The Four Stages of Loving Dutch Owen - Debra Kayn Page 0,17

I'm wrong. I'm her mom. I know what goes through her head." Rachel's shoulders straightened, and strength looked back at him. "She's lost, wandering life without direction, hoping one of the roads she walks down will lead her home."

"She can't go home."

"I don't think it's her..." His sister's brows pinched. "It's not Moses Lake or her real mom she's searching for anymore. She's wild and impulsive. More stubborn than kids her age. She's maturing, and something or someone is going to lead her down the wrong path."

"She's thirteen years old." He couldn't see how Rachel couldn't change Marla Marie.

"She's got a war going on in her head." Rachel swallowed. "She's untouchable. Another year or two, and she's going to search out boys who make her feel like she belongs. And, she'll never find what she's looking for because nothing—no amount of sex, drugs, and whatever she finds, will be enough to fill the hole that her mother left behind."

He looked out the window. Marla Marie jumped off the fence and stood with her back toward the house, gazing at something beyond the yard.

She was a child. There was time for Rachel to parent Marla Marie. To show her love. To accept a new way of life.

"She's a lot like you, wandering highways, going from club to club, trying to escape—"

"I'm not escaping anything," he said.

"No, you're searching for something no one can give you. I don't even think you know what you want." Rachel's gaze softened, turning sad. "That girl outside is doing the same thing you've done your whole life, except to us, she's still a baby. She doesn't have a club to fall back on and keep her safe. She'll never fully trust us, no matter how much we love her—and we do."

It was out of his control of how Rachel should deal with Marla Marie. He'd brought her here, so she would have a chance at a good life. He wanted his sister to have everything she never received growing up.

"Anything you do for her will be better than what she had." He swallowed when his voice had gone out of him.

Rachel leaned against him and whispered, "She'll ask you for help finding her mom."

Taking her back was no longer an option. Her mom was no longer alive. He'd made sure her mom couldn't hurt her anymore.

"Don't worry. I won't help her."

The door opened and closed, and Skull walked into the kitchen. Turning away from the window, he lifted his chin at his brother-in-law.

"Heard you tied a good one on last night." Skull chuckled. "The bitch you left at the clubhouse is still passed out."

He ignored his brother-in-law's amusement. The woman who entertained him last night would wake up and move on to one of the other MC brothers. Besides, he couldn't even remember what happened last night.

Rachel ducked her head and hurried out of the room. Dutch watched her go. Unlike the majority of the women in WAKOM, Rachel's heart remained intact. Her sensitivity to others was one of the reasons why he'd brought Marla Marie to her. If the kid stood any chance of growing up and having a half-decent life, she'd find it with Rachel.

"I'm heading out." He raked his hand through his hair, tying it back.

"Hitting the road?"

"Not until after the meeting tomorrow." He walked with Skull to the back door. "Probably best I don't come back to the house."

"Is there another problem with Marla?" Skull planted his hand on the door, stopping him from going to her.

"Rachel thinks she'll never adapt."

"Yeah, well..." Skull inhaled deeply. "My woman worries too much. Marla's happy. Anyone can see that. She respects Rachel. She does good in school."

"Are you saying there's no problem?"

"I'm saying my daughter has a wild hair, and there's no taming that." Skill dropped his arm to his side. "You can't change a person, no matter how much you want her to be exactly like you. Rachel wishes for the children she lost. The children she'd mapped out their whole lives for before she miscarried. She's not going to find it in Marla. She's her own person. It's not a bad thing. It also doesn’t mean something is wrong with her."

He looked at Skull in a new light. Through the years, he never thought Skull gave much thought past the club and Rachel.

Dutch dipped his chin. Hopefully, Rachel would accept what she has and set her sight on new plans.

"Besides, in a few more years, one of the men will probably snap Marla