Wild Heart (3 page)

“Smells great, Daddy. What are you cooking?” She came up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

“Oh just some hog nose and okra. Your favorite,” he chuckled at her squished up face.

She should have known better than to ask, the memories of her childhood brought a slight smile to her face. She would come running into the kitchen asking what her dad was cooking and in turn, the answer would always be
hog nose and okra
. She had learned better than to ask as a kid and apparently this would be one thing she would have to start remembering.

“So, Daddy, I think I am going to head into town today. I need to pick up a few things for the house and for my room.”

“What you need to get for the house, Darlin’?” his voice peaked in interest.

“Oh just a few things I noticed could be updated.”

“You know I’ll get around to those things when I can. Don’t worry yourself over them,” he came over, sitting a plate of food in front of her.

“I know, Daddy. But I don’t have anything better to do and I’d like to help around the house,” she could see him caving under the stare of her pouting eyes.

“Ok,” he shrugged, “Now eat up. You need to put some meat on your bones or you won’t make it through the winter.”

“Yeah well, the way you cook I’ll be just fine,” she took a bite of her scrambled eggs.

After breakfast, she threw on her torn blue jeans, a loose white tank top, and her brown Georgia Boots. She made her way out to the shed at the side of the house first, checking the lawn mower for gas. Finding two empty jugs, she grabbed them along with a bottle of oil to mix into one of the cans for the weed eater. The front yard of the house was smaller than the large back yard and was populated with various pine and oak trees. However, the back yard opened up into a large pasture where a small barn sat in the far corner. They hadn’t had horses since she was a kid but if this was now home, she might consider getting one. There was just something about taking off on horseback through the mountains that could fix just about anything. It was the only way she could clear her mind when she was a kid.

After emptying the rest of the items from her truck into the living room downstairs, she loaded in the gas cans and headed into town. Coker Creek was a small quaint town set back in the mountains away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. It had everything they needed and all she could ever want as a kid. Endless acres of mountains, trails, and waterfalls to explore. She hadn’t been in the woods in years but it was a place she would always feel comfortable. As she turned onto the asphalt road heading toward town, she opened all of the windows of her truck and cranked up the radio. She grabbed her black aviator sunglasses and put them on as “Set My Body Free” by White Buffalo sang out from her speakers. She waved at the woman rocking on the front porch of the small gift store across from the stop sign and headed toward the main road.

As she pulled into a parking spot along the main strip of town, she rolled her windows up, grabbed her list and purse, and hopped out in search of the hardware store. An unfamiliar rumble caught her ear and caused her to turn toward the end of the road. Parked in front of the small package store was a group of a dozen or so bikers. She eyed them for a moment wondering what bikers were doing in town during this part of the year. She would see large groups come through when they held certain rides through the mountains but they didn’t usually stop in town and they never stayed for long. She saw one of the bikers turn toward her as she stood outside the hardware store. She watched him pull his sunglasses off trying to get a better look at her. Embarrassed she quickly turned away and ducked into the store.

“Ani!” A small voice came from behind the counter, “I was wondering if I would get to see you. Your dad said you were going to be in town for a bit.” Ani turned to see Mrs. Bell coming around the counter toward her.

Taking one last glimpse out toward the man propped against the large black motorcycle down the street she turned and embraced Mrs. Bell. “Yes, ma’am. I am going to be in town for a while,” Ani smiled warmly at the older woman. Though it had been years since she had seen Mrs. Bell, she didn’t look any different. The same wrinkled face and gray hair that she remembered.

“Well we are glad to have you back, Dear. What can I help you with today?” Ani turned to devote Mrs. Bell her full attention.

“I have a list of things for the house that I was hoping to pick up or get ordered. Do you think you can help me find these?” Ani handed her the list.

“I believe we have just what you need, Honey.” Mrs. Bell smiled, leading her toward the back of the store and the collection of shutters.

After an hour, and three failed paint-mixing attempts later, Ani was sure that she had the right color red for the front and barn doors. “Are you sure you don’t want me to get those other two cans? I can find some use for them,” she asked.

“Oh no. I’ll use them for something around the store. I’m just glad to see the old mixing machine is still working,” Mrs. Bell insisted.

“Ok if you insist. What’s my damage?”

“You take the record for the week, two hundred and thirty five dollars,” Mrs. Bell said cautiously from the other side of the counter.

“Well I expected it to be much worse,” Ani smiled reassuringly, “As soon as I get home I’ll call you with the part number for the mower blades and have you order those for me if you don’t mind.”

“Of course, dear.” She exchanged the large bills and handed Ani her change. “Do you need help out with all of that?”

“Oh no, ma’am. I think I can manage.” She gave her one last smile and made her way toward the door with her full cart.

As she bumped her way out, a large hand reached up and grabbed the door.

“Here, let me help you with that,” a familiar southern drawl came from behind her.

Cash Fucking Roberts.

She plastered on a fake smile before turning to see his deep green eyes smiling back at her, “Thank you, Cash.”

“Sorry I missed you last night,” he said, pulling the cart the rest of the way out the door. “I was hoping I would be able to catch up with you. Your dad told me last week you were coming home. Didn’t believe him at first, but when he invited me over last night to catch up I figured it wasn’t just old timers,” he smiled warmly.

“Yeah, I am back,” Ani chimed, trying to hide the irritation in her voice. She wasn’t sure why she was so aggravated around him but she didn’t really want to deal with him right now.

She watched as he pulled the cart along behind him effortlessly. The sleeves of his navy blue shirt were tight around his biceps showing the dips in his muscles that traveled up his arms. She wondered, briefly, what the rest of him looked like now. Was he that muscular everywhere? He’d never had a problem in
that
area and she let her mind drift off before her two left feet caught and she stumbled toward the hood of her truck.

“Easy there, Grace,” Cash joked, turning back to her, “If you would look at the side walk instead of my butt you could see where you’re going.”

“Shut up, Cash,” she snapped. She needed to get away from here, away from this man. At the rate she was going she would be decapitated within the next twenty minutes.

“Easy, Sparky. I am trying to play nice, but you make it hard,” he smiled at the double meaning.

“You are just as smooth as you used to be aren’t you?” she laughed, remembering the first time they’d kissed. She ended up with a black eye that she’d had to explain to her parents, but it was all worth it at the time.

“Like fine wine, Baby. I only get better with age.”

“Box wine doesn’t age very well,” she cut her eyes toward him.

“Low blow,” he chuckled as he looked down into her cart, “So I see by your purchases that you’re going to be doing some house work.” He lifted the new shutters out of the cart and placed them into the back of her truck. “Nice truck by the way. I like it and I see you kept it country with the tires and lift.”

“You know what they say;
you can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl,
” she leaned against the side of her truck.

“I wanna see what this thing can do. What do you say we take her out in the mud this weekend?” his voice was hopeful as he threw out the offer.

“I don’t know, Cash. I have a lot to do around the house.” The truth was she knew if she spent long enough for his charm and good looks to sink in she’d be naked in no time. She wanted to focus on why she was here and that was for her dad.

“What if I come by this afternoon after I leave the station and help you get this taken care of?” he closed the back gate of the truck, leaning up against it with his arms folded.

Lord, help me.
She could feel her pants unbuttoning on their own as the muscles in his arms tightened. She blinked looking away from him and back down to the group of bikers. The tall mysterious man now had his eyes locked on both her and Cash only causing more chaos in her brain. She panicked trying to end the whole situation.

“Ok fine. I guess I could use some help,” she said, turning back to Cash.

“Great! I’ll even bring some reinforcements,” he smiled, “See you in a few hours, Beautiful.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll see you in a bit,” she reached for her keys only to find them missing.
Shit.
She dug around in her purse where they normally were. As Cash hopped into his old Bronco patrol car and took off down the road she headed back towards Mrs. Bell’s shop hoping that she had left them on the counter. As she neared the door, a flurry of chaos from inside the store caused her to pause just in time to miss the glass door of the shop flying open not far in front of her. She could hear Mrs. Bell yelling from inside of the store as a young man in a hooded sweatshirt came running from the store.

“Hey! You get back here with my money!” Mrs. Bell hurried out of the door after him.

Realizing what had just happened Ani dropped her bag on the ground and took off running down the sidewalk after the kid.
Fucking bikers move in and now kids are stealing! What is this town coming to?
She watched as the kid ran towards the bikers, no doubt a part of their group. She’d be damned, biker or not she wasn’t about to let anyone take Mrs. Bell’s hard earned money; it was all the woman had to live on. Just as she began catching up to the kid, she watched as the man she’d been exchanging glances with stood from his motorcycle. She braced herself for an argument with him, but was shocked when she saw the man clothes line the kid directly onto the pavement.

“You little fucker!” the stranger’s heavy Irish accent drifted across the distance between them.

“Ow!” the kid shouted, rolling over and clutching his chest.

“What did you take from Mrs. Bell’s shop you little shite?” the man leaned down, yelling into the kids face.

“Here! Take it, asshole!” the kid grimaced, lifting his hand holding the money up toward the large biker.

As Ani took in the scene unfolding just a few feet in front of her she heard Mrs. Bell’s panting come up next to her. Her fragile hand grabbed Ani’s shoulder as she attempted to catch her breath.

“Mrs. Bell, are you ok? Do you need to sit down?” Ani asked.

“No, dear. I need to go kick this kid’s ass,” the older woman spat out as she went over to the boy, “You little shit! I am gonna call your mama as soon as I get back to my shop. Andy Williams, get up off that pavement!” Mrs. Bell shuffled over to the boy, grabbing him by the ear and lifting him up. “Thank you Knox.” Ani watched as she reached up with her other hand and patted the face of the biker as the kid got loose and ran off into the woods behind the store.

Knox.

Ani couldn’t help but laugh as she watched. As the biker stood back up completely and handed Mrs. Bell back her money he looked over at Ani. Who on Earth was this man? She’d never seen him before and given his accent, she was sure that he wasn’t from Tennessee. Realizing she was awkwardly standing in the middle of the street, Ani turned to walk Mrs. Bell back to her store. She opened the door for her and went to walk in, but not before turning one last time to take in the handsome face of the biker. His black leather cut was worn and his sandy brown hair hung just past his shoulders complimenting his long beard and mustache. Dark jeans sat on top of black leather boots and stood out against his white t-shirt. Even as she turned back toward the store Ani could feel his eyes on her.

She went in the hardware store, made sure that Mrs. Bell was ok, and grabbed her keys. As she hopped into her truck, she chanced another glance to the group of bikers who were now walking their bikes out of the parking space and taking off down the road. Since when did they have bikers in Coker Creek? Not only bikers, but bikers who helped the local town folk. Weren’t they all supposed to be rough and tough, don’t give a shit, murder on Friday, party on Saturday kind of people?

As her mind slowly stopped spinning, Ani pulled her truck out and headed towards the home goods store down the road. She could only hope that it would be free of both cops and bikers.