Page 9 of His Claim

“Murderer?” Gravel growled. “What the hell are you talking about, girl?”

I grabbed Tatum’s hand and pulled her to my side. “Gravel is a friend. He’s a part of the motorcycle club I told you about.”

Tatum’s eyes bugged out. “You’re part of the club with all the crazy women who break beds, get arrested, and are just all around crazy? I’ve heard so much about you guys.”

Gravel’s lips thinned. “I’m glad to see the club legacy is Meg and the ol’ ladies being crazy.” Gravel looked us up and down. “What the hell are you two doing on my doorstep looking like you traipsed fifty miles in the woods and got into a fight with a bear?”

“You got the traipsing through the woods right,” Tatum sighed. “Do you think I could use your bathroom? And maybe drink a gallon of water?”

“Gravel? Who is at the door?” a woman called from inside the cabin.

“It’s one of Leo’s men and a crazy woman,” Gravel called. “Get a pot of coffee on, darlin’.” Gravel stepped back and held the door open. “Come on in and tell me what the hell you two are up to.”

We stepped into the cabin, and for the first time in twenty-four hours, I felt safe.

Gravel’s cabin was more than just a shack in the woods.

The outside was half logs as the siding and a high-pitched roof with two peaks.

Inside, it was wide open from the kitchen, living room, and dining room with a hallway off the kitchen to what I assumed were bedrooms and bathrooms. There was a large stone fireplace in the living room with two huge deer mounts on each side of the chimney. Various birds and other stuffed wildlife were hung on the walls.

“Murphy!” Ethel called. “What on earth happened to you?” She tossed down the dish towel in her hand and rushed over to Tatum and me. “You look horrible!”

Leave it to Ethel to tell it like it was.

“You’re Ethel,” Tatum exclaimed. “You are the one who broke the bed with Meg.”

Ethel tsked and shook her head. “I was there, but it was Meg and Cyn who broke the bed. That was ages ago, too. How on earth did you know about that?”

“I might have told her a few entertaining stories,” I confessed. I was surprised that Tatum had remembered them. Though I had found that Meg and the other Devil’s Knights ol’ ladies were pretty damn memorable.

Ethel held her hand out to Tatum. “You know who I am, but I don’t know you, honey. I didn’t know Murphy had someone special.”

Tatum shook her hand but stuttered, “Oh, uh, well... you see...”

“We’re not together, Ethel. I can explain it all after I use your phone. I need to get in touch with Leo right away.”

“Can I use your bathroom while Murphy calls Leo?” Tatum asked. “I’m not really one to like to commune with nature, and I’ve had to do that too many times in the past twenty-four hours.”

“Of course, of course,” Ethel rushed. “Follow me, honey.”

Ethel led Tatum down the hall to the bathroom, and Gravel handed me his phone. “Just know I’m calling King.”

I nodded and grabbed the phone. “We’re more than likely going to need to the club’s help with this one.”

Gravel nodded and sat down in the recliner by the fireplace. “God knows you goons have helped us out when we needed it.”

“We’re not goons,” I muttered. Brandt and his band of idiots were goons. From memory, I dialed Leo’s number and waited three rings before he answered. “Gravel?”

“No,” I called. “It’s me.”

“Holy fuck,” Leo boomed into the phone. “Where the hell are you? Why the hell are you calling me from Gravel’s phone?”

I moved the phone away from my mouth. “Where the hell are we, old man?”

Gravel chuckled. “About three hours north of Rockton. Eagle River is about twenty minutes away.”

“You hear that?” I asked Leo.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com