“Good night, wife,” he said.
“Good night, husband,” she said, giggling back. The last time she’d laughed had been the night she’d spent with him.
She closed her eyes. She was safe, for now.
Chapter Five
Loni giggled at Halligan’s antics. They’d slept in and then eaten breakfast. The family meeting to discuss options was set for lunch, but Halligan had asked her if she’d like to see part of his job.
She’d jumped at the chance. Her only experience with what someone who worked in oil and gas actually did was from shows on TV. She welcomed the distraction. She needed to forget about her problems for just a little while.
“Wear jeans, boots, a T-shirt, and a jacket. Let me know if you need any of that,” Halligan called as she walked toward the bedroom.
She’d brought all those but hoped they wouldn’t make her stand out. Gigi had taught her the value of blending in whenmeeting new people and standing out when she needed to make a point.
She dressed quickly, stopping by the bathroom. Did oil and gas wells have bathrooms?
She joined Halligan in the family room. He’d grabbed the same type of chambray shirt he’d had on last night with his company’s logo.
He picked up a small pack and held open the door for her. They made their way downstairs. Halligan led her over to a dark blue Chevy Silverado 3500HD. He opened the door and helped her in. She wondered if his hands purposely lingered longer on her rear or if he was just helping.
In no time, he had them on the road leading out of town. He motioned to the radio, and she selected some upbeat music to help her forget her troubles. She kept an eye out for any danger until Halligan patted her hand.
“The word’s been put out, and besides some truckers moving through, no one has seen anyone suspicious. Now, we won’t completely let down our guard, but Schaefer also has some searches running. We’re visiting one of the wells that I need to check on. One of my employees said he recommends some work on it, but he wanted me to confirm. The backpack has snacks or drinks if you want,” he said.
“We just ate that huge breakfast you fixed. I am stuffed,” she said.
He chuckled. “Well, prepare to eat well. I’m positive Crewe will have something planned when we meet over lunch.”
Loni enjoyed getting to know Halligan better. Once they got to the job site, she listened as he discussed with his employee what the next steps for the well were. She thought that was what he called it. She might have to do a little more research because she didn’t want to seem like she wasn’t listening. The smell was something she’d need to get used to—an earthy scent which sheassumed came from the well and the pungent odor of the cattle that were on the other side of a fence. She definitely wasn’t in Las Vegas anymore. Neither the smell from the well nor the cattle bothered her because she worked with cars. There was dirt, motor oil, and the smell when metal was heated or filed that she’d become used to.
By the demeanor of the employees at the well, she could tell they appreciated Halligan as a boss. They joked with him, even going so far as to tease him about being late because of a lady. He’d introduced her as his wife, Loni, and that she had a no-good brother that Halligan needed to keep her safe from. All the men had volunteered to do anything he needed—no questions asked. Their loyalty and love for Halligan were evident in their different offers, even to watch the apartment entrances while Halligan and she slept. Her guard had been loyal to her and her Gigi, but there were a large number of people in her life that she wouldn’t trust to guard the door for her while she slept. It seemed she’d made a fantastic decision when she came to Dodge City.
They finished quickly and headed back to the bar for the family meeting. Loni equally dreaded and looked forward to the meeting. She had this insane urge for Halligan’s family to love her, and she was worried they might want to stay as far away from her as possible due to the danger.
Instead of parking at the apartment, Halligan pulled into the bar lot but didn’t open the doors. He stared at the building, slid his sunglasses off, and rubbed the bridge of his nose, sighing. What was weighing on his mind?
“Please don’t take offense at what they might say. Their hearts are in the right place, but some of my cousins are a tad blunt,” he said, sighing again.
She reached for his hand, clasping it between hers. She adored that he was worried about what she’d think about his family.
“I appreciate you saying that. I’ve brought danger to their door, and they are entitled to express any emotion they have. I won’t take offense,” she said.
He nodded, getting out of the truck and coming around to her side. She started to open her door, and he shook his finger at her. She paused, waiting to see what that was about.
“If we’re together, I open the door for you. Right now, when there is danger, whoever you are with will come around and open the door after they’ve scanned the area, just like your bodyguard would. Okay? Are we clear?” Halligan asked.
She hadn’t heard that tone from him before. This one was powerful, direct, and made her wonder if the man she’d met in Vegas was the real Halligan.
“Yes, sir,” she smarted off. His answering smirk with the small tilt of his mouth had her wondering what he was thinking. She’d let him keep her safe, but if he thought she was the quiet, little woman who did everything her husband said, then he was going to be sadly mistaken. Nope, that was not her at all.
“Let’s go in,” he said, taking her hand and moving her so he was between the street and her. His head was on a swivel as they walked to the front door. She appreciated his diligence but didn’t think that her brother could have made it here that quickly.
Halligan watched Loni laughing at something Elijah or Morgan had said. To say his nephews had a crush on his wife would be an understatement. Loni was taking it in stride and answering all their questions concerning car design and building cars.
Call him a sap but seeing the joy on her face while discussing cars had him wishing that they didn’t have to discuss the situation. No amount of Crewe’s grilled cheese sandwiches, homemade potato chips, and tomato soup would make this conversation easier.
The serious look on Schaefer’s face wasn’t helping matters. Halligan thought through where he might need to take Loni if the family didn’t want them staying. The Saint’s Outlaws MC in Kansas City would provide sanctuary but it was a temporary fix. Bluff Creek Brotherhood MC’s main compound was only an hour and a half away and could be an option but there were so many kids there that Halligan worried about what might happen.
