Cash's Fight

by Jamie Begley

  Jo ignored the men’s presence, turning on her heel, climbing back into the tow truck, and driving away.

  Rider stood frowning as she pulled away. “She’s not very friendly, is she?” he complained.

  “Depends,” Rachel said, getting back in her car and rolling her window down.

  “On what?”

  “On whether you’re a man or woman.”

  “That explains it. All the good-looking women are always lesbians,” he said, turning on his heel in disappointment before going back to his bike.

  “Is he really that big of an ass?”

  “Yes,” Cash admitted, leaning in her window. “You sneaked out again last night.”

  Rachel looked down at her hands on the steering wheel. “I wanted to get home to Mag.”

  “Then I’ll make sure I get someone to spend the night with her tonight.”

  Rachel started to argue but was cut off when his mouth covered hers. “I’ll pick you up at eight.” He walked away without another word.

  “I bet being an asshole is a prerequisite to being a Last Rider,” Rachel said to herself as she put her car in drive.

  When she finally made it to work without another catastrophe happening, she unlocked the door to the store, coming to a stop; she sensed someone was inside. Swallowing back her fear, she closed the door behind her.

  Carefully, she surveyed the room and saw a tiny movement to her left. Sensing fear, she closed the door.

  “I know you’re there. Come out, and I won’t call the sheriff.”

  Several moments passed before a figure stepped out of hiding behind a rack of clothing. Cal Harris stared at her with both fear and bravado.

  “What are you doing in here, Cal?”

  She could see the desire to lie to her, but she guessed his pride didn’t outweigh his needs.

  “I’m sorry for breaking in. I’ve only been taking what we need. My mom and dad have been laid off and haven’t found jobs yet. They won’t ask for any help…” His voice trailed off in embarrassment.

  Rachel blinked back tears. The proud, young man needed help, not her pity. It was for families like his they had opened the church store.

  “You’re the one who has been breaking in?”

  Cal nodded. “I kept messing with the air conditioner so you would leave the back window unlocked. I would climb in after everyone left.”

  “All you had to do was ask,” Rachel gently reprimanded.

  “Dad says we can’t take any handouts,” he replied proudly, clearly mimicking his father’s words.

  “What did he say about stealing or destroying someone else’s property?”

  His red face answered her question.

  “Are you going to call Knox?” His bravado hid his discernible fear.

  “No, I’m not going to call Knox, on one condition.”

  “What?”

  “That you take a few items I’ve been trying to get rid of.” Rachel bustled around the room, picking several items she knew Cal’s little sister could use with the warmer weather approaching. She had seen her the other day with her mother.

  Picking out some dresses and t-shirts, she made a large bag full of clothes, hoping she was gauging the right size. She critically surveyed Cal, placing several jeans and t-shirts in another bag for him. When she finished that task, she got a large box and began putting grocery staples into it until it was packed to the top. Setting the two bags of clothes on top, she pushed the box on the counter toward Cal.

  “Here you go.”

  Cal looked like he was going to refuse, so Rachel picked up the telephone with a raised brow. When he picked up the box, she lowered the phone.

  “What am I going to tell my parents?”

  “Tell them you helped clean the store for me, and I paid you in merchandise.”

  He looked relieved at her excuse, obviously wanting to take the items. “Thank you, Rachel. I’m sorry I broke in… I…”

  “Come back next Friday, and I’ll have another box ready for you.”

  Cal nodded, hesitating, about to say something when the door opened and Lily came in. His expression shuttered and he closed his mouth, leaving.

  “I didn’t know his family had applied for aid,” Lily said as she came behind the counter.

  “They didn’t.” Rachel told her what had happened, and that she had given him the items from the store.

  “You did the right thing. I know his family won’t like it if we offer any help.” Lily bit her lip.

  Rachel sat, thinking for a moment, before a solution finally occurred to her. Picking up the phone, she called her cousin; he picked up on the third ring.

  “Drake, did you know Cal’s parents both lost their jobs?”

  “Jace mentioned it.”

  Rachel bit back her anger; Drake required deft handling. “I thought, since Cal was the one to pull Jace out of the lake last summer when he almost drowned, and he was also the one that kept him from getting his ass whipped by half the football team, and he also—”

  “Rachel, I get your point. I’ll see what I can do.”

  “I’m glad to hear it, cousin. We Porters always pay our debts.”

  Drake’s laughter sounded over the phone. “I almost feel sorry for Cash. I’ll take care of it today. Satisfied?”

  “Yes, but be discreet,” she clarified.

  “Okay. Anything else?” he inquired mockingly.

  “Nope. Thanks, Drake.” Rachel hung up, happy her cousin would help out Cal’s family.

  Lily smiled at her. “I was going to ask Shade to help them out, but this works out better.”

  “Why?” Rachel asked curiously.

  “That way I can save it for the next time I need a favor.” Lily’s happiness was almost tangible as she talked about her husband. Her confidence that he could solve any problem was heartwarming.

  The sound of Brooke’s heels on the tiles in the hallway warned of her approach. Rachel braced herself for her presence; she was really beginning to dislike the woman. There wasn’t a day she didn’t come by to ask for help with some task she needed done. She was passing off her duties of being a minister’s wife to both Rachel and Lily while she took all the credit from her husband and the congregation.

  “Hello, girls, how are you both doing today?” The false sweetness in her voice had Rachel wanting to heave. “I’m having a small dinner for the wives of the deacons. Would it be possible for you to do the grocery shopping for me, Rachel? I would do it, but Jeffrey is teething and running a small fever.” As she held out a list, Rachel reached out and took it. It would take over an hour to do the shopping for the large list.

  “I’ll do it during my lunch hour.”

  “Perfect. I knew I could count on you.”

  Rachel thought she would leave since her purpose had been achieved; instead, she lingered, leaning casually against the counter.

  “Lily, I have several maternity outfits that I no longer need. If you’d like, I could give them to you. I noticed yours are getting tight.” A long, manicured nail tapped the counter. “You may want to watch your weight. Baby weight isn’t easy to get rid of.”

  Rachel couldn’t believe the bitchy remark. Lily was smaller at eight months pregnant than Brooke was now.

  “I bought my maternity clothes in Atlanta. They aren’t as tacky as the ones you’ll buy in Treepoint.”

  Rachel almost smacked Brooke when Lily self-consciously ran her hand over her blue-jean maternity dress that she looked gorgeous wearing.

  “I don’t think it’s the clothes that make a person pretty, but the person wearing them,” Rachel told Brooke sharply, moving protectively closer to Lily, who was sitting on a stool behind the counter.

  Brooke’s eyes lowered to Rachel’s simple, blue dress, letting her distaste show. “I’m going home to Atlanta next week. I could pick up a few things for you, Rachel.”

  “No, thanks. Clothes are clothes to me. I don’t place much importance on them. You can turn shit into fertilizer, bu
t it still smells like shit.” Rachel had dealt with enough of Brooke’s snide comments, and she wasn’t going to tolerate her attitude any longer. She wanted to give her the grocery list back and tell her where to shove it, but she was afraid she would get Lily to do it instead.

  “If you change your mind, let me know.” Brooke didn’t let her comment bother her. The plastic expression on her face didn’t change. “I need to be getting back to Jeffrey.”

  “I’m really starting to hate that woman,” Rachel stated once she had left.

  “I don’t think she likes us very much, either,” Lily said unhappily.

  Rachel fumed. “She’s really going to dislike me when I shove my foot up her ass.”

  * * *

  The rest of the day didn’t get much better. The grocery shopping took longer than expected, and when she returned to the church store, it was crowded. It took over an hour to see that the customers were waited on.

  When she and Lily were able to catch their breath, Rachel went to the diner to get them a late lunch and came out to pouring rain. Lily was unable to keep from laughing at her disheveled appearance.

  “I’m really starting to question our friendship.” Rachel dried herself off with a towel.

  “I’m sorry.” Lily straightened her face, taking the sandwich Rachel handed her.

  “You can make it up to me. Tell me what I should wear tonight so I don’t look like a dork.”

  “As little as possible.”

  When Rachel choked on her sandwich, Lily had to hit her on the back several times before she could catch her breath.

  She stared at her through watery eyes. “Are you serious?”

  “Well, the women like to show some skin.”

  “It can’t be any worse than their swimsuits.” Rachel thought about what was in her closet. “I have a cream-colored halter sundress. It’s a little early for it, but I could wear a shrug over it. Will that do?”

  “Ah… maybe. Has Cash told you about Friday nights yet?” Lily asked tentatively, wrapping up the remains of her sandwich. Rachel wondered why she had lost her appetite.

  “Not really, just that it’s the night you don’t have to belong to the club to party there if you’ve been invited. I’m not really worried about it. You, Beth, and Winter will all be there.”

  “Shade and I haven’t been to a Friday night party since he found out we’re pregnant. He became very possessive. Beth and Razer usually stay home with the boys…” Lily gave her a bright smile. “You’re right; you don’t have to be nervous. We will all be there. Diamond, too. I’ll give her a call.” Lily patted her hand. “You don’t have to worry about a thing; we’ll all have your back.”

  Rachel almost called Cash and said she was too sick to go out tonight. Lily’s words had sounded like a battle plan. She lost her own appetite, throwing away her half-eaten sandwich. The only reason she didn’t cancel was because it was past time she found out what really happened on Friday nights. It couldn’t be as bad as she was beginning to stress out about, could it?

  * * *

  She was a nervous wreck by the time Cash picked her up.

  When she came out of her bedroom in the cream halter dress with the navy shrug, he raised a brow. “Aren’t you going to be hot in that?”

  She was disappointed he hadn’t complimented her on her appearance. “It’s a halter underneath. I can take the shrug off if I get hot.”

  His eyes went to the top of the dress covered by the shrug. “That works then. You ready?”

  “Yes.” Rachel went to Mag, who was pretending to watch a game show, and gave her a quick kiss on her wrinkled cheek. “Goodnight.”

  “Night, Rachel. Have some fun.”

  “I will.” Rachel gave her neighbor Janet a smile, glad she was staying the night with Mag. Her kind gaze reassured her that Mag was settled for the night.

  Cash had driven his truck to pick her up. Rachel climbed inside when he held the door open, settling comfortably on the seat. Hopefully, the night would be a lot of fun and she could put the terrible day she’d had behind her.

  Chapter 31

  Rachel sat on one of the couches, drinking the beer Cash had given her. She stared around the room, amazed she had been so naïve. She swallowed hard when Jewell began dancing suggestively in front of Nickel and Train came up behind her, pressing into her from behind, his hand sliding down the front of her tiny, black skirt. The top had already been taken off by Nickel and laid on the floor.

  Rachel moved her eyes away from the tableau, but everywhere she looked in the crowded room was more of the same. Half-naked women, some she was familiar with that belonged to the club and others she knew from town. All of them here for the men and the sex that took place out in the open.

  She stuck out in her clothes like a nun in a nudist colony.

  She turned to Cash, who was sitting next to her, watching her reaction.

  “Where’s Lily, Beth, Winter, and Diamond?” Her voice was emotionless as she saw Bliss unzip Rider’s jeans as he sat sprawled out on a chair. In one motion, she pulled out his cock and went down on him.

  “They won’t be here tonight,” Cash drawled.

  “Why not?” Rachel squeaked as Nickel turned away from the show Train and Jewel were putting on to snag Raci as she passed with Crash. She was wearing a dark-purple short set. The top wrapped around and tied at the waist, leaving a deep vee of naked flesh between her breasts. Every time she moved, the slinky material showed her bare breasts. Rachel had to admit the woman was sexy and could see why every man’s eyes were on her as Crash pushed her over the arm of a chair, unzipped his jeans, and entered her from behind.

  “Because they earned a punishment this week. They didn’t tell me where you were when you disappeared, even though they had figured it out.” Her eyes darted to his, seeing the visible anger at her not telling him about her studies. “To make matters even worse, Shade overheard Lily trying to rally the women into behaving tonight in front of you.”

  “What was wrong with that?” She winced when Raci started screaming with her climax.

  “Because I didn’t want to hide this from you any longer. It was just a matter of time before you found out.”

  The door to the kitchen opened and Cheryl came out with Ember and Stori. She was dressed in a black leather mini-skirt and wasn’t wearing a top. Ember and Stori only had on t-shirts.

  Rider reached out and grabbed Cheryl’s hand, tugging her down on his lap. Bliss, who had climbed onto his lap after finishing his blowjob, reached out and lifted one of Cheryl’s breasts to Rider’s mouth where he sucked a bared nipple.

  “I don’t think Cheryl’s missing Jared,” she remarked impassively.

  “No.”

  “You’ve participated in these parties?”

  “Yes. Fridays, we let the women from town in, but unless they are going to become members, they don’t come out during the week.”

  “How do they become members?”

  Cash was silent for a moment. “There are eight original members. The women have to get six out of eight votes. They get the vote by having sex with the member—or they used to. Now, the ones who are married give their vote to another of the men to vote, usually Crash and Nickel.”

  “You’re an original member?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have you given Cheryl your vote?”

  “Yes.” She could hear no emotion in his voice. “She only needs one more vote to become a member. Lucky hasn’t given her his vote yet.”

  Rachel paled; she had forgotten Dean, her former pastor…

  “Lucky does not participate in the club activities where Lily can see, nor would he in front of you.”

  “Thank God.” The irony of the situation brought a hysterical laugh to her lips. She put her hand on her mouth to stifle the sound.

  “Rachel?”

  She gathered her failing reserve, removing her hand to her side before getting to her feet. He reached out, taking her hand, but she jerked it from his
grasp.

  “You bastard. You’re surrounded with a freaking smorgasbord of women.” She gave a bitter laugh. “I wondered which ones you had been with. I never thought you had been with them all. That you shared them all!”

  Her hand swung out, slamming into the side of his face. “You fucked me with no condom!”

  “You’re the only one I haven’t used a condom with; it’s a hard rule here. We also have regular blood work done. We’re not irresponsible.” Cash’s face hardened as he rose to his feet.

  Rachel backed away from him, refusing to cry. She wasn’t hurt; she didn’t care about him anymore. This had merely confirmed everything she’d already known—they had no chance together.

  When Cheryl paled and sat up straight on Rider’s lap, she realized she had been screaming at Cash.

  “Did you get a laugh when you saw how I was dressed tonight? How lame I was? I hate you…” A broken sob escaped her.

  Humiliated, she ran from the room before Cash could stop her, running down the long flight of steps and nearly falling in her heels before she tore them off and threw them at Cash as he chased after her. He almost caught up with her, but she darted between the bikers standing at the bottom of the steps, running into the woods before he could stop her.

  “Rachel! Come back. I’ll take you home.”

  Rachel ignored his yells, running through the forest as if a monster from Hell was after her.

  * * *

  Cash squatted down, reading the tracks on the ground. She wasn’t heading back to Mag’s house; she was heading home. He followed behind her as quick as he could, furious at himself that he hadn’t handled telling her the truth about the women better. Lily had warned him when Shade had told her the women’s punishment included not attending the party.

  He had known Rachel would be furious. He had even figured that she would be hurt, but what he had witnessed had gone beyond what he had thought her reaction would be. He should have guarded the doors where she couldn’t get out. Now she was heading for her brothers’ home and would have an arsenal at her disposal.

  He followed her trail until he found her not far from home. She was sitting under a tree, crying into the neck of her huge-ass dog. A loud growl alerted her to his presence.