The Winter of Regrets (24 page)

“Of course!” she said happily. “Everything’s there except for hay and feed. Few people come to the Lodge from Bound for Hell. We have a couple living there, but they’re nowhere near the barn.”

“Thank you, that makes more sense.” Elena took a breath, picturing it all working out. “Now, run up to the house and watch Josie until Kima comes inside. I need to talk to her, please. After that, we’ll move Moon together.”

Kima felt chills run up her spine. Elena wasn’t here just to give her a horse; she knew something was wrong. She leaned her arms over the fence as Elena stood next to her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice steady despite trembling within.

“We’re in this together, no matter what,” said Elena. “I was given a heads-up that the police are looking into Rabid’s disappearance. They’re going to want to talk to you.” Elena spoke softly even though there wasn’t anyone around.

“I knew one day it was going to happen,” Kima confessed worriedly. “I dream about that bastard all the time.” Her voice was firm, almost like she had been waiting for bad news. “Do I need a lawyer?”

Elena put her hand on Kima’s. “No, I don’t think that is wise. Whiskey told me what we need to do. If the cops come here, we should say you came with Rabid to the Lodge, but he left, and we were in the kitchen. Hunter was the last to see him. That’s all we need to say.”

Kima’s lips tightened. “What about the damn engagement ring? I don’t have it. I gave it to Marco. Should I mention I gave it back?”

Elena paused to think, then shrugged. She hadn’t considered the ring.

“All I know is, Rabid was angry when he left and took the ring.” Kima was playing along as Elena hoped she would.

“Good answer. That was quick thinking. Kima, since I’m angry at Joy, do you mind if I come over during the days when Whiskey isn’t around?”

Kima nodded. “I’d love the company. Ever since Jo went nuts, nobody comes around very much. Having Tears here is great, but she does her job and goes home to Thorn. So … you and Whiskey, huh?” Kima wiggled her eyebrows. “He’s a good-looking man, Elena.”

Elena couldn’t hide the smile from her face. “I feel alive again. I didn’t for so long, and I don’t care what anyone has to say about him. I’m doing Thanksgiving and thought maybe you, V, and Josie might want to come.”

“Oh, I would, but I promised my dad we’d go there.” Kima frowned. “Did you invite Jack and Dee?”

“I will, as well as Tears and Thorn. Why don’t you come for dessert, at least?” Elena suggested.

“That, we can do! Now, you and Tears better get moving before Joy comes around. If she asks, I didn’t see Moon Glow either. Thanks Elena for telling me to be prepared.” She hugged the older woman before they headed into her house.

Kima watched Elena and Tears leave, wondering what V would say about her taking Cool Chrome. She looked at her daughter and she made a vow: nothing would take her away from Josie and Veiko. Especially the bastard she’d killed. She thought about the expression on his face when he saw her with the gun and felt no guilt for a change. Death was exactly what Rabid had deserved. She wondered when the police would show up and planned what her reaction would be. Drama had been one of her favorite classes in high school; she would play her part well. She had no other choice.

J
ersey talked Joy into taking a nap and kept looking out the window, waiting anxiously for Elena to come home. He was startled to see a truck coming down the lane, pulling a house trailer. Satan’s Attitude bikers were helping get it into place where there had once been an old trailer. Joy would flip, seeing that. He needed to get Nailz over to get that trail widened. He wondered if there was a way for them to continue to live here, then decided Elena wouldn’t put either Joy or him in danger. He had no trouble with Elena being with Whiskey if that was what she wanted, and he thought again about that damn letter. It was safe in his dresser under some old clothes.

Maybe Thorn was right and he should burn the damn thing. He was seriously considering it when he heard Joy call his name.

E
lena came home and unhitched the horse trailer. She left it where it usually sat and pulled her truck in front of the house. Right away, she noticed the trailer and saw Whiskey on the porch. He looked so happy and she felt those butterflies in her stomach again. He moved to greet her as she got out of the truck, then began to run to meet him. His arms opened and grabbed her, swinging her around.

“I thought you weren’t going anywhere alone, Elena?”

“I didn’t go far,” she told him. “Just down to Kima’s house. I hid Moon Glow. I had a horse to give Kima, and I passed that message to her. She’ll be fine; I promised to spend more time with her. I need to be there when the time comes, Whiskey.”

He looked at her and knew he wouldn’t win over Kima. Elena was loyal and he planned to have his boys keep watch if she was there. “What do you think of the trailer?”

“It’s pretty new, isn’t it?”

“I wasn’t going to buy a piece of shit,” he admitted. “Power will be turned on tomorrow and I’ll show it to you then. Zero and I decided to cook. I think Amy was in shock. Don’t Jersey bikers cook?”

“Hamburgers and grilling, mostly. What’re you making?” Elena’s nose twitched at the smell of hickory.

“Ribs, slaw, and greens,” he replied proudly. “Zero’s barbeque sauce makes anything taste great. Tell him you love it and he’ll cook more often. I keep trying to figure out how to make it, but it’s his big secret.”

“Sounds so good,” she said, nearly tasting it already. “Let’s hope Joy doesn’t come down here and ruin our dinner.” Elena glanced toward Joy’s house, misgivings filling her.

Whiskey made a mental note to tell his boys to keep Joy from coming inside. He was tired of the bossy blonde. He’d try, for Elena’s sake, to get along with her as long as she let Elena make her own decisions. Jersey seemed to be an alright guy; he had no issues with him.

J
ersey brought the money to Elena, and Joy continued to avoid her, which was fine by Elena. Neither of them mentioned Moon Glow. Elena was almost ready to put Joy out of her misery; she’d bring Moon back after the holiday weekend, she decided.

Whiskey was back and forth to Maryland, and life was much better. Thrash stopped calling, and Elena went over a few hours every day to Kima’s house. She knew he had bikers passing by Kima’s house, but it made her feel more secure. Lacy-Jane was finally letting Shanna come over without a fuss. It was Thanksgiving morning and Elena had the turkey in the oven, its aroma filling the house. Zero had a turkey cooking in the trailer oven and another one was on the grill. Mad Jack and Dee were already there playing with the babies and having a great time. Thorn and Tears would be over soon, too.

It was going to be a great holiday. The first of many, she hoped.

A
fter picking up Aunt Anya, Kima and V along with Josie headed to her parent’s house. Once there, Veiko helped Aunt Anya up the stairs into the house while Kima carried Josie and tried to balance a pie.

Her sister Shelly came out to grab the pumpkin pie. “Mom is in a mood,” she warned Kima. “She’s been bitching since Doug and I got here last night.”

“I’m used to her moods,” Kima said. “I’m usually the cause of them.” The women laughed. “I plan to eat and run. I was hoping you’d take Aunt Anya home for me. Think Doug would mind?”

“I think he’ll be glad to escape for a little while. After we drop her off, maybe we’ll go out for a few drinks. Jack was smart not to come,” she added, sounding miserable. “We should have stayed home.”

“I don’t know how daddy puts up with her,” said Kima. “She goes to Jo’s almost every day and she doesn’t come over to see Josie. It hurts. I feel like I don’t even have a mother anymore.”

Shelly shook her head with pity. “I know it hurts, but mom loves Josie. She’s worried about Jo. I know it’s no excuse to treat you badly, but we all know mom is determined to help Jo.”

They walked inside and found their father with Josie in his lap. Doug and Veiko were talking, so they headed into the kitchen to see if their mother needed any help.

Aunt Anya stood with her cane, yelling loudly. “Jean, you’re being a fool! I see what you’re doing to this family and I don’t like it one bit. You treat Kima badly. We all see it, and you didn’t even look at Josie. What kind of a grandmother are you?”

Kima’s face turned red, and she went right back into the living room. “Veiko, we’re leaving. Daddy,” she said, extending her hands, “give Josie to me. I refuse to be thankful for a mother who doesn’t even look at her granddaughter. I’ve had enough of this bullshit.” She began to bundle Josie up while Veiko, with a tired sigh, got their coats. Kima walked over to her father and kissed his cheek. “Enjoy the pie. Shelly will bring Anya home after dinner. I can’t stay here. Tell mom whatever you want.” She turned to Doug and gave him a kiss. “It was nice to see you. Bring Shelly over before you head home.” Doug nodded and stood up to shake V’s hand.

John looked at his youngest daughter and wondered what there was left to say; she was right, and he watched her leave with pain in his eyes. Jean hadn’t even glanced at Josie. He was ready to tell her to move into Jo’s house. Shelly had tears in her eyes as she looked at her father. The yelling in the kitchen got louder until John got up to put an end to it.

V
looked at Kima, glad to find that she wasn’t crying. “We’re going to Elena’s early?”

“I couldn’t stay there. Elena won’t mind. I’m glad my aunt said that; I didn’t really want to eat there anyway.”

Kima was staring out the window, avoiding showing Veiko her face. He could tell. “Your mother doesn’t mean to hurt you,” he told her. “All of this is over Jo’s problems. She’s worried, and I don’t think she realizes what she’s doing to you. Do you want to go out to eat and we can avoid the questions Jack will ask?”

“I think that might be a better idea,” she admitted. “I lost my appetite for turkey. Maybe prime rib would taste better. We’re not doing Christmas there, that’s for damn sure. Anyone who wants to come to our house is welcome, except for my mom. I don’t want to talk about her. Veiko, there’s nothing to say anymore. It is what it is. Please don’t make excuses for her.”

V put his hand on her leg and squeezed it. “We’ll start our own traditions, babe. I’ll call Elena and explain what happened if you don’t want to go over later.”

Kima didn’t answer. She reached over and covered his hand with hers.

P
enny poked Thrash. He hogged the bed again. They’d developed a relationship of sorts. She had gotten up early and put a small turkey in the oven, and his dad was coming by to eat with them. Fucking Thrash was just a fling while she was in disgrace—a delicious form of punishment. He was good in bed and she was learning so much about tattooing from him.

She felt his hand between her legs and opened wider to let him find what he was seeking. His fingers rubbed her clit and she groaned. The covers were flung to the floor as he moved his body between her legs. His hair brushed her thighs as he nipped at her clit. He sucked hard on it while pumping two fingers in and out of her. Penny grabbed the sheets as he sucked her clit mercilessly. She was going to come soon, and he knew she liked it rough. His teeth bit at her as she began to moan. Three fingers were now thrusting rapidly inside of her and she got off loudly just as the doorbell rang. Thrash groaned and Penny gave him an evil laugh as she looked at his hard cock. She watched him dress and laid there admiring his firm ass and rock hard body. She was in no hurry to leave New Jersey as long as she had his cock to look forward to.

J
oy was very nervous as she got ready to go to Jersey’s parents’ house. She didn’t want to meet his parents and asked him what she should call him. Jersey laughed at that. “You can call me Craig or Jersey. Joy, my parents will love you, trust me.”

“I can’t call you
Craig,
” she complained. “You don’t look like a Craig to me. How do you know they’ll even like me?” she asked, frowning at him.

“Because the last girl I brought home was when I was in my senior year of high school. They want to see me settled down and I’ve been telling them all about you. I’ve asked you many times to meet them. You’ve put it off long enough, blondie, so get your ass in the car.”

Joy groaned and hoped the pumpkin pie she’d made didn’t kill everyone. Jersey kept laughing at her and she clutched that pie like it was gold as they drove to his parents’ house.

E
lena went over early Sunday morning to the lodge and loaded up Moon Glow into the trailer with Whiskey.

“You make that look so easy, Elena. You have no fear of horses, do you?” He watched her singled-handedly load up the huge racehorse.

“I’ve never been afraid of horses,” she said with a smile. “Living on the reservation, we used to catch wild ones. I loved to break them and I was damn good at it. I stopped when I started to dance. I couldn’t afford back then to get bruised or broken bones.” She closed the trailer doors and secured them.

“Do you ever talk to your family?” Whiskey asked, knowing very little about them.

She shook her head no. “I left there with no remorse and no regrets. Maybe someday I’ll go back, but things weren’t very good living there. One day, maybe I’ll tell you about that part of my life.” She climbed into the truck and was still shocked Whiskey hadn’t wanted to drive. “I bet Joy will be happy to see Moon Glow. I’m still not talking to her. If she keeps giving me money, maybe by Christmas I’ll be ready to talk to her.”