Chapter Fourteen
River
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Razz and Conner turned as River approached the bar. She smiled and shook her head when they opened the door for her.
"Thanks, but I'm going through the back," she said.
Nobody told her she couldn't enter the bar through the front door. However, she had yet to turn the legal age to visit the establishment. She was also used to working in the kitchen, so she preferred staying in the back of the building.
Inside the kitchen, Lori stood at the fryer. River relaxed, seeing two others helping. She recognized Tucker's old lady, but the other woman was new to her.
"About time you showed up." Lori lifted a basket of fries out of the oil. "You must've been living off cereal the last few days."
"I was working." She sat at the counter. "I also went into town to see Taylor and on another day to the store to grab some groceries. I can make a mean toast with peanut butter."
Lori grinned. "So, you learned a few things while watching me, huh?"
"I learned from the best." She laughed. "Taylor wanted me to tell you hi and that she misses you."
"Is she ready to come back and work for me?"
As much as she missed Taylor's friendship and working with her, her friend was happy living in town. "Not yet."
"So, what's been going on with you, baby?" Lila carried over a fresh plate of fries.
"Thanks." She squirted ketchup on the side. "Just working, mainly."
She hadn't even seen Zane. When she called him to see about getting a ride to town, he had Big John take her in the truck. Kingsley was still gone. Summer was in full swing. Okay—she might be feeling sorry for herself.
She missed him.
Lori frowned. "Are you sure you're okay? You look like you lost your best friend."
She smiled, covering how much it bothered her when Zane stayed away, especially after they'd had sex. It felt a lot like he used her, but why would he when he had a club full of women ready to sleep with him?
"I haven't been sleeping well." She dipped a fry. "New job. Campers." She shrugged. "Once I'm not stressing, it'll get easier."
She also had no idea what was happening with Kingsley. Because she hadn't seen Zane, she had no idea if his brother found Kenna or was still looking for her.
Lila slid a hamburger onto her plate. "Eat up. Nothing in the world will help you feel better than putting food in your belly."
"Thanks." She pinched a piece of melted cheese off the bun and popped it into her mouth.
Even though her appetite was gone, she finished most of the burger and all of the fries.
Not wanting to put extra work on the kitchen employees, she waited for a break at the sink and washed the dishes she'd used.
After she picked up her backpack, she walked outside. The sun was getting hotter now, and the campers were already talking about the heat in the tents and RVs. By the afternoon, they waited for sundown to get some relief.
While there was air conditioning in the house, she stayed outside. It was harder to get out of her funk when she shut herself off from everyone else in Gem Haven.
She looked at the sky. Although clear, the scent of smoke was strong. It got that way at the campground around dinner time when everyone tried to build a fire and cook in the pits provided at each site.
Big John headed her way and then walked beside her. She smiled at the older man, having always enjoyed his company. He was quiet, but when he spoke, people tended to listen. Though she'd witnessed other men cower under Big John's commands, he was a gentle giant with her.
"Are you busy?" he asked.
She stopped. "Nope. It's my day off."
"Zane needs to talk to you."
"Okay." She turned around to walk to the clubhouse. "Thanks for letting me know."
"Not there." Big John pointed behind her. "He wants to talk to you at the house. He'll be down in a few minutes."
Hiding her surprise, she changed direction. In a hurry to see him, she jogged to the house. Inside, she ran up the steps, dropped her pack, and slipped into the bathroom. Even though she'd brushed her teeth before heading to the bar, she brushed them again. That morning, she'd skipped putting makeup on because it was her day off, so she lined her eyes and put on mascara. She fluffed her hair and caught sight of the cutoffs and old t-shirt she'd slipped on after her shower. Sticking out her lower lip and blowing the hair off her face, she ignored the clothes—they'd have to do.
Butterflies attacked her. She pressed her hand to her stomach. Zane had never asked anyone to have her meet him. Not at the house.
What if something was wrong?
What if he wanted her to leave?
All her past insecurities rushed to the forefront. A future without Zane was impossible, something she never allowed herself to think about.
She stepped into the hallway and grabbed her pack. Going down on her knees, she searched through her belongings. There was nothing in here that she needed, but seeing and touching things that belonged to her when her mom and dad were alive, and she and Kenna lived under the same roof brought her comfort.
Her finger slipped into the spiral ring of Kenna's sketchbook. She pulled out the book and flipped through the pages. Even from a young age, Kenna had a talent for drawing. Looking back, she could now see that Kenna buried much of their childhood's hurt in her art. When they lost their dad, Kenna got angry. She stopped laughing and talking.
She flipped through the sketchbook, marveling at the beauty Kenn created with a pencil. Her sister had a love of horses—something River had never had. While Kenna would go to the stables, where they boarded her horse, River sat with her dad, waiting for the riding lessons to finish. She had always been afraid of horses. They were all so big.
But not Kenna. She was brave. She loved Luxy, her horse, more than anything in the world.
Of course, Luxy was now only in the pictures Kenna had drawn, like so many things they once loved.
The downstairs door shut. Like a bullet, she shoved everything away, left her bag, and ran downstairs.
She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and took him in. He was tired, and dirt was on his face.
He removed his pistol and set the weapon on the table by the front door. The last thing on her mind was how she looked once she saw his condition.
"Are you okay?" She raised her gaze.
"There's a fire south of here." He inhaled deeply. "It spread overnight when the winds picked up. Thankfully, the weather is cooperating now. The fire chief just announced its eighty percent contained."
"Was that why I could smell smoke?"
"Yeah."
"We're not in any danger, are we?" She tried to read his face, but the continual frown threw her off.
They'd had fires on forestry land before. After every summer storm, there was a chance of lightning strikes. The wildfire firemen and firewomen often came to the bar before and after their shifts before returning to fight the fire.
"I wanted you to know because Phil will be closing off that section of forest from any recreational use until it's completely out." Zane stepped back and grabbed the handle of the door. "The sheriff suspects arson, so I want you to be extra diligent when working. If you hear or see anyone who looks suspicious, tell Phil."
"That's scary." She pressed her hand to her forehead. "What kind of person would ruin the land and endanger lives? God, just think about the wild animals that are scared and running away from their homes, their families."
"It could be anyone, so stay in Gem Haven until the person is caught. Stay on the trails. If you're going to be somewhere different than your usual routine, let me know where you're at." He opened the door. "I need to go inform the others"
"Wait." She stepped forward. "I've been wondering. Have you heard from Kingsley?"
"Same message. He's following her," he said.
She sighed. "I wish I could talk to her. I don't know if she's running from Kingsley, me, or trying to outrun herself."
"Outrun herself?" Zane cocked his head and frowned. "Explain that to me."
She wasn't sure what she meant. Looking at the sketchbook and thinking about Kenna reminded her of all the times her sister believed something different from her. It'd been so many years since she'd seen her sister, and she couldn't be sure what she was thinking.
"I don't know if it'll help," she whispered.
"Hold that thought. Let me meet with the members, and afterward, I'll meet you at the bar for dinner." He looked at his phone. "Give me two hours."
She nodded.
He jogged to his Harley. She stood in the doorway, watching him go. He was tired. Taking care of the club had worn him down, yet he was still trying to help find Kenna.