Chapter 11
BOLT
Jeanie has been my old lady for a few weeks now, and my surprise for her is finally ready. And it is fucking amazing, even if I say so myself.
Ever since I overheard her saying she’d love to go on a sleigh ride but that we don’t have enough snow in the UK, I’ve been working on her surprise for her. Well, not just me; I’ve had the whole MC working on it. It hasn’t been easy keeping it a secret.
Thank fuck she is a fantastic old lady, and as soon as I mentioned club business, she nodded in understanding, kissed me and told me she’d see me later.
It has taken us a week of long nights, cursing, bleeding fingers and brotherly bonding, but her sleigh is finally done.
Admittedly, it isn’t a regular sleigh. We don’t have snow, so we’ve had to improvise.
We’ve built a regular sleigh big enough to fit four people and then instead of runners we’d added wheels much like you’d find on a mini.
The sleigh sits a little higher than most because of this, and instead of being drawn by horses, it will be drawn by two of the brothers’ sleds.
We’d had to weld a crossbar that would fit across both sleds, ensuring they’d be able to pull it together.
Not that we’ll be going far, just down the road past our mobile homes towards Coal’s house, where we’ll turn around.
We spray-painted it cherry red, and Sterling drew the club logo onto the side.
The seat and back had cushions covered in a Christmas theme.
All I have left to do is buy blankets to throw over us because I’m not sure how cold it will be. And I pray that it doesn’t rain.
Mum, Thea, and Opal get in on the action too and decorate the path with lights and blow-up signs showing the way to the North Pole.
I plan to take her for her ride Christmas Day once the sun goes down as she is busy tonight. It is Christmas Eve, and she is helping the Crow MC with their annual meet Father Christmas, movie, and snack that they put on for the village.
I offered to help, and I know that Coal and Thea, who are taking Shea and Opal, have been pulled in to help too.
“Ready to take it for a test drive?” Nickel asks, rubbing his hands together. If I didn’t know better, I’d say my usually stoic and quiet brother is excited.
“Sure.” I grin at him. Looking over at Brass and Iron, I ask, “Do you two want to do the towing? We can take turns as we’re using the spare sleds for this so ours don’t take a beating.”
“Fuck yeah,” Brass says gleefully, hurrying towards the bikes with Iron following, shaking his head with amusement at his enthusiasm.
Rolling their sleds into place, they attach them to the crossbar while Nickel and I get in the sleigh and wait for the two of them to pull away. “Not too fast, guys. I don’t want to fuck it up until I’ve had Jeanie take a ride in it.”
Iron gives me a thumbs-up, and the two of them pull away together. There’s a small jolt as we are pulled forward, but otherwise it’s pretty smooth.
“What do you think?” I ask Nickel.
“You did good, little brother. It needs bells, though.”
“It does,” I agree. “Not sure where I’ll get one at this late date, though.”
“I’ve got you covered,” he assures me, nodding towards the floor and the box I missed when I got in, thinking it was parts from the build. Reaching down, I pick up the box and open the flap. Inside are two strands of brand-new shiny bells.
My heart swells at my brother’s thoughtfulness.
Nickel has always been the quiet one, more of a loner than the rest of us.
The fact that he took the time to do this for me makes my throat tighten with emotion.
I lift my head and meet his steady, assessing gaze.
“Thank you, Nickel,” I say, my voice thick with heartfelt emotion.
“You’re welcome, Bolt. She’s good for you; I’m seeing the brother I’ve missed for years. You’re going to be an amazing dad.”
“Fuck,” I mutter, wiping at my eyes. “That means a lot coming from you. Thanks for not giving up on me.”
“Never.” He taps my leg affectionately. “Now, how about we stop these two and put the bells on for the return trip,” he suggests as Iron and Brass slow their sleds to make the turn.
“Stop the ride; I want to get off,” Nickel shouts to them. Both Iron and Brass’s shoulders shake with laughter at his words. I’m not sure that Nickel meant to be funny, but when the realisation of what he said hits him, he laughs along with us. We’re all still chuckling as we get out of the sleigh.
“What’s going on?” Brass asks curiously.
Showing him the box with the bells, I explain, “Nickel wants to add them for the return trip.”
Turning back towards the sleigh, I watch Nickel lifting the cushions, and I wonder what he’s doing when I realise that he’s made brackets to fit the bells onto the sleigh.
I didn’t even think of how we were going to attach them.
Should have known that Nickel would have thought of how to do it.
I assumed we’d jimmy something together.
He takes the brackets and a spanner and bolts from his pockets and fits them to pre-drilled holes on either side of the front of the sleigh.
We’re quiet as we watch him work. Once he’s fitted them, he holds out his hand to me for the bells.
I give them to him, and he fits them to the side of the sleigh, giving them a little shake so that they tinkle to make sure they work.
Once he’s happy with how they are fitted, he looks up and grins widely. “Let’s see how this sounds going back to the clubhouse.”
Iron and Brass remount their sleds, and I hop back into the sleigh.
As soon as the sleds start up, the vibrations set the bells tinkling, and they don’t stop all the way back.
The noise has most of the brothers waiting for us.
Mom is beaming at me. As soon as we come to a stop, she’s stepping in.
“I think we need one more test run,” she tells me.
Laughing, I agree, “I think you’re right, Momma.” Holding my hand out to Opal, I say, “Come on, little sister, give me your opinion.” Glancing at Nickel, I chuckle when he stays put; not even Coal giving him a death glare has him moving.
Sitting next to my mom, I wrap my arm around her shoulder and hit the side of the sleigh with the palm of my hand. Brass gives me a thumbs-up as we move off, bells tinkling all the way.
Mom and Opal beam, their faces filled with delight as we go down the road. I breathe in deeply and let out a happy sigh.
Mom glances up at me, her eyes sparkling. “This is lovely, Bolt. Jeanie’s going to love it.”
“I hope so,” I reply, shoving my hand in my pocket. I close my hand around the box that's in there. Jeanie already wears my cut, but tomorrow night I’ll ask her to marry me.
The afternoon is spent with my family and the brothers’ taking rides in the sleigh.
We have to do a few modifications, but otherwise she rides nice and smooth.
At the end of the day, we park her in the carport.
Before I can cover her up, Mom hands me a wooden box, and when I open it up, it’s full of Christmas blankets.
“Thanks, Momma,” I say, kissing her cheek. “I’ve been meaning to get some but ran out of time.”
“That’s why I’m here, baby,” she says, patting my shoulder. “You did real good, son.”
Fuck, I think as moisture pricks at my eyes.
I’m turning into a weepy idiot with the amount of crying I’ve wanted to do today.
But this is my momma, and I’m safe with her no matter what.
None of us have ever had to hide our emotions with her.
Wrapping my arms around my mom, I hug her tight.
She says nothing, just returns my embrace.
Until I relax my hold but don’t let go. Only then does she speak.
“It’s going to be okay, baby boy,” she assures me. “You’re older this time. And Jeanie isn’t weak. She’s perfect for you, and she makes a fantastic old lady. This one I like.”
Relief fills me. It has been a whirlwind few weeks since Jeanie found me, and I haven’t had time to connect with my mom. That she likes Jeanie means a lot to me. She never liked Leila.
“Thank you, Momma. I’m glad you like her because she’s going to be in our family forever if I have my way. I’m just sorry I didn’t get her information the night we met.”
“Things happen a certain way for a reason, son,” she tells me as she removes her arms from around me, releasing me from her embrace. “Now you’d best get going, or you’ll be late.”
She’s not wrong. I check the time and see it’s approaching one in the afternoon, and I’m supposed to meet Jeanie at two at Sam’s place in Feannag.
Hurrying home, I grab the bag I packed earlier and stuff it into my saddlebag.
I’ll be spending tonight at the O’Shea compound, and then we’ll be back here tomorrow for Christmas lunch.
Swinging a leg over my sled, I settle in my seat and start her up, riding slowly up our road towards the clubhouse, slowing down when I see Coal waiting for me on his bike with Thea, Opal, and Shea in Thea’s vehicle. Looks like we’ll be riding together.
With it being Christmas Eve, traffic isn’t too bad; most people are already home with their families, getting ready for Christmas. Forty-five minutes later, we’re stopping at Sam’s, finding him, Ally, and Jeanie waiting for us.
Jeanie’s waving and bouncing on her toes as soon as she sees us. I hold back a chuckle; my girl does nothing by halves. She’s waiting for me as I back my sled into a parking space. Her lips on mine as soon as I’ve got my helmet off. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I hold her close.
“We’re not spending a night apart again,” she informs me. “I slept for shite last night.”
“I agree,” I tell her. “Are you all ready to go?”
“Just waiting on you to put Jeanie down.” Sam smirks at me from where he’s sitting on his bike next to mine. I was so caught up in Jeanie I didn’t notice that not only is Ally waiting in her vehicle, but that Sam is waiting for us.