Cowboy didn’t find out about my late-night trip until we finished our continental breakfast. “How could you put yourself in danger like that? What if…?” He was fit to be tied, but he kept his voice steady and calm because of the baby. He didn’t know how much I appreciated that.
“I couldn’t help it. It was an instinct or something. I was like an animal. A mama bear. I couldn’t sleep. I just couldn’t ride in this car any longer putting my baby in danger.”
“Halley, if the Sons had gotten to you, it’d leave your baby all alone.”
“No, it wouldn’t have. He had you.”
I think he finally understood. “Next time just tell me. I could’ve gone with you. We all could’ve gone before we got to the hotel.”
“You want to keep me safe?”
“Yeah,” he said. “Of course, I do.”
Cowboy’s hand landed on my bare knee, and I scooted over to sit real close to him and sort of laid my head on his shoulder.
“Have I thanked you? I’ve always wanted a Cowboy to come, take me away.”
He still hadn’t even tried to kiss me. Figuring he was waiting for my brother’s permission or something, I was being patient for now. When we pulled onto the lot in Tucson, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Cowboy
Arriving in Tucson, looked like we were just in time for a big party. There were a zillion tables set up, barbeque, balloons and inflatables for the kids. As I watched the little heathens, running around in their “property of” shirts, I thought of Halley’s unnamed, fatherless infant. I’d grown so attached to him. What would be on his shirt?
““Is this for me? Did Scar do this?” Halley wondered out loud.
“Who knows, but everyone is here…” I answered before I remembered. “No. No one knows about me finding you remember.” I didn’t want to tell her. I never got a hold of Scar. Him being Nomad so long, he never kept a cell phone, and I wouldn’t dare trust anyone else to relay a message after watching the General double cross him. Halley’s brother likely thought she was still missing. Maybe even dead. I could only imagine him showing up at the Devil’s Den to pay her ransom and her being gone.
“It’s a secret until we get to Scar, okay?”
Halley nodded.
Wanda wheeled the General by us. I was surprised to see him in a wheelchair at all. Our President looked so frail and thin, wearing a red skull bandana. “That your piece of tail, Cowboy?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Better get some ink on her or I’ll take her to the stables.”
I laughed that off.
“I see Scar, but where’s his woman?”
“Haven’t you heard, she done run off?”
Wanda warned me, “No club business.”
The General addressed Halley. “Honey, doctors say I have the big C.”
“What’s that?” Halley asked.
Oh, fuck. He was going for his zipper.
Wanda noticed, too. She whisked the old man away before he pulled out his dick.
Halley was confused.
“He has cancer,” I told her, just finding out myself.
“Oh, that’s sad.” She perked up, asking, “I’m yours?”
