Chapter Eleven #2
Shane would have gently explained to her that he didn’t feel
the same way as Bay.
So this might be about leaving their last job.
“What do you know about why they ended up here at the G?”
Brooke asked. “Also, would you like some coffee? I don’t actually think the
boys drink it much. They left me a full pot this morning.”
“I would love a cup,” Beth said as she followed them back
into the kitchen. She sat down beside Rachel as Brooke poured the coffee. It
was kind of nice to have a place where her friends and family could come in and
have a cup of coffee and talk and not have to deal with the fact that there
were only two chairs because nothing else fit. “I know they left their last
ranch pretty quickly. The way Shane told it, they weren’t comfortable there.”
“This is Kale Kingman’s ranch, right?” Rachel picked up her
mug. “Haven’t there always been rumors around him?”
Beth nodded. “Trev met him once and said he wouldn’t do any
business with him. He talked Jamie out of a couple of ventures Kingman offered
us. I don’t think any of our business partners chose to work with him.”
The Circle G was a part of a ranching cooperative with a
couple of ranches in Texas. They used organic principles and worked on the idea
of quality over quantity. The Barnes-Fleetwood Collective had become a major
source of beef for upscale restaurants and hotels.
She was so curious. Kingman was a flamboyant figure, though
he likely wouldn’t appreciate the title. He was known for doing things up big,
and he often admitted to playing around in politics if it helped his business.
“Why? Was there something shady about him?”
“Not on the surface, but Trev has a bit of an instinct for
people who hide their darkness well. Not that I think Kingman’s trying. He
doesn’t mind admitting to screwing people over, though he says it makes him the
smarter businessman,” Beth continued. “Bo would have fallen for it immediately
because my man only sees the best in people, but that’s why Trev’s the Dom and
we are his happy, well-loved and protected subs. Bay and Shane had done some
seasonal work here before and they’d been reliable, so when Stef asked if there
were positions, we made a couple. I worried they wouldn’t stay after the
beginning of the year, but they’ve seemed intent on hanging around. I’m hoping
this relationship with Brooke seals the deal.”
Brooke shrugged. “Well, it’s not like I have anything better
to do. Maybe I should chuck it all, move back to Bliss, open a daycare, and
live out my life here.”
“Okay, I know that sounds bad right now…” Rachel began.
Beth snorted and took the coffee Brooke offered her. “She is
not going to do that, but you and I need to sit down and find a solution to our
childcare problems. School only lasts nine months out of the year. We still
need breaks in the summer. I say we call a meeting. No one’s shot a son of a
bitch recently.”
Ah, the women’s meeting. It usually involved tea and cakes
and discussions of what to do the next time an outlaw MC came to town or a
serial killer or the mafia. It often also was about the women of the town
figuring out how to help when problems arose. “We’re going to have more and
more kids in the next couple of years. River told me she and Jax are trying.
Nell and Rachel and Hope are about to add to the baby boom.”
“Laura and Rafe and Cam are looking to adopt again,” Rachel
added. “And I truly believe Stef is going to come around. I talked to Seth at
Stella’s last night and with Logan finishing up his doctorate, they want to
come out more, and Georgia is merely waiting until her body heals before trying
again.”
She’d heard all about Georgia’s plans on the plane trip.
“She wants like six kids. Logan goes a little pale when she talks about it.
Seth wants to compromise on three at most. But my point is the only reason we
haven’t had big kids’ group activities available right here in Bliss was
because there weren’t many kids. And Mel’s alien camp does not count.”
“But now we’re going to have enough for it to be good
business to offer summer programs,” Rachel mused.
Beth took a long sip of coffee and glanced down at her
watch. “I have to get going. Hale is picking me up. We’re meeting with Jesse
and Cade about adding on a room to their cabin. But it’s a surprise, so don’t
tell Gemma. They’ve saved up and they’re basically going to make their old
bedroom their office and Hale and I are putting in a new primary bedroom and a
bath to die for. With extra closet space. It’s going to make me want to
renovate.”
If there was one thing she knew about Beth
McNamara-O’Malley, it was this. “Everything makes you want to renovate.”
“That sounds like fun,” Rachel said with a watery smile.
Beth looked thoughtful for a moment. “Why don’t you come
with us? I’m considering all the options and I’m going to be honest, I’m
worried I’ll have to hold their hands and talk them out of some things. Jesse
and Cade have spent a lot of time in mechanic shops. Their tastes tend to be
limited.”
“Oh, they have to get that right. Gemma has very specific
tastes,” Rachel agreed. “Jesse thinks putting gold on everything makes it
designer. It could be fun if you don’t mind. Want to come along, Brooke? You
have the best taste here.”
She was sure Beth and Rachel could handle it, and it would
be good for Rachel to get out. But she had things to do. “I need to get to
town. I need to get dressed and call a Fuber. Unless
they’re in school, but I think they finished up early. I’ll check the app.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that. The Navigator is still
here,” Beth announced. “Shane had to go into town for some parts, but he got a
ride.”
“I noticed the keys on the counter,” Rachel added. “I think
they left it for you. There are enough vehicles and people here that they can
easily get a ride. That’s what’s great about living in a place like this. You
have so many people around to help.”
And Rachel was feeling isolated.
She was surprised they’d left her the SUV, but she would
take it. She needed to run to the theater. “I’ll try to return before they get
back. Bay wants to go out to Stef’s and get some work done. I heard him on the
phone earlier, and he said something about a materials delivery. I think it was
clay.”
“Everyone’s getting ready for his show at the end of summer.
Stef thinks it could be his big break.” Rachel hugged her. “Thank you for
letting me stay the night. I’ll have Beth drop me at the house.”
“You can stay,” Brooke said, hugging her.
Rachel stepped back. “I know I can. I know my husbands are
patient and understand, but my kids won’t. I’m heading home after I spend a
nice day out and Max and Rye and I are going to sit down and talk. Maybe we
could use some time at the clinic.”
Alexei Markov had formed a mental health clinic that
serviced the valley and the small towns around Bliss. He offered triples
therapy as one of his specialties. The Bliss Wellness Center also offered help
to those affected by alien abduction. Mel and Cass held special sessions.
She missed Bliss.
“It’s never bad to give your marriage a tune up,” Beth said
with a smile. “We’ve been. We went after the boys were born because I was
feeling too focused on nothing but Miranda and the boys, and it was hurting my
marriage. Alexei helped me see that letting Bo and Trev be hands-on dads helped
us all. I was very much in the mindset of where I came from instead of where I
want to be. I thought the mom should do it all. Now we split the load pretty
equally, and I get to do a job that feeds my soul.”
Rachel nodded. “Yeah, I feel that. I love my life, but I
might need something more. I might need some work outside my house.”
“Let’s talk about it.” Beth gave her the biggest smile. “If
you want to learn about home repairs, I’m your girl. You could start trying
some stuff out and see what fills your soul.”
“I would like that.” Rachel smiled back, the first time
Brooke had seen her sister-in-law smile in days. “And I’ll give you some
recipes for Hope. Nell taught me how to make some ginger candy that helped with
nausea. Brooke, I’ll see you later.”
“And I’ll make sure you get all your presents. I’ll drop the
basket and flowers off at your place.”
Beth’s head shook. “Oh, I’m sorry. The flowers are for you.
I should have mentioned that. See, the guys are trying.”
“Oh, they’re trying. Let me tell you what happened last
night,” Rachel was saying as the door closed behind her.
They sent her flowers? It was odd. When had they had time to
go down to The Trading Post and get some flowers? She reached for the card.
Sure enough, her name was on it but there wasn’t an address.
They shouldn’t spend money on flowers. They had a truck to
repair. She hoped this wasn’t what put that distance between them. She opened
the card and felt her whole body flush.
I’m at the Lodge. We need to talk. We can make all of
this right and you can take your place at Bianchi. Call me. You’ve been keeping
secrets.
Mark
Her old boss was here and her peace was completely shaken.
* * * *
Shane was still thinking about Bay’s accusations even
as he sat in the cab of a truck that would either take him to his doom or maybe
drop him off in the middle of nowhere and leave him to rot.
“Was she okay last night?” Max Harper had been at the front
door of the main house when Shane had been walking through. He’d been planning
on asking Noah Bennett if he could catch a ride into town, but the vet was
closed off with his wife. Hope was having a hard time.
Did he need a credit card to call a Fuber?
Or did those kids take cash? That was what he’d been thinking when Max had
shown up, shoved a bunch of stuff for his wife Shane’s way, and then asked if
they could talk.
Shane decided they could kill two birds with one stone and
offered himself up as a sacrifice. He’d passed the basket to Beth, who it