Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
I chuckle to myself, clearly my dance yesterday wasn’t enough to keep her away from other strippers. Before I can begin to think of ways to perfect my strip routine, Emmalyn nudges me with her elbow.
“I just want to have friends,” she says quietly. “I’ve never had friends before.”
Just when I think I’ve managed the highest level of sympathy for this beautiful woman, she says something that makes me realize just how horrible her life with Bobby was. Not only is she beginning a life with me, she’s literally beginning her life in general. I’ll give her every experience she wants and every tangible thing she desires, if only to make up for a past I can never wipe from her mind.
“You hear that, Kid?” I call out across the room. He’s had his nose in the paper for the last ten minutes and is no longer engaging in the conversation.
He raises a questioning eyebrow to me. “The girls are going to the strip club next week. Make sure you take a big stack of ones!”
Everyone in the room bellows with laughter, including the Renegade members who plan to head out a little later. He gives me a look that says he’s in no mood, which is completely out of character for him. Kid is the jokester of the club. If ever there is a possibility to turn something into a joke, Kid is the first one to jump on the occasion.
He folds the newspaper back over itself and gets up from the table. He places it in front of me. My gut falls at the headline.
LOCAL SOLDIER KILLED IN IRAQ RAID
“Fuck,” I mutter as I read about the twenty-year-old boy who’d only been a little over a year into his service.
This clearly explains Kid’s mood. Farmington is not a very large town. This will impact quite a few people. The community will grieve right along with this young man’s family.
“We have to do something,” Kid says.
“What’s up?” Shadow asks right before shoving a forkful of eggs into his mouth.
I slide the paper in front of him. His face falls when he takes in the information. Our demeanor has changed the entire atmosphere of the group. Before long the paper is being passed around the room. The consensus the same, he was too young to die fighting in a war no one really understands any longer.
“We have to do something,” Kid says again.
“Whatever you decide, we want in on it,” Scorpion says from two tables over.
“Anybody have any ideas?” I ask standing from my chair looking out over the group of people who are all here under my protection and for the protection of the woman I love.
There is some murmuring as people think it over, but nothing concrete. I look down at Emmalyn and see a tear roll down her cheek. Everything that this woman has been through and she can still manage empathy for others. She never ceases to amaze me.
“A memorial,” she whispers quietly before clearing her throat so she can speak louder. “I think the town would appreciate a memorial of some kind. Maybe at the park or something.”
I hear sounds of agreement from others. “And maybe a cook out or something to celebrate his life. We could do that at the park as well,” Rose adds.
“I make a hell of a brisket,” Scorpion says. “And my old lady makes the best baked beans you’ll find in the state.”
Before long everyone in the room is chiming in and offering to help in any way they can. Eventually, a notebook is brought out, and details are being written down. Everything is covered from plastic ware to who is responsible for calling to have port-a-potties delivered.
I grin, not because of the situation, but because this group is so willing to help. They will get involved in any way to not only provide for this club and the Renegades, but to work to ease a little of the heartache the people in our community will feel at the loss of one young man.
This is exactly what family is about.