had too many men over at the Victorian, I hid in my room. Today, I don’t have that option.
I decide to take Desi, Sidonie, and Carina out to eat. The baby sleeps the entire time strapped to my chest while the girls and I enjoy pastrami sandwiches at a quiet diner. Sidonie talks about how her daddy takes her to a nearby ranch, where she rides horses. She wants Desi to learn how too.
“Like Tina from ‘Bob’s Burgers,’” I say, and Desi giggles, but Sidonie doesn’t know what show I’m talking about. We finish up our lunch by watching the first episode.
During the show, Sidonie’s gaze often flickers to my face, and she stares with that neediness she gets at times. My smile settles her down. She still holds my hand as we walk to the SUV. Desi holds my other. Before climbing into the SUV, I stop to look at the area surrounding the restaurant. I feel comfortable in Elko in a way I shouldn’t after such a short time.
Driving home, I smile at the girls whispering. They’re so excited about summer vacation and spending every day together.
We arrive home to find the driveway filled with motorcycles. Fortunately, there’s space for me to pull the SUV into the garage. Desi and Sidonie climb out and wait for me to free Carina. We walk into the kitchen, where I see the men talking outside at the long tables.
Sidonie pours three glasses of juice while I remove Carina’s hat since the waking girl’s been sweating.
“Sidonie!” Barbie hollers and storms into the room. “Where were you, girl?”
“We went for sandwiches,” Sidonie stammers, startled by her aunt’s anger.
Barbie turns her angry blue-eyed gaze to me. “You can’t take her out without permission.”
“Bronco knew where we were.”
Rather than calm her down, my words send Barbie into another level of rage. She storms at me and gives my shoulders a shove. I slam into the fridge and wrap Carina tighter.
Nearby, Desi says my name and steps back. Startled by the enraged woman in front of me, I can only think to protect my baby.
“I didn’t know where Sidonie was, you whore!” Barbie yells, waving her arms around. “She could have been taken! You could have stolen her! I don’t know you! I don’t know what you are! You could have sold her to someone! She could be gone forever! I don’t know you, bitch!”
I don’t know how to react to Barbie’s rage. She’s clearly irrational, and I have enough trouble dealing with angry people that are sane.
Carina begins screaming, frightened by the yelling, and how my body jerked when I hit the fridge. I try to cover her ears, but I’m shaking.
Then Barbie crowds me and starts yelling, “Well?” over and over.
“I don’t know,” I mumble, unsure if I should run. What if she trips me and I fall with the baby? Is staying still the safer choice?
Kenny is an awful man, but he was never violent. His mom screamed a lot too, but she never hit anyone. Yet I feel as if Barbie is someone moments away from slugging me. She’s completely blind to Carina and a shaking Desi. Or a sobbing Sidonie who cries for her father. Barbie only sees the person she blames for upsetting her.
“Barbie!” Bronco demands in a voice that startles us out of our standoff. “Calm the fuck down!”
I glance toward the back, where he and several men enter. Seeing their dark gazes, I can’t imagine what it’s like to piss off the Executioners, but I never want to be in that position.
“She tried to steal Sidonie!” Barbie hollers and shoves me back against the fridge again.
“Daddy!” Sidonie cries. “She’ll make Lana leave.”
“Everyone just stop,” Bronco growls before lifting Barbie off the ground and setting her away from me. I don’t know what to do. I hold his crying baby. My older daughter sits huddled in the corner, and his cries nearby. Then Bronco’s gaze finds mine, and I realize the obvious—he isn’t angry with me. “Are you hurt?” he asks me while reaching over to stroke Sidonie’s head.
Shaking my head, I can’t find the words to express how paralyzed I feel. Bronco holds his sister’s arm with one hand and uses the other to caress first Carina’s head and then mine. “Can you take the girls upstairs while I sort this out?”
Nodding, I glance at a still-pissed Barbie. I know she’s troubled, and she doesn’t trust me. But I’m not leaving Elko. This is my home now. Bronco,