Page 24 of Tangled Threats on the Nomad Highway
“Well, I foresee that there’s going to besome traffic between the houses. We’ll get it done early, no matterwhat your president has to say.” Gunny’s snort expressed hisattitude well.
Laughter bubbled up from Horse as he walkednext to Marian. “Watch who you piss off, man. I heard theplans.”
“Yeah, but it ain’t in effect yet, so I’msafe.”
“T-minus eight hours and counting.” Withoutthe lights shining in her eyes, Marian could make out the faces ofthe men walking all around her and the boys. Blackie’s grin wasbroad and looked genuine, revealing that whatever they were alltalking about, it made him happy. “Cannot fucking wait.”
“You good, Marian?” She chanced a glance atHorse’s face, finding worried eyes turned her way. “That was a neartumble, but seemed to pack a punch even if you didn’t land.”
“I’ve—” Her mouth wouldn’t cooperate withher mind’s intent of glossing over, and the fight with her tonguetied it into silence.
“Her old man beat her black and blue. She’sgot some fractured ribs, if not clear broke.” Flat in timbre,Gunny’s voice still conveyed the depths of his fury, at least toher ears, and Marian was surprised the trees didn’t go up in flamesat the hotness of his rage.
“Oh, shit.” Horse pulled her closer to hisside, his hand slipping away and curling around her shoulders.“I’ve got you, little sister.” Fingers threaded between hers in agentle hold that somehow steadied her more. “Won’t let you fall,promise.” His hold on her didn’t change, but his voice was rigid assteel as he asked Gunny, “You deal with the motherfucker?”
“Aww, yeah. He’s dealt with, and I raisedthe stakes until he couldn’t pony up.”
“Gunny.” She craned her neck to lookover Horse’s shoulder, wanting Gunny to shut up before the boysoverheard.
“No worries, Maid Marian. They’re at thehouse already, well out of earshot. Far as I know, Myrt doesn’tknow either. I knew you could handle it, but you want to hold itclose, that’s fine with me.” The beam from his flashlight flickedup and traced the bodies already on the porch of the rapidlynearing house. “You wanna share, that’s also fine with me. I trustyou, lady.”
“Maid Marian.” The words flowed from Horse,his voice low and coarse, ruffling her nerves like a breeze wouldruffle her hair. “I like that.”
The open door shed light onto the porch anddown the steps, illuminating the final distance to the house. Shestraightened and tugged discreetly, but Horse didn’t relax hishold, keeping her tucked against his side.
“I’m good now, thank you.” Stopping in placeseemed to trigger something for him, because his hands fell awayimmediately. “Gunny, I can take that.”
“No you can’t. Not if I don’t let you.” Helifted his lip in a fake snarl as he moved past her and inside thehouse. His “Bane, brother, where’s Marian’s room?” filtered backoutside.
“That man.” She looked over as Horseostentatiously cleared his throat. “Yes?”
“He’s married.” Horse gestured back into thedark where they’d come from and Marian narrowed her eyes as shewaited for him to elaborate. “In case you didn’t know.”
“Oh, I know. Married to Sharon, and theyhave three kids that both Vanna and Truck claim as their own. I’mnot sure what you’re implying.” Her ribs hurt badly enough she hadto fight the urge to shuffle, not wanting to show this man any moreweakness than he’d already seen from her. “He saved my life. Notfor any kind of payment, but because it was the right thing to do.He and Bane rescued me, when I’d long ago thought any escape wasimpossible. What you’re not saying is something that would hurthim. What about me makes you think I’d do that?”
“Firecracker. I just…” He scoffed and made afrustrated noise. “Way you looked at him, that’s how some of thegirls look at a man they want. Thought you should know.”
“Well, thanks for that grace, small as itis. I have no designs on Gunny.” Wrapping her arms around herself,she lost her struggle against a groan. “No designs on any man.”Turning, she made her slow way up the steps, taking them with aneven stride. Through the open door, she saw Luke and Thad withtheir arms around Myrt, and Bane and Gunny standing to the side.Bane was looking at Myrt with that expression Marian had seenbefore, like something about Myrtle solved the world’s mysteries inhis eyes.
Gunny was looking at her, then flicked hisgaze to the doorway at her back. “Horse go back to the house?”
The headshake she gave him was small andconfused and probably showed every ounce of hurt that was stillbubbling through her at Horse’s words. “I don’t know.”
And don’t care.
Chapter Seven
Einstein
“You’re sure?” Slowly sinking onto the edgeof his bed, Einstein stared at the partly open door leading to thehallway. “It’s him? He’s been under our noses all this time?”
“I wouldn’t label it as under our noses.Man’s been patched into Blackie’s crew for a while now, but wedon’t make that many trips their direction. When he comes this way,Blackie usually brings the same couple of men. Just not been anopportunity to make his acquaintance thus far.” Mudd’s drawl wasmissing, the words clipped and spoken at a quick pace as hedelivered information efficiently. “Retro said you should come herefirst. Might be a reason to head west, but for now, he’d like youdown here.”
“When?” Easier to give in on this,especially since it was Mudd and not Retro. He knew from experiencehow frustrating it could be when—as the message bearer—theinstructions were ignored.
“How about now?”
“Shit.” Einstein let his head drop forward,stretching the muscles of his upper back. “I’ll take thirty minutesto grab some lunch and a shower, and I’ll be on my way. Call you asI go along, or just show up?”
