Halley
Cowboy drew back the curtain. Sunshine busted in, whether it was invited or not. All at once, too, not in a block or a ray from the upstairs door being open. Light cast warm tones over everything. I shielded my eyes from the blinding yellow.
Light, one of many things I’d have to get used to again.
I don’t know where he’d learned it, but the man who rescued me, delivered this baby. It’d been a terrible ordeal, having the baby with no painkillers. I’d wanted him to just get the baby out of me, but no, Cowboy had me up walking through the pain. He told me when to push. He put me in the shower for the last of it. Boy, did the spray beating on my skin feel good. When I pushed the baby out, Cowboy cheered me on. I felt like a badass.
I recovered quickly, mainly because I craved another shower. I hadn’t had one in five years. But actually, the pain subsided faster than I expected. I hadn’t torn, and the baby was healthy as all get out. Cowboy saw no reason for us to head to the hospital. It was safer here anyhow. He hadn’t left our side for days.
Magically, a big basket of the most wonderful provisions ended up on our doorstep every morning. Cowboy proved to be a great cook, especially when it came to breakfast food.
Mmm… Strawberries. I’d missed them, too.
“You’re my brother’s friend?” He’d already told me this, but I was only just understanding. Edmond had paid Serpentine’s ransom. He’d come again to rescue me, but Snakebite had grown a pair, finally, and beat him to it. Cowboy, what a name, came along to help my brother. He’d take me to Edmond as soon as it was safe to travel. Fortunately, Snakebite had packed a bag for me full of baby supplies and clothes. He’d packed himself clothes, too, so even Cowboy had fresh drawers while he waited on his to dry. This cabin had a washer and dryer. Being a prisoner for so long, I’d forgotten about the conveniences of life. I remembered in the basement, washing my clothesout in the sink and hanging them to dry. But I wouldn’t think of any of that now.
This cabin had everything any home would, if a home was basically a bedroom with an attached kitchen and bathroom that doubled as a laundry room. It even had a T.V., although it was like no T.V. I’d ever seen. Really flat, it hung on the wall. It’d only been five years, but it was like I was living in the future. Cowboy had the internet right on his cell phone and anything he couldn’t remember about taking care of babies, we asked a woman named Siri.
“What will you name him?”
“I don’t know.” I hadn’t thought about it. Half the time, I’d ignored the fact I was pregnant, like doing so would make it go away. I knew my condition was the only reason Serpentine planned to release me and take me as his wife. And the other alternative, I’d never know if he really planned to hand me over to my brother or not. Or if he’d just been fucking with me. If he had turned me over, it could’ve been just to fuck with Scar since his sister was carrying the spawn of the Sons of Satan MC.
That’s all the men seemed to want to do—fuck me.
Don’t know which one of the bastards who raped me was the daddy.
But most likely, Serpentine had threatened to marry me to fuck with Snakebite, never thinking his boy would defy him and break me out.
Snakebite, I thought of him, likely dead. I wouldn’t worry for him as he didn’t man up and save me for so many years. Yeah, I was bitter. I searched and found no more love for him, pretend or otherwise. I barely remembered him half the time. I’d about gone crazy down there in the rabbit hole, but I felt like a fog was lifting.
Cowboy’s voice floated through that haze. “I was named after my father. What’s Snakebite’s real name.”
“It’s just Snakebite. And I don’t know who’s the father. I’ve never had relations with any man, willingly.”
“I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to assume.” He stumbled on his words like a true gentleman.
“I was a virgin when they locked me away. I’d only just had my first kiss,” I said, defensive.
“You were locked away?”
“In a basement. Haven’t I told you?
“No.”
“And Snakebite wasn’t rescuing me as much as he’d be taking me to another prison. You rescued me,” I assured him. “Thank you. I don’t know if I’ve said it.”
“You have.”
It was funny what I couldn’t remember. But it was good I didn’t remember all the bad things.
Days passed as we played house. He’d cook, and I’d make milk for the baby. We’d both marvel at the little fella that could already hold up his head and smile. I watched videos about swaddling and diaper rash on Cowboy’s phone. We watched too much T.V., and I found out I had made it to the future, because a black man was finally President of the United States. Cowboy couldn’t reach Scar on his fancy phone but said we had another week paid for at this cabin. That we’d stay put. He said we deserved a staycation, whatever that was.
Cowboy, being a true prince charming slept on the floor at night. When it was time to sleep, of course. Right now, he sat on the right side of the big bed watching a show about outlaw bikers, while I nursed the baby on the left. Only wearing jeans and his cowboy hat, his bulging muscles and mess of tats were on display. Unlike the men of the SOS, the Sons of Satan, Cowboy didn’t have a singlepiercing. His ink wasn’t nearly as menacing, either. A bunch of naked women and lassos, even flowers donned one arm and half his chest. I saw a fancy cow skull and a fire breathing dragon with a saddle on the other side. He had a bunch of others, too, all over him. All real nice, professional, unlike some of the bad ones I’ve seen. The Asphalt Gods’ MC, they got their whole three-piece patch tatted on their back, too. Hella sexy. I’d never seen a hotter man, even on the T.V.
“Did I thank you for rescuing me? I’ve always wanted a cowboy to come and take me away.”
“You have, much obliged, little lady.” He smiled and winked. Cute dents formed in his face.
I blushed. “It’s funny what I can’t remember.”
