Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 97275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Cheyenne and Sam’s kids are all a hoot. The oldest, Pru and Piper are twins. They were followed closely by their younger sister, Phoebe. Cheyenne has curbed her mouth significantly; however, Sam sadly has not. He’d grown up with a motorcycle gang as a family, and then followed that up with ten years in the army. He says some things are just so ingrained that you don’t fix them over night.
The first few notes of “MMMBop” by Hanson broke the quiet of the night, and I reached for my phone to answer it. My brother Bennett’s smile lit up the phone, and I laughed when I saw he changed the picture again. In this one he was wearing his ‘Welcome to the Gun Show’ shirt, flexing. He had my mom take pictures of him a few times a week, and then he’d send them to me reminding me that I loved him. He’d then call me and ask me for favors. Most of the time it was for me to bring him lunch to school.
I loved that boy with all my heart. “What do you need this time?”
“PP.” Bennett said softly.
Straightaway I knew something was wrong. Bennett was a ball of sunshine. He could make anyone’s bad day better. He didn’t even have to know you, all he had to do was smile at you, and you’d walk away with a smile on your face. Therefore, for him to call me and have such a devastated tone to his voice, I knew something really bad had happened.
“What is it, Benny?” I asked alertly.
Alpha’s ears perked up beside me, and he went from his head resting gingerly between his front paws to all fours, watching me attentively.
“I went to a party tonight, and someone was hurt. Bad. She won’t let me take her to a hospital, and I can’t take her home. She won’t let me, nor will she tell me where she lives. What do I do?” Bennett asked.
Scenarios ran through my mind at a million miles an hour, but never once did it occur to me that Max wouldn’t know what to do. Decision made, I said, “Come to Free. Do you know where that is?”
“Is that Max’s place? If it is, then yes, I know where it is. Dad and I scoped it out last week when you told us about him.” Bennett informed me.
“That’s the place. Come. I’ll be waiting at the front gate to let you in. Be careful. I love you, Benny Bear.” I said as I scrambled up from one of the Adirondack chairs that Max had on his front porch.
I burst in through Max’s front door and ran up to where he was sleeping on the couch. I would hassle him later for kicking us out, and then having the nerve to sleep instead of watching the movie that he was all gung ho about watching.
Once I reached him, I shook his shoulder and said, “Max.”
He came awake with a start, and had our positions reversed in milliseconds. I was panting in fright, watching him cautiously. He had my arms pinned to the couch with both of his hands. His legs straddled my torso, and I was securely at his mercy. His eyes were wild for a few moments. Oh, so slowly, comprehension filled his gaze and he backed off me slowly.
“I’m sorry, Max. I didn’t really think. Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you did I?” I asked warily.
He regarded me with an intentness that made me squirm. “I just nearly broke you in half, and you’re worried about me?”
“Uh, yeah. Anyway, my brother just called, he has a girl with him and he says she’s hurt, but she refuses to go to the hospital. I told him to come here.” I rushed out.
He nodded, and then got up, walked to his bedroom, and came back out a few seconds later in jeans, a white t-shirt, and cowboy boots. He walked to the front door that still stood wide open, and walked out into the night. I followed at a slower pace. My legs stood no chance against his long ones, and by the time I met him at the front gate, Bennett was already there, pulling his old Chevy into a parking spot near the front of the garage.
The rest of the members of Free were there as well. Each of them stood at the gate, waiting to see what was going on, waiting to see if they were going to be needed before going back to their homes.
Cheyenne wasn’t there, and neither was Ember. I assumed they’d switched places with their husbands seeing as their children still needed twenty-four seven supervision. Their kids were hell on wheels, and if not closely watched, they would likely burn the place down. Just last week Cora, Gabe and Ember’s two year old, decided to paint her bedroom wall in shit. Although funny, I’m glad I wasn’t there to witness it. That’s just plain disgusting.
Bennett got out of his car, went around to the passenger side, and lifted out the weeping girl. She looked to be the same age as Bennett. The cute little girl was wearing the remains of a tattered sundress. Her hair was wild around her head, and gleaming pink and purple streaks stood out harshly against the light brown shade. I hustled over to them, and stopped about three feet from them. Alpha leaned into my side, but I’d learned to brace myself for it, because when I stopped, he leaned. That was just the way of it.
“Let’s get inside, Benny. Max, can we go to your guest room?” I asked while surveying the girl.
“It’s all yours, Bubbles.” Max said as he stayed behind with the men allowing Bennett and I to have a few moments of privacy before he came to see what was going on.
“Bubbles?” Bennett asked.
“He was talking about my undies. Do you really want to hear the rest of the story?” I questioned.
“Jumpin’ Johosephats! Why in the hell would I want to know about that? Jesus Christ on a crutch.” He said uncomfortably.