hand on his bare thigh, just below his shorts.
Greer’s temper was already running hot from his argument with Holly; therefore, seeing his girlfriend plastered against Cash was like pouring gasoline on the flame. Their cutting remarks had Rachel turning pale.
“Greer!” Rachel pleaded.
“Back off, Rachel. He started it.”
“How did I start it? I was sitting here, minding my own business,” Cash said angrily.
“You never could keep your hands off another man’s woman. What is it with you; can’t you find one of your own?” Greer climbed out of the pool to glare down at Cash and Diane.
To give Cash credit, he didn’t get to his feet; instead, he stared back impassively at Greer’s tantrum.
“I know it’s hard, Greer, but be smart. Go have a piece of cake and leave me alone.”
Tate and Dustin came out from the house. Rachel silently groaned to herself as they came closer to see what had Greer’s voice raised loud enough to be heard inside.
“You just can’t leave women alone, can you, Cash? Like father, like son.”
Rachel sucked in her breath as Cash got to his feet and The Last Riders began to fall in behind him.
“This is a birthday party! Let’s go eat some ice cream and cool down.” Rachel desperately tried to head off the fight she could see coming.
“Shut up, Rachel,” Greer snarled at her attempt.
“Don’t talk to her that way,” Cash growled.
“I can talk to my sister any way I want to.”
“Talk to her that way again and I will—”
“What are you going to do? Rachel is none of your business. She’s the only woman in this town of ours you haven’t fucked.”
“Wanna bet?” Cash grinned. “I fucked her under your own roof,” Cash bragged.
Rachel thought she would pass out at Cash’s gloating. The horrified looks on her brothers’ faces as they turned to her had Rachel taking a step back. When she was unable to deny his statement, all hell broke loose.
“You son of a bitch!” Greer threw himself at Cash, nearly knocking him into the pool, but Rider managed to grab his arm and steady him. Greer’s fists flew out, one nailing Cash in the stomach. A free-for-all almost started as her other brothers moved forward, but The Last Riders managed to surround Cash.
Rachel stood with her hand to her mouth as her brothers screamed obscenities at the bikers.
“This is how you repay us for saving Lily’s life? You motherfuckers can go to Hell!” Tate tried to go for Shade, who went stiff at his damning insult.
“We are paying you back. We’re not beating the shit out of you right now! Back off.” Shade’s brusque order was ignored.
Rachel made an attempt to stop her brothers one more time, grabbing Tate by his arm when he moved toward Shade. “Tate! Stop. Please!”
“Don’t fuckin touch me.” Tate shoved her from him, jerking his arm away. Rachel stumbled, but Tate caught her, pulling her to his side, his furious eyes glaring down at her in disgust.
“Get Logan and Holly, Dustin. We’re leaving.” Tate jerked her toward the patio doors as Dustin and Greer followed.
Rachel started crying, humiliated. Mrs. Langley and half the town had gathered to cut the cake and were now staring at her as her brothers dragged her from the party. They had all heard what Cash had said, and Rachel could read their filthy thoughts as Tate pushed her inside the house where Holly and Logan were inside the kitchen.
“We’re leaving,” Dustin said, picking Logan up in his arms.
“But we have to help clean up,” Holly protested.
“She has plenty of help. Let’s go.” Tate’s harsh expression had Holly
hastily closing her mouth.
She didn’t say another word, following closely behind the angry group. Rachel tried to break away, but Tate picked her up, tossing her in his truck.
“Greer, bring her car,” Tate ordered.
“Where are your keys?” Tate asked her, getting in the truck behind the wheel.
Rachel just wanted to go home. She reached into the pocket of her dress then, angrily rolling the window down, she threw the keys at Greer. As soon as the keys were in Greer’s hands, Tate pulled out of the driveway. Rachel expected angry yells all the way home; instead, the freezing silence had her shivering.
As soon as he pulled in front of the house, she jumped out, but she had to stop at the door, realizing her house key was on the key ring she had given Greer.
Tate opened the door and Rachel ran inside, determined to go to her room.
“Is it true?” His harsh voice broke her heart. He had sometimes been stern with her since their parents’ deaths, but he had never before used that tone of voice with her.
Rachel stopped, turning back to her brother. The expression on his face froze her in place.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Did he rape you?”
“No.” Rachel’s back stiffened as she admitted the truth. “I wanted him, Tate.”
“Just like the rest of his bitches. Mom and Dad would be ashamed at what happened tonight. You’ve shamed our whole family. You could have done anyone in town, but you had to do him, knowing how bad we hate him and his family!” Disgust was written plainly on his face.
“I didn’t mean for it to happen.”
“You said he didn’t rape you; that means you could have said no, Rachel. Go to your room and get out of my face.” The door opened and Greer, Holly, and Dustin entered, carrying Logan.
Rachel blinked back hurt tears. “Tate—”
“Now, Rachel. So help me God, I can’t look at you right now,” he growled through gritted teeth. Greer’s and Dustin’s expressions weren’t any more forgiving; their faces were just as condemning.
Rachel turned away to her room.
“Maybe she should go stay with The Last Riders since they’ve had her now.” Greer threw her car keys against her bedroom door.
Rachel bent to pick them up before going into her bedroom and closing the door. She didn’t bother to turn on the light as she went to sit on the side of the bed.
Burying her face in her hands, she let her humiliation free. Silent sobs shook her shoulders as she heard her brothers’ angry voices from the other side of the door.
Not only her brothers, but the whole town would know by morning she had given herself to Cash. Everywhere she went, she would be met with the same stares. Her reputation in town was ruined; the townspeople would gossip about her for the next year.
Rachel sat quietly until the house finally settled down. She then silently got to her feet. Kneeling beside her bed, she pulled out her suitcase. It was time she executed the decision she had been putting off. She loved her home and her brothers, but it was past time she stood on her own two feet.
She moved around her room, making sure she made no noise. If they caught her packing, they would lock her in. She chose the few items she didn’t want to leave behind. Surprisingly, it didn’t take long to pack her lifetime into one suitcase.
Rachel waited another hour to make sure everyone was asleep before she sneaked out of the house. Her hand was shaking as she put the keys in the ignition. Turning on her car without using her headlights, she then drove out of the parking lot, heading down the mountain. She only turned the beams on after the car was away from the house.
She had been trying to gain more freedom from her brothers, but she hadn’t really wanted to leave; she loved Treepoint and the mountains. It was like her heart was being ripped out the farther she drove away from home. She had never realized her freedom would come at the cost of losing her family.
* * *
“What have you done?” Winter asked, her stricken gaze watching Rachel and her brothers leave.
Cash ran his hand through his hair. “I lost my temper,” he admitted, remorse making his voice come out thick. Clearing his throat, he saw the angry glares of all the women. “I know I fucked up.”
“You more than fucked up,” Beth said, stepping forward, her voice low and controlled. “You humiliated her in front of the church congregation. The whole town will be gossiping about her, and they won’t be kind. You of all people know what kind of damage you just did.
“Now, this is Mrs. Langley’s party, and I suggest we get through the next thirty minutes until we can leave.” Beth stormed away with the rest of the women following her.
Cash was angry at himself for losing his temper and running his mouth. When Tate had jerked Rachel’s arm, Viper had been forced to hold him back, or he would have beaten the shit out of him. Her brothers had confirmed tonight what he already had been saying to himself.
Any relationship between Rachel and him was impossible because of her brothers’ hatred of him. He had tried to protect her from him; instead, he had let them goad him into losing his temper.
It was a good thing he had forced himself to stay away from her. From their reactions, it couldn’t have been worse if they had discovered she had murdered someone.
Cash ignored the sinking feeling in his gut that he had hurt the very woman he had tried to protect, choosing to believe it would all blow over in a week or two.
Chapter 10
“Can you hand me the wrench?” Rider asked.
Cash took the device out of the toolbox, handing it to Rider and watching as he tuned up his older than dirt truck. He had shit to do, but he was forcing himself to stay at the clubhouse to avoid inadvertently running into Rachel. He wanted to give her time before she had to face him again. He refused to admit he wasn’t anxious to face her after his asinine behavior. He had stayed in all weekend and would give it a couple more days before gradually returning to his routine.
With any other woman, he would have been able to go by her house and privately apologize, yet that wasn’t going to happen when she lived with her brothers. They would shoot him if he stepped a foot on their property.
As a car pulled into the lot, Cash looked up to see Lily was back from working at the church store. Cash straightened; neither Lily nor Beth had talked to him all weekend.
Lily got out of her car with a worried frown on her face then shut her car door and walked toward the steps in a rush. When she saw Rider and him, she tightened her lips, ignoring them.
He was going to have to bite the bullet and face her to get the answers he wanted.
“Lily, can I talk to you a minute?”
“I’m in a hurry. I need to talk to Shade.”
“He’s in the factory,” Cash informed her.
At first, he thought she wanted to avoid talking to him, but his discerning gaze could tell she was upset.
After she nodded toward him, going inside the factory, he and Rider shared a glance. Then, without a word, they followed Lily inside. The workers had all left for the day and Shade was in his office, finishing up the day’s paperwork. Lily had left his office door open; therefore, Cash quietly shut the factory door so she wouldn’t notice their entry. Shade saw them, but Lily’s back was to the doorway. Cash unashamedly listened, his jaw tightening when he heard her words.
“You have to find her, Shade!”
“Lily, calm down and start over. What happened?”
Lily took a deep breath, her body shaking. “Pastor Patterson came to the store this morning and told me Rachel had called to tell him she wouldn’t be volunteering anymore. I was concerned because I knew Rachel would have a hard time facing everyone, but I thought she would just take a couple of weeks off! I didn’t realize until Tate came into the store, looking for Rachel, that no one has seen her since Friday night.”
“You said Pastor Patterson told you he had talked to her?” Shade asked.
Lily nodded.
> “Then we know she’s okay if someone has heard from her.” His reasoning calmed his wife.
“Okay.”
“What did Tate tell you?”
“He said she was gone the next morning when they woke up. She left them a note, but he didn’t tell me what it said. He’s worried sick, though. He was going to see Knox when he left the store.”
“I’ll call and talk to Knox to see if he’s found anything out.”
“Thank you. I’m so worried about her, Shade. I saw her face, and she was so humiliated. She didn’t deserve Cash and her brothers treating her that way. She helps everyone. She gives her skills and usually doesn’t even charge people.
“Mary Owen’s little girl had something wrong with her stomach and couldn’t even hold food down. Rachel gave her a supplement, and she’s gained five pounds. Mrs. Willis had the shingles, and when Rachel made a cream for her, she was able to go back to work. Rachel helped me, too, Shade. I don’t know what would have happened if she hadn’t pulled me out of that nightmare.”
Shade got up from behind his desk, taking her into his arms. “Don’t worry Lily, I’ll find her, but be prepared she may not want to come back to Treepoint.”
“You made me come back,” Lily argued.
“There’s a difference between you and Rachel. You belong to me.”
“I didn’t then.”
“You did. You just didn’t know it.” Shade smiled down at his wife. “Now, go feed my baby, and I’ll call Knox.”
“All right.” Lily turned, coming to a stop when she saw Cash and Rider. Throwing them an angry glare, she moved between them, leaving the factory.
Shade picked up his phone as soon as she was out the door while both Rider and Cash entered the office.
“Knox, Lily told me Rachel’s disappeared. What do you know?” It took several minutes before he disconnected the phone.
“Knox said Rachel left a note that said she was going away and not to look for her. She told them she was sorry for shaming them.”
“I’ll kill them.” Cash turned to find the doorway blocked by Rider.
“Sit down, Cash.” Shade’s harsh voice had him turning back.
“Don’t tell me what the fuck to do. Do you know how badly they must have treated her for her to run off?”