Chapter Twenty-Three #2
“Make sure you have a charger for your phone!” Colleen called after her.
After the sound of her feet hurrying up the stairs inside faded, Jordon’s mother pinned him with a look that he recognized.
He knew from Jordon’s similar look that it meant she was serious about whatever she was about to say.
“I expect you to respect my daughter. She’s the only one I got, and I don’t want to have to show you how we managed through his rodeo years and the recovery after his accident. ”
Spider frowned, not sure what she meant.
“She’s got a Winchester 30-06 next to the door. More years than not she’s bagged an elk. And a few of those she’s gotten a deer too. Yeah, we live on a ranch and we’ve got beef, but the more of those we can sell, the better off we are,” Clint said with a wink in her direction.
“Ah. Gotcha.” Spider turned back to Jordon’s mother.
“I have nothing but the utmost respect for your daughter. I want her to meet my family because I’m hoping they might eventually be her family too.
I know this isn’t the best time to get into a relationship, but we don’t always get to choose when the right one falls in our laps, do we?
My brothers and I have nothing but respect for women, at least until one proves that they’re not worthy of that respect. ”
“And how would one do that?” Colleen asked.
“By betraying us. We value family and loyalty, even if that family isn’t the one you’re born into.
Betraying either their man or the club will get them run off.
But if they’ve got any kind of trouble? We’ll have their back.
If she decides she wants to go to school, we’ll make sure she can.
I don’t care what she wants to do with her life.
I’ll support her. If it’s have a dozen kids and raise chickens and pigs, I’ll build the pens and coops, and what I can’t manage, my brothers will help with.
If she wants to go to school and become a vet or a doctor, an attorney or an astronaut I’ll be right behind her, encouraging her every step of the way, as will the rest of the family.
And when it comes time for her to walk across that stage?
We will all be there screaming and cheering for her the loudest.”
“I’ve heard about how clubs like yours treat women,” she said.
“I already covered that, sweetheart. I’m confident she’s in good hands.
” Clint wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
She turned and looked up at him, the love and respect they had clear in the way they looked at each other.
Spider hoped that in twenty or thirty years, he and Jordon looked at each other just the same.
Or maybe with just a little more heat in that look.
After a moment, Colleen nodded and turned back to Spider.
“I’m glad to see you again ... Spider, right?”
“Yes, ma’am. Would you feel better about the trip if she had her Jeep with her?” he asked her mother.
Colleen exhaled heavily and her shoulders drooped.
“Actually, yes, I would. I like knowing that if things aren’t what she’s expecting or something just feels off, then she can leave whenever he likes, at least this first time.
After that she will know someone other than you.
She’ll know what to expect.” Colleen waved one hand, then turned to go in the house.
“I’ll go tell her she’s not limited to one bag.
But are you going with her? Do you want her to meet you at your place?
” She hesitated at the door before going inside.
Spider shook his head, then turned to Dax. “Can you hang around here until I check with her, then go back to the house and gather a few things for me before you head back to Craven’s Creek?”
“Sure. I didn’t know we were going back this weekend, though. I’m not sure they’re expecting us.”
Spider tilted his head. “Is there some reason we shouldn’t go?”
“Nope. Give me a list and I’ll do whatever you want.
You know that.” Dax tilted his head toward the truck.
“I’m gonna go call Fletch and let him know the plans.
He may need to call a couple of people to set up meetings if we’re going home for the weekend.
I want to give him as much heads up as I can.
” Dax waited for Spider’s nod before he headed back for the truck, taking the time to close the gate on his way out.
“He always jump to do whatever you ask?” Clint asked, his gaze still on Dax as he propped his ass against the side of the truck and dialed his phone.
“Pretty much. He’s a prospect. He does anything any patched member asks, hoping to earn his vote when it’s time to vote to patch him in. Same for the old ladies, though he’s trying to earn their man’s vote for treating their women right.”
“How long does that go on?”
Spider shrugged. “Usually a year or so. We’re due to vote on Dax, maybe another, I’m not sure. I don’t keep track of all that. That’s part of Snoopy’s job as secretary.”
Clint nodded. Spider wondered if he had more questions, but Jordon came out of the house, a duffle over one shoulder and a set of keys in her hand. She looked at him and grinned.
“I hear I’m driving?” she said when she reached his side.
“Yep. Your mom thought it would be a good idea of you had your own wheels so if you weren’t comfortable, you could leave without having to depend on anyone else.”
“I’m sure things will be fine, but thank you for the thought.” She leaned down and kissed his cheek. “Are you riding with me or with Dax?”
“I’ll go with you, if you don’t mind. He’s gonna stop by the house and pick up a few things, and probably Fletch.
He’s letting Fletch know we’re headed home for a few days now.
Fletch will probably spend most of the ride making calls and setting up meetings.
I’ve kept him away from home and his practice for too long.
” Spider shook his head, feeling guilty that Fletch had left so much behind so he could be there for Spider.
At the same time, he didn’t know what he would have done without his best friend around to keep him grounded and help him when he was down.
Now that he was getting more mobile, maybe he could convince him to stay back when they had to come back next week.
Then he’d feel better about it if he wasn’t keeping Fletch away even longer.
He’d have to talk to him about it, but he’d wait until they were home.
“I’m gonna put this in the Jeep then come back and say goodbye to my folks. Do you need help to get out there?” She motioned to the Jeep sitting in the driveway.
“No, it will take me a minute, but I can make it on my own.” He grabbed his crutches and stood.
Jordon nodded and headed out to the truck, leaving the gate open.
“I’ll take good care of her, sir. You have my word.
” Clint stared at him for a moment as if trying to decide whether or not his word meant anything to him.
It did, but for so many people these days it didn’t, so Spider didn’t blame Clint for his hesitation.
After several long seconds, Clint nodded.
“You have my number. Call if you need anything,” Clint said, clapping Spider on the shoulder.
“Yes, sir. We’ll be in touch and I’ll make sure she stays safe. Reach out if you want. Anytime.” Spider eased himself down the two steps to the walkway in front of the house, and out the gate. Jordon opened the passenger side door then headed back to the house to say goodbye.
Spider made his way to the Jeep and got in, thankful as he did that she hadn’t jacked it up. That would have been much harder for him to get into. By the time he was seated and had his crutches stowed, Jordon was on her way back to the vehicle, a huge grin on her face.
“You comfortable?” she asked as she slid in behind the wheel.
She took a moment to plug in her phone and buckle her seat belt.
“I’m not sure where Craven’s Creek is—do you want to put in the address or just give me directions?
” She motioned to the screen between them the hit the button on the dash to start the vehicle.
He tapped the screen. “How about we have it lead you to Craven’s Creek, then I tell you how to get to the clubhouse from there?”
“Works for me.” She waited while Dax backed out and then left, then put the Jeep in gear and did the same.
“Sorry about the short notice. It didn’t even occur to me to go home until I was talking to your dad, but this will let you meet them before we take the big trip,” Spider said.
“I’m glad you agreed. I can’t wait for you to meet the rest of my family.
” He reached over and covered her hand on the gearshift, squeezed for a moment, then released her.
“I’m excited. I don’t care how short the notice was. I’m looking forward to the trip. It can be a little bit of a trial run, don’t you think?” she glanced at him before turning her attention back to the road.
“What do you mean?”
“Well,” she started slowly, “if this trip doesn’t go well, do we want to risk the trip to Alaska? If we can’t manage a couple hours in the car together, what makes us think we’ll be able to handle weeks of it?”
Spider thought about that for a moment. She had a point if they couldn’t handle a couple of days together, and around his brothers, then what kind of hell would a month or more stuck together be?
“I get you. Yeah, it could be a trial run. And speaking of, I need to warn you about the sleeping arrangements.”
“What do you mean?”
“Um. Last I knew all the rooms in the clubhouse are occupied. Granted, it’s been a while since I was there, but I don’t imagine that’s changed.
” He looked down at his lap, where the left leg of his pants had been rolled, then folded together at the end of his stump.
“I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to make it to my room.
I’m going to let you stay there. I’ll find somewhere else to sleep. ”
Jordon pulled to a stop at the intersection of their drive and the highway, turned and pinned him with an unhappy look. “What do you mean you can’t get to your room?”
“All the bedrooms in the clubhouse are on the second floor. There is no elevator. And while I’m not doing bad with the crutches, I had a hard enough time with the steps to your porch.
I don’t think I’ll be able to climb all the way to the second floor.
But that’s okay. It gives you all the privacy you will need in my room.
But it will give me and the rest of the Angels a chance to figure out what works and what we’ll need to do to make the place livable for me. ”
She watched him a moment, as if trying to decide if he was being honest with her, then nodded. After checking both directions, she pulled the Jeep onto the highway.
“Are they going to be difficult about making those changes?”
“No. I mean they might grumble and bitch, but they’ll do whatever I need.
In fact, I’d be surprised if they haven’t already started.
Some of it, though, I know they’ll want me there to see what works for me and what doesn’t.
” Spider fell quiet, turning to watch the land speed by, with the occasional house or tree to obstruct his view of the mountains in the distance.
He wondered again how he’d be able to ride again.
He’d done enough looking online to know it was possible, but he’d have to make some modifications, no matter what bike he had.
That reminded him. He needed to find out what had happened to his Street Glide.
Would he be able to ride a two-wheeler or would he have to give in and get a trike instead?
No point in worrying about that now, so he pushed the thought away and turned his attention back to the here and now.
“What are your road trip snacks? Do we need to stop and pick something up on the way through Bozeman?” Spider couldn’t resist watching her.
Something about the way she flushed when he teased her, the way she looked at him as if he was the only one who mattered.
It made him feel important, even if it was only to her, and that was everything.
“Road trip snacks?” Jordon shot him a confused look.
“Yeah, wildcat, road trip snacks. You know ... what do you like to eat on road trips? Typically, it’s things you don’t normally eat but love on long drives. I mean if you don’t buy snacks for a road trip like an eight-year-old set free with a hundred dollars, are you even doing it right?”
Jordon laughed. “I’ve never heard that. I don’t remember a lot of long trips, at least not after Daddy’s accident. And before it I was too little to care about anything but sweets and cookies. I wouldn’t know where to start.”
“I can help you with this,” he rubbed his hands together.
“Tell me, wildcat, what are your guilty pleasure snacks? Frosted animal cookies? Goldfish?” He leaned close and lowered his voice as if someone might overhear them.
“Those little donuts covered in powdered sugar that come in tubes of five or six?”
Jordon laughed again.
“You’ll laugh at me.” Her face turned pink.
“No, I won’t. Well, not the way you’re probably thinking. Tell me.”
Her pink face turned red. “Oreos and Nilla wafers.”
“Solid choices. I approve. Anything salty or just sweets?”
She tilted her head to one side but kept her eyes on the road. “Barbeque potato chips. I don’t want them most of the time—I don’t even really like them. But sometimes in the car, even just on the ride into Bozeman, I crave barbeque chips. I don’t get it, but it is what it is.”
“Chips are good. I’m more into sour cream and onion myself but I do like a good barbeque chip. How about when you hit the gas station, I go inside and see what I can find?”
Jordon shook her head. “Nope. You’re not getting food at the gas station.
It’s way too expensive. If we need to pick up snacks, I’ll hit the grocery store.
” She glanced over at him then back to the road.
“If the grocery store will put you over your hour for today, make me a list. I’ll run in and get whatever you want. ”
Spider shook his head. “I can go in with you. I’m good.” What he didn’t say was that he wasn’t about to let her pay for it, and he knew if he didn’t go in, she’d just pay for everything. He was working on making her his, and this was just one of many ways he would take care of her.