“Thanks for today,” she said.“Mal’s been leaning on Jag alot lately.His dad couldn’t come home, communication is spotty, and it seemsto give him something, having a dude to hang with.So I think it meant a lot toMal, you guys showing.Also to his mom,” she told him.
“Yeah,” he grunted.
“And again, sorry about the other night.”
He’d jerked up his chin when he’d settled, and then had beenwatching Saddle behind the bar go and get a beer for him (Saddle was a manJagger called a “prospect,” or someone who was putting the work in to become amember of the Club).
But Hound looked to her when she said that.
“Don’t know why you’reapologizin’.It’s understandable.”
She nodded.“I’m glad you sat down.Wanted a moment to saythanks.”
“You already did.”
“Not for that.”
“For what?”
“For Jagger.”
He shook his head, dipped his chin sharply to Saddle whenthe beer was set in front of him, and looked back at Archie.
“Not my doing,” he said.
“Oh yes it is.”
Hound stared at her hard.
Then his voice dropped low when he asked, “He okay?”
Hers went low too when she answered, “He’s working throughthings, but yes.”
“Don’twannaput you on the spot.You don’t have to say dick.But you probably could guess this anyway.His mommais worried,” he muttered.
On first appearances, Hound seemed pretty rough, weathered,definitely had some life under his belt.
But there were things no one could hide.
So she knew, Jag’s dad was feeling the same.
“He might reach out to her,” she told him.
“You don’t have to say anything.”
“I do if it makes you feel better.He wants to watch thatChaos movie with me.I think he needs to share Club history with me.His dad.You.I think he’ll feel a lot better when I know.But it’s hard for him toexpress.”
“I get that,” he muttered, and turned to his beer.
She took that as what it was, he was letting her off thehook with that at the same time he got what he needed to feel better about it.
And she was grateful for it.
Moving on.
“My mother would lose her mind, the thought of her daughtersitting in a biker club hangout, drinking a beer, surrounded by bikers,” Archieremarked.
Hound returned his attention to her and his tone was warywhen he asked, “Yeah?”
