Amy smiled and shook her head. “Two peas…”
“Oh, how nice,” Riley exclaimed as she saw the walk-in refrigerator attached to the barn. “I’ve dreamed of owning one of these.”
“It’s very nice. I have everything listed in alphabetical order,” she explained to her as they went through the products. Riley barely heard her as she listened to the cars stopping by the roadside for the fresh produce and goat items.
She heard the rumble of motorcycles and went outside to check on the girls. An older couple got off and waved to another group to pull over. It seemed they decided to take a motorcycle ride with friends and stopped by the humble little stand. Returning to the barn, she entered the goat pen with Amy.
“Next year, I want to get the milking machines,” Amy told her. “It’ll save me time.”
“It does,” Riley agreed “Have you given any thought about raising chickens? You have the space,” she suggested, gazing over the ample yard. “People love farm fresh eggs.”
Another rumble of a couple of motorcycles, most likely from the touring group, stopped at the stand.
“I thought about it. Everyone around here owns a farm or ranch and has their own chickens. I don’t know if eggs will sell here,” Amy said, contemplating the idea.
“Then start out with a couple, enough to feed your family and place some out at the stand. Then you can gauge their interest,” Riley advised. “Plus, it makes good fertilizer for the garden.”
A blood-curdling scream from the farm stand sent Riley running. Her heart raced as she watched two bikers place a fighting Tara on the back of a bike with her hands tied. Amy picked up Kara from the ground, holding a cloth to a head wound. Riley jumped into Rachel’s truck, flooring the gaspedal and sending rocks flying from the driveway as she spun out onto the road.
While they weaved in and out of traffic, she passed cars in no passing zones to keep up with the bikers. Recognizing they headed toward their club, Riley gassed it, trying to get ahead of them. It’d be easier to take out two bikers instead of twenty. She needed to stop them before they reached the gate.
Giving the steering wheel a hard jerk to the right, she watched as the first biker swerved to avoid hitting her and went off the road. The other biker, holding Tara, sped up and went around her. She yanked the steering wheel and followed, terrified if she tried the stunt again, it might kill her sister.
“Shit, shit, shit,” She muttered as they turned into the club entrance. Instead of making her stop, they waved her through as if expecting her. Riley jumped down and pulled Tara from her kidnapper’s grasp.
Tara screamed behind the handkerchief tied around her mouth as more bikers appeared from all sides, boxing them in with the truck. She kicked them away, avoiding their attempts to tear her away from her sister. Even if Riley made it to the vehicle, they wouldn’t succeed in getting out by themselves.
Kenny sauntered out, smoking a cigarette, and a slow grin spread across his face. “Hello, girls. It’s good to have you back.”
“Let us go,” Riley demanded. “I’ve already paid you the money, and we have nothing to do with Garrett Johnson.”
“Oh, but you do,” Kenny insisted. “He gets mighty upset when we talk about you. It appears you might be worth something after all.” He turned toward Stitch. “Take them into the clubhouse and get their old man.”
Riley glanced at Tara, whose eyes widened at the mention of her father. Shaking her head, Riley tried to convey to her sister she’d handle their dad.
Shoving them inside the clubhouse, they made them sit in chairs. Riley untied the gag from her sister’s mouth. “It’s all right. Amy will alert Matthew and Julio,” she whispered. “They’ll come for us like the last time.”
But it wasn’t like the last time. Garrett rescued her. After the way she dismissed him, she doubted he’d risk himself again to save her. Her feelings seemed trivial now as she stared at the gang of bikers. She yearned for the protective safety of his arms as she scanned the area, searching for a way out of the clubhouse.
Her dad entered, smelling of alcohol. Nothing new there, but she wondered about his sanity. He made a deal with a biker gang to gain his daughters, and what did he have to offer them?
“Hello, Riley. You resemble your mom more every time I see you,” he slurred.
“Dad, whatever deal you made with them, take it back,” she growled. “They broke my arm,” she appealed to his fatherly side.
His eyes narrowed as he glanced at Tara, then back to Riley. “I tried to convince you to return home. You refused to listen,” he shouted at her. “You took her side. She killed my wife, your mother, and it’s time she paid the price.”
Riley shook her head firmly, having gone down this road before with him. “You know accidents happen all the time on a ranch. Do you think she meant to fall into a grain bin full of corn? You’re not thinking straight. Tell them the deal’s off, and we’ll get you some help. Mom doesn’t want you to hurt our family anymore,” she implored.
“She’s dead, Riley,” he screeched and pointed at Tara. “All because she didn’t do as she was told.”
“I…I didn’t mean it. It happened so?—”
Her father slapped Tara, sending her head reeling. Riley jumped up and covered her sister’s body, refusing for him to inflict more pain.
“Don’t listen to him, Tara,” she insisted as two bikers peeled her off her sister and shoved her back into her seat.
Kenny chuckled as he watched the scene. “You, my beautiful flower, will learn to remain seated. Since you don’t know the rules of the club, let me give you a rundown. Everything I say goes. When I snap my fingers, you’ll come running. If I order a beer, you’ll get it and bring it to me on your knees.”
