CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
-:- MACKENZIE -:-
I can’t believe how much my life has changed in such a short period of time. One minute I’m spending most of my life with my brother and his family, then I’m alone, bitter, twisted and angry at everything. Now, I’m moving in with a wonderful guy, a biker no less, and looking for a new job.
Jig has told me not to rush into the first thing that comes along. When I told him about the trouble with the doctors’ practice, he said that I should resign and find something that I wanted to do that would make me happy in my work life. He pointed out he makes more than enough so we wouldn’t have to worry.
I cooked him a meal yesterday while he worked on my Jeep. Well, I did the mashed potatoes. The steak and gravy were partially cooked by Meat, the apple pie was Amelia’s and Star brought it over for me to finish in the oven. He’ll get a shock when I cook a meal on my own, as I can burn a boiled egg.
Amelia is going to give me some cooking lessons so I can at least learn some basics. I’m not a total disaster, but I could certainly use some help. Jig doesn’t know that Amelia and I are good friends. We keep having arguments that we dream up just to keep him on his toes. When I cut up her clothes, they weren’t hers. They were from a charity shop that we visited and got old rags. Everyone at the clubhouse was in on that one, except Jig, of course. It was so funny, I don’t know how we’re going to beat that one.
I’ve got a shooting lesson after work tonight, and I can’t wait. I’ve been whistling and humming all day. One of the nurses asked why I was so happy, and when I told her I was getting a concealed carry license for a gun, she almost ran from reception to tell everyone.
I leave five minutes early. What are they going to do? Sack me? Getting to the range, I find Winter waiting for me. I like the look of Winter and I felt an instant connection with her.
“Hi, Kenzie. How are you?”
“Hi, Winter. I’m good, thanks. I’m working my notice, so I’m feeling more than okay. I’ve been looking forward to these lessons, I’m like a kid with a new toy. I don’t mean that guns are a toy, I mean the excitement bit.”
“I know what you mean. I’m always excited when I get to shoot, and don’t get me started when I do archery. I love archery.” Winter’s enthusiasm is contagious.
“Oh, archery. I’d love to try that. You can put me down for that, too.”
“Well, let’s get one thing done at a time.” Picking up a bag, she leads me out to the range. Approaching a table, she puts the bag on it and starts to empty it. There are four different handguns. One looks tiny, one looks huge and the other two look like my kind of thing.
“First things first, let’s cover safety basics. Before you even pick up a gun, I have to make sure you’re aware of a few things.” Winter goes through her safety routine and I learn a lot in a short time.
“You certainly know your stuff and how to get it across, I’m enjoying this.” I am genuinely getting a kick out of this, and I haven’t touched a weapon yet.
“Glad you think so. Now for the weapons I’ve selected for you to try. They cover a wide range of handling and performance. First of all, let’s try them for fit. Some fit better than others, either by size or weight. Starting with the smallest, pick it up and see what your first impressions are.”
Picking up the smallest one, I keep my finger on the guard, away from the trigger. Keeping it pointed at the ground, I check that the safety is on. It feels too small for my hand, and not at all comfortable.
“That’s not for me. It doesn’t feel right at all.” Winter smiles and points at the next one. Same again, keeping my finger away from the trigger, I check for the safety. This one feels much better, but is still a little on the light side. The third one feels good all around, and I nod as I hold it. The fourth one is just big and heavy, and I love the feel of it. When I go to lift it, I have to support my right hand with my left just to hold it level.
“Who showed you how to support your gun hand in that way?” Winter asks.
“Well, nobody. I love the feel of it, but it’s a bit on the heavy side right now. I’d have to do some work on strengthening my wrist and arm if I was going to use this beast. I think it would work if I was to use both hands, though.” I look at her hopefully. I like the beast.
“We’ll go with number three and see if we can work up from there.” Winter is grinning and I’m not sure about what. “I have one of those and I love it too, they are a heavy beast, I did some gym work and strengthened my arms and wrists. I can shoot it accurately with either hand now.”
“Oh, both hands. I hadn’t thought of being able to do that. This is just getting better and better.” Putting the weapon down, I’m almost dancing on the spot with excitement. “Who’s the best shot in the club? I want to be up there with the best.”
“You’re learning from one of them. Also Target and Chaos. Hence why we run the Range.”
“Of course. I think you mentioned that before. I am so up for this.”
“Well, before you get too carried away, we need to teach you how to clean it correctly. You have to know how to take it apart, clean it, and put it back together. Let’s get started on that, shall we?”
We spend an hour and by that time I think I’m more than capable.
“I think I could do this blindfolded now,” I state in my excitement.
“That’s a bold statement from someone on their first lesson. Let’s put you to the test, shall we? Wait here, and don’t touch anything.”
Walking back into the building, she’s back in only a few moments holding a towel, and has Target in tow.
“Right. Target will blindfold you and be our independent judge. Let’s see how good a teacher I am and how good a student you are.”
Taking the towel and stepping behind me, Target positions me in front of the weapon on the table. Explaining that I have to strip the gun down to all its pieces and have them all laid out on the table. Only then can I begin to reassemble it. It is not a timed event.
As he puts the towel over my eyes I wish I’d kept my mouth shut. Once the towel is secured and they are happy that I am indeed ‘blind’, they give me the go-ahead to start when I’m ready.
Taking a deep breath, I place both hands on the table and breathe again. Picking up the gun, I start to strip it down. Although I’m blind, I see everything clearly in my mind's eye. My hands almost move of their own volition. Placing the last piece on the table, I raise my hands straight out in front of me to show I’m done, and that they are empty.
Scooping up the last pieces I placed, I start to rebuild it. I fumble a couple of pieces on the table when I pick up the wrong part, but soon get it right. Putting down the assembled weapon, I pray that when I look, there are no pieces I have missed.
Removing the towel, the table is bare of anything but the assembled weapon. “Yes! I knew it. That felt so cool, it was like I have been doing it for years, I could see it in my head. Winter, you truly are awesome at what you do. Thank you.”
Target picks up the weapon, checks it over, and pointing it down the range, he pulls the trigger. Placing it back on the table, he nods at Winter. “That is natural talent. There aren’t many that can do that after such a short time. I don’t think I did ‘blindfold’ that quick. I’m impressed with both of you. Now all you have to do is to be able to hit what you shoot at.”
“We’ll do that next time,” Winter says and collects up the weapons, placing them back in the bag. “We need to look at self-defense before Sunday, too.”
“I’m not sure I’ll be as quick a learner at that,” I say doubtfully.
“It’s surprising how a little pain speeds up your learning abilities. You will get hurt, that’s a given. Not in broken bones hurt, but certainly some good bruises.” Winter smiles at me as she tells me this, and it’s a scary smile. Target laughs and walks ahead of us.
My quiet plea of, “Please be gentle with me,” has them both laughing loudly as we enter the building.
Just as I get back in the Jeep, my phone beeps with a message. Expecting it to be from Jig, I’m surprised when it’s from Jo, asking if I could call at the clubhouse and see her sometime. Not being in a hurry to do anything tonight, I reply and tell her I’ll be there shortly.
Driving over there, all I can think about is how well I’ve done at the range. Pulling up outside the clubhouse, I call Jig, tell him where I am, all about my lesson with Winter, and that getting praise from Target was a real ego boost. I thoroughly enjoyed my lesson with Winter. I’ve never been big on friends, but I think I’d like to have her in my corner.
When I enter the clubhouse, Jo is sitting on Knuckles’ lap. Looking at her with suspicion, and trying to keep a straight face, I say, “No, I’m not helping with your research. That doesn’t float my boat, I don’t bat for the other side. Thanks for the offer, but no thanks.”
Knuckles looks horrified, and Jo, well, she just seems dumbstruck. “No, Kenzie. I would never ask anyone anything like that. Oh…my…God. Is that what you thought? Eww, no.”
“Eww? Eww? What is wrong with me that makes you say eww?” Putting my hands on my hips, I give her my best glare. Knuckles, I think, can see straight through me at this point.
“Yeah. I don’t see ‘eww’ there at all. Where does that come from, Jo?” Knuckles frowns at her.
“I don’t mean Kenzie’s eww, the threesome thing is eww.” She looks as though she’s fallen for it, hook, line and sinker.
“Oh, so you wouldn’t share Knuckles, then? You just want to keep all that man just for yourself? That’s not very girl gang of you, now is it?” Others have overheard the conversation by this time and are showing a bit of interest.
I don’t think Jo knows where to go with this, so she starts to get angry. “Hell, no, I’m not sharing him! You’re right. He’s mine, all mine, and I’m not doing research with you or any of the girl gang with him. Or without him, for that matter.”
“Well, good. I’m glad that’s cleared that up then. So why did you ask in the first place?” Rolling my eyes and tutting, has her shouting at me.
“What? I didn’t ask. You just…” I can’t hold it in any longer and I burst out laughing. Knuckles cracks too, and we’re both in hysterics at Jo. Realizing that she’s been victim to a prank, she calms down, but not before she punches Knuckles in the chest with everything she has. He doesn’t even grunt. That massive chest just soaks it up.
Now laughing along with us, she says, “That was a shitty thing to do, and I was totally believing you, you pair of assholes. As for you, big man, you’ll be begging me for our next research!”
Someone in the room says, “I doubt that will ever happen. You’re both as bad when it comes to getting some.”
Jo gives the room her stink-eye look, and they all just agree with the mystery voice and laugh.
“So, Jo… Now we know what you don’t want me for, what can I do for you?” I take a seat with them and wait for her to tell me what she wanted to see me about.
“I heard you were quitting your job soon. I’ve got a book signing coming up and wondered if you could spare the time to help me out. The last one was quite hectic and I could use some backup this time. With your organizational skills from working reception, I wondered if you’d be up for it?” She looks at me hopefully, and I recognize that look.
“Sure, I’ll help. When is it? Wait, I’m not stripping topless for Paisley!”
“What? Oh, no. That’s just the guys that had to do that. It’s a gimmick to get more people there. It’s next Saturday.”
“I can fit that in, no problem. What time does it start?”
“It starts at ten, but we usually get there an hour earlier so the guys can do their security checks and stuff. I check all my giveaways are at hand, plenty of books ready, and pens to sign the books. The bookstore has it all set up to best suit their store, but it only takes a shortage of pens to kill a book signing.”
Jig arrives at this point and, joining us, he gives me a kiss before stealing my thunder and telling the whole clubhouse about my lesson. When they hear how I did the blindfold thing, there are some comments flying about, such as, ‘Way to go, Kenzie,’ ‘Impressive,’ ‘That-a girl,’ ‘Sounds like we have another Winter.’
The Winter comment makes me squeal with delight. We missed the evening meal, but when Jig approaches Meat, he grunts and disappears into the kitchen. Five minutes later, he appears with two trays containing a beef sandwich, fries, and a bottle of water. My tray has one sandwich and Jig’s has two. To call them beef sandwiches is an understatement. They are a meal in themselves. The slice of beef is more like a steak than a slice. It has onion, lettuce, tomato, cucumber and mayo. When I bite into it, I taste a strong mustard in there too. Everybody laughs at me as they are nodding their heads.
Raven leans over and whispers, “Everyone moans when they eat one of Meat’s sandwiches. It’s an expected behavior, so don’t worry about making appreciative noises as you eat. Oh, and come and find me after you’ve eaten. I have some gossip to pass on.”
Thinking, I don’t really do gossip, it must show on my face.
“Don’t worry. This is good gossip that you need to know. Trust me.”
Finishing the sandwich, I sit back and feel so full I don’t think I can move. Drinking some of the water helps everything move down a bit further, and I sigh with pleasure.
Seeing Raven by the bar, I damn near waddle over to her, I’m so full. Watching me approach has her giggling as though she knows how I feel.
“Kenzie, we’ve all been there. Wait till the next barbecue. He excels beyond all belief with his barbecues.”
“I love barbecues, I can’t wait for that then. So, what have you got to tell me? I’m all ears.”
“You’re looking for a new job, is that right?”
“Yes. I’m still working my notice, but I would be interested if the right thing came up.”
“One of our garage customers works at the local veterinary practice. Their receptionist is pregnant and is leaving soon. She’s not doing a maternity leave thing either. She wants to quit and be a stay-at-home momma. If you give them a call and tell them I gave you the information, you should be good for an interview, at least.”
“That’s great, thanks. I’ll give them a call.”
“No problem, we help each other where we can. Oh, and I can’t wait to get into your wedding plans properly, the whole girl gang gets so excited about weddings. Not sure you’ll get away with Jig’s idea of you wanting a quiet intimate one, though. Meat and Star snuck off and got married on the quiet, so we missed out on that one. Crafty buggers.”
“Wait… What? Crafty Buggers? What’s that?”
“Oh, sorry. That’s one of Star’s Britishisms. We keep picking them up and then they slip out. Half the time we don’t know what they even mean, I’m sure she does it on purpose.”
“Well, when I get to thinking of wedding plans properly, I’ll come and see you and Cora, and thanks for the heads up about the job.”
A quiet, intimate wedding sounds good, and I’d probably have gone that way before MC life. A big outlandish biker themed ceremony also has its appeal now. Maybe even a twenty-one-gun salute, as there are so many veterans, according to Jig.
Oh, my God. I’ve become gun mad. Jig’s going to become a ‘gun widower’ at this rate, I think to myself.