The ones who had been fucked and left hadn’t been so happy, wanting more than the men were willing to give.
“What’s for breakfast?” Dustin’s groggy voice had her reaching for another cup.
Her youngest brother came into the kitchen, taking a seat at the large table. Rachel poured him a cup of coffee before pulling out the eggs from the refrigerator. She started cooking breakfast, knowing the rest of her brothers wouldn’t be far behind.
“What dragged you out of bed so early?”
“I haven’t been to bed. I was out most of the night, checking the plants. I came in while you were out. Someone’s been sneaking onto the property, helping themselves,” he grimly stated. “Did you see anything when you were out?”
She set his plate down in front of him before taking a seat for herself. Rachel took a sip of her coffee to give herself time to think. She knew, as soon as she mentioned Cash’s name, it would make Dustin furious, despite Cash not being on their property to steal weed. Even if she assured Dustin of this fact, his hatred of the man would have him throwing a fit over Cash being on their property.
Thankfully, Holly came into the kitchen with Logan, diverting Dustin’s attention from his question.
Logan climbed onto the chair next to his father. A tender smile came to her lips at the resemblance between the two; both father and son had curly, black hair and grey eyes.
“Morning, Holly, Logan.”
“Morning, Rach.” Logan gave her his boyish grin.
“What would you like for breakfast, Logan?” Holly asked, ruffling his hair.
“Can I have cereal?”
“No, but you can have oatmeal.”
“Why ask if I can’t pick anyways?” Logan grumbled.
“You can pick which flavor you want.” Holly ignored his protest, making the oatmeal and giving it to him.
Rachel watched as Logan made a face at the bowl in front of him. Dustin winked at him while Holly’s back was turned, taking a couple bites of the gooey mess for him.
“I saw that.” Holly’s frown had them both straightening in their seats.
Rachel couldn’t believe how the woman kept both of them in line. She was always firm, managing them with love and care. Rachel had hoped that same love would blossom between Holly and Dustin; instead, only a deep friendship had developed.
Rachel stood up from the table, taking her plate to the sink just as a knock sounded on the door. Going over and opening it, she saw her first appointment of the day.
“I hope I’m not too early.”
“Not at all,” Rachel answered, opening the door wider for Cheryl.
She led her to the back of the house to a small sunroom their father had added on for her mother’s use. A massage table had been set up with clean, white sheets and a small pillow lying on top. Rachel had lit a lavender-scented candle before starting the coffee, and now the relaxing floral scent infused the sunny room.
“Go ahead and lie down,” Rachel instructed.
The young woman climbed onto the table, her cheeks flushing red. “I feel silly coming here,” Cheryl admitted. “My husband thinks I’m being ridiculous.”
“Cheryl, you don’t have to stay,” Rachel tried to soothe her nervousness.
“I know, but I want to give this a try. Besides, it’s better than taking all those hormones the doctor wants to give me. If this doesn’t work, then I go that route.”
“All right. Let’s get started then.” Once Cheryl lay down on the table, Rachel zoned everything out of her mind other than the woman lying before her.
Rachael’s hands lightly skimmed over her body from her feet to the top of her head then worked her way back down. When she neared her stomach for the second time, Rachel lightly touched it, letting her palms rest there for a minute. Allowing her consciousness to flow through Cheryl, Rachel searched for something that wasn’t there. She frowned, beginning to move her hands away, but Cheryl reached out, pressing her hands down again on her stomach, incorrectly reading Rachel’s expression.
“I want a baby, Rachel.”
Rachel looked down into the pleading eyes of Cheryl, giving her a brief nod. Cheryl released her desperate grip, allowing Rachel to continue. Once again, Rachel’s hands glided over her body several times before stopping.
“You can sit up, Cheryl.”
“Well?” Her expectant face stared back at her. The woman was in her late twenties, pretty with long, blond hair and blue eyes. She had married Jared Hicks when she was seventeen, who Rachel despised but Cheryl thought was the reason she existed.
“I can’t help you.” Rachel always believed in being honest about her skills.
Cheryl’s shoulders slumped. Sliding off the table, she reached for her purse. “How much do I owe you?”
“Nothing.” Rachel took a step back when, despite her words, Cheryl tried to hand her some cash. When Rachel refused to take it, she put it back in her purse before going for the doorway.
“Cheryl.” The woman paused, looking back at her. “Did Jared get checked out to see if the reason you two are having problems conceiving a baby might be on his part?”
Her horrified look answered that question.
Of course not, Rachel thought to herself. Everyone always thought it was the woman’s fault.
“I couldn’t ask him to get checked out.”
Her freaking doctor should have mentioned it! “It’s something to consider, especially before you take the next step,” Rachel advised.
“He’ll get mad. He’s already angry at me for going to the doctor. He said that, if we get pregnant, it’s God’s will.”
Rachel’s hands fisted by her side. The inconsiderate asshole just didn’t want any blame focused on his own possible defects. Jared especially wouldn’t want to accept any blame cast on his own masculinity; he was too busy proving it to every woman in Treepoint who would have him. He hadn’t been faithful to Cheryl since they came back from their fancy honeymoon in Hawaii.
Honestly, Rachel thought half of Cheryl’s desperation to have a baby was to save her failing marriage. Treepoint being such a small town, she was sure Cheryl hadn’t escaped the vicious gossip of Jared’s affairs.
“Did the doctors say there was a reason you weren’t conceiving?”
“No. All my tests are coming back normal, but I made an appointment with a specialist in Lexington.”
Rachel sighed. “I don’t think the problem is yours, Cheryl. I think you should ask Jared to get checked out before you spend money on more expensive doctors.”
She bit her lips. “I’ll think about asking him,” she finally agreed.
“Good.” Rachel took her hand, giving her a reassuring warmth that would lessen her anxiety.
“Thanks, Rachel.”
“You’re welcome.” Rachel was showing her out the door as her new appointment was arriving.
Both women greeted Mrs. Langley. Rachel told Cheryl good-bye before escorting Mrs. Langley to the sunroom, helping the frail woman onto the table. She’d had gallbladder surgery months ago, and the older woman had not recovered her strength yet. Rachel doused the lavender candles and lit her white candles for healing, letting the soothing aroma fill the room as she came to stand over Mrs. Langley with a gentle smile.
“How are you feeling today?”
“Tired. I’m tired all the time now, Rachel.” The woman’s pale, lined face stared back at her.
“Let me see if I can help with that.” Rachel skimmed her hands over Mrs. Langley’s body, taking her time to send wave after wave of healing warmth through her. As Rachel worked, she noticed her stiffness gradually became more relaxed.
She worked on her longer than she had anticipated; giving the woman everything she could, hoping it was enough. It was going to take several sessions to ease the toll the surgery had taken on her.
When she finished, Rachel helped Mrs. Langley from the table.
“I feel like I had a long nap.”
“You might have dozed off,”
Rachel prevaricated, handing her purse over without telling her she had slept for over an hour.
“How much do I owe you?” Mrs. Langley opened her purse.
“Nothing, you get the family discount.” Rachel smiled, placing her arm around her frail shoulders. “Want to see Logan?”
The bright eagerness in her eyes brought a lump to Rachel’s throat as she led her into the living room where Holly and Dustin were sitting, playing a game.
“Grandma!” Logan got up from the floor, running to his great-grandmother, carefully wrapping his arms around her waist, giving her a hug.
“Holly and I are playing a game. Do you want to play?”
“I would love to.” While Logan eagerly showed her how to play, Rachel watched for several minutes before going back into the sunroom and removing the sheets, placing them in a hamper she kept in the corner. Blowing the candles out, she went to her room to get changed out of her jeans and t-shirt.
The only time she wore dresses was when she went to church or helped out at the church store which helped the economically disadvantaged in the community.
Pulling on a peach sundress, Rachel brushed her waist-length hair before plaiting it. Her hair was straight as a stick, but it was thick and heavy. The whole process was becoming more and more time-consuming; she needed to cut it off and save herself the trouble.
Sliding her feet into her sandals, she turned back to the mirror. Somehow, even in the pretty dress, she still looked like the tomboy she was. Just once, she wanted to look as sexy and seductive as the women Cash ran after.
Rachel went for her purse, immediately dragging her thoughts from the man she’d had a crush on since she was a little girl. Some things were better left to the imagination, Cash being one of them. She wasn’t his type, and her brothers would kill him. On the other hand, a little fantasy never hurt anyone.
Chapter 2
Rachel straightened the clothes on the shelf as Lily handled their last customer of the day.
“Want to grab some dinner at the diner?” Lily asked after the customer left.
“Yes. Holly volunteered to cook dinner tonight. I love her to death, but she can’t cook.”
Lily laughed. “You ready?”
“Let me grab my purse.”
Rachel curiously studied her friend. Lily was beautiful; she had long, black hair with violet eyes. Today, she had worn a long, maxi skirt with a pretty, white camp shirt. She was feminine and pretty, everything Rachel wasn’t.
“Why aren’t you eating at the clubhouse tonight?”
“The factory has a big order to get out tonight, and Shade refuses to let me help. Since he’s found out I’m pregnant, he hasn’t let me lift anything heavier than a book. He’s going to order everyone pizza so they can work through dinner, but me and pizza aren’t getting along right now.” Lily made a face.
“Stomach upset?”
“That’s putting it mildly. The doctor said it should pass after I get farther along.”
Rachel looked down at the small woman, her morning sickness the only sign she was pregnant. She had told her husband and father last week that she was pregnant at a barbeque celebrating her nephews’ Baptism. Rachel had been there and had offered her congratulations to the happy couple. Lily was only a couple of months along, and despite her morning sickness, she was glowing with happiness.
“Try chewing on some crystallized ginger. It will help.” Rachel waited as Lily locked the door behind them, then they crossed the street, going inside the diner.
It was slow for a Friday evening, only a couple of customers. Rachel was surprised to see Cash and Stud sitting at one of the tables, quietly talking. Being in two different motorcycle clubs, Rachel would have thought they wouldn’t be sharing a meal.
After making their way to a table, Lily waved at the two men while Rachel took a seat, facing away from them. When Lily sat down across from her, they requested their drinks before giving their order.
“Any luck getting your brothers married off yet?” Lily teased.
“No, darn it. I’m beginning to get worried. Tate is getting older; he should be settled down and married,” Rachel complained.
“He’s got plenty of time. You just want him off your back.”
“Yes, I do.” Rachel didn’t have any problem admitting the truth. “I’m too old for him to be telling me what time to be home or who I can and can’t date.”
“He actually gave you permission to date someone?” Lily’s purple eyes were filled with amusement.
“Payne Macy.”
“Oh.” Lily shuddered.
“Yeah. He only said it because he knew I wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot pole. It would serve him right if I started dating him.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I might. They are being big jerks right now.”
“Not as big as Payne.”
Payne Macy was the town’s confirmed bachelor. The gossip-mongers had always tried to find some dirt to dish on him but had been unable to find a speck. He attended church regularly, dated within reason, and never bought weed off her brothers; thus, they considered him the perfect man for her. The big problem for her was that he and anyone who had met him quickly realized he was an asshole. A mean asshole. Rachel was happy she didn’t come into contact with him very often.
As their food arrived, they changed the subject, neither wanting to hurt their appetite by discussing the rude man.
Because the restaurant wasn’t busy, Rachel heard the low voices of Stud and Cash in the background. Yet, before she could discern what was being discussed, Lily’s phone rang just as they finished eating.
“I’ll be right out,” she said into the phone then explained, “Shade’s here to pick me up.”
“Go ahead. I’ll take care of the ticket,” Rachel offered.
“No, I’ll pay.” She reached for her purse.
“My treat. You can pay next time.”
“All right,” Lily accepted, getting up from the table. “See you Sunday in church.”
Lily left as the waitress brought the ticket. Rachel took it, going to the cash register as she felt the men’s eyes on her. Self-conscious, she was glad to escape their scrutiny after paying, leaving through the door as other customers were about to enter.
Jared and one of his friends stopped, blocking the doorway. Rachel knew it wasn’t a good sign when, instead of letting her pass to go outside, they backed out of the doorway, keeping her pinned between them.
“I want to talk to you.” Rachel stiffened at his harsh voice, unsurprised by his statement.
“What about?”
“Did you tell my wife it was my fault she couldn’t have a kid?” Jared was so angry his face was flushed red, and his beady eyes were narrowed, waiting for her answer.
“No, but I did tell her you should be checked out before she spent any more money on expensive doctors,” Rachel answered in a calm voice. How some women fell in love with certain men was hard for her to understand. There was nothing nice or attractive about Jared.
“How much money did you con her out of?” Jeeringly, he called into question her motives.
“None.” Rachel had dealt with enough. She didn’t have to put up with his bullshit; she wasn’t the one stupid enough to be married to him.
“Stay the fuck away from my wife and keep your advice to yourself.” Jared blocked her path again as she tried to move away from him. “I’ll make sure everyone in town knows you’re a phony if I catch you near her again.”
Rachel wouldn’t have been able to call herself a Porter if she allowed the man to continue. Her temper soaring, she reached out, grabbing his arm. Jared tried to pull it out of her reach, but Rachel needed only a minute to find out what she needed to know. When Jared pushed her away from him, Rachel was sickened by what she had found out. His anger had lowered his guard, blasting the knowledge she needed through his consciousness into hers. Rachel was easily able to read what he was hiding.
“You should be asha
med of yourself.” Rachel made no effort to hide her disgust, attempting to go around him again.
“What the fuck do you mean by that?” Jared took her arm, propelling her away from the door to the side of the restaurant.
Unwisely, she didn’t back down. “I mean, you know you can’t have kids, but you haven’t told Cheryl, letting her take the blame. Does it make you feel like a big man, Jared, keeping her pinned under your thumb?”
Her rash outburst brought out the ugliness inside of the overbearing man. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“Yes, I do. You made sure you couldn’t get any of the women you fool around with pregnant, so don’t act innocent, Jared.”
A sharp smack to her face had her almost falling down. The only reason she didn’t was because Jared kept a firm grip on her arm, holding her in place as his hand went back to strike her again. Her face already numb after the initial burst of pain, Rachel braced herself for another strike, but then found herself thrust back against the restaurant wall as a body knocked Jared away from her, throwing him to the ground.
Rachel watched as Cash punched Jared repeatedly in the face. When his friend would have tried to help, Stud held him back. Wisely, the man took a good look at Stud and quit trying to intervene.
“Cash, stop! That’s enough!” Rachel reached down, grasping Cash’s t-shirt and tugging him away, aware he was releasing Jared only because he was finished.
“Go on home, Rachel,” Cash said, getting to his feet.
“I’m going to press charges!” Jared whined from the ground, holding his bleeding nose.
“No, you’re not, unless you want me to press charges against you. You hit me first!” Rachel yelled down at him. “Get up and go on home, Jared, before I call my brothers and you leave here in an ambulance.”
After Jared managed to get to his feet, he and his buddy took off to their car.
“Are you okay?” Cash asked, staring at her cheek.