“What’s going on?” Brass asks curiously.
Showing him the box with the bells, I explain, “Nickel wants to add them for the return trip.”
Turning back towards the sleigh, I watch Nickel lifting the cushions, and I wonder what he’s doing when I realise that he’s made brackets to fit the bells onto the sleigh. I didn’t even think of how we were going to attach them. Should have known that Nickel would have thought of how to do it. I assumed we’d jimmy something together.
He takes the brackets and a spanner and bolts from his pockets and fits them to pre-drilled holes on either side of the front of the sleigh. We’re quiet as we watch him work. Once he’s fitted them, he holds out his hand to me for the bells. I give them to him, and he fits them to the side of the sleigh, giving them a little shake so that they tinkle to make sure they work.
Once he’s happy with how they are fitted, he looks up and grins widely. “Let’s see how this sounds going back to the clubhouse.”
Iron and Brass remount their sleds, and I hop back into the sleigh. As soon as the sleds start up, the vibrations set the bells tinkling, and they don’t stop all the way back. The noise has most of the brothers waiting for us. Mom is beaming at me. As soon as we come to a stop, she’s stepping in. “I think we need one more test run,” she tells me.
Laughing, I agree, “I think you’re right, Momma.” Holding my hand out to Opal, I say, “Come on, little sister, give me your opinion.” Glancing at Nickel, I chuckle when he stays put; not even Coal giving him a death glare has him moving.
Sitting next to my mom, I wrap my arm around her shoulder and hit the side of the sleigh with the palm of my hand. Brass gives me a thumbs-up as we move off, bells tinkling all the way.
Mom and Opal beam, their faces filled with delight as we go down the road. I breathe in deeply and let out a happy sigh.
Mom glances up at me, her eyes sparkling. “This is lovely, Bolt. Jeanie’s going to love it.”
“I hope so,” I reply, shoving my hand in my pocket. I close my hand around the box that's in there. Jeanie already wears my cut, but tomorrow night I’ll ask her to marry me.
The afternoon is spent with my family and the brothers’ taking rides in the sleigh. We have to do a few modifications, but otherwise she rides nice and smooth. At the end of the day, we park her in the carport. Before I can cover her up, Mom hands me a wooden box, and when I open it up, it’s full of Christmas blankets.
“Thanks, Momma,” I say, kissing her cheek. “I’ve been meaning to get some but ran out of time.”
“That’s why I’m here, baby,” she says, patting my shoulder. “You did real good, son.”
Fuck,I think as moisture pricks at my eyes. I’m turning into a weepy idiot with the amount of crying I’ve wanted to do today. But this is my momma, and I’m safe with her no matter what. None of us have ever had to hide our emotions with her. Wrapping my arms around my mom, I hug her tight. She says nothing, just returns my embrace. Until I relax my hold but don’t let go. Only then does she speak.
“It’s going to be okay, baby boy,” she assures me. “You’re older this time. And Jeanie isn’t weak. She’s perfect for you, and she makes a fantastic old lady. This one I like.”
Relief fills me. It has been a whirlwind few weeks since Jeanie found me, and I haven’t had time to connect with my mom. That she likes Jeanie means a lot to me. She never liked Leila.
“Thank you, Momma. I’m glad you like her because she’s going to be in our family forever if I have my way. I’m just sorry I didn’t get her information the night we met.”
“Things happen a certain way for a reason, son,” she tells me as she removes her arms from around me, releasing me from her embrace. “Now you’d best get going, or you’ll be late.”
She’s not wrong. I check the time and see it’s approaching one in the afternoon, and I’m supposed to meet Jeanie at two at Sam’s place in Feannag.
Hurrying home, I grab the bag I packed earlier and stuff it into my saddlebag. I’ll be spending tonight at the O’Shea compound, and then we’ll be back here tomorrow for Christmas lunch. Swinging a leg over my sled, I settle in my seat and start her up, riding slowly up our road towards the clubhouse, slowing down when I see Coal waiting for me on his bike with Thea, Opal, and Shea in Thea’s vehicle. Looks like we’ll be riding together.
With it being Christmas Eve, traffic isn’t too bad; most people are already home with their families, getting ready forChristmas. Forty-five minutes later, we’re stopping at Sam’s, finding him, Ally, and Jeanie waiting for us.
Jeanie’s waving and bouncing on her toes as soon as she sees us. I hold back a chuckle; my girl does nothing by halves. She’s waiting for me as I back my sled into a parking space. Her lips on mine as soon as I’ve got my helmet off. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I hold her close.
“We’re not spending a night apart again,” she informs me. “I slept for shite last night.”
“I agree,” I tell her. “Are you all ready to go?”
“Just waiting on you to put Jeanie down.” Sam smirks at me from where he’s sitting on his bike next to mine. I was so caught up in Jeanie I didn’t notice that not only is Ally waiting in her vehicle, but that Sam is waiting for us.
Laughing, I tap Jeanie’s thigh to move so that I can get off my sled and help her into the vehicle. “Let me up, sweetness, so we can get going.”
When she goes to argue with me, I press my finger to her lips. “No arguing. I know you can get in a vehicle by yourself, but not when I’m around.”
Her eyes widen, and heat flares in them. I know my girl. She’s independent, but she also likes to be taken care of, and I’m all for taking care of her whenever I can.
Dismounting, I scoop Jeanie up in my arms, making her squeal and laugh in surprise as she throws her arms around my neck as I carry her towards the vehicle that’s idling with Ally waiting in it for her.
