December’s Ride with Scar (Mustang Mountain Riders)

1. Scar

CHAPTER 1

SCAR

“You want me to meet you where?” I ask Thunder to repeat himself because I don’t think I heard him right.

“The old train station. You will see when you get here,” he says before hanging up.

Since the fire at the clubhouse, we have been meeting in some pretty weird places, but this one takes the cake. The train station hasn’t been in use for over a decade, but the building has been kept up. Currently, it’s being used as a bus stop, and also for special events. It’s downtown next to city hall. Mostly the parking area is designated as free city parking now.

The town has been working hard to help repair the clubhouse as a thank you for finally taking out the Savage Bones. It’s been slower than everyone would like because Atlas and Thunder are insisting on restoring the building as close to the original as possible. They want to keep all the history while adding a few things, like a larger kitchen, a more secure weapons room, and extra protection all the way around.

As I drive through town, I can already see that there isn’t a building not decorated for the holidays. Since we really have something to celebrate this year, everyone is going all out and over the top. Orville, the mayor, ordered more lights and decorations for the downtown area to join in the celebration, and everyone in town has followed suit.

When I pull into the old train station, a flood of memories comes rushing back. As kids, we always dared to sneak in here at night. This building is one of the oldest still around Mustang Mountain, and every kid growing up here thinks it’s haunted.

I smile and head to the front door, where I find several of the guys sitting in a makeshift office area with a few desks. Several of them are leaning over one of the men’s computers.

“What’s up?” I ask as I walk over to join Thunder, Six, Bear, Viper, and Lightning.

As soon as they hear my voice, they slam the computer shut, and I stop in my tracks. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out they don’t want me to see whatever they were looking at. So then why have me meet them here?

“What the hell was that?” I ask, not even hiding the irritation in my voice. At least they have the nerve to look sorry.

“We have a surprise for you. It seemed like a good idea until Thunder found out. He thinks you are going to be pissed,” Lightning says.

I take a seat across from Thunder, and it’s obvious he’s upset.

“Well, out with it then,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Well, you, ah, made a comment at Thanksgiving about being one of the last single ones left, and we thought we’d do something about it,” Six says.

“Guys, I was drunk. Watching Viper be all lovey-dovey just got to me, and I ended up in a weird place. I’m fine. Really,” I say.

It has been hard watching my brothers-in-arms fall in love one after the other for the last two years. Nevertheless, I’m very happy for them. If it’s meant to be for me, it will happen. If not, then that’s fine, too.

The guys all share a look, and I know there is more to the story.

“Spit it out,” I order.

“So, a buddy of mine in Whiskey River told me how he met his wife. I mentioned it as an off-hand comment to the guys here, and they thought it might be a good idea…” Bear stops when Viper hits him in the arm.

“Thought what was a good idea? Which friend?” I ask, trying to figure out what they aren’t telling me.

“Bennett. He found his wife on a mail-order bride website, and I haven’t seen two people more in love. At least until these guys started falling hard.” Bear points at Lightning and Thunder.

“A mail-order bride,” I say, trying to process this information. “Tell me you’re joking.”

“No. We made an account and right away got you matched with an amazing girl. She’s not too young, very much your type,” Viper chimes in.

“Cancel it,” I say, starting to stand up.

“That’s the thing. We can’t,” Bear says.

“What do you mean, you can’t?” I ask, turning to face them.

“She will be here in about an hour.” Thunder finally says what the others won’t.

“Are you kidding me?” I yell. Six winces as I stomp over to him and point at the laptop. “Show me.”

He hesitantly opens the computer and pulls up the website. Navigating to her profile seems to take forever, so Lightning fills the silence.

“Her name is Evelyn. She’s thirty-two, loves hiking and nature. All her life, she’s lived in a small Appalachian mountain town in Kentucky. She’s a teacher and wants kids…” Lightning keeps talking, but the moment Six turns the computer to me and I see her photo, my knees go weak, and I forget to breathe.

She is fucking stunning, and my cock stirs for the first time in an embarrassingly long time.

“You have two weeks to get to know each other, and you don’t have to get married if you don’t agree at the end,” Six says.

“When does she get in?” I ask as all the thoughts about her traveling alone and what could happen to her fill my head.

“The bus is scheduled to be here around one o’clock p.m.,” Bear says.

“Two weeks?” I want to make sure I heard them correctly.

“Yeah, so she will be here through many of the holiday parties, so you don’t have to go alone. If nothing else, you might get a friend out of it,” Lightning says with a hesitant smile.

Two weeks sounded like a lifetime a minute ago. Now I worry I will blink, and it will be gone. I only have a short time to make Evelyn fall in love with me, and with Mustang Mountain, because the only other option is tying her to the bed and never letting her go.

Funny, a few moments ago, I was perfectly okay with being alone for the rest of my life, but now the thought of not having Evelyn in my life isn't okay with me.

“What did you tell her?” I ask, my mind racing.

“Nothing much. Pretended to be you saying you were the last of our group not married and a friend suggested the website,” Viper says.

“Why is she on the website?” I want to know.

A pretty girl like her must have a bunch of options. Getting on a mail-order bride website isn't for someone unless they have nothing left.

“I don't know, man. She said she doesn't have any family in the area and needs to get out of town,” Vipers says.

Needs, not wants. “Let me see the messages.” I grab the computer.

I read through the very short exchange, which isn't more than what they already told me. Then I read her profile. Both parents are dead, and she’s in a small town in Kentucky, probably looking for a way out. My brain is trying to justify the whole thing.

There isn't a ton of information on her profile that the guys haven't told me. But there are a few other photos. One of her in a tree swing in what I guess is her backyard. Another of her behind a desk in a classroom, smiling at the camera with her hands tucked under her chin. Saving them all, I send them to myself. Eventually, we will get many photos together to fill our house. But this is a start.

“The bus is pulling in,” Thunder says, nodding toward the large windows at the front of the building.

I check my watch. It’s almost twenty minutes early. My nerves instantly explode and I'm on my feet, heading out front to meet her. There is only one other person here waiting on the bus. Judging by the bag with him, I think he's boarding and not waiting for someone.

As the bus pulls to a stop, my eyes roam the windows, hoping to catch a glance of her before the door opens. I can feel her eyes on me, and find her looking out the window toward the back of the bus. Our eyes lock for just a moment, and I wonder if she’s changed her mind because she doesn't move. Finally, the bus doors open and she stands, making her way toward the front of the bus.

Her way to me .