CHAPTER NINETEEN
-:- PENNY -:-
My phone vibrates, alerting me that I have a message, and picking it up from the table in front of me where I’m sitting in the common room, I see it’s a message from Winter.
Winter: I’m canceling your archery lessons until this threat is dealt with
Penny: Okay, but I would like to do them later
Winter: We can rearrange when the threat has been eliminated
Penny: OK
Now, I am not going to ask what she means by eliminated because someone informed me that Winter is an excellent sniper, as is Target. I don’t want to get on the wrong side of either of them, because, let’s be honest, they could take me out and I’d not even see it coming.
Being here at the clubhouse is strange, and I’m not sure what I am supposed to do, or where I can go, or not go!
Carrying Arabella into the kitchen, I’m met with Lincoln and Jo arguing about the time he doesn’t spend with her.
I’m not getting involved, and quickly step outside to take a seat on the bench near the kitchen door.
I watch as Star bustles down the compound. She is amazing, since she seems to have boundless energy. She radiates it no matter what she is doing.
“Morning, Penny. I was just coming to find you. Winter told me she canceled your lessons, for now anyway. So, you can come with me.”
“Where?” I ask.
“We can go early to the bridal shop. I’ve let them know, so let’s get moving.” Star nudges me forward, and I get a tighter hold on Arabella as I stand and follow Star. I’m thankful that I had a shower this morning, and am wearing clean underwear.
Entering the bridal shop, I’m surprised that two ladies are waiting for us, giving both myself and Star a huge welcoming smile. “Hello, Star, Penny. Come on into the private consultation room. My name is Beulah, and this is Spell, our seamstress.”
Now, Beulah is beautiful. She’s around 5'7”, so taller than my 5’2”.
But then again, I am smaller than most people I meet.
She has golden-brown hair that she wears in a loose bun at the base of her head.
Green eyes that sparkle as she speaks. She is a little on the plump side and reminds me of a mother who would cuddle and kiss her children a lot.
Spell, however, has black hair that is in a low ponytail, but it reaches the top of her butt.
It’s very shiny, and you can see it’s looked after with no sign of any damage like split ends.
She has blue eyes that look like they’ve seen everything the world can offer.
I can imagine her as a witch, but she’d be a beautiful one, and not a dark witch with the gothic touches.
“Hi, Penny. Let’s get your measurements so I can set myself up. You are having a theme for your wedding. I love it by the way. It’s going to be very cool.” Spell grins, and I can’t help but grin along with her because Ruger isn’t going to know anything about this until the day we get married.
It doesn’t take too long to get me in my underwear.
Arabella is with Star, who is blowing raspberries on her belly and making her laugh loudly.
I stood on a type of podium so Spell could get my measurements.
Then, to my surprise we sit with a laptop.
On the screen is a model of my size, and similar looks made up with what I want the dress to be like when it’s finished.
It’s pretty amazing I have to admit, and to see the dress as I want it to look takes my breath away.
“Is this okay with you?” Beulah asks as she looks at the laptop.
“Perfect, just perfect.” I smile up at her while nodding.
“Okay, then. We’ll let you know when the dress is ready. But do you have any bridesmaids? Or maid of honor?” Beulah asks, and I panic a little as I’ve not thought about that.
“Oh, yeah, but we’ll come in and see you for fittings.” Star gives me a cheeky grin, and you know what? I just leave it alone. It’s like the grunt thing…the women of the club have their own language, too.
“What about payment?” I ask as I grab for my purse. This is going to be costly, I’m sure.
Star giggles, “You for real? Pen, Ruger is paying, and you will just enjoy.” Pen? Since when did I get given the name Pen?
Knowing Arabella is getting grouchy with hunger and tiredness we get out of the bridal shop and back to the compound. I’m surprised that we don’t have one of the brothers with us, but when I asked Star she gave me this really odd look, so you know, I kept quiet from that point.
Two hours later, after Arabella was fed and had a nap, I walked down to the kitchen where I ate a snack myself, and gave Arabella her formula. She’s still tired I’m sure, but she’s not wanting to miss anything, so she's forcing herself to keep her eyes open.
Star has found me and beckons me toward her.
Hence, I’m now out of the clubhouse and walking with Star to her house.
I can’t help but think about someone wanting to kill me.
It makes no sense at all. I’ve done nothing to anyone to cause this.
Arabella wraps her arms around my neck and baby talks to me, and I come to a stop when, for the first time she says, ‘Mama.’
“Oh, she said Mama.” Star claps her hands and gives the brightest smile to Arabella, then pinches her cheeks softly before kissing her nose. All the time Arabella is giggling at Star's antics.
“Why don’t you have any kids?” I ask.
Star, however, gives me a roll of her eyes like I should know better than ask that question.
But she replies after a minute. “It’s not our time to have children just yet.
I know someone who’d love to be called Gramps, but I’m not ready, and I don’t think James is either, although he keeps hinting.
But I think that hinting is the fact that he just wants more practice. ”
“James? Is that Meat’s real name?” I’m shocked because that is something I never hear, you know, the actual name of the brothers.
“Yeah, but don’t call him that. Only I get to call him that.
You’ll find that only the Ol’ Ladies call their man by his actual name when in private.
But if you hear one shout their name out when with others, keep your head down because it means that woman is going feral any minute. ” Star throws her head back, laughing.
“Wow, I never knew that although I know Ruger’s name as he whispered it to me the first time… you know…!”
“Yeah, I know.” Star laughs again and takes Arabella out of my arms. We make our way quickly and walk into Star’s house, which is spotless. It’s a beautiful house, and it welcomes you as you walk inside.
Once Arabella was set up in a toy-filled playpen to keep her occupied for now, we got drinks made and took a seat at the kitchen island. I can see Arabella from where I’m sitting, and she’s quite happy looking around while lying on her back, kicking her legs and arms.
“So, who do you reckon was trying to shoot you?” Star asks.
Sighing before I answer, “Honestly, it is beyond me. I’ve hurt no one that I know of. But you know Ruger has that psycho woman, and she’s the only one I can think of. She’s in that facility, so how can she do anything?”
The back door opens, and Nyx walks in with none other than her four ladies.
They walk inside like they own the place.
Shocking me even more is those they call the Three Stooges behind them.
Even more shocking behind them is Meat, who walks right over to Star and kisses her silly, much to everyone’s amusement.
Now, I’ve never seen, and never thought I’d see Star blush, but she is red to her hair roots when she looks around at us all. I giggle, but try to stop it by throwing a hand over my mouth. Star gives me a frown, which sets me off again, and of course everyone else.
The kitchen now has ten women and Meat in it, and I’m thinking it’s a darn good job it’s a large kitchen or we’d be squished in here like sardines in a can.
“How are we going to find out who shot at Penny? What are we going to do about it?” Nyx asks as she takes a seat at the island.
Joan has disappeared to play with Arabella, and before anyone can say a word in response, the door opens and a man walks in.
An older man who steps right over to Star, pushes Meat out of the way and wraps his arms around Star.
Kissing her forehead right before he turns with a cheeky grin, “Hello, ladies.”
Nyx is the first to speak. “Hello, Mr. Stevens.” The rest of us do not know who Mr. Stevens is, so we all look from Nyx to Star, to Meat, and then settle on Mr. Stevens.
Star giggles when she sees the look on my face. “This is my father, Richard. You can all call him Richard. He’d rather that than being called Mr. Stevens.”
We mostly give him a smile, but I notice the Three Stooges know him already, and they carry on getting drinks for everyone. This is so bizarre. Being with the club is like living in another world, stepping into another time zone even.
“Yeah, I’m Richard, and I’m the luckiest man to be Star’s father.” Rubbing his hands together, he takes a seat next to Star, and I stand while giving Sybil my seat. “So, ladies, how are we going to find the arsehole who is trying to kill Penny?” Richard asks.
Now, ideas are thrown around until Carol grabs everyone’s attention. “How about one of us oldies goes to the facility, and pretends to be a long-lost relative of Rosemarie? That way we can find out what the witch is up to, and with whom.”
Meat grunts, and I’ve been told it’s his language, but I’ll admit I’ve still to learn grunt.
Everyone else, however, nods at him, and I’m astounded because they all must know and understand grunt!
Amelia does something that I think is supposed to be a grunt, but it isn’t quite right as everyone gives her a headshake and frowns.
I’m keeping quiet because honestly it’s a tricky situation when there is a foreign language going on.
“I’ll do it.” Sandy stands from where she’d been perched at the island. “Hm, Carol is small and frail-looking. But Tina has a cane? What do you think?”
We discuss how each of us looks, and Richard gives me the once-over. “Well, we can’t send Penny because she’s the victim. But she wouldn’t do, anyway. She is striking with her shoulder-length black hair, gray eyes, and she has a stunning shape.”
“Hey, stop with that. Anyone would think you are…” Star starts to say but is interrupted by Richard.
“No, I’m saying nobody in their right mind would ever not recognize Penny.
She’s stunning, and she’s a woman who turns every single man’s head when she walks into a room.
But the thing that clinches the surrounding aura she has is the fact she doesn’t even see it.
She is totally oblivious of the impact she has on people.
” Richard looks at me and winks, which makes a blush run up my cheeks.
Meat grunts, and I’m not sure what that means, so I ignore it.
Amelia taps the island with her knuckles. “Okay, hands up if we vote for Carol to go to the facility.”
I don’t get involved because I’m not sure this is a good idea, but everyone but Carol holds their hand up. Oh, and Joan doesn’t raise her hand as she is still with Arabella who is at this moment falling asleep in Joan's arms.
“Okay then, Carol, let’s make sure you get an appointment to visit your niece.” Bitty grins, and I have to tell you the kitchen looks like it’s full of Cheshire cats with the huge smiles going on.
Star shocks when she speaks. “Tomorrow, you all come in the morning, and Meat will get you all armed. That includes you, Penny.”
“Oh, I have two tasers,” I quickly reply, giving Star a reassuring smile.
“You have two tasers? But do you have a proper weapon like a Bowie knife, or a Ruger, which you know is your man’s favorite weapon?” Star continues.
“Well, no, because I don’t want things like that around Arabella.”
“And if someone comes at Arabella are you just going to light up their ass with a taser?” Sybil asks and gives me a look that I don’t quite understand.
“I’ll do whatever I have to do,” I respond.
But when Amelia cuts into the conversation I freeze. “Have you ever heard the saying - Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight? That could easily be you. Be prepared for anything to protect your daughter.”
My mind flicks from one thought to another, but Amelia is right. I need to be prepared for anything. I look at Star, then Meat, giving them both a nod, and I even grunt, which, of course, has Star smirking at me.
“Can we get armed now? I don’t want to wait until tomorrow,” I ask, and I get a grunt in response.
Looking at Star because I have no idea what that grunt means she shakes her head.
No, we can’t. I sigh but sit back and listen to all the ladies talking, and you know most of it is total and utter bullshit!
But who am I to burst their happy bubble?