Page 13 of His Old Lady

Chapter 4

Curley

Rocky jetted away fromTracy. Curley snagged the two-year-old boy and picked him up, amongst squeals and kicks.

Flipping the kid upside down, Curley held Rocky by the ankles in the air and blew raspberries on his round tummy.

Giggles erupted. He chuckled, righting the kid and holding him in the crook of his arm.

"You're going to get your butt beat if your mom or dad catches you running off." He walked toward the group in front of the door at the same time Tracy's head swiveled, and stark fear flittered over her face before she caught sight of him holding her son.

Tracy lugged the baby, Elizabeth, on her hip and reached with one hand for Rocky. He handed her son to her.

"Thanks, Curley." Tracy shook her head. "I think that's our sign to go home. This guy needs a nap."

"Hand him off to someone. We're not taking off for another hour." Curley took a pack of smokes out of his vest pocket. "Where's your old man?"

"Inside with Paco." She hitched Rocky up higher on her hip without waking the baby cradled on her other side.

Curley glanced down, wondering what she was going to do if she got knocked up again. "You're running out of arms."

She laughed. "I told Rick that. He wants to try for another boy, and I keep telling him I need to have at least one of the kids out of diapers before we even think about that."

"Your dad would be proud to see you now." He lit the cigarette. "You're doing a good job raising your family within the club, honey."

Tracy's eyes softened, and she mouthed, "Thank you."

"Do you need help getting them in the truck?"

No, I've got it down to science now." She walked toward the pickup. "Have a safe ride, Curley."

"Will do." He raised his hand. "Stay out of trouble while we're gone."

"I can't promise that." She laughed. "Faye's coming to spend the night tomorrow. We probably won't sleep with all the catching up we're going to be doing."

He lowered his arm to his side. The cigarette slipped from between his fingers to the ground. He stomped his boot against the asphalt, extinguishing the coal.

"Why is she hanging out with you?" he asked.

"Why not?" Tracy's head disappeared inside the cab of the truck. "We used to be friends when we were young, remember?"

He gritted his teeth. He remembered too much.

Like Tracy, Faye had been one of the kids belonging to Tarkio. Innocent and childlike, until life had changed her.

"Frank and Aaron will be around with the younger members if you or Faye need anything this week," he said.

"We'll be fine." She popped back out of the truck. "I don't plan on being alone. Even Chrischris is coming over on Wednesday. I promised to sew a patch on his vest if he hung around in the yard and played with Rocky."

Acid burned his throat. He wanted Faye away from Missoula. He knew enough people in Superior that he felt better about her staying at the house.

He couldn't keep track of her here when he was going to be gone.

The baby cried, protesting the car seat. She grinned and motioned her chin toward the vehicle. "That's my signal to go. See you later."

He nodded. Not wasting time, he went over to the group of bikers and pulled Hammer away.

"What's up?" Hammer gave Curley all of his attention.

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