6.
I tried to take my mind off the events that were unfolding. I kept wanting to get on my motorcycle and join in on the chaos that was probably ensuing. But then I would see my mother, lying in bed, barely able to move.
I knew where I was needed, and it wasn’t in a warzone. Buck could handle himself; I just had to stay positive. I waited by the phone, expecting a phone call at any moment—one that would never come.
“You look nervous, Tara,” my mother said.
“There’s a lot going on right now,” I replied.
“What’s keeping you inside? You used to like going for rides when you were like this before. Is it something Buck did?”
I wondered if I should tell her the truth.
“No, Momma. It’s nothing. Just get back to sleep,” I said, in a vain attempt at assuaging her curiosity.
“I’m not stupid, Tara. You could just tell me that Buck is off doing something crazy, like beating up a rival gang.”
I wondered how she knew, and my open mouth and gasps did nothing but assure her she was right.
“How did you know?” I asked.
“You know I was your father’s wife,” she said. “There’s a reason there weren’t any other motorcycle clubs around when you were growing up, and I was there for most of them. Why aren’t you with Buck right now?”
“He sent me home. He didn’t want me there,” I said honestly.
“He didn’t want you there because he couldn’t stand the possibility of you gettin’ hurt, Tara.”
I knew she was speaking the truth. Buck really did love me, and I just seemed to slap him in the face every time he showed it.
“I gotta go, Momma,” I said as I ran to the closet and threw on my jacket.
“Take the shotgun with you,” she said. “I won’t need it.”
I did as I was told and lumbered out with the shotgun in tow. My heart raced, as I knew that what I planned on doing was incredibly crazy. I also was scared of what Buck would do if we actually survived this.
I rode as fast as I could. I wasn’t sure if I was headed in the right direction, but the place that was most famous for settling disputes was the old quarry. I wondered what I would do when I got there. Sometimes it was best not to know.
7.
I was still half a mile out when I heard engines in the distance. The roaring thunder of motorcycles gathered en masse. It was impossible to make that sound any other way.
Rounding the corner, I saw Buck and the gang standing in a stalemate on the north side, while Connor and his gang were lined up on the south side. I could see the two men yelling at each other, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying over all the noise.
I cut a path through the bikers, heading straight for Buck, coming to a screeching halt just in front of him.
He looked at me with rage.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he shouted.
“Why the hell wouldn’t I be here?” I shouted in response.
“Because I need to know you’ll be okay. Get the hell home. Now!”
“I’m not leaving your side, not until this is all through,” I said.
I took my place next to him, lifting the shotgun under my arm. Connor looked over at the two of us and laughed.
“I guess you guys really do love each other,” he said.
I looked up at Buck, who didn’t change his expression in the slightest.
“I won’t ever leave my man,” I shouted.
Buck leaned over and pulled me in for a hug. I forgot how strong he was; it felt like he would break me in half with the force of it. I didn’t want him to stop, and I didn’t think he wanted to either.
“Buck, I thought you loved me,” I heard a screeching woman’s voice say.
Looking over, I saw that Gracie had decided to come. I wanted to put her in her place, but I didn’t want to be the person pulling the trigger first.
“Gracie, you better crawl back into whatever hole you just crawled out of,” I shouted, only to have Buck throw his hand over my mouth.
“I can speak for myself, Tara,” he said.
He took a couple of steps forward. The lights of the other cycles were near blinding, and I couldn’t make out anyone’s face behind Connor and Gracie.
“Gracie, you know what we did. We weren’t nothin’ more than a good afternoon. Just tell your brother you’re done and then this whole feud can come to an end.”
Gracie started laughing.
“You think we were just some afternoon fun? I thought we were something more than that. My brother is going to kick your ass,” she said.
“Connor, can you control that woman? I don’t think she speaks for you,” Buck said.
Connor rubbed his forehead and clenched his teeth.
“Gracie, shut the hell up. We’re tryin’ to hash this out without people gettin’ killed, and you’re just makin’ things worse,” Connor said.
“You’re takin’ his side instead of your own sister’s?” Gracie said. “What the hell is wrong with you, Connor?”
Connor turned and gave her a good smack across the cheek.