His Old Lady - Debra Kayn Page 0,11

She hitched Rocky up higher on her hip without waking the baby cradled on her other side.

Curley glanced down, wondering what she was going to do if she got knocked up again. "You're running out of arms."

She laughed. "I told Rick that. He wants to try for another boy, and I keep telling him I need to have at least one of the kids out of diapers before we even think about that."

"Your dad would be proud to see you now." He lit the cigarette. "You're doing a good job raising your family within the club, honey."

Tracy's eyes softened, and she mouthed, "Thank you."

"Do you need help getting them in the truck?"

No, I've got it down to science now." She walked toward the pickup. "Have a safe ride, Curley."

"Will do." He raised his hand. "Stay out of trouble while we're gone."

"I can't promise that." She laughed. "Faye's coming to spend the night tomorrow. We probably won't sleep with all the catching up we're going to be doing."

He lowered his arm to his side. The cigarette slipped from between his fingers to the ground. He stomped his boot against the asphalt, extinguishing the coal.

"Why is she hanging out with you?" he asked.

"Why not?" Tracy's head disappeared inside the cab of the truck. "We used to be friends when we were young, remember?"

He gritted his teeth. He remembered too much.

Like Tracy, Faye had been one of the kids belonging to Tarkio. Innocent and childlike, until life had changed her.

"Frank and Aaron will be around with the younger members if you or Faye need anything this week," he said.

"We'll be fine." She popped back out of the truck. "I don't plan on being alone. Even Chrischris is coming over on Wednesday. I promised to sew a patch on his vest if he hung around in the yard and played with Rocky."

Acid burned his throat. He wanted Faye away from Missoula. He knew enough people in Superior that he felt better about her staying at the house.

He couldn't keep track of her here when he was going to be gone.

The baby cried, protesting the car seat. She grinned and motioned her chin toward the vehicle. "That's my signal to go. See you later."

He nodded. Not wasting time, he went over to the group of bikers and pulled Hammer away.

"What's up?" Hammer gave Curley all of his attention.

He took his wallet out of his back pocket and pulled out a picture. "See this woman?"

"Yeah."

"Her name's Faye Walker. She's got longer hair now and a bit older. Twenty-four years old." He looked at Hammer, trying to gauge his age. "How old are you?"

"Twenty-eight." Hammer thrust his fingers in his hair, pushing the strands back.

"Forget it." Curley walked away and went into the clubhouse. Spotting Aaron, he went to his MC brother.

He wasn't going to set some young punk up watching Faye, giving him ideas. Aaron was closer to his age than Faye's, and he was used to hanging out at Tracy's place. Having him there wouldn't look out of the ordinary.

"Faye's coming into town tomorrow. She's got the idea to spend the night with Tracy. I need you to watch her." He put the picture he carried in his wallet away.

"At Tracy's place?" Aaron rubbed the back of his neck. "Is she in trouble?"

"No."

"Danger?"

"Nope." He ran his hand over his head. "I just want you watching her."

"For what?" Aaron smacked Curley on the shoulder. "She's a grown-ass woman. Let her have her night with Tracy."

He cleared his throat. "You'll watch her?"

"Is that an order?"

"Yeah." He stepped back. "I'll call the clubhouse Tuesday around seven o'clock. Make sure you're around to answer."

Needing air, he went back outside, lit another cigarette, and tried to figure out what Faye coming around Tarkio meant. When she was working in Superior, he was lucky enough not to see her for months. Hell, it'd been almost six months before she showed up at his house.

During that time, he'd mailed her money that she'd mailed back. It was the only way he could remind her that she belonged to him.

"Fuck," he muttered, bringing the smoke up to his lips.

What if something went wrong? She had no way of getting ahold of Walker without writing him a letter or waiting for a phone call from him. If she needed help, he'd be out of town. He wasn't confident that she'd approach the clubhouse.

Priest walked out of the building. "Warm them up, men."

It was going to be a long ride to California to oversee the