I cried harder.
The other members arrived and sprang into action. Scar sent half the crew with Cowboy to go look for my baby. Although I’d wanted to ride, I was in no state. Scar took the rest to find Emery.
They’d call me. Cowboy promised to let me know something soon.
“I’ll get him back.”
He left, and I was all alone.
I felt like I was back down in the rabbit hole, helpless.
The next morning Scar brought Emery back. He’d found her. There was no word on my baby, yet. My nightmare continued. Soon my brother and another crew headed out to join Cowboy in the search. Emery spent the next few days consoling me, making me eat. At some point she’d gone and cut her hair off, too. We hadn’t heard any news from anyone, even though Cowboy had promised not to go a day without at least talking to me. Emery and I bonded over the fact we were both angry about being left in the dark. And we’re both miserably missing someone. Her, Scar and me, the baby and Cowboy.
Adding insult to injury, after four days of nothing from him, the woman who used to have this house and Cowboy, walked in to give me some news.
Anarchy and Harlot had come back. They’d ridden with a team who’d run into a dead end. I learned they’dbeen chasing down Jessy Bell and Teeth with Cowboy. Scar and his crew had ridden on to California to confront the SOS who they felt were behind this. After Cowboy’s crew lost the trail, he went to join Scar and the others. Anarchy was ordered home.
“I would have stayed out looking for your baby, but I can’t ride. I’m late.”
My face contorted, trying to catch her meaning.
“I just found out I’ll have a baby of my own soon.” She just came right out with it. “I’m pregnant, and I’m sure Cowboy is the father. We’d... had relations right before he left to find you.”
I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. “Why are you telling me this?”
“I’m not my sister. Freedom’s been a real bitch. I don’t plan on ruining whatever you two have. If Cowboy wants me and his baby, he can have us, but I don’t plan on telling him about the pregnancy until he’s back.”
I sat speechless—shocked. She’d delivered such a blow. No amount of concessions could save me.
Then she really stunned me. “Piss and grits, I don’t even know if I’m keeping it. So, don’t go telling anyone my business.”
After she stormed out, Emery had a lot more consoling to do. I wouldn’t tell her why.
In a few more long days and sleepless nights, Scar was back. Too bad Cowboy and my baby weren’t with him. My brother had been shot, twice, but he didn’t want to talk about him. He wanted to talk about how he still hadn’t found the baby.
“Jessy Bell and Teeth were working alone,” he told me.
“How can you be certain?”
“Snakebite was fit to be tied, hearing someone made off with what he views as his son. After we all about killed each other, we made an alliance.”
“You can’t trust him,” I said. I should know, but more than that, I could feel it.
“Snakebite swears he knows where to find the kidnappers.” Scar raked his hands through his hair, a clear sign he was worried.
“I’m sure he does. You can’t work with him.”
“Halley, we didn’t have much choice. We’d combed most of Julian and couldn’t find the child.”
“You can’t trust him.” I strained the words as if it’d get through to him.
“Do you think he’d harm the baby?”
I thought hard about it. “No, but I don’t trust him all the same.” Trusting him before had done me no good.
“Like I trust a devil? Snakebite seems convinced of his claim on the boy. He’s not going to harm his own.”
“Look what they did to me.”
