In Time to Love

by Gloria Martin

  “Those things will kill ya, you know?” he told her as he lit a thin cigar.

  “If you say so Ajax. I am glad you and Red showed up when you did. I would have had to kick some ass,” she told him taking another drag off her smoke. He laughed.

  “I would have thought you would let that girl Charlene do it. That is a tough chick,” he said with another chuckle.

  “Keep that in mind if you or your boys ever start anything around here,” she told him with a grin. He returned it and she caught him eyeing her figure before he looked back out at the empty road. She was used to it. She got a lot of looks.

  Terry was about five foot ten inches tall with long blond hair with thick pink streaks in it. She was wearing a black vest over her white t-shirt and black leggings with a white mini-skirt. She loved how it accented her generous curves and flat belly. She could tell Ajax did too. Then again she never minded eyeing him, or his friend and second in command Red. He was equally as muscular with short red hair, although he was clean shaven and maybe five foot ten, her height. He joined them on the porch and leaned against the building. Now what? Terry wondered.

  *****

  “Well, that was fun,” Red said in his deep rumbling voice. Ajax and Terry laughed. She heard the rumbling of engines faintly and it began getting louder. Ajax and Red looked at each other.

  “It couldn’t be, could it?” Red asked Ajax.

  “The way this week has been going, probably. Damn we don’t need this right now,” he responded, then turned to Terry putting his hands on her shoulders.

  “Go back inside and close up Miss Terry Tumbleweed. I think some trouble is about to catch up to my brother and I. Lock the door. These people won’t be going in, but it is best to be safe,” he told her and gave her a gentle push towards the door. She wanted to demand to know what was going on, but the look in his eyes and the hardness of his handsome features convinced her to do as he asked. She wasn’t sure but he looked like he was worried about her. Terry went into her store and locked the door behind her with a strange warm feeling in her gut.

  “We are locking up ladies!” Terry shouted as she began closing the blinds on her store front. Cheryl and Charlene came out of the back.

  “What’s up boss?” Charlene asked.

  “Dagger trouble, I was advised we should close for a minute,” she answered closing the last blind as four bikes pulled into her dusty lot. Ajax and Red were sitting on their bikes now, waiting patiently. For what, Terry didn’t know.

  “Let’s lock the back and go upstairs,” she said heading to the back of the store. Then she led the girls into the private residence section of the building, locking that door behind them before they went up the stairs. Once there they went to the window that was open so they could watch and hear what was going on.

  “Why are you dodging us Ajax? I thought the Daggers were tougher than that,” said the man front of the two Daggers. He was a big man, as tall as Ajax, but heavier muscled with thick black hair and a beard. Ajax and Red were still on their bikes. The other three newcomers were standing behind the big one. Their bikes were behind them.

  “Ain’t dodging anything Killgood, I just never thought the Dragons were poachers,” Ajax told the big man.

  “Poaching, don’t make me laugh. The Daggers don’t go up to The Heights, so why do you care?” Killgood asked. His voice was a high pitched thing, at odds with is ferocious appearance.

  “Our territory, our Heights. It has been that way for thirty years and is going to stay that way. Didn’t you get my message?” Ajax asked him.

  Terry and the girls looked at each other wondering what was going on. Terry had heard of turf disputes before and hoped her place wasn’t getting caught up in anything like that.

  “If you mean breaking Weasel’s nose to let me know you were serious, I got it. I will give you that one if you back off. You don’t need the hassle. Just leave this section of the desert to the Dragons and there will be peace. Or you can start something, the choice is yours man, think about it,” Killgood said. Ajax laughed.

  “Right, I give up some territory now and everyones’ stupid cousins will start taking what they want from me, forget it boy. You go back to your territory and stay out of ours. You are the one who is starting something. Trust me, you don’t want a war. If we have to go there, I will end you,” Ajax said and even through the window, without seeing his face, she could hear the violence in the threat.

  The big man nodded with a half-smile on his face. He looked around and eyed Terry’s store.

  “Why is this place closed? They’re always open,” he changed the subject.

  “They’re closed, that’s all you need to know Killgood,” Ajax responded and Terry could see his back straighten and Red leaned back a little on his bike. His hand went to his saddle bag slowly.

  “Oh I get it, you like this place. You got the hots for the pink striped bitch that runs the place Ajax, or is it something else? If she is that fine, maybe I should take a ride on her.”

  Terry shivered at the man’s words and Charlene put her arm around Terry in support. Cheryl was looking terrified and pulled out her phone. Terry shook her head and made a cut off gesture with her hand. Cheryl frowned but put her phone away. The last thing this situation needed was the cops. It felt strange but she knew she was better off in this instance with Ajax and Red.

  Ajax got off his bike and approached Killgood. She could see the anger in Ajax’s frame as he stopped several feet from the Dragon leader. Terry noticed Red had his hand completely in his saddlebag now and she had a feeling he was getting ready to fight.

  “You are going to want to go now Killgood. If you come near this place again it will be scorched earth. You hear me man. I will burn the Dragons down!”

  Terry was shocked by the words and realized that all the looks Ajax gave her were more than just checking out her tits. The three men behind Killgood started moving forward. Then Red removed his hand from his saddle bag and he had a gun in it. She was not a gun expert but she knew an Uzi when she saw one. He pulled it up and pointed it at Killgood’s men, then fired four rapid shots into the ground, right past Ajax and Killgood in front of Killgood’s men. They all cursed and their hands went up as they backed away. Killgood was the only one who did not look scared.

  “When the boss says scorched earth, we mean it boys. Every member of the Daggers is already prepped for this. Go on home and leave our turf to us, ya hear,” Red told them. Ajax had neither moved nor flinched when Red fired the gun from behind him. Terry could imagine the fierce look on his face. Was he really defending her? She wondered, or was there something else? She felt sweat running down her spine despite the open window. The Dragons got back on their bikes.

  “This ain’t the end Ajax. We will be back,” he said.

  “Then you’ll be leaving in a box. Go on, get out of here,” Ajax told him.

  Terry saw Killgood glance up to where she stood with her employees for a second, then he and his men fired up their bikes, and after glaring at Red they rode off out of the parking lot.

  “Stay up here until I give the all clear ladies. It won’t be long,” Terry told Charlene and Cheryl as she ran downstairs, heart pounding at what might have taken place in her parking lot if things had gone even a little sideways. She opened the front of the store and Ajax was lighting a cigar.

  “Nothing to worry about now darlin’, they won’t be back,” Red told her with his usual smile. Ajax shrugged.

  “I hope not, he had to bluster at the end there, to save face but the Dragons won’t have the stones to push us on our own turf after this. No other gang would deal with them if he does. Call around Red. Spread the word, they were chased off. Have Mockingbird go to the bar and chat it up. The world will know soon after that,” he said with a chuckle. Red joined him and pulled out a phone, walking across the now quiet parking lot after a wink at Terry.

  “What the hell was that all about?” Terry asked Ajax.

  “Hm, that was a litt
le turf dispute. I am sure you could hear it upstairs. They want to use the caves in the Heights and we can’t let them. We had someone else trying to move in up there and we had to evict them. Now the Dragons want them. It is a general principle thing. It has been a part of Dagger turf since before I joined up. Now that I am the leader I can’t let it go, just because,” he told her with a grin.

  “And don’t worry Tumbleweed. I really don’t think they will be back. I will leave Red here though and send some other boys around if you want, just to be sure. Or you could call the cops if it would make you feel safer,” he told her. “I want you to be as comfortable as you can be. It’s your place after all.”

  Terry wasn’t sure what to think at this point. His eyes were staring directly into hers and she could see a caring in them she had not seen before, but was he right about her being safe? Not to mention she had never heard of a biker advising someone to call the police.

  “I hate to be a wimp, but I wouldn’t mind some company around here for a while. I would rather not call the cops if I don’t have to,” she said honestly. He looked pleased that she trusted his guys over the cops.

  “That is appreciated. Red can stay for a while and I’ll send a few others along. I will be by tonight to make sure everything is ok, if that is cool?” he asked and she agreed.

  In a very short time Ajax took off and Red was drinking a beer on the porch of her store as if he was just enjoying the day. For all she knew, he was. He was normally a jovial, fun guy, but after seeing him so casually shoot at the other biker’s feet she was sure he had another side to him. Then again, we all do, she told herself with a sigh. He was a handsome guy though she could not help herself thinking.

  *****

  Terry talked to her employees and Charlene was handling it just fine. Her sister Cheryl was a little more nervous.

  “Look Cheryl, if you want to take the day off, with pay, feel free to go ahead. You didn’t sign up for this crap,” Terry told her baker.

  “I’ll stay Terry, thanks though. But I may cut out early, before it gets dark,” she said. The woman still looked spooked and unsure, not that Terry blamed her. Charlene insisted on staying because she didn’t want to miss anything. For sisters they were not much alike, voluptuous, sexy Charlene and athletic, thin, Cheryl. They had completely different personalities, yet both were smart and capable young ladies.

  Everyone went back to work and Red moved his bike around back when an incoming car nearly knocked it over. Cheryl went back to baking the pies they needed and Charlene worked the till. It was a smooth afternoon. Until the cops showed up.

  It was the same two police officers who had come out that morning. They smiled and said hello to the couple leaving with three pies and then came over to Terry.

  “Miss Tumbleweed, we have reports of shots being fired here,” Officer Jackson said.

  “Sorry, what? Shots?” she asked. Terry was surprised.

  “Yes ma’am. The caller said several shots were fired in front of the Tumbleweed. He also said it was an automatic weapon being shot by a guy with a motorcycle,” he told her, looking at Red as he came into the store. He was looking curiously at the cops.

  “Is there anything wrong?” he asked the police.

  “You wouldn’t know anything about weapons fire, would you Red?” Officer Jackson asked. Red snorted and shook his head, appearing to find the idea funny.

  “Me? Hell no. I have a reputation to worry about and knowing about that stuff would harm my time with the ladies,” he said. Winking at Terry and Terry held back a smile. He was cute when he was flirty.

  “Would you mind if we took a look in your saddlebags?” the other officer, Kalick, asked.

  “My bags? Naw, come on, they are around back,” he said gesturing them to follow him.

  “You wait here ma’am,” Officer Jackson told her and the two officers followed the biker out and around the building. Terry ran back through her store and peaked out the window. She watched as Red showed the cops his bike and held her breath. She shouldn’t be so worried about a biker getting busted on weapons charges, but he had been defending her place so she felt it would be her fault if he got in trouble.

  “What’s up Boss?” Cheryl asked coming over to the window.“Someone called the cops. They are looking for a gun,” she told her.

  “We didn’t and the only other people here were the other bikers,” she pointed out logically. Terry nodded and then chuckled slightly when the cops had gone through Red’s bags and there was no weapon. Red was smiling and jovial with the cops, although even from a distance she could see a glint in his eye. He was not happy.

  After more discussion with Red they started back around the building to the front so Terry ran back and sat at the desk waiting for them, with her employees. When they came in, Officer Jackson apologized for troubling her and left. It all felt a little strange to Terry. What was going on? She wondered. As soon as the police had pulled out of her parking lot Red pulled his phone out.

  “What the hell is going on?” he muttered as he called someone.

  “That was weird don’t you think?” Charlene asked.

  “Yeah, a little, they harass Red and then leave. You think there would be more investigation than that,” Terry told her.

  “I especially did not like the way the other one, Kalick, was looking at Cheryl,” Charlene said concerned.

  “What, I must have missed that?” Terry said as Cheryl nodded.

  “He was standing off to the side, so you couldn’t see him, but it was a little creepy,” Cheryl admitted.

  Red came back.

  “Ok ladies I got a new game plan. Ajax is coming back with a few guys and you all will be escorted someplace safe. Something is fishy and we want to get you out of here,” he said and Terry frowned.

  “I am not leaving my place Red. No way,” she told him firmly crossing her arms over her chest. It was her whole life here. She would not abandon it.

  “We thought you would say that. I hope you two ladies are a little more reasonable. We don’t know for sure what is going on, but if this place is becoming a target for whatever the Dragons are up to, we want you safe. The Daggers do not believe in collateral damage,” he said. Cheryl was all for getting away and Charlene agreed, but looked at Terry a little guiltily.

  “Don’t worry girlfriend. I will be fine. I would rather know you two are safe. I have to stay, you don’t,” she told them. She did not look happy about it but Terry could tell Charlene would go. It sure was a weird day, Terry thought.

  *****

  Terry cooked dinner for her guests after Charlene and Cheryl were escorted home. She made up some burgers on the back deck with Yellow Girl and Kay. They were two biker woman who had come with Ajax and his reinforcements. So she had Ajax, Red, Crowbar with Yellow Girl and Jack Handle with Kay. Then there was a little guy named Mockingbird. She remembered Ajax mentioning him before. They were all rough people yet were as nice as could be. Not to mention apologetic for any trouble the Daggers might have inadvertently got her in. They believed what Red had said before, no collateral damage. Terry felt like she was in safe hands.

  They all wolfed down the burgers and corn on the cob she had cooked at the last minute and then sat around with beers. They were enjoying the temperature drop as the desert night came on. Terry had been pretty nervous when the reinforcements had arrived. Now that she knew her friends were safely at home she was able to relax.

  “So what is really going on Ajax? That visit from the cops wasn’t an accident, nor was their harassing Red,” she said. She took another pull at her beer as he sighed.

  “I was wondering when you were going to get to the questions,” he returned.

  “I was hungry so I thought they could wait,” she told him. That got a laugh from the others.

  “She’s a keeper Ajax, I like her,” Kay told him. Kay had black hair and was definitely a plus sized woman. It suited her though because Terry thought she looked great in her tank top and shorts. Sh
e could put away the food too. Terry grinned at her.

  “I thought the Dragons were the ones who called the cops. Your people didn’t and I know damn well ours didn’t. But the way they acted made me suspicious,” Red told her.

  “I am thinking those two cops may be a little friendly with someone in the Dragons. It makes no sense for officers to show up, harass Red, ask very few questions and then leave. Without an explanation, a kiss my ass or anything,” Ajax said. Terry chuckled but nodded.

  “We thought so too. If that is the case, then could we be on our own out here?” she asked.

  “That is why we are here. I have others hovering in the hills too. If the Dragons decide to try anything we are ready. If not, we bought some time to hit them tomorrow. We are ready either way girl, so relax,” Ajax grinned at her, patting her shoulder. His pat ended with a light caress that got her attention, and then it was gone. Hmm, she thought to herself. Is he seriously interested in me? Or maybe she was making too much of a companionable pat of comfort. Ajax stood up suddenly and pulled out his phone.

  “I am glad you have a cell tower near here. I have to make some calls,” he said. He went down the back deck stairs with the other four guys following him. Yellow Girl whistled.

  “The boss is interested in you, girl. Just thought you should know,” Yellow Girl said with a giggle. She was a bleach blond bombshell with a deep tan wearing a bikini top and jean shorts. Yellow Girl did like her beer, Terry had noticed, drinking two to each one that Terry had. Terry wondered if she was a little crazy. There was a look in her eyes that seemed a little unhinged.

  “You think?” Terry asked accepting the third beer Kay handed her.

  “Yeah, Red too, he has been eyeing you more than usual for him. Not surprising, those guys have the same taste. It may be more than their usual interest too,” Kay said sitting down and lighting a cigarette.