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“You’ll see.” He grins, walking back out. I get out front to see that the guys are making a spot at their table for a man in a wheelchair, and Bexley is getting him some coffee. Recognizing him right away, I grin, then grab a plate of cookies.

“Mr. Bumgardner, how’re you?” I ask as I set the cookies down.

“Saige, girl. You are a sight for sore eyes, dear. You look a lot better.” He takes my hand, patting it. I lean down to give him a hug the best that I can and kiss his cheek.

“You look good. I’m so happy that you are out of the hospital.” I turn as the door chimes, to see Dad walkingin with Alma, Mr. Bumgardner’s sitter. I give her a light hug thanking her for bringing him by. “Come sit, we’ll get you some coffee or tea. And try the cookies. I made them just like he told me.” Alma laughs as she sits down.

Earl looks at me, and after he swallows the bit of cookie in his mouth says, “Saige, these cookies are amazing, girl. Peanut butter with chocolate chips. Mmmmm. Now which one of these yahoos is the one that won’t man up and understand what a catch you are?” Loki chokes on his coffee, Tires busts out laughing, and Cotton looks like he’s going to combust.

“Oh, Earl. You hush. You know my brother and cousin. You met them at the hospital.” My face has to be beet red, lordy kill me now.

“Ah yes, I do seem to remember those two there.” Dad got Earl onto a different subject and I swear it was like the rest of us have disappeared. It was good to see him though. Earl was in the hospital room beside mine, and he has dementia. He never had visitors other than Alma, his sitter, so I’d go over and see him. Most days his memory was good, but then the others it wasn’t.

Alma looks at her watch saying, “Earl, we’re going to have to go if we’re to make your appointment on time.”

He nods, turning to me. “I’ll come back again, Saigegirl. I’m so happy that you’re home and doing okay. Now remember, you come out to the house and see me anytime. You can sit on the porch swing I have, and we’ll just visit.”

“Thank you, Earl. You take care. Here, you take this box of cookies to tide you over until I see you again, okay?” I kiss his cheek and give Alma a small hug. “Be safe.”

She holds me to her, saying in my ear, “We will. Thank you for all that you do for him. He just loves you. He has claimed you as family.”

I smile as they leave. Once they are in the car and gone, I turn to go back into the kitchen when Cotton goes off. “Where did you meet that crazy old man? Are you sure you can trust him?” I see red, I’m so mad.

“That ‘crazy old man’ as you put it, was in the hospital room beside mine. He is a Korean and Vietnam War veteran, a retired LEO, and has no family left. He also has dementia, so for him to come in here today and remember me, is a huge thing! He’s the sweetest old man. I enjoy his company and hearing his stories. You don’t like it, you can leave.” I stomp off into the kitchen and set to work on some bread dough. I need to get some frustration out, beating the dough sounds like a good idea since I can’t beat on Cotton.

“He’s gone,” Loki says still grinning from earlier.

“Who’s gone?” I ask even though I know.

“Cotton. He took off not too long after you ripped him a new asshole.”

“Loki, who all is out front?”

He looks at me, “Umm, Tires, your dad, my dad, Grange, Wolfe. Why?”

“Do me a favor. You’ve hardly spent any time with Sloane in almost a month. Since all this went down. Get her, go somewhere. Out to eat, to the park, y’all’s special place, I don’t care where, just go. And don’t come bother me until tomorrow sometime. I can get Cooper to stay with me tonight if I need to.”

“You don’t want me around?”

“Lok, it isn’t that. It’s just that Sloane needs her boyfriend. She feels like you don’t care for her anymore. It’s really taking a toll on her. She feels like you blame her or something. I want you two to be happy. Please?”

“Yeah, I get it. Okay. I love you, BFF.”

“I love you too, BFF. Now go get your girl and get out of here!” He kisses my cheek; grabs Sloane and they head out. I look over to see Bexley grinning. “What?”

“You are such a hopeless romantic.” She giggles.

I smile, “Yeah. Now I need to get you set up with someone. Perhaps that good looking brother of mine?” I ask as I wiggle my eyebrows at her. Laughing she shakes her head no, going back out front.

Twenty

Cotton

I leavethe bakery in a hurry. At first, I was mad at Saige, then at myself. I acted like a complete ass. How was I supposed to know who that man was? The whole time she was in the hospital, I had to do all the business side of things for the club. I only got to go see her once, but she was asleep at the time. Shaking my head, I get on my bike, taking off. I head towards the garage but end up turning out of town and just riding. I stop at a couple little stores that I see on the way back towards the clubhouse. I need to apologize to Saige, but I’m just not good with words. I notice that they aren’t back from the bakery when I pull in and park my bike. That gives me time to put things up. I walk in to see Tech sitting at the table, his hands in his hair pulling, looking at a computer. “Hey man, what’s up?” I ask.

“Cotton, this isn’t good, man. The man that bought Saige and Bexley has put out a bounty on them. He wants them. He isn’t going to stop until he has them. He has a couple of bounty hunters looking for them and Rancor. I still can’t figure out his IP address and it’s driving me crazy!”

“Hey man, calm down a little. Go get you a beer, we’ll talk to Stone when he gets here, yeah?”