“I’ll get you to a hospital.”
“No, it’s too far. Not safe.” She handed me some car keys and told me where to find Snakebite’s car. “You’ll need to get somewhere closer, safer—fast.” His car sat parked a road over, but closer than Hannibal’s bike which we’d leave behind. I put Halley in the passenger side ascarefully as I could and buckled her seatbelt not knowing where I’d take her.
I started driving as her wails continued. “Are you sure we can’t make it somewhere, an urgent treatment center nearby or something?”
She barked out, “They’ll find me. Besides, I think the one in Julian closes at eight.”
She had a point. And from the looks of it, she’d be having her baby sooner rather than later. I knew the signs. Halley had gone from just screaming to heaving and grimacing before the next cry came. Unbeknownst to her, and lucky for us both, I had some experience with home births. And only about five miles down the road, I spotted vacancies for motels, hotels and then for cabins. A cabin would be a much more private place to take a screaming woman than a hotel, I thought. My mind was set. I’d have to deliver Halley’s child myself and then worry about getting them to a hospital later.
I slowed in front of a building, advertising vacation rentals and parked out of view. I took off my jacket that most likely was dotted with blood and my cowboy hat. I ran my fingers through my hair, combing it back. Stepping out, I tucked in my shirt to look more respectable. Takinga breath, I tried to calm my nerves and went in to rent the closest secluded cabin they had.
The old man behind the counter told me they only had one available, but it was a twenty-minute drive up the mountain. I assumed he meant driving the speed limit so reckoned I could make it in half that time. It could work. But then the man burst my bubble, saying I had to rent a week at minimum.
I hesitated, calculating the cost up in my head. There goes the start of my Harley fund.
“If you’re looking for one night, there’s a motel across the street.”
“I’ll take two weeks,” I said for good measure. Maybe I could save up for a used Harley.
The old man was full of questions as he ran my card in the older machine. “Just you?”
“No.” I drummed my fingers on the counter before I caught myself. I stuffed my filthy hands in my pockets.
“How many?”
“Just two.” His old machine was slower than shit. I knew I had more money than I needed on that card. “How long is this going to take?”
He stiffened, seemed nervous all the sudden. “In a hurry?”
“Nah,” I said and quit tapping my foot. Damn, I couldn’t hide the fact I was trying to remember how to deliver a baby. On top of realizing, not only the baby’s, but Halley’s life was in my hands. If I lost her to the Sons of Satan, Scar would skin me alive. If she died on my watch, that’d be the end of me. Stuck in enemy territory, there were eyes and ears everywhere. We needed to lie low. Be careful until we could make the drive to Arizona. Plus, with all the double crossing going on in Tucson, Hannibal kidnapping Emery and all, I knew I couldn’t let anyone in my own club but Scar know about finding Halley.
For now, I was on my own.
“I’ll need to see some I.D.”
I fumbled through some and handed him the one that matched that card.
As he examined my fake license too closely for my liking, I asked, “Anyone close by… to the cabin?”
“Not for about five miles. Why do you ask?”
I thought for a minute. I was parked out of the way now, but when I drove by, he’d not only get a glimpse of the make and model of Snakebite’s car, he was bound to see a woman with me. “My new bride is out waiting in the car,” I bragged, flashing an easy smile.
The old man relaxed after that. “Oh, I see. Would you like to upgrade to the honeymoon package?”
“What’s that?”
“Sort of like room service. We deliver your fresh linens and groceries for your stay… but there’s no maid service.” He winked. “So, you’re not disturbed. You don’t have to leave the cabin.”
Ah, I got his meaning. Although I knew the quickest way to double your money was to fold it over and put it away, the package sounded like it’d come in handy. “Sure.”
He ran my card again. I’d be asking Bones for a loan.
“Almost finished. Just need your license plate number, Mr. Smith,” he said, handing me back both my cards.
Since he was only jotting it down on paper, and I didn’t see a computer around, I made up three numbers and letters, quickly. After that, thank god, he handed me some keys. I was more than ready to go as I imagined Halley could’ve had the baby in the car already.
“Fresh linens and some non-perishables should already be waiting for you. Oh, and congratulations, Mr. Smith to you and your bride.”
