Chapter 1
SARGE
The smell of breakfast woke me up, so I showered quickly and made my way down the hall toward the kitchen.
Hearing so much activity downstairs caught me off guard, considering the party hadn’t wrapped up until the early morning hours.
I had to admit, the Texas Kings knew how to throw one hell of a party.
Since all the older members of both clubs hosting us in Rojo were married, the celebration wasn’t as wild as some clubhouse parties I’d been to over the years, but the alcohol flowed freely and the live music was outstanding.
Some of the younger club members played in a well-known band, and they took the stage with the older guys, who had obviously been playing together for years.
I had a damn good time getting to know them, and I could tell we’d become good friends.
Even better, I got to spend time with some of my own club members and their old ladies–people I didn’t see nearly often enough.
I caught a mix of familiar and unfamiliar voices as I rounded the corner. Several people were already seated at the tables for breakfast, while a line formed in front of the bar where the kitchen crew had laid out a massive buffet.
“Mornin’, Sarge,” Boss called out from the table where he was sitting with his wife and a few of the other wives from my club. “I’m surprised you slept so late, considering you’re probably used to getting up before dawn.”
“I went to bed around the time I’m usually waking up,” I told him as I picked up a paper plate and grabbed utensils. “Besides, this is my vacation. Aren’t I supposed to sleep in?”
“If you’re going to work while you’re here, it’s not a vacation,” Hook argued.
“Compared to what he does every day, shopping for new stock is not work.”
“At least I got to ride down, although that means I’ll be coming back with a trailer soon to pick up whatever I buy.”
“Someday I’m going to find a good woman for you so you won’t have to go alone on trips like that,” Santa’s wife, Frankie, threatened.
“No, thank you.”
“You can’t be single forever, Sarge,” Jenn chided.
“You make it sound like a disease. The word single has so many negative connotations. I prefer the term ‘free from all evil,’” I said without turning around.
Everyone laughed as I walked over to sit with a few of my fellow Nomads.
“Good morning, gentlemen. What are you plotting?”
Okie smiled. “If I tell you, that makes it premeditated.”
“True. Very true,” I said. “But how can I join the fun if you don’t tell me the plan?”
“Nothing nefarious going on here,” Dante assured me. “I convinced Shiloh to come work with me in Marlboro.”
“Good. I was going to move him up to the farm and turn him into a field hand, but he’s too sheltered to put out in the sun for long. He’d probably wilt.”
“Sheltered?” Shiloh scoffed. “Pffft. I don’t think I’ve ever been so insulted.”
“I can try again,” I said with a grin, shaking pepper over the gravy covering my biscuits. “Okie, are you ready to get out of the drug trade and make an honest living?”
“The only thing shady about my livelihood is how much money the government takes in taxes,” Okie replied.
“Being on the right side of the law sucks sometimes, but since I don’t want to get sent back to prison for tax evasion, I pay that bill on time every time.”
“What’s on your agenda today?” Okie asked.
“I’ve got to visit my friend and look over his goats to get some fresh blood in my sister-in-law’s herd, and then go to a flower farm to drop off some seeds for Ma.”
“She’s still working on spreading her hybrid plants?” Shiloh asked.
“Someday we’re gonna have a real-life Little Shop of Horrors situation if she keeps going,” Okie predicted.
“Honestly, I think that’s what she’s aiming for.”
“She must be planning to take over if she’s passing out her hybrid seeds.”
“I don’t think that’s the case, at least not this time.
One of her online groups is all aflutter about a reintegration program that started here, so she called the director to tell her how much she appreciated her efforts.
They became friendly, and, of course, the conversation turned to gardening . . .”
“Every conversation with your mom goes to gardening,” Okie pointed out. “And I’ll forever be grateful for that. I’ve learned a lot from her.”
“Anyway, she wanted me to swing by and drop off some gifts, so I’ll do that this afternoon.”
“I guess since all of those wedding festivities are over, things will calm down around here. When are you heading home?” Okie asked.
“I’ll leave in the morning.”
“I’ll ride with you until my exit,” Okie offered.
“We’re going that direction too,” Dub said from the next table.
“Let’s meet at that diner in the morning, fuel up, and then get on the road,” Okie suggested.
“Sounds like a plan,” I agreed. I looked at Okie and added, “If you want to ride with me today, I’ll be ready as soon as I finish breakfast.”
“I’m ready when you are.”
Within half an hour, we were out on the road with an escort.
A few of the men at the clubhouse had heard our conversation and mentioned that they were good friends with the program director.
It shocked me to learn that we already knew her old man from the Tenillo compound, where we’d lived right after getting out of prison.
That very connection eventually led us to join the Time Served MC.
Living on the compound for a certain amount of time was part of my parole agreement, and it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me.
Adjusting to the outside world took time, but surrounding myself with men and women who were going through the same thing made it easier.
In the process, I made some lifetime friendships beyond the men in my club, and even though I hated to leave them, I had to get back to the farm to help Ma and the family.
However, I was available to any of my brothers if they needed help, just as my home stayed open to any of them traveling through or needing a place to chill. Although they didn’t relax very much with Ma around, her home-cooked food made up for the labor they put in while staying with my family.
We passed a field covered in sections of flowers, and I knew I would have to take plenty of pictures to show Ma when I got back.
After we parked in the small lot, I got off my bike, looked around, and pulled out my phone to take a few shots from a distance.
I decided to ask the director if I could walk around and get some close-ups.
The office door opened, and a gorgeous woman walked outside to greet us, followed by a man I recognized.
“Forrester,” Okie said as he hurried over to shake the man’s hand.
After Okie and Dub greeted him, I embraced my old friend, Garvey Forrester, and then shook his fiancée’s hand before I introduced myself.
“I love your mother!” Zoey exclaimed. “She’s invited me to come up a few times, and I promised I would once we got everything running smoothly around here.
I’ve invited her to come visit, too, but she said she probably never would because the farm would collapse without her there to keep everyone in line. ”
“She’s probably right,” I agreed with a grin. “She sent some gifts for you.”
“She’s too kind,” Zoey said as she walked over to my motorcycle with me.
I opened the saddlebag and pulled out the paper sack of items Mom sent with me.
I watched as Zoey went through everything, clearly thrilled with the gifts.
“Before you leave, come find me in the store. I’ve got some things I want to send with you. ”
“I’ll do that. Do you mind if I walk around and take some pictures?”
“I wouldn’t mind at all. Feel free to roam wherever you’d like. Mi casa es su casa and all that.”
I told the guys I’d find them in a bit and walked toward the field of flowers while Zoey headed to the store.
I knew I’d have to tour that place, too, and probably take even more pictures to show my sisters-in-law so they could get ideas for the little mercantile we had at the farm, but I’d do that later.
Right now, the breeze was cool, the sun was warm, and I needed to stretch my legs.
I wandered for at least half an hour, taking so many pictures it would take Ma forever to get through them all.
When I walked around the corner of the large greenhouse, I found several women working at a table.
I nodded in greeting, and one of them gasped and said my name.
“Graham?” The woman was beautiful and seemed familiar, but I couldn’t place her. “You probably don’t remember me, but I knew you when I was a kid.”
“Really? I’m sorry, but I can’t . . .”
“I was living at your mom’s house when you got locked up,” she said.
I tilted my head and studied her face. “Starla?”
Her smile was infectious, and it startled me when she threw herself into my arms and said, “I’m so glad you made it out okay. Your mom was beside herself with worry.”
“She mentioned you not too long ago,” I said as I leaned back to look at her. “There’s still a picture of you and some of the other kids on the mantel.”
“I loved your mom so much, Graham. That was the best foster home I ever lived in. I was so sad when they took me away.”
“That was my fault. It’s a small town, and when I got arrested, they gave Mom a bunch of shit.”
“How’s she doing? I’ve always wondered about her. I’ve got so many wonderful memories of cooking with her in the kitchen and relaxing in the evenings on the porch.”
“Why don’t you call her? She’d love to hear from you.”
“After all this time? I just . . . I’m not exactly what she dreamed I’d become.”
“What do you mean?”
“I got lost after I left the farm, and it took years to find myself again.”
“Goodness, Little Star. You’re all grown up. I can’t believe it.”
“It happens to all of us eventually.”