Sunday afternoon, Rachel was standing beside Jules in the shell of the new clubhouse with a grin so big her face hurt. Everyone was in a festive mood. Todd and Gigolo had gone missing. Nina had gone to the cops, and even though there were a lot of questions, the four men that had given chase had sworn they had been unable to catch them.

 

While Todd and Gigolo were dealt with, the rest of Todd’s men were quietly stripped of their colors and sent on their way with the warning that if any member saw their face, or the face of their old ladies, anywhere in Forsaken 99 territory, they too would go missing. They had until midnight Monday to get their affairs in order and get out. Forsaken 99 had put a detail on each of the seven men to make sure they understood their guarantee of safe passage was a limited time offer.

 

“Considering that all the current officers are either missing or busy, as the highest ranking former member of the board, I present these colors to you, Julian Franklin Rivera. Wear them with honor,” Marsh concluded after Jules had taken the club oath. “Welcome back to Forsaken 99.”

 

Jules took the colors and slipped them on. They fit perfectly, as they should, since they were the colors he had been wearing for three years when they had been taken from him. “Thank you. It’s damn good to be back. Look, it even fits!”

 

“I think the first order of business is to elect officers. I need a second,” Marsh said.

 

“Second,” Spence called.

 

“For the office of President I nominate, Jules Rivera,” Marsh continued.

 

“Second.” Spence said almost before Marsh had finished.

 

“All in favor?” Marsh asked before the echo of the second had died.

 

“Aye!” the entire room roared.

 

“Motion is carried.” Marsh said formally, then handed Jules the President patch he had hidden in his hand. The entire process was done in less than five seconds.

 

Jules was floored by the outpouring of goodwill and didn’t know what to say.

 

“This is where you say thank you and tell us how you will do your best to serve the club,” Marsh suggested.

 

“I… uh… Thanks. I will do my best to do what is right by the club,” Jules stammered, still in shock at what was happening. “I need a second. I would like to nominate Clay Marshall.”

 

“Second!”

 

“All in favor?” Jules called.

 

Once again the walls shook with confirmation.

 

Spence was nominated for Sergeant at Arms, but declined, so that duty was passed to Eric, and Spence resumed his duties as the club’s treasurer.

 

“One more thing,” Jules said after Spence had been confirmed. “As my first action as President of Forsaken 99, I am dissolving the board. Never again will this club be held hostage to a few men. We are all brothers, and as brothers, we all should have a say in how this club is run. All in favor?” The room was quiet for a moment, the members caught by surprise and unsure of how to respond to the radical change in how the club is structured. “I said, all in favor?” Jules roared.

 

“Aye!” the brothers called back.

 

“Motion is carried. From this moment forward, every member of this club has an equal say in how it is run.”

 

“You realize that the board was put into place as a way to cut down on the petty squabbling?” Marsh said quietly.

 

“Better that than what we just went though.”

 

“I can’t argue with that.”

 

“Hey! Does anyone know what time it is?” Rachel asked as she stepped up in a chair.

 

Everyone looked to her. They knew the drill, but they didn’t know the surprise that she and Jules had worked up last night. Rachel looked back at them in mock disgust. “What are you, deaf? I said, ‘Hey! Does anyone know what time it is?’”

 

“It’s time to—” Jules began.

 

“Party!” the rest said, completing the ritual, but without the enthusiasm they normally showed for the line.

 

“In that case, I declare this bar… open!”

 

She hopped down from the chair and strode over to a table sitting with a black cloth draped over it where the bar would be. She and Jules had wrestled a keg system from her bar last night after she closed and brought it to the clubhouse. It was a lot of hassle, but today was worth it. She reached under the table and pulled out a tap and flipped a cold mug from a cooler onto the table.

 

“Who wants a beer?”

 

There was a moment of stunned silence before the cheers began.

 

***

 

“Do you think we can ever regain the trust of Vallecito de Grande?” Jules ask as he and Rachel shared a beer. They hadn’t brought enough mugs to go around so a few had to share. He didn’t mind. He would share all he had, all he would ever have, with Rachel.

 

“I think so. You have turned out the trouble makers and I will make it clear that Forsaken 99 is once again welcome in my establishment. If I can forgive Forsaken 99, anyone should be able to.”

 

“I hope you’re right.”

 

“I am. Just give the town a little time to see that Forsaken 99 is once again our gallant knights.”

 

Jules smiled. “Thank you, Rachel. Thank you for all you have done for the club. And for me.”

 

Rachel smiled then sat the mug on the floor. She pulls him down for a soft kiss. “I think it’s a pretty good trade. All women want to win the heart of her knight. Speaking of which.”

 

Rachel rose and walked to the table where the keg was set up and pulled her purse out. She smiled at Jules as he watched her dig in her purse. She then sat the purse back on the floor and sauntered over to him.

 

“I have something for you. I picked it up when I went to El Paso the last time.” She opened her hand to show him a stylized knight on horseback with a jousting pole. The silver pin sparkled in the light. “A little something to help you remember who you are and what you mean to me… and to Vallecito.”

 

Jules picked up the exquisitely-styled pin. He wasn’t given to wearing jewelry, but for some reason this pin spoke to him. “It’s stunning,” he whispered. “Thank you.” He pinned it to the breast of his colors. “I will wear it proudly.” He kissed her again, softly, slowly, then pulled back and stared into the infinite depths of her eyes. “I love you,” he mouthed.

 

“I love you,” she replied in kind.

 

She leaned into his side as his arm went around her, holding her snug as he tipped his head over and laid it against hers. The first order of business when the club met again would be to vote on making that pin the symbol of their club, to remind them all of who they were.

 

THE END

 

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