Chapter 5
Chapter Five
The commotion of the store interrupted his concentration as he searched for medical supplies. The red slotted basket hung limply in his hand as he prowled the aisles. Bing Crosby sang White Christmas through overhead speakers, and the smell of cinnamon brooms filled the air.
Turning a corner, he felt someone watching him from behind. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a forty-something female keeping pace with him. When she caught him looking, she slipped a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she gave him a coy smile.
Going back to searching for the medical supplies, he turned the corner and found what he was looking for.
Grabbing gauze, tape, and antibiotic cream, he scanned the shelves until he found the hydrogen peroxide.
When he turned to head up the aisle, he physically slammed into the woman from the other aisle. “Sorry, miss.”
“It’s okay, I didn’t mind.”
“If you say so.” Stepping around her, Cree kept walking. He didn’t have time for flirty females. Shit, when had that ever happened to him? Never. Retracing his steps, he found the woman again. “Excuse me.” Her smile went wide as she saw him coming toward her. “Could you help me?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t know what I need.”
“I’ll help you with anything you need.” Her eyes racked over his body.
Cree chuckled at the woman’s brazen behaviour. “My sister flew into town and her luggage was lost. She needs . . . I don’t know, whatever you girls need.”
The woman hooked her arm through his and led him in a different direction. Cree found himself in an aisle with an entire travel section. “Let’s get her everything she’ll need until the airport finds her belongings,” the female told him. “My name’s Lisa.”
“I appreciate your help, Lisa.”
“Like I said, whatever you need.”
Cree watched as Lisa filled his basket with small bottles of everything from shampoo to mouthwash. He added toothpaste and a toothbrush to the basket. “Pajamas. Where would I find those?”
“Not here, probably over at the General Store.” Cree saw a well-built man enter the store, his eyes scanning. Lisa dropped down and moved away from Cree. When she stood up, he watched as she waved at the man. Chuckling, Cree walked off. Poor guy had his hands full with that one, he thought.
After checking out, he found the General Store directly across the street.
Moving with the crowd, he walked across the two-lane highway, then he maneuvered through the horde of holiday tourists to cross the side street.
A boy, maybe three years old, stood on the corner crying for his mom.
Cree scooped him up, telling him to look for his mom.
He heard a woman scream, “Tommy,” and he turned to find a frantic woman shoving through the crowd.
Moving toward the woman, he asked the little boy if she was his mother before handing him over.
“He was near the road, over on the corner,” Cree told the mother as he handed the child over.
“Don’t walk away from your mom again, little man.
” Cree ruffled the boy’s shaggy hair before walking off.
He was shocked when the mother hugged him, thanking him over and over for finding her boy and helping him.
Cree thought he would have to peel the woman off him, but then she let go.
Making quick work of the crowd and street, he managed to find his way into the General Store.
He didn’t have any help from flirty women while in there.
He did, however, get help from a teenage checkout girl who looked at him like he was her dad.
Nothing but attitude. He grabbed pajamas, a pair of what the girl called yoga pants, and a flannel shirt, along with a pair of leather-soled slippers.
Setting it all on the counter, Cree hoped that would get them by for the night. Tomorrow, he’d take Kennedy to buy suitable clothes for the bike. For now, he was spent.
Cree unpacked the shopping bags. His foot hadn’t hit the first step of the cabin when he heard Alice call out to him from the restaurant’s back door. Sighing, he turned around. “Sorry, I didn’t hear what you said.”
“I asked if you wanted me to bring over some food when we open for dinner.”
“That would be great. Thank you.”
“Call me when you find out what she wants.” Alice didn’t use Kennedy’s name, worried someone could be lurking.
Cree walked in to find Kennedy still in the same spot as when he left earlier.
Her hands gripped the edge of the bed. Her head hung down, and what he was sure had been a tightly-wound bun had become a hanging knot.
Her toes barely touched the floor. The only difference from earlier was she’d pulled the bedspread around herself.
Setting the bags on the bed, Cree tilted her head up so he could look at her. She barely acknowledged him. Her eyes were sad, but more than that, they told a story. One that tugged at his hardened heart.
Grabbing one of the small plastic chairs that sat with an even smaller table, Cree took it into the bathroom.
Putting the chair inside the shower stall, he turned the water on low so it could warm up.
Grabbing a washcloth from a shelf, he rested it on the back of the chair.
Before going back out to the main room, he turned on the heater to warm the bathroom.
Crouching down in front of Player’s sister, he spoke to her in a gentle voice. “Kennedy, we need to get that shirt loose.”
“Okay” was all she managed. She was too tired to make conversation. Whatever Cree wanted her to do, he just needed to tell her. She found herself scooped up again and carried into the bathroom.
“I need you to stand up while we get you out of these clothes.” He didn’t wait for Kennedy to argue or agree.
He set her down, making sure she kept her arms around his neck.
This kept her body weight off her blistered feet.
Reaching behind her, he unzipped the skirt and tugged it down along with her underwear.
Picking her up again, he stepped inside the shower stall and placed her on the chair. Standing behind her, Cree stripped his clothes off and dropped them outside the stall. He was about to turn the shower on high when he remembered the bag of toiletries was on the bed. “Shit.”
Reaching for a towel, he wrapped it around his waist before stepping out of the shower.
The towel was for Kennedy as he was comfortable walking around naked, but she might not appreciate it.
Making quick work retrieving the bag, he stepped back into the bathroom.
Setting all the items on the small sink, he picked up the shampoo, conditioner, and bath soap.
Losing the towel, he stepped back into the shower stall behind the chair.
Turning the shower from a trickle to a soft spray, he made sure it was on a good temp before letting it wash over her.
Wetting the washcloth, he gently laid it on her wounded shoulder.
The cloth would help loosen the fabric from the wound.
With the washcloth catching the warm water, he quickly showered and washed his hair before he moved to help Kennedy.
It took longer than he expected to get the blouse away from her shoulder. As he had suspected, the wound started bleeding again. He let it bleed as he took care of everything else first. She didn’t put up a fight when he worked the bun out of her hair and helped her shower.
When he finished, he turned off the tap and wrapped her in a towel, giving himself time to dry off.
Wrapping a towel around his waist, he managed to carry an exhausted Kennedy to the bed.
Using the damp washcloth he’d taken from the shower, he pressed it to the wound.
“Kennedy, can you hold the cloth against the wound for me?”
“Yes.” Gliding her hand over his, she let him put it where he needed it.
Cree made quick work of combing out her long hair and towel-drying some of the water from it.
Grabbing one of his leather ties, he braided her hair and secured it.
“Let’s take care of that wound.” He took his time closing the deep gash that ran across her shoulder.
A small gash on her head needed tending as well.
“What the hell happened to you?” he asked, not expecting an answer.
“I saw my boss shoot a man,” Kennedy mumbled, too tired to talk.
As he closed the wounds, he could see the green and gold flecks in her hazel eyes. He stared at her for a long minute before looking away. Kennedy leaned in, placing a kiss on his cheek.
“Thank you.”
Not wanting to think about how soft her lips felt on his skin, Cree cut his thoughts off. “Have you eaten today?”
“No.”
“Are you picky?”
“No.”
“I’ll order some food for us from the diner.” He watched her nod before he walked back into the bathroom.
After dressing, he stepped out the bathroom to find Kennedy still wrapped in the towel, lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. “Kennedy, do you need help putting on clothes?”
“I don’t know where your shirt went to.”
With her lying on the bed, still pink from the shower, Cree had to ignore his normal urges and remind himself that she was his brother’s little sister.
With the need to get her out of the damp towel and into warm clothes, he forgot about the pajamas he’d purchased.
Searching the bed, he found the shirt he’d given her earlier. “Here we are. Can you sit up?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
He gently pulled the shirt over her head and tugged it down her torso while she managed to get her arms into the sleeves. “Are you in pain?”
“Nothing aspirin won’t take care of.”
“I picked some up at the store.” Digging in the shopping bags, he found the aspirin and a bottle of water.
He also saw the bag with the pajamas. Fuck it, he thought, she was already dressed.
Handing the items to her, he waited until she took the aspirin.
“Is there anything you need before I go get food for us?”
“My car’s in Provo, Utah, in a parking mall. I was thinking I should have it towed to a storage place.”
“The club has a chapter in Provo. I’ll have someone pick it up and take it to the clubhouse there.” He didn’t miss the confused look on her face. Did she not know anything about her brother’s life? “Get some rest. I’ll be back.”
Cree turned on the space heater before leaving the small cabin. When he closed the door, he sighed. This job was going to be hard. Something about Kennedy’s eyes called to him. Deep down in his soul, he felt a strange connection to her. God help the ones who hurt her.
Pulling out his phone, he called Teller. “Cree,” the brother answered.
“Teller, can we have the boys in Provo grab Kennedy’s car and store it for her?”
“I’m sure we can. Send me the info and we’ll handle it.”
“Thanks.”
“Anything else you need?”
“Not at this time.”
“Keep us updated on things.” Teller thought he’d remind Cree that Kennedy was Player’s sister, just in case the man forgot that detail. “You might want to give Player a call. After all, you’re taking care of his little sister.”
“Will do.” Cree hung up the phone and found Player’s number. “Player, it’s Cree.”
“Do you have Kennedy?”
“Yeah, I got her a few hours ago.”
“And you’re just calling me now—”
Cutting Player off, Cree gave him the details of Kennedy’s situation.
“Before you start getting all accusatory, let me tell you, she’s witnessed a shooting.
Been shot at and has a deep flesh wound.
She’s being hunted, and no, I don’t know by who yet.
She’s too exhausted to make a coherent sentence. ”
“Son of a bitch.”
“I’m about to grab her some food and see if that makes her feel better.
” Running his free hand through his damp hair, Cree looked up and down the tiny gravel lane the small cabin sat on.
“She’s bruised, got blistered feet, and her legs are covered in scratches.
I don’t know everything she’s been through yet.
Just know, I’ve got her and she’s safe with me. ”
Player hated not being there with Kennedy. “I appreciate you taking care of her.”
“I know if the shoe was on the other foot, you’d do it for me.”
“Fuck yeah, I would.”
“How about I have her call you in the morning?”
As bad as Player wanted to hear his sister’s voice, he knew she probably needed the rest, and he’d want to ask her a thousand questions. “Sounds good.”
“Till then, I got things covered.” Cree hung up and stepped off the porch, heading for the diner.