Chapter Eight
Rachel giggled at the antics on the couch. They’d just finished a wonderful lunch. Rachel had offered to take a turn cleaning up, but Regina had informed her that her first Sunday in Bluff Creek didn’t include dishes. Next week, Rachel could join the rotation.
Stone and Gunner were allowing Phoebe, Blake, and Chelle to paint their nails while they discussed the girls’ obsession with unicorns. Rachel was thrilled that Chelle had found two other girls as in love with unicorns as she was.
Chelle had Rachel read to her anything Rachel could find on the topic. When Rachel had heard that Phoebe was as obsessed with them as Chelle, Rachel had been thrilled. Stone had informed the group he was helping Phoebe illustrate the story she was writing about a unicorn.
“Gunner, do you think unicorns are special too?” Chelle asked.
Rachel adored that Chelle felt comfortable enough to share her favorite thing with Gunner.
“I do. Over the ages, they’ve been seen as strong, loyal, and chivalrous,” he said.
“What’s chival-tus?” she asked, sticking her tongue between her teeth.
“Chiv- ul -rus,” he sounded out for her. Chelle repeating it back to him was the cutest thing.
“It means being gallant, which is another word for courteous, especially toward women. It can also mean being brave in battle,” Gunner said.
“I like that,” Phoebe replied.
“Me too,” Chelle said.
“When I get older, I want a tattoo of a unicorn on my arm,” Blake said.
“Why the heck would you want one of that stupid make-believe animal on your arm?” Finn, who had just walked back into the room, muttered.
“You take that back! Unicorns are chiv- ul… cool!” Chelle yelled, tears starting to form in her eyes.
Stone stood up, lifting Chelle over to put her on Gunner’s lap. “You stay right here, and I’ll take care of the naysayer disparaging unicorns,” Stone said, bopping her on the nose, then walking toward Finn.
“Well, you stepped in it this time,” Stone said, shaking his head.
“War, we have something we need to discuss about Finn disparaging unicorns to Chelle, Blake, and Phoebe,” Stone yelled, the words echoing in the room as everyone quieted.
“It’s time for council anyway. We can discuss it first,” War said.
“Rachel, we thought we would discuss your situation in council. You may come in to listen if you like, or if you’d prefer not to go through it, then we can just jot down any questions we have,” War said.
“I think I’ll wait for your questions,” Rachel said.
Gunner walked over, carrying Chelle. “If you’re good, I’ll go to council. I’d love to take a walk with you afterward. Bear and Winnie are having afternoon fun for the kids until five p.m.”
“Sounds good,” she said, starting to take Chelle from his arms, but Chelle shook her head.
“I’m fine. I just like when Gunner carries me,” Chelle said, hugging Rachel quickly before running back over by Blake and Phoebe.
Gunner sat down by Stone at the table, waiting for War to call them to order. Yeah, so he was being a little bit of a dick, glaring at Finn, but there was no need for Finn’s outburst when the kids were there.
Gunner didn’t give a flying fuck if Finn said crap about unicorns. What he did care about was an adult putting down a child’s ideas. Children needed to be able to dream without constraints. Finn’s thoughtless, sarcastic words sent a message that Gunner didn’t agree with.
War banged a gavel on the table. “Order!”
Everyone quieted. Gunner wondered which issue War would have them dealing with first.
“Let’s get this out of the way. Finn, although you and Ben are allowed in meetings, you’re still considered Prospects in a probationary period.
I thought what you did was rude. If Amelia was that age and you said that to her, I probably would have wanted to string you up like a pinata and beat some sense into you.
Now, my wife and her sisters, however, are devious,” War said, pausing for the laughter to die down.
“They suggested a punishment that I think fits the crime perfectly. They suggested that for the next three months, everywhere you go, you will need to take and wear a pink unicorn backpack. And since your behavior was what the Franks sisters consider juvenile, they’d like the brotherhood to consider that, in addition to the unicorn backpack, you be required to ride the small electric Razor motorbike instead of your motorcycle,” War said.
Gunner slapped the table, his shoulders shaking. Glancing at Stone beside him, Gunner saw the biggest grin on Stone’s face.
“Yes, yes, yes,” Stone yelled in reply.
War let them laugh and tease Finn for a little bit before quieting everyone down.
“Let’s vote on the issues separately. All in favor of making Finn wear the unicorn backpack whenever he leaves the clubhouse for the next three months—no exceptions. All in favor?” War asked.
Gunner bit his lip at the show of hands. It was unanimous.
“Well, guess we don’t need to ask if there are any nays. Second point, all in favor of Finn being required to ride the small electric Razor motorbike instead of his motorcycle for the same three months. All in favor?” War asked.
In no time, Finn had his penalties, and War had sent Finn and Ben out of the room.
“I have no problem with our prospects knowing the next bit of information, but after today, I thought it couldn’t hurt to remind them of their status. Now, Scoop, can you update us?” War said.
Scoop clicked a couple buttons and a picture appeared on the screen on the wall.
“Meet Maynard, jerk extraordinaire, who emptied his and Rachel’s main checking and savings accounts a year ago while also stealing things from the house to sell.
He then disappeared for a year. Rachel was getting ready to file for divorce.
Her lawyer wasn’t willing to do anything when he left,” Scoop said.
“Where did she live?” Roam asked.
“Kansas City. I plan on contacting Adley to see if she can help and maybe make a call to their flower shop for a Get Well delivery. I’d rather take care of the guy myself, but I will not have those kids see me being violent. They need to understand we’re a safe place,” Gunner said.
Every time he thought of Rachel just being ignored by the people meant to help her, he couldn’t contain the anger.
“Good idea. Remi is already adding his name to their list of people to find. Since he isn’t technically a bounty, Remi and I are offering one to any of the bail bonds employees who find him,” War said.
“I’m happy to toss some cash that way too if you need to sweeten the bounty. I have plenty of cash and would be happy to have some of it go to getting this guy out of Rachel’s and the kids’ lives,” Stone said.
“Thanks,” Gunner muttered. Stone’s hand giving a reassuring squeeze to his shoulder helped him stay calm.
“Stone, if you keep chatting like this, then who are all the women going to gossip about?” Scoop teased.
“Oh, they’ll be chatting about brooding Brody,” Cannon replied.
“Who calls me brooding?” Brody said.
Gunner bit his lip to keep from grinning at Brody’s irritated tone. He had to admit Brody had been brooding some. Gunner wondered if it had to do with him starting to work with Savi on the K9 training and rescue.
“Oh, my wife, her sisters, and half the women on the compound,” Cannon said.
“Could we possibly get back on track?” War said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Oh, Gunner would be doing the same thing if he was in charge of keeping all the brothers on track.
“Gunner, we’ll wait to hear from you about reaching out to the Saint’s Outlaws and also to see if any of the bail bonds employees find anything. Until then, keep an eye out for Rachel’s husband,” War said.
“Estranged husband,” Gunner growled.
Gunner didn’t appreciate the glee in War’s voice when he replied noted. So sue him if he wanted to differentiate. As far as Gunner was concerned, Rachel was a free agent because her husband had abandoned her, Marcus, and Chelle. The divorce papers would just be a technicality.
“We’re done until next week,” War said, dismissing them.
Gunner walked out, grabbing his phone from the basket. He wanted to see if Rachel would take a walk with him.
Thankfully, when he walked into the main room, Rachel was sitting on the couch talking with Clara. He walked over, wondering what he’d done to have her sweep into his life because she was a gift. Now he had to convince her that they were meant to be.
“Rachel, would you like to go on a walk with me?” Gunner asked.