Page 4 of October's Ride with Atlas

Actually, I like it now that Dad is taking a more active role in the club because we are around people more. It was getting kind of boring in the small cabin with just the two of us. Though I was glad to get to know my dad again and hear his stories, good and bad, from his military and jail time.

Once most everyone is done eating, I clean up the kitchen and put away the leftovers, making a few extra plates ready to warm up for those guys who haven’t been back yet.

“So, I'll tell Atlas no to his meeting?” Sheriff Cade says, as he gets ready to leave after dinner.

“Yeah, I'm definitely not meeting him on his terms. That is the quickest way to walk into an ambush,” my dad says and shows the sheriff out the door.

With nothing else to do, I head to my room and get ready for bed.I know to stay out of the way, especially at the end of the day when everyone starts to report to my dad.

Because this cabin is so far out in the middle of nowhere and there are no sounds except for nature, I have a hard time falling asleep. It's taken me a bit to identify each sound, but I let the sounds wash over me as my body relaxes into sleep.

When I hear a branch crack, I’m jarred into wakefulness. It is not a typical noise out here. Maybe it's just an animal walking around the tree line. Yeah, that has to be it. There are deer, wolves, and bears in these woods that could have made that rumbling. But are they coming out to feed now?

At least, that’s what I convince myself of as sleep takes over.

Until I'm jolted awake by some whispering and a thump. There is not enough light in my room to see what is going on, so I reach for the lamp on my nightstand.

“I don't think so, Princess,” a deep voice says before gently grabbing my hand and pulling it from the lamp.

When I open my mouth to scream, a cloth is placed over my mouth and nose with a firm hand over it. Even though I try to fight it, my muscles go limp and then everything goes black.

CHAPTER 3

ATLAS

Pacing my room,I look at Bex’s limp body on my bed. She should be waking up any time, and I'm itching to see those eyes on me. I knew she wouldn’t go willingly with someone she didn't know, much less someone her dad sees as his enemy. So, the chloroform was necessary even if I hated every second of it.

We got her back to the clubhouse without any issues, and I took her straight up to my bed. The satisfaction of seeing her in my bed is one I have been soaking in as I wait for her to wake up.

When she stirs, I sit on the edge of the bed opposite her but closest to the door and wait for her to wake up. I know it's going to be jarring as her memory comes back, and she finds herself in a new place with someone she doesn't know. I’m hoping to make this transition easy, while assuring her she is safe.

She groans, and her hands cover her face. I can tell the exact moment she remembers what happened because she sits straight up in bed and looks over at me, her gorgeous amber eyes are wide and full of fear. That look guts me because fear is the last thing I want to see in her eyes when she looks at me.

“Where am I? Who are you? What do you want?” She rapidly fires questions at me.

I plan to answer every one of them, but I need to take care of her first.

“You are safe, and I’ll answer any questions, but first, drink that glass of water next to you and eat that huckleberry muffin. It's from Ruby's Mercantile in town and they’re delicious. It will help so you don't feel sick as you come out of everything,” I tell her.

“What did you use on me?” she asks as she picks up the glass of water but eyes it suspiciously.

“Just chloroform. Please drink up,” I say gently.

“How do I know you didn't poison my drink?” She glares at me.

I smile, stand, and move around to her side of the bed before taking the glass from her, taking a sip myself, and then handing it back to her.

“Will you drink it now?” I ask. She nods and takes some small sips.

“Will you answer my questions now?” She asks with quite a bit of sass, considering she doesn’t know me.

“I will answer them as long as you are eating.” I nod toward the muffin on the nightstand.

She picks it up and unwraps it, taking the first bite.

“You are still in Mustang Mountain. My name is Atlas,” I say. Her eyes go wide, and she attempts to move off the bed, but her legs aren't quite stable yet.

“I'm not going to hurt you, but please don't get up yet. You're still recovering. You are at the Mustang Mountain Riders’ clubhouse. I thought we had rescued all the women from the Savage Bones, so I'm sorry we didn't get to you sooner,” I tell her.

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