Total pages in book: 13
Estimated words: 11879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 59(@200wpm)___ 48(@250wpm)___ 40(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 11879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 59(@200wpm)___ 48(@250wpm)___ 40(@300wpm)
“So, Rancher, you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Everything but my pride anyway. They cleaned out my stab wound and stitched me up. I’ll be on crutches for a while. I tore something in my leg and they want me to go to physical therapy.” He says it with disgust in his voice and immediately, I know that Rancher is not going to go to physical therapy. No matter how bad it hurts.
We talk a little about the night before and it isn’t long before he walks away from me. I can tell how pissed off he is and I don’t blame him. I only question which he’s more pissed about: not being able to ride his bike or his horse.
Madison’s phone rings in her pocket, and she digs it out and looks at the screen. I notice the name “Brent” on the caller ID. My hand tightens on her thigh. “It’s my boss.”
She had tried calling him earlier and he is just now returning her call.
“Hey Brent, I’m sorry I can’t make it in tonight,” she apologizes.
There’s a brief silence and then, “What do you mean I’m fired?”
She looks at me with her eyes wide and then drops off the stool and walks over to the corner of the room. I hear her say, “It’s not my fault they were in there trying to destroy your bar.”
She’s quiet for a long time, until she finally tells him, “Yeah, okay, I understand.” And hangs up.
I walk up to her. “What was that about?”
“Apparently, I’m fired. He thinks it’s better for him that I’m not there, ya know, to give the Kings a reason to come back.” She’s barely holding the tears back.
“Church!” one of the brothers hollers out.
Madison throws her hands out to the side. “How many times do y’all have church in a day?”
I smile at her and lace my fingers with hers. “C’mon, I’ll take you back to the room.”
On the way there, I stop one of the prospects. “Did you get what I needed?”
“Yep.” He reaches into the bag on his shoulder and hands it to me.
“Thanks,” I tell him and start walking toward the room.
As soon as I get her inside, I kiss her quickly. “I can’t miss church again. I know you’re upset about your job, but I don’t want you to worry about it. We’ll work it out. Here.”
I hand her the envelope that the prospect just gave me.
“What’s this?” she asks me, taking it from me.
“Open it.”
She peels back the tab and opens it, pulling out its contents. “It’s the college guide and application for the university.”
“I know, and maybe you want to go somewhere else, maybe something online, but I thought this would give you at least something to look at while I’m busy.”
She tries to give it back to me. “Why, Ben? I can’t afford this.”
“You want to graduate college, or at least I thought that’s what you wanted. Think about it. Whatever you decide, I’m fine with.” I kiss her and start to walk toward the door and turn around quickly. “Well, except for leaving me. That I’m not fine with.”
I smile at her and walk out. I wanted to tell her not to leave, but I’m not even going to worry about it. I put a prospect at my door and told them if she leaves to come get me.
“In church?” he asks me.
Usually, prospects are not allowed to enter church, but I’m fucking making an exception on this.
“Yes,” I assure him and go meet my brothers.
Madison
I look down at the papers in my hand, still not understanding what just happened. Did he just say he would pay to send me to college?
I sit down cross-legged on the bed and open the folders. I don’t know how long I sit there, but the more I read, the more excited I get. Hours must have gone by because my stomach starts to growl. I sit up, slide my shoes on and open the door. There’s a big, burly biker standing there.
“Hello?”
“Hey!” He nods his head and blocks my path.
“Uh, I need to get by,” I tell him.
He shrugs his shoulders like it’s no big deal, but I can see something in his eyes, maybe fear. “Where do you need to go?”
“To get something to eat. Maybe stretch my legs. Not that it’s any of your business,” I tell him before sliding beside him and walking down the hallway.
“Fine, I’ll go get Brick from church. He’s not going to like it.” He walks behind me into the kitchen.
I get two slices of bread from the loaf and lay them down on the plate. I start spreading peanut butter on it and then look up at the prospect. “Why would you disturb the meeting because I’m going to the kitchen?”
“Because Brick told me to tell him if you moved. Will you stay here until I go get him?” he asks and I laugh. Really, guys, I’m a grown woman.