by Ryan Gawley
‘The boys have gone on a supply run. They needed a truck and driver so your friend has gone with them. Alright, that’s enough small talk; I was on my way out here to get you. The old girl is wake and she’s taken some soup and is asking for you.’
Sarah nodded to Linda and went to tend the kitchen garden behind the farmhouse where Molly was busy sniffing around and keen to play with a new friend. When Sarah turned to leave Arthur saw she had a sheathed hunting knife tucked into the waistband of her jeans. These women were used to being around tough men and knew how to handle themselves.
Linda lowered the rifle and stepped around behind Arthur following him as he walked to the house. He was excited about seeing Alice and Linda could see that the news of her improvement seemed to have lifted a weight off the older man’s shoulders. She was still cautious of him but she knew he wouldn’t try anything when his wife was still frail. When they reached the open door of the little bedroom sure enough she was sitting up and despite her bandaged shoulder appeared once more to be her good natured and happy self.
‘How are you my love,’ said Arthur pushing through the door and pulling Alice toward him in a hug, realising too late that he’d hurt her when she winced in pain.
‘Take it easy you old fool,’ she laughed but Arthur could see she still grimaced despite putting a brave face on things.
‘I’m fine,’ she replied, ‘just a little stiff and a bit tired but you’ll forgive me that much I’m sure.’
Arthur rubbed the wetness from his eyes before it welled up and ran down his cheeks. His Alice was okay and the emotion filled him but he didn’t want the other woman to see him like this.
Alice reached out slowly holding his head in her hands and drew him toward her for a kiss.
‘I’m really okay,’ she whispered softly to him and kissed him again.
‘I’ll see you two later,’ said Linda deciding she could trust Arthur enough to give the couple a little space.
For the rest of the day Arthur stayed with Alice and sat by her bed in a small uncomfortable armchair talking with her about how good things would be when they got to the house on the coast and when she was too tired to listen any more he just sat and watched her sleep. When she asked about Sam Arthur just said he had gone off to help Ronnie and would be in to see her later. He just prayed Sam would make it back alive from wherever he was now.
CHAPTER 15
The peaceful silence of late afternoon was shattered as Molly alerted and ran to the top of the concrete laneway barking loudly. Arthur who had taken Alice out to sit by the vegetable garden for some air came running after the excited canine. When he saw the vehicles approach he went back to help Alice as she slowly walked around the farmhouse, both of them anxious to see if Sam would return. A moment later the rumble of engines and exhausts filled the air as a convoy of motorcycles weaved their way down the rutted lane and Arthur was relieved to see his truck in the middle of the group. This time however there was a second Land Rover following in the rear and as they all came nearer Arthur could see the distinctive drab grey of an Enforcer patrol vehicle. It had a bulkier appearance when compared with his truck due to the heavy steel plate armour mounted over all external body panels.
Sarah who was working in the garden tending the precious crop had come to wait with the older couple. ‘Oh shit, they’ve found us,’ she said when she saw the Enforcer’s truck at the rear of the group and turned to run toward the house to warn Linda.
‘Wait, there’s only one of them,’ said Arthur, ‘and look, they’re flashing the headlights. It’s okay; it’s not a raid, the patrol truck must be with them.’
Linda appeared just as the first bikes were reaching the end of the lane and quickly crossed the yard to unbolt the barn. Arthur stepped in to help her slide the heavy door open and this time there was no attempt to stop him. As daylight flooded the cavernous interior Arthur was amazed to see a luxurious club house had been constructed at the rear of the building while the front area served as a combined parking area and fully equipped workshop for the bikes. There was a second level recently constructed inside the main barn above the living and kitchen space at the back. It served as the sleeping quarters and was kitted out with several army surplus bunk beds, more than enough to house the club members and some spare bunks to allow their ranks to increase.
A small bar was positioned under the staircase and despite its limited size it was well stocked with an impressive selection of bottled beers and spirits although most of the liquor bottles were less than half full. The walls were decorated with rusted garage signs advertising a range of motorcycle brands or service items, neon bar signs that were seldom illuminated now, naked pictures of beautiful women torn from contraband magazine centrefolds and a display of used helmets mounted reverently with a small hand-engraved name plaque beneath each in memory of fallen comrades. The air was thick with exhaust fumes, petrol vapour, stale beer, sweat and cigarette smoke.
‘I can see why you’d want to keep this to yourself,’ Arthur said respectfully.
Linda smiled. ‘I guess your boy proved himself with Ronnie so you’ve earned a little more trust.’
Arthur turned and threw a hard stare at Sam who waved back from the open side window. Arthur was angry with him for stealing the truck but relieved to see Sam had come back alive.
Sam parked at the side of the house while the Enforcer patrol vehicle was parked behind the barn and a few men worked quickly to secure a large canvas tarpaulin over it hiding it from any casual observer even though no one would be likely to wander anywhere near.
Ronnie pulled his bike to a stop in front of the house and removed his helmet setting it on the fuel tank in front of him while he waited as the other bikers took turns to shut off their engines and roll their heavy machines backward into the barn. Linda went to her man and wrapped her colourful tattooed arms around his neck then kissed him passionately before leaning back and wiping a trace of her lipstick from his mouth with her ringed index finger.
When all the other bikes had parked up in the barn he reached forward and playfully slapped Linda’s backside then backed his own machine in at the head of the pack so he’d be in position as usual to lead the next charge. He nodded to Sam then grabbed an offered beer before joining the other men to celebrate.
Sam could hear beer bottles being opened and clinked and the pool table being racked, the sound of backs being slapped and of loud laughter from stories being swapped as the drama was relived and tensions released. He didn’t join the celebrations or rush to greet Arthur and Alice but helped some of the other men retrieve guns, ammunition, tools and supplies from the back of Arthur’s truck and carried some of the haul to the barn where they would be hidden in a deep cellar accessed under a section of false floor in the club house kitchen at the back.
When he came out to the yard Sam was looking awkwardly at his friends and feeling the heat from Arthur’s glare. Molly was excitedly bumping her head against his leg and looking up at him for attention so he half-heartedly petted her head.
‘Sorry about taking your truck Arthur, I had no choice,’ Sam apologised. ‘It’s good to see you up and about Alice, how are you feeling?’
‘I’m feeling much better, thank you Sam. And don’t worry about this old grump; we’re just glad you’re back safe with us. Arthur just told me you’d been pressed into going with the bikers on some kind of a raid, what happened?’
Arthur still said nothing but his expression softened as he knew Sam genuinely felt bad about taking the truck and he could see something had happened on the raid that had affected him deeply.
‘Well...,’ Sam began and rubbed the back of his neck while thinking of how to try to explain his involvement in the capture of the Enforcer patrol vehicle when he saw Arthur look past him and then felt a hand on his shoulder.
‘Here he is,’ said Ronnie as he gave one of the two beers he held in his other hand to Sam.
‘Get a cold beer down you, you earned it today, you’re
one of us now,’ and he clinked his bottle against Sam’s.
‘Sam here saved my arse today,’ continued Ronnie as he threw his arm around Sam’s shoulder now and hugged him as if he were a lifelong friend. ‘I nearly took a shotgun blast to the gut but Sam put a bullet in the bastard’s head before he got the shot off. I swear if it wasn’t for Sam the boys would be having a funeral now instead of a party.
Sam’s head dropped and Arthur immediately understood why he had been distant since he’d come back and knew now what caused the haunted look in his eye. Taking a life even in defence is a heavy burden to carry and something Sam would have to find a way to live with. It was a feeling Arthur knew only too well from his time in service but that was the job. Sam though didn’t have that rationalisation to comfort him and it would be tough but at least he knew he killed in the heat of the moment to save another life.
Feeling ashamed Sam glanced up at Alice who met his gaze with sympathy and understanding. He couldn’t bring himself to say anything to her so looked to Arthur.
‘Don’t let it tear you up Sam, you had no choice. You acted on instinct to protect somebody you know. That’s a good thing, believe me,’ said Arthur gently, knowing his words would sound hollow but he said them anyway.
Ronnie was in high spirits after a successful raid and the capture of the Enforcer patrol vehicle was a huge prize.
‘I guess our secret is out now you’ve seen our new toy,’ said Ronnie directing the comment to Arthur and his wife and indicating to the patrol truck now hidden under the tarp.
‘Come on, you might as well have the tour.’
He stepped into the barn again and gestured for his guests to follow. All conversation stopped and they were greeted with icy silence as the other bikers looked to their leader for guidance.
‘You all know what Sam here did for us and these people are his friends and our guests, make them feel at home,’ said Ronnie reaching into a cooler and handing a chilled beer to Arthur then pulling a chair over for Alice who was still weak and needed to sit.
At this cue the crowd visibly relaxed and it appeared the newcomers had been accepted at least temporarily. One of the group, a tall heavily built man wearing a black bandana around his neck to cover a thick scar approached Ronnie and took him by the arm to one side of the barn where they had a heated exchange for a few moments before Ronnie returned and the other man stomped off angrily.
Ronnie explained the situation. ‘You’ve checked out okay, you can stay another night but that’s it, things will get a little uneasy around here if it’s for any longer. In the meantime, help yourself to beer and relax.’
The following morning Sam woke early despite suffering a rough hangover from the previous night’s celebrations. He had been accepted into the group and had enjoyed blowing off some steam, the opportunity to relax and laugh was a healing balm for his troubled spirits and although Sam usually avoided crowds at all cost he was thankful for the distraction from the gruesome images playing over and over in his mind of the shocked expression of the Enforcer he had shot during the raid then the vacant stare as the life faded from his eyes.
Today was the day they had to leave. They would outstay their welcome if they remained at the farmhouse any longer and Sam was getting worried about the time they had spent here, all too aware that Lucy would be making her way out of the city and would be waiting for him alone in the forest. She was brave and strong and he could not betray the faith she had in him.
Sam crawled out of his sleeping bag and nudged Arthur awake then thirstily gulped down some water from a container he’d filled the night before and poured some for Molly also setting out a dish of food for her then stretched his stiff muscles, deeply breathing the cool morning air. When Arthur had risen Sam got to work packing down their gear and loaded their meagre belongings into the rear of the Land Rover while Arthur knocked the door of the farmhouse and waited to be allowed in to see his wife.
He had helped Alice to bed early in the evening as she was still quite weak but colour had returned to her cheeks and the sparkle in her eye told him all he needed to know. She just needed rest but despite the hospitality they had received Arthur knew they had to get back on the road. He heard heavy bolts being drawn and Sarah opened the door and invited him in. To his surprise he found Alice in the kitchen standing over the wood-burning stove stirring a pan of scrambled eggs with her good arm while the injured shoulder was supported by bandage and a sling.
‘I told her she needs to rest but she insisted,’ explained Sarah.
Arthur just laughed. ‘You’ll never keep my Alice down if she has a mind to do otherwise,’ he said and crossed the kitchen to wrap his arms around his wife’s waist as she cooked.
‘Go and get Sam, go on now, the eggs are almost done,’ she said turning and waving a spatula at him.
Arthur turned to Sarah and shrugged. ‘See what I have to live with eh?’ he said jokingly then stepped out returning a moment later with Sam.
Both men sat around the table and tucked into eggs on toast as Alice fussed around pouring tea while Sarah tried to make her sit and rest and was glad when Alice finally agreed and allowed her own tea to be poured for her but only after she had poured everyone else’s.
The morning sunlight streaming in through the gaps in the boarded windows and from the open door in the hall brightened the room and the good food and fresh air helped ease Sam’s throbbing head a little. The conversation at the table was easy going and here now Sam felt almost like he was part of a family again and allowed himself to believe that perhaps someday he could be part of something good like this.
As Sarah placed an old tin kettle on the stove to boil water for more tea the inner kitchen door opened slowly and Ronnie shuffled in wearing only jeans and unlaced boots. His heavily scarred and tattooed body looking only slightly less punished than his face which was contorted with a combination of sleep deprivation, nausea, blinding headache and thick stubble.
‘Morning,’ was all he could manage to say with a deep gravelly tone as the others returned his greeting then fell silent and watched him as he went to the corner of the kitchen and scooped handfuls of cold water from a deep basin on the counter top, splashing it over his face before deciding to dunk his entire head.
He pulled his head out with a loud exhalation and smoothed his hair back then stuck his hand in the basin for a few seconds and fished out a bottle of beer which he immediately twisted open and took a long pull downing half of it before taking the bottle from his lips.
Seemingly refreshed he wiped the water still dripping from his face.
‘That was a hell of a night eh?’ he said laughing. ‘Man, we must have drunk our reserves almost dry but it was worth it. It’s not every day you’re nearly killed and come away with a patrol truck. Any eggs left?’
‘We’re leaving soon Ronnie,’ said Sam matter-of-factly as he stood then turned to walk outside. ‘Thanks for breakfast Alice.’
‘What’s up with him?’ asked Ronnie taking another pull on his beer.
‘He’s just worried about his girlfriend, we have to meet her soon outside Raven City and he wants to get going,’ explained Alice.
‘There’s also whatever went on between you two yesterday, it’s been eating at him since he came back,’ added Arthur but he decided not to say anything further about it.
‘Yeah, I guess I can understand that,’ said Ronnie casually as he stretched and yawned before downing the last of his beer. ‘Maybe I can make it up to him; after all he did save my nuts.’
A little later that morning Sam had the Land Rover loaded and pulled it out into the yard ready to leave. The barn was open now and some of the casualties from the heavy night’s drinking were beginning to stir. Some stumbled out into the morning light while others were still passed out on the floor or slumped over tables in a deep sleep where they had fallen only hours before.
‘Hey Sam, you guys leaving already?’ asked one of the group as he relieved his bladder against the s
ide of the barn, squinting from the smoke of a cigarette hanging from his mouth. ‘That was a night to remember wasn’t it? Actually I can’t remember much of it,’ he joked and coughed as he laughed and dropped his cigarette at his boots then looked down in time to realise he’d just pissed on it. ‘Shit, that was my last smoke,’ he said disappointedly.
‘Yeah Gene, it was a good night,’ replied Sam without enthusiasm. ‘We’re heading off this morning, we don’t want to wear our welcome and my girl is waiting for me.’
Arthur, Alice and Sarah joined Sam at the truck and Molly sensed it was soon time to go and seemed to be excited about riding in the back of the pickup again. Sarah had changed the dressings on Alice’s shoulder and given her some spare gauze and bandage so she would be able to keep the dressings clean.
Ronnie and Linda came from the house a few minutes later. ‘Hey, don’t be leaving without saying goodbye,’ said Ronnie. ‘Hold on a minute, I’ve a few things I want to give you,’ and he strolled off in his casual way toward one of the older farm buildings further from the barn and signalled Gene to follow him.
As they waited for Ronnie to return Arthur and Sarah helped Alice climb into the truck and got her seated as comfortably as possible while Sam lifted Molly up into the rear and got her settled down on a folded canvas tarp. Linda leaned on the side of the truck smoking a cigarette and as usual made it clear she wasn’t interested in helping. She blew out the last of the smoke from the end of her cigarette before crushing it out with the toe of her boot.
She rolled her eyes and motioned to her young helper. ‘Sarah, give me a hand getting some food together, we don’t want them starving on the road I suppose. Be sure and top them up with water from the well before they go.’
A few moments later as the travellers loaded the last of the fresh food and water Ronnie appeared pushing an old motorcycle and was followed by Gene who carried two large twenty litre military style fuel cans. Ronnie beamed with a huge grin, highly amused by his surprise.