36. 36
36
T wo days later, Donna was in the courtyard where everyone had been gathering when they didn’t have something else they were doing, talking with several other women. They were talking about the trip back to Tucson, how long they thought it would take and stops they wanted to make. Donna did more listening than talking as she hadn’t made the trip up with them and didn’t know most of the places they were talking about. All the same, they were including her, and she enjoyed it.
London’s gazed shifted several times, taking in movement around them, then she sat up straight from where she’d been lounging in a folding chair.
“Something’s going on.” She nodded toward the road.
Donna turned to find several of the men, both from the ranch and the ones who’d come up from Arizona making their way out from the bunkhouse and barns, as if there had been some signal the women hadn’t heard. They weren’t in a hurry, no one was running or rushing but it was clear they were headed somewhere.
Several of the women turned their chairs so they could watch whatever was about to happen more comfortably. Donna frowned as she watched, wondering what could be going on and should they do something?
By the time they finished gathering there were roughly ten or so men, she didn’t count so she couldn’t be sure, and they formed a line between the little courtyard that had been set up and the road. Several stood with their arms crossed over their chests, some stood with their hands on their hips and a couple clasped one hand with the other behind their backs.
“Can anyone tell what’s up?” she asked, her voice low as she leaned closer to Beth.
“Someone’s coming in,” Kerry pointed one finger down the road at the plume of dust being kicked up by a vehicle headed up the ranch road. From the size of the plume, Donna guessed it wasn’t a motorcycle.
“No one went into town?” She scanned the line of men, there weren’t enough there to be everyone, but with their backs to the women, she couldn’t identify everyone and couldn’t tell who was missing.
“They wouldn’t be here if they were expecting anyone.” London stood, she pulled her phone from her pocket as she went to the bunkhouse and stepped inside. She was gone for less than a minute before she appeared again and came back their way. “Sadist says it’s an unfamiliar SUV. And he and Malice will be out in just a moment.” London made her way back to the group but didn’t sit. Instead, she moved to stand behind the chair she’d been sitting in before, put her hands on the back, and waited.
Donna wondered what was going on. She looked at the other women, and the only one who seemed to know, or be concerned was London, but then this was her place. If there were trouble, it was less likely to have anything to do with the rest of them. Still, she didn’t think these were the kind of people to sit back and watch something happen to their friends.
Which was likely why the guys had lined up, side by side between the clearing and the road. She didn’t know if the purpose was to present a united front or to put up a barrier between whoever was coming in and the women. She did notice that none of the women approached the line, whether to join them or ask what was going on. Even when London had wanted to know, she’d gone into the bunkhouse, not to the line. But then, that could simply be because the bunkhouse was closer, and Donna was reading too much into it. Things that weren’t there.
The minutes seemed to stretch into hours. She knew the drive didn’t take that long, and from the plume of dust, they had to be moving at a good speed, but there was no car appearing.
Just when she’d decided that whoever it was had second thoughts, they must have given up and turned around, a large SUV pulled into the drive. Donna only caught a couple of glimpses of it between the bodies of the men still lined up, unmoving between where she sat and the driveway.
Her heart seemed to stutter for a moment before kicking into high gear. That was one of the vehicles that belonged to the commune. They’d found her. And not just in the restaurant. How had Jacob found her here after seeing her in town? The vehicle pulled in the driveway and came to a stop aimed right at her.
“Take a deep breath, they’ve got this.” Beth’s voice beside her made Donna realize she’d been breathing way too fast. She was hyperventilating and she hadn’t even known it.
The world spun, then seemed to stop with a click as she watched between the bodies of Savage and his brothers. The front doors on the SUV opened and someone got out on each side. She couldn’t see who it was, not between the men and the doors of the truck, but when one of them spoke, she didn’t need to see to know who it was.
Noah. He’d found her and now he was here. To make her go back. she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t go back with him. Not just because of herself, but she couldn’t let her baby be raised like that. She wouldn’t let her baby be brainwashed into believing that the things that went on there were normal, or acceptable.
No. She’d never got back with him. Even if it meant never going anywhere again.
With that determination made, something in Donna calmed. Her heart settled into a more normal rhythm and the world stopped spinning. Things came into focus like they hadn’t been before she realized who was in the SUV.
“There’s no one here that belongs to you,” Savage’s voice, and the certainty in it drew her attention. She considered letting him handle it but couldn’t. That would be cowardice.
Almost on auto pilot, she stood and walked up behind the line of men, none of whom seemed to notice she was coming, except Savage. She saw his shoulders tense and the hand behind his back, the one that wasn’t holding on to the wrist of his other hand, spread out flat, as if telling her to stop. She probably should do as he indicated but didn’t.
Instead, she continued. Until she stood just behind Savage, so she was visible in the gap between him and Ghost. The gap was just wide enough she could get through it without touching either man, if she turned sideways. If Noah tried to grab her and drag her from behind them, both men would have time, and she had no doubt, the ability to stop him.
She stayed behind them, giving herself that barrier of safety as she confronted the man who had terrified her and made her life a living hell for more of the last year than he hadn’t.
“Why are you here, Noah?” she asked, surprised at how strong her voice was, how it didn’t shake.
“I’m here to get you.”
“How did you even find me?” she asked.
“You almost got away,” Jacob said with a laugh, “but you couldn’t keep from going out. I had about given up, was going to go back to the compound and be done with you. But then I spotted the two of you. After that, it was just a matter of asking around about bikers. Now get in the car and we’ll go home.”
“She’s not going anywhere,” Savage snarled.
Donna didn’t speak to him, just laid one hand on his arm where it lay draped along his back. She wondered if he’d chosen to stand this way because it would be easier to draw the pistol he kept in the small of his back.
“She’s mine and I’ve come to get her,” Noah addressed Savage, but held a hand toward Donna. “Come home to me, Donna.”
“I’ll never go with you again, Noah. I left because I wanted to. I’ve been trying to get away from you for some time. I don’t belong to you. I don’t belong to anyone but myself.”
His semi-pleasant smile turned almost feral as he turned to look at her. “That’s not what the state says. The state says you’re my wife. You will come home with me and be a proper wife.”
“The state is wrong, but that can be fixed. I’ve already started on the paperwork to rectify that error. But as for coming with you, not to mention your fucked up idea of being a proper wife, let me say this loud and clear so there is no mistaking how I feel. I’d rather die. And please don’t think that’s hyperbole, or that I’m being dramatic. I will never ever go with you or be a part of your life. If I’m forced to, I will make it my life’s mission to end my life and take as many of you ass backward, misogynistic, abusive fuckers with me as I can.”
When she’d finished her tirade, she realized that she’d stepped forward until her shoulders pressed against both Savage and Ghost’s arms, as if their refusal to move was holding her back. Noah had taken a step backward, she didn’t know if it was her words or her vehemence that had driven him back, but he had retreated, not her. That was huge and sent a small wave of triumph through her.
“You heard the woman,” Tuck stepped out of line, taking a single step toward the two intruders. “I suggest you get back in your truck and leave, then forget where you found her, but not what has been said here. If I, or any of these men see you here again, your troubles won’t have to worry about her divorcing your worthless ass. She’ll be a widow.”
“Who are you?” Noah looked Tuck up and down, and from the look on his face, obviously found him lacking.
“The owner here, and the man who has decided you’re trespassing. Leave or the police will be involved.”
Noah’s eyes narrowed and he stared back at the other man before he turned and looked at Jacob. He gave the man who’d been driving the SUV a nod, they both got back in and left.
No one moved until they were gone. Once their taillights disappeared down the road, Savage spun to glare at her, his jaw clenched and his eyes blazing with barely contained rage. Terror flashed through her but disappeared just as quickly. He wasn’t Noah. He promised he would never hurt her. Better to know for sure now than trust him and find out later, when she was trapped. He didn’t say a word, but bent, wrapped an arm around the backs of her thighs and lifted.
Taken by surprise she found herself bent in half, staring at his butt. It was a nice butt.
She fought the urge to laugh at the thought, knowing it was ridiculous given the circumstances. Then wondered at her own sanity. How had she gone from terrified of one man to wanting to laugh when another man-handled her like this?