15. ‘Raven’

FIFTEEN

Something is ringing but it isn’t my phone. My head is stuffed up so it takes me a minute or two to wake up enough to get out of bed. By the time I make it to the hallway, the ringing stops. I walk to the main part of my cabin and the phone starts ringing again. Shit, must be Ash’s. I look around and when I see his pants, I move quickly to them, reaching in the back pocket, pulling his phone out.

I look down and see Rowan’s name. Oh no.

“Hello, Ash’s phone.”

“UM, who is this? Can you get Ash? This is his brother, I need to talk to him now.”

Not sure if it was the phone or my voice but I can see Ash is waking up. I walk over and give him a hard shake. His eyes pop open and he looks up at me. I put the phone in his face.

“It’s Rowan, he says he needs you.”

Ash jumps up, swings his legs over the edge, and answers the phone at the same time.

“Rowan, what’s up, bro?”

I can’t make out what Rowan is telling him, that is until Ash puts it on speakerphone.

“Hey, Ro, slow down. Take some breaths. What the hell happened now?”

“Like I said, Ash, I got your text late last night and thought I should maybe go down to the barn to be close to the momma and baby foal. So I did, made me a bed right in the stall. The next thing I know I’m hearing horses neighing and shit. Then I smelled it. Fire. I got up and I pushed the emergency button you put in there and the alarm rang throughout the ranch. Mom was there first then some of the hands. We managed to get all of the animals out. Mom has the foal in the house with the momma in the garage for now. I’m sure the momma horse will find her way into the back porch in a bit. I called Sheriff George, he’s on the way. Ash, it looks like someone set the fire. I took pictures but you might want to see it and be here for the sheriff. Who answered your phone, by the way? It was a girl. Come on, you can tell me. I won’t tell a soul.”

Ash laughs then gives his brother the business. He tells Rowan he’s on his way. When he hangs up, he looks up at me.

“Someone tried to burn our barn down. Gotta go, sorry, Brenna.”

“Hang on, Ash, don’t run out all half-assed. Let me call Tink and maybe even Ollie. If you wait for a few, I could follow you home, maybe help out, if you want. If not, I can still make those calls. I can even call Panther since he’s closer to your ranch.” His head jerks back like I hit him. Guess it was kind of a surprise. To me too, but I didn’t want him to run out all discombobulated.

“Um, sure, if you want to make those calls and feel like coming along, better move that fine ass of yours. I got to get on the road.”

That’s all I have to hear. I literally run back to my room, trying to dial my phone and get dressed at the same time. Panther and his crew are going to head to the Sterling ranch immediately. Ollie is loading up the helicopter with supplies, then with Phantom and Paisley, and will be flying over. Finally, Tink told me to head there, and she’ll get some of the club sisters together, then they’ll head that way in a bit. She’s got to get someone to stay with Bray before she leaves. Once I got all the calls done, I quickly walk into my bathroom, brush my teeth, and throw my mass of hair into a low ponytail to keep it out of the way. I grab a pair of worn jeans, my cowboy boots and put a long sleeve T-shirt on then my kutte. Not sure how Ash’s family will feel, but I go nowhere without my club kutte.

Rushing down the hallway, I don’t see Ash at first, but then he moves and I see he’s making coffees to go. Thank God, I’m useless without my coffee. I grab my laptop bag, which is full of just about everything I use when not in my office at the clubhouse.

“Ash, do you have Wi-Fi at the ranch? If not, I can bring my mobile router/hotspot. It generally works anywhere. I’m ready if you are?”

He nods then grabs both travel mugs, walks toward me, and hands me one. Then he grabs his coat and walks out the door. I follow close and lock the door after I set the alarm. Can’t be too careful nowadays. We’ve had so much bullshit happen at the ranch lately, we are all very careful.

I’m so much in my head, I don’t realize Ash stopped until I plow into him from behind. He turns, grinning at me. I shrug my shoulders. What can I say, some things never change.

“All right, Brenna, I’m not gonna follow the speed limit. So either keep up or meet me at my ranch. For Rowan to be worried and nervous, something else is going on.”

Then out of nowhere he leans down, placing a very soft closed-mouth kiss on me. Before I can react, he pulls away and touches my face.

“Thanks for coming with, means a lot.”

He turns and hurries to his truck, jumps in, and takes off like a bat out of hell. I jump in my cage and follow. When we get to the gates of our ranch, there are a few Intruders on guard so they open the gate so we can leave. I feel eyes on me but don’t look around because there are a few of those assholes in Tank’s club I’d like to whack up against the head.

Time seems to fly by as I try to keep up with Ash, though he drives like a maniac. Knowing that Rowan called Sheriff George, I hope we don’t meet him on the way because Ash would so deserve a ticket for reckless driving. And I get it, he’s worried about his family and their homes, but killing himself or someone else won’t help.

Just as we are coming up to the turnoff to his ranch, I see a bunch of vehicles blocking the entrance as well as sheriff cruisers and I think even Panther’s huge truck off to the side. Hearing the whirring sound, I look up and see the helicopter kicking ass toward the ranch. As we slow down, I see it’s the Thunder Cloud Knuckle Brotherhood blocking the way. Shit, trouble is going to start, I can feel it. Ash jumps out of his truck and just by the way he’s stomping toward the crowd, he’s looking to bust someone’s head open, for sure.

I turn my cage off and get out of the car just as Ash gets in some old guy’s face, cussing and carrying on. The old dude just smirks and it dawns on me that it’s Cliff Sterling, Ash’s dad. He looks ready to start a revolution with the gun swung on his back. In fact, all the men and women blocking the entrance have guns on them. Thank God I put my Springfield Armory Hellcat in the holster at my back. In my cage I have a Steyr AUG SA USA rifle stashed in the back. Tink and Glory made sure every sister has one in their personal vehicle and with all the Devil’s Handmaidens vehicles too.

I’m trying to get my head in the right space, which is right behind Ash, gun already in my hand at my thigh. The mood in the air is violent as can be. Then I feel it, like the devil himself is looking my way. I shift my eyes until they meet Cliff’s. His face is scrunched up, guess he’s trying to look badass, though it isn’t working, because his son is right in his face.

“What in the ever-lovin’ fuck do you think you’re doing? This is our ranch and you have no right to be on it or try to keep folks out. Now move your asses before this gets nasty.”

Cliff looks around then back at Ash with an ugly look on his face.

“Whatcha got, son, two Indians, some white trash with those two, and that useless woman behind you. Oh, the helicopter but it’s going to be busy with the burned down barn. Sorry to hear about that, hope you got all the animals out first. Now, once and for all, we are gonna settle this bullshit. This is my ranch, not yours, and from now on I’ll give the orders not you, boy.”

Before anyone can say a word, the helicopter comes swinging down and lands right in the middle of the field. As the blades start to slow down, out hops my brother Ollie, Phantom holding a huge as fuck gun, and I think her name is Spirit. She’s worked with Shadow so I know she can hold her own. Especially since she’s outfitted like she’s going to war. The last guy to get out I don’t know, but he just looks like ex-military, especially with his big gun held across his waist. Leave it to Ollie to try and calm shit down.

“Ash, we heard you had some shit go down. We came to give you a hand. Paisley is already doing assessments of your animals. Barn is gone. I put a call out to Tank. Once he gets ahold of Pussy, he can send him out to get lumber. We’ll have a new barn up in no time and this one will be bigger and better. Now, what’s going on here, your mom was asking for ya.”

Cliff is eyeballing my brother and his team with some fear in his face. The brotherhood looks like they are ready to start a war just because they can. Sheriff George comes by, greeting just about everyone, except Cliff. That pisses the man off, but surprisingly he holds his tongue.

“Now, like I said, this is my ranch and I want all of your asses off of it. Especially soldier boy and his minions. No need for you fuckers to be here. Don’t you need to be at your place to hold hands with your damaged soldiers while they pet and feed sick old dogs and such.”

Before anyone can even say a word, my brother Ollie, who is forever calm, reaches out and grabs Cliff by the collar. When he winds back, I know he can’t hit the asshole as that will give the bastard what he wants. So, I rush forward and before he can throw a punch, I grab on to Ollie’s forearm, pulling it back.

When he’s back under control, I glance at Ash’s dad, who is studying me. Not sure he knows who I am, well, until he starts running his mouth.

“Oh, lookee here, it’s Brenna O’Brien. Ash’s first piece of ass. Didn’t leave a lasting impression, obviously, since he broke it off with you at that engagement party your parents threw. Just heard through the grapevine that after the breakup you lost my grandchild. You better pray to whatever you think is sacred because if I find out you did something to lose the child, no one will be able to hold me back, I promise ya that. Now this doesn’t involve you or your brother, so once again get off my property.”

I hear something and when I look there’s a 4x4 flying down the road. When it gets closer I see Rowan, Gertie, Ash’s mom, Joshua, Ash’s biracial little brother they took in to save his life, and Joe, one of their hands. When they stop, Gertie jumps out, gun in her hand, and walks right to Cliff.

“You get off my property now and take the scum of the earth with you. Cliff Sterling, I’ve had it with you. I’m done, if I have to sell this property, I will, but definitely not to you or any of the Thunder Cloud Knuckle Brotherhood. Do you hear me? Done, and I win this time. Remember, this is my ranch, was my mom’s before me and her mom’s before her. I never put your name on the deed or property so you’ve been squatting on my land. You’ve never paid rent or even asked to be on our land so, Sheriff George, I’d like to press charges. Not sure what but I’m sure you can find something that will fit this situation. Now we have a burned-down barn to deal with and have to find shelter for our animals. I don’t want to see any of these people near my ranch again. This is a formal warning in front of the sheriff and his deputies.”

She turns, walks back to the 4x4, and gets in. Something has me look at where Cliff and all the brotherhood are standing. When I see a gun aimed at Gertie’s back, I don’t think, I raise my Hellcat and fire not once but twice. I blast the hand and the gun goes flying then when the person goes to run, I graze their hip so they fall to the ground.

Sheriff George walks to me, grabs my gun, and tells me to stand down. Not sure he saw what I did, I try to explain.

“Sheriff, they had the gun aimed at Gertie’s back. I couldn’t let him shoot her in the back.”

“Raven, it’s not a he but a she.”

When I look, I’m shocked to see a young woman, probably the same age as Squirt. She’s holding her arm, crying softly, and not one person from that group is by her. They’ve turned their backs on her. Son of a bitch.

“Raven, I don’t want to but have to. You’re under arrest for firing your weapon.”

“No, don’t arrest her please, Sheriff. They made me do it and I’m so sorry. I would never have shot Mrs. Sterling. She’s been nothing but good to me and my sisters. I don’t want to be here anymore. They won’t let me leave. Please help me. No, help us.”

As Sheriff George starts to listen to the young lady, I walk over to Panther, Avalanche, George, Dallas, and Chicago. Panther looks my way and gives me a head lift. I walk over to him and he leans down, whispering quietly.

“Shadow is out there in the back forty or whatever it’s called. She’s trying to see if there are any more victims. I couldn’t stop her and this fiasco played right into her hands. Fingers crossed she finds something and can safely bring them out. She’s gonna be pissed but Jersey followed her in, he didn’t want her by herself. Yeah, my guys have kind of adopted your enforcer, Raven, what can I say. You okay?”

As we stand and talk about what’s going on. I have no idea what’s going to happen to me. So when Sheriff George approaches me, I take in a deep breath and wait.

“Raven, you’re free to go. Though I have a favor to ask. See that girl you grazed and those three little girls with her? Those are her sisters. She’s pretty tight-lipped, but she did share what that brotherhood has made her do to keep her sisters safe. Sounds like, and we have no proof, the Thunder Cloud Knuckle Brotherhood killed her parents and took over their cabin on this side of the mountain. She doesn’t even know how long they’ve been with them. Can you and the Devil’s Handmaidens take them in and help the girls start over? I know it’s a lot, but I got nowhere else to send them.”

Just as I go to answer we hear a commotion and, holy hell, no way. One of the brotherhood is pointing an AK-15 assault rifle at the girls. The older girl stands and puts her three little sisters behind her. I don’t want to see these kids gunned down but not sure what to do. That is until I see Avalanche and Panther rounding the trucks and cars to get behind the man with the rifle. Before I can blink, Avalanche grabs for the gun while Panther puts the man in a chokehold. He squeezes his neck and the man goes down immediately.

Ash walks up to me, though his eyes never stop moving.

“If you don’t want to get any more involved, Brenna, I understand. I need to get to the barn. Thanks for everything though.”

He walks away, jumps in his truck, and manages to get past the group of assholes and barrels away. I run to my cage, jump in, and before I go down the road, I stop by Sheriff George.

“How bad are her arm and hip? If not too bad, have them get in my cage and once I’m done helping Ash and his family, I’ll take them back to the ranch. Unless you want to drop them off, whatever works, Sheriff.”

When I pull up to the burned-out barn, I have one young girl in the front, her arm bandaged up with a towel. The younger three are in the back huddled together. What did I just get myself involved with? Better put in a call to Tink and Glory. Again.