Rain Shadow Book 4 (The Barringer Brothers)

“Sometimes, it’s hard for me to believe how much my life has changed since I found you. It feels like I’ve lived a whole lifetime and experienced every emotion in just these last few months.”

  “I know what you mean. Of course, if you hadn’t found me then I’d be long dead and buried, or giving some vultures heartburn, and you’d still be at the compound with your grandfather.” His arm went around my waist and he pulled me closer. Sometimes it seemed we couldn’t get close enough.

  The stars were a carpet of silver above. The clear air and lack of manmade lights gave them center stage in the night sky. “It does make me sad to think of what’s become of Dreygon. Growing up, there were times when he’d put away the badass MC president persona and be a grandfather.” The crisp whispers of autumn had ushered forth a memory. “I remember one Halloween, he showed up with a giant pumpkin strapped to the rear seat of his motorcycle.”

  Luke laughed. “That must have been a sight. His Bedlam cut flapping in the wind as he tore down the highway with a pumpkin clinging to his bike. Classic.”

  “The really great part was that he was so excited about the whole thing. We carved that sucker into the scariest damn jack-o’-lantern you’ve ever seen. Of course, we didn’t have a porch to display it, but he stuck a candle inside it and lit it with his joint. He placed it on a table in the center of the yard, and we ate cheeseburgers around our pumpkin.” I stared out at the shadows and silhouettes of the valley that stretched out in front of us. The quiet and solitude reminded me a lot of the compound. “I don’t think my grandfather ever got to do anything fun as a kid.” Just thinking about fond memories had made me slip back into calling him grandfather. “From what my mom had told me, he had a horribly abusive dad. The club had been his only real family.” I thought about Jericho and Cash. The club had been their family too. Jericho’s face constantly showed the anguish he was dealing with by leaving it all behind, and I was sure he wanted to return.

  I reached over and picked up the plate of cookies. The recipe had been Gracie’s. I’d memorized most of them.

  Luke picked up a cookie. “So what brought the baking session on?”

  I smiled thinking about the day. “I was trying to pass the time while you were away. Gage got home, and I talked him into taking me to the market for the ingredients. Since there was a promise of homemade cookies at the end of it, he volunteered readily.” I glanced over at Luke. “Did you know that he hasn’t had a home baked cookie for years?”

  “I don’t think I have either,” he mumbled over a mouthful.

  “You poor guys.”

  He swallowed and I handed him milk. “I’ll say. These are delicious.”

  “Thanks. Gracie made up the recipe all by herself.” An unplanned laugh spurted from my lips as I thought about our trip to the store earlier that day.

  Luke gazed over at me. “What’s so funny?”

  I shook my head. “I was just thinking about today’s shopping excursion. It was obvious, when the three of us stepped inside the market— we dragged a grumpy Jericho along— that your brother’s grocery store trips are the highlight of the work day for the two women cashiers. But when I walked in with the two glam twins, they really caused a stir. The female workers and customers were falling all over themselves. It was extremely entertaining to witness.”

  “Yeah, Gage has that affect on women.” Luke put his palm out for another cookie. “Are there more inside, or did those two plow through them already?”

  “I hid a few extras for you because I figured there wouldn’t be many left. And they were like two kids while I was making them. Jericho kept sticking his spoon in the dough for a taste.”

  “Sounds like he was in a better mood then.”

  “Not really. Did you ever ask him about the phone call?”

  Luke shifted more under the blanket and tightened it around us, but rather than working to make us more snug, which we already were, I sensed that he was buying some time for his answer. “Yeah,” he finally said after some more meaningless ministrations with the blanket and our comfort. “He said it was just that guy Rick letting him know that the funeral had been set for next week. He was upset because he knew he wouldn’t be able to go.”

  I leaned against him not completely sure I bought the whole thing. “Luke,” I said, “don’t keep stuff from me, please. It makes me feel like some silly, little girl that you’re trying to keep safe from the big bad monster. I’ve lived in the MC culture my whole life, and while my mom and grandfather would occasionally try and shield me from stuff, there was just too much to camouflage. So, please, don’t—”

  In the shadows of the porch, I could see his long, dark lashes drop down. “I’m sorry, Angel. I never do anything to hurt you. I just want to protect you, that’s all.”

  “I know.” I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Just try to remember who I am and where I came from.”

  “That’s what’s so hard.” He turned to face me. His pale gray eyes looked silver under the starlight. “You are so not a part of that world. You are everything that is clean and fresh and filled with light, and somehow, you stayed that way even after growing up in that place.”

  I smiled and tightened my hold on his arm. “Keep talking that way, Reno, and you still might just come between me and my panties tonight.”

  “Hmm, two treats in one night.” He reached across for another cookie. “I’ll tell you that even though Dreygon is paying for the funeral expenses, I know he had something to do with Gunner’s death.”

  “Wait, he’s paying for it?”

  “You told me yourself Gunner doesn’t really have family.”

  “True. I’m just surprised. Maybe we’ve jumped to conclusions too fast.” I knew it was that little glimmer of hope still buried deep inside that allowed me to think Dreygon might someday redeem himself. Then I only needed to remind myself that he’d ordered Luke’s execution, and the tiny sliver of hope was instantly squashed.

  “I think it’s part of his act,” Luke said.

  “That actually makes him even more diabolical, doesn’t it?” My stomach churned with the ugliness of it all.

  “Sort of. New topic. This one is ruining the whole stargazing, cookie-eating event.” He pulled me into his lap, and I rested my head against his shoulder.

  “I like the soap you used.” I took a deep breath. “It’s very provocative.”

  He laughed, and the sound of it bounced off into the sea of endless fields. “I’ll have to call my boss and let him know that the soap in his shower is provocative. Of course, maybe it just smells that way on me.” Beneath the blanket, he trailed his fingers up my arm. “I guess you’ve caught me. The soap and the poetic flattery are both part of my devious plan to come between you and those damn panties.”

  Chapter 10

  Luke

  “The sun is definitely dropping earlier,” Gage said. “Which sucks because then I have less daylight when I get home from work.” He leaned his arms up on the round pen, and we watched Angel lope a horse around. She was in her own world when she was riding a horse. Not too unlike Jericho and me on dirt bikes. Troubles and worries could fade into the landscape when we were racing bikes.

  “Any word on the Raven’s Nest?” I asked.

  “Nah. Probate and inheritance stuff like that can take months. Remember?”

  “Yeah, that’s true.”

  Angel smiled down from the horse as she trotted past.

  “You can collect him up more than that,” Gage said. “His trot will smooth out.”

  I smiled over at him. “Listen to you, Cowboy Gage.”

  He shrugged. “One thing I found out about horses is, it’s better to take time to train them right, otherwise, you’re just fighting them all the time. And being twelve hundred pounds, they usually win.”

  Angel’s long dark hair flo
wed behind her, and her long lashes shaded her cheeks as she focused on the horse.

  “She is something else, Luke.”

  “Shit, you don’t have to tell me. There’s hardly a second in my day when I’m not thinking about her.” I lowered my voice, although Angel was far more interested in the horse than in our conversation. “Sharpe knows we’re here.”

  Very little shocked Gage, and even this piece of news he took with only the slightest shrug. “Let him come. Maybe that would be the easiest way to end this.”

  “It’s never easy with him. For now, I think he’s busy keeping the pieces of his club together, but I have no doubt that he’ll come after Angel. He seems determined to take her back. Sometimes I think it’s just because he hates me so much.”

  Angel turned the horse around and rode the opposite way. “This side feels different. Or am I imagining it?”

  “You’re not imagining it. I have never figured out why he lopes so badly going this direction.”

  “Sometimes, it would be nice if the horses could talk,” she said and continued on.

  “What are you going to do now that he knows that Angel’s here?”

  I glanced over at her to make sure she hadn’t heard him.

  “You haven’t told her?” he asked.

  “Not yet.”

  Gage gave me one of those big brother looks, and I turned away from the pen.

  “You don’t understand the situation, Gage.”

  He figured out my reason for spinning around and followed. “She seems like a pretty level headed person. I just think she should know, so she can stay on guard like the rest of us.”

  I glanced back. Angel continued her ride. “Her grandfather basically told me that she had to come back or more people would end up like Gunner.”

  “Shit, that guy’s a real asshole.”

  “He knows exactly how to get to Angel. And if she knew, she would head straight back to him just to make sure no one got hurt.” Horse hooves neared, and I put an abrupt end to the conversation. We both turned back to face the pen as Angel slowed the horse to a walk.

  “After this,” Gage said, “you might want to get Chance out and hand walk him around the pen. I think you could turn him out tomorrow. Will he act like an idiot if he gets out there? I don’t want him to reinjure that leg.”

  “After all this time in his stall?” she asked.

  Gage nodded. “Yeah, I guess I’d act like an idiot too. See if you can hand walk him until he gets tired.”

  “Not a problem. He runs out of energy pretty fast.”

  “Hey, there’s a band playing at the Raven’s Nest on Thursday that’s pretty solid. Do you guys want to go?” Gage asked.

  “Sounds good,” I said. “It’ll be nice to get out.” It had been a few days since my return from Nevada, and there had been no incidents or shocking phone calls. The lull in action had been a relaxing change from the past few months.

  Chapter 11

  Angel

  Jericho had announced that he was totally through with the crutches. His limp was still significant, especially right after he stood from sitting. He’d never had a chance to go to any follow-up doctor appointments. I was sure they would have suggested some physical therapy. But the more he moved, the smoother his stride became.

  Rock music shook the walls of the Raven’s Nest as we pulled into the parking lot. It was filled mostly with trucks, off-road vehicles and motorcycles. Even though none of the bikes looked familiar, seeing them always made me suck in a breath. A few people stood around their cars smoking cigarettes, but from the roar of voices issuing out the open door, the place was already packed.

  Gage went on ahead. Luke took my hand, and we headed toward the Nest. Jericho fell behind, but he waved us on. He’d taken extra care to look spectacular tonight, not that that took much effort on his part. Gage had lent him a blue and black flannel shirt, and it went perfectly with his coloring. I wondered if he was hoping to talk to the girl who worked there.

  The press of bodies inside had already produced a tropical atmosphere. It was starkly different from the cool arid climate outside.

  “I’m going to hate this flannel shirt by the end of the night.” Jericho stepped in behind us.I turned around and smoothed down his collar. “Yes, but sometimes beauty takes sacrifice. We girls don’t wear skin tight jeans because they’re comfy.” We had to talk extra loud over the music and thrum of multiple conversations.

  “No, you wear them to drive us guys nuts,” Luke said.

  “That’s right. It’s a sacrifice we make. Otherwise, we’d all be traipsing around in sweatpants.”

  Jericho pulled at the collar I’d just straightened. “But this sacrifice will have the opposite effect if I start sweating.”

  “So, don’t sweat.” I winked at him.

  He smiled. “Hell, that’s like asking me not to fart.”

  I patted his chest. “Don’t do that either.”

  Luke forged a path through the crowd, and Jericho and I followed. Gage’s head popped out over everyone else’s. He had found a few vacant places around a bar-height table. It only took a few seconds before the girl who they’d called Friday spotted us and came over. She dropped a few cocktail napkins in front of us but didn’t glance up at Jericho. He didn’t look directly at her either, which was not like him. He glanced around the room and drummed his hands lightly on the table as if he hadn’t noticed her walk up. None of it was his usual behavior.

  “What’ll you guys have?” she asked.

  “A pitcher of beer and three glasses,” Gage said.

  Friday looked at me. She was extremely pretty with dark brown eyes that were a perfect contrast to her light blonde hair. Her skin was flawless. She wasn’t like any of the other girls Jericho had dated, which would explain his sudden lack of confidence. “Can I get a glass of white wine, please.”

  “Sure thing.” She smiled at Gage. “Rocky got sick with a flu or something. That’s why Rita’s tending bar. There are only two of us waiting tables. He picked the perfect night to be sick.”

  Gage nodded. “I was wondering why Rita was pouring drinks. This is a big crowd too.”

  “I’ll say,” she said. “I’ll be earning my wages tonight. That’s for sure.” She walked away.

  I looked at Jericho. Now he was avoiding eye contact with me. It was amusing to see him thrown off his game.

  Luke motioned with his head in the direction that Friday had gone. “Thought you got her number?”

  Gage tuned into the conversation. “Did you ever talk to her? I told you she never gives out her number.” There was an edge of irritation in his tone.

  “We’ve talked a few times,” Jericho said. “I’ve just decided she’s out of my league. I’m a futureless nobody with a slightly criminal past. Why the hell would she want someone like me?”

  “I don’t know,” Gage said confidently. “But I’ve never seen her hand out her phone number. She must have seen something.”

  Jericho shrugged it off. Friday returned with the drinks, and I peeked surreptitiously over the brim of my wine glass as she placed the beer mug in front of Jericho. She peered up and smiled at him before walking away.

  I shot Jericho a ‘what the hell’ look.

  He lifted his hands in response.

  “You’re being silly,” I said. “But that’s fine. It’s your right to be ridiculous.”

  “Whatever, Evie.” He poured himself a beer.

  A tall brunette with almond shaped eyes and a lot of pink lipstick came up to the table. “Are you dancing tonight, Gage?” she asked.

  He lifted his mug. “Just drinking and listening, Crystal. Maybe later.” She walked away disappointed.

  Luke glanced over at his brother. “You sure are the Casanova. What happened to the guy
who found flowers and love notes in his locker every morning?”

  Gage gulped back a big swallow of beer. “I’m not drunk enough to dance.”

  “You two are so interested in our love lives, but you’re just standing here. There’s music. Go dance.” Jericho flipped his fingers in an obnoxious gesture for us to be off.

  The band started a slow song, and Luke offered me his hand. Which I took. We walked out onto the floor, and he pulled me into his arms. “Now this is cool,” he said. “If I’d had a prom date like you, I would have actually enjoyed myself.”

  I smiled at him. “You didn’t like your prom? I thought it was the social event of the senior year.”

  “For some it was. Seth had a great time. He was voted Prom King. He always ate up that kind of attention.”

  “Not you?”

  “Nah, I hated that kind of stuff. I just went to prom for the make-out session in the hotel room after the dance.”

  “You are kind of one track minded, Reno.”

  He smoothed his hand seductively over my back and rested it on my hip. “I told you I just had the wrong date. I would have danced all night if you’d been with me.”

  I smiled. “No, you wouldn’t have. I’m a terrible dancer. And something tells me, you would have led me up to that hotel room long before the band packed up their instruments.” Every couple had approximately four square feet of dance floor, and it was hard not to invade each other’s space.

  It was a nice excuse to cozy up even closer to him.

  “You seem like a fine dancer to me,” he said.

  “That’s because we are just wrapped in each other’s arms, shuffling our feet to the music.”

  “Best kind of dancing.” He held me tighter. I rested my head on his shoulder.

  The atmosphere inside was close and stifling, but the music and the lively conversation made it a place you wanted to be. Standing in Luke’s arms on the dance floor made it that much better. “A girl could get used to this kind of life. Riding horses during the day and dancing with extremely attractive guys at night.”