Savage (Demented Souls #15)

11. 11

11

I t was still early afternoon when they pulled the bikes and cars into the ranch. Savage had hoped that Donna might use the ride as a chance to talk to him a little, especially after he’d shown her the radio in the helmets, but she’d been quiet for most of the trip. He wasn’t sure if she wasn’t going to tell him, if she was trying to decide how much more to tell him, or if she’d just been enjoying the ride. Either was good with him, but there wouldn’t be time for much talking for a while. Now they needed to get settled in and he had no idea what that would entail, at least not yet.

It took a few minutes for everyone to be lined up on where to park. After that were greetings and introductions, Savage had met most of the Souls now up here but there were a few who were local recruits that he didn’t know, at least not yet. He kept Donna by his side, not wanting her to feel left out or anyone to mistake her as just a piece of ass. At least not until he had a chance to talk to her. Some of the men might proposition her or ask if she was available for a little fun, but no one would force her to do anything she didn’t want to. But with what little he knew about what had happened to her recently, he felt better keeping her close.

By the time things settled down, more than an hour had passed since they’d arrived. Lurch called all the of the Souls from Tucson together, told them where to set up their gear and gave them a warning about this being bear country. He reminded them to be safe with anything that might attract one of the animals, then sent them off to get it done.

“I need to get my tent from the trailer, then set it up. Want to come help?” he said to Donna, wondering how all this looked to someone not used to the workings of the club.

She lifted one shoulder and let it fall in a careless gesture. “Sure. It’s not like I have anywhere else to go or anything else to do. Besides, most tents are easier to put together with two people instead of just one.”

“This one can be done by one, but I’m sure you’re right. It will be easier with two.” He motioned in the direction Lurch had told them to set up their tents. “We’re going to set them up over there. Do you want to go pick a spot while I grab my tent?” He tilted his head toward the trailer where the two prospects were busy unloading things.

“Sure, any preferences?” She turned and watched him while she waited.

“I’d stay close but set a little apart from the group, if they’re close together.” He mimicked her one shoulder shrug from moments before. “We’ve got several couples, and they may get loud at night.”

“Got it.” Her face had turned pink, but she turned and headed for the field he’d indicated without looking like the statement bothered her. He hoped that was right. He and Donna might be in separate sleeping bags, at least to start with, but none of the other couples would be, of that, he was sure.

He collected his tent, pulled their sleeping bags as well as the two bags they called luggage and set them to one side so they wouldn’t have to hunt for them after the tent was done then went to join Donna. When he reached her, the tent slung over his shoulder, he looked around. None of the group was setting up tents in a tight cluster, and for that he was glad. The last thing he wanted was to hear other people having sex in stereo sonic surround sound. Especially if he wasn’t getting any himself.

He scanned the men working on assembly, and where several more had dropped their gear while they took turns helping each other and noticed that Donna was the only woman out here. He hadn’t noticed the women going off together, but obviously he’d missed something.

“I just realized all the women are off doing something else. I missed them leaving. If you’d rather spend time with them, I can do this on my own.” Had he kept her too close to him? Was he keeping her from doing something she wanted to do? Making friends when he was certain she needed some?

“No. Jailbait invited me, but I’d rather be here.” She scanned the area, then turned to him. “What do you think of here?” She had taken several steps away and stood in the middle of the field, about fifteen feet from the nearest dropped tent.

“I was thinking a little farther away.” He scanned the open prairie behind her, spotted an area that seemed mostly flat and level, a little larger than he thought his tent was and headed that way. When he reached it, he stopped and turned back toward the rest of the group. The nearest tent was about fifty feet away, close enough to be heard if they yelled, but not to overhear every word spoken in a normal tone. That would help. He knew from experience that sometimes things that were hard to talk about were just a little easier in the dark, when you couldn’t see who you were talking to and could pretend you were just talking to yourself. He wouldn’t push Donna, but hoped that maybe she’d talk to him. Tell him whatever she was holding back, because he was sure there was something.

It took Donna a moment to walk out to where he was, she looked around then back at him.

“You’re not worried about being too far from the others?”

“They could hear us if we shout, but they won’t hear every word we say, and we won’t hear everything they say. We won’t have anything to attract animals in the tent but if an animal comes up, all we have to do is yell and they’ll hear us.”

He didn’t say he was armed, he didn’t know how she would react to that, so no need to bring it up, not yet. Besides, he wasn’t sure his .45 would be the best weapon for a bear.