Page 5 of Creed

I was up before everyone else, so the making of said coffee was up to me. I wasn’t exactly good at it. It came out strong, borderline sludge, but it was hot and had plenty of caffeine. Itwas just what I needed. I made a couple of eggs and toast, and I’d just sat down to eat when the back door creaked open.

I glanced up and was surprised to see that it was Preacher. It was almost six-thirty, and he looked like he’d just rolled out of bed. I smirked as I teased, “Damn, old man. It’s almost seven, and you’re just now showing up?”

“Don’t start with me, brother.”

“What? I’m just trying to make sure you aren’t planning an early retirement or something.”

“You know better than that.”

He headed straight for the coffee pot. He poured himself a cup and took a long sip before walking over and sitting down next to me. There was no denying it. The man looked as tired as I felt. “You finally settled in over at Tabitha’s?”

“Yeah, we’re getting there,” he said, rubbing his jaw.

“Something going on?”

“Just worried about her. She’s been busting her ass with those horses, and I know she loves ‘em and all that. But it’s a lot to take on by herself.”

“What about Harlan and her boys?”

“The boys don’t have time to help her out. And Harlan’s good, but she needs two more just like him.”

“The brothers are spread pretty thin right now.”

“I know. I’m thinking we need to hire someone, and not just some kid looking to earn gas money.”

“I hear ya.” I nodded, thinking it over. “What about Misty?”

That got his attention. His eyes narrowed slightly, and I could tell I’d piqued his interest. “She’s always the first to step up when something needs done. Doesn’t drink too much and only fucks with the guys when they want her to. Hell, she’s always the one wrangling the girls when they get too wild. Keeps her head down and does the work. She could be good.”

“You think she’d be interested?”

“Don’t see why not. She’s been trying to pick up extra hours at the Vault anyway, and she’s always had a soft spot for animals.”

“Alright, I’ll mention it to Tabitha and see what she thinks.”

I gave him a small nod and went back to sipping my coffee. Preacher leaned back in his chair and stretched until his spine gave a crack loud enough to echo. He grimaced and muttered something under his breath about getting old, but he seemed anything but old to me.

It was still early, and he was still shaking off the cobwebs. But that didn’t stop me from saying, “So, we had a situation at the Vault last night.”

“You handle it?”

“I’m working on it.”

“Something I should be concerned about?”

“Possibly.”

I took a moment to fill him in on what went down, and as soon as I was done, he ran his hand over his face and grumbled, “Motherfuckers.”

“I had the same thought.”

“You think this was a one-time thing, or is there more to it?”

“No idea. Hoping Grim will be able to fill us in on that.”

I could see the wheels turning in his head as Preacher leaned back and let out a breath. He was pissed, and rightly so. It took nerve for these guys to pull this stunt on our property. I had no doubt it had him wondering if we were slipping. I’d had the same thought myself, but we weren’t new to this game. We both knew what needed to be done.

Preacher and I had been riding together for over twenty years. And while he had some years on me, we’d been friends before we were brothers. I was there the night he got patched in. The same way he was there when I did. We’d built this club side by side, brick by brick, and fight by fight.