Page 14 of Rebel's Fairytale

Mama Hen slipped into the empty chair at the end of the tables and gasped. “No… really?”

“Yup.” Darlin’ ended the word with a pop.

“So… when are we doing this?” Mama Hen looked around the table. “The library closes at nine during the week and seven on Saturdays, I think.”

“Tonight,” Pixie said. “We just need to figure out how we’re getting out of here without our men knowing what we’re doing. They will try to shut it down.”

Pixie absently rubbed her baby bump as she watched an evil grin grow on Mama Hen’s face.

“Leave it to me, chickens. Meet me at the hotel at seven-thirty and wear your biker boots.” Mama Hen winked at them as she stood. Then, she left the diner, walking like a woman on a mission.

“What is Mama Hen going to do?”

Pixie looked over at Sugar as she answered her question, “Take care of business, like always.”

Mama Hen

Mama Hen stepped into the clubhouse and looked around the space. It was what you would expect from a group of men in their space where they drank and bonded — lots of nicked and blemished wood, old leather stools, tables that probably should have been replaced a decade ago, and lots of neon and beer signs.

She spotted Ranger talking to Trip and Bullet across the room. As she made her way over to them, Trip and Bullet wrapped up the conversation, gave her a nod, and walked away.Perfect.

“Mama Hen,” Ranger uttered and wrapped her up in his strong arms. “Looking beautiful as always. I like the teal.”

“Well, thank you. I got a favor to ask ya.”

Ranger slowly released her and looked down to meet her eyes. “What are we doing? Robbing a bank? Burying a body? PaintingI’m a good boyon Dragon’s bike?”

Mama Hen chuckled. “You really do have a death wish, don’t you?”

“I just don’t fear it the way most do,” he replied with a grin and a shrug. “No, seriously, what are we doing?”

“I need to borrow your night-vision goggles. My ex-husband got our stakeout equipment in the divorce.”

Ranger blinked at her, then blinked again. “I’m sorry. Wait. Why did you have—“

“Don’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answers to, Ranger.” She raised a brow at him. “The goggles?”

He narrowed his eyes on her, studying her like he was trying to decipher all her secrets.

Locked safe, my boy. Locked safe. Good luck!

“If I’m going to let you borrow them, I need to know why you need them.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared her down, but she saw the twitch at the corners of his lips. The man was enjoying the conversation.

After glancing around and seeing that the room was empty except for the two of them, Mama Hen mimicked his position and began negotiations. “I will tell you…ifyou promise to not share with the rest of the Howlers.”

“I can’t promise that… unless I’m going with you.” It was his turn to cock a brow.

“You drive a hard bargain, soldier.” She thought for a moment. Considering his playful nature, Mama Hen determined Ranger would probably be the best Howler to include in the mission. And it would have the added benefit of keeping the men of the Ol’ Ladies from being too curious. “Then, you will tell the others that you are bringing the Ol’ Ladies to the hotel at seven-thirty.”

Ranger’s eyes widened. “The Ol’ Ladies are involved? This was Kisy’s idea, wasn’t it?”

“No,” Mama Hen replied, but she grinned, because usually Kisy would be the ringleader. “This is Pixie’s idea.”

“Pike’s Pixie?” He shook his head but immediately continued, “Okay. Fine. I agree. Now, what are we doing?”

Mama Hen looked around again to make sure they were still alone. When she determined they were still the only ones there, she answered, “Pixie suspects that Rebel has fallen in love with the librarian. The Ol’ Ladies want to do a stakeout. We need proof.”

Ranger just stared at her for a long moment. Then, he threw back his head and laughed. “Count me in.”

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