Chapter 23

Peg

Earlier

The fire I’ve seen surrounding the compound scares the shit out of me, and I want to jump out of the Jeep and hurry to see what we’re dealing with. But I also feel responsible for Ma Jones, who Viper is carrying into the clubroom and settling down on the couch. Trusting my brothers are doing whatever’s necessary, I watch as Viper rubs his muscles and flexes his shoulder, while I give him a rueful grimace. I wish I could have helped him, but wouldn’t trust myself to take her weight on my prosthetic leg.

Ma’s looking around her with interest, her eyes widening in surprise at the fairly clean surroundings and couches, tables, and chairs only a couple of years old. The décor had refreshed with new paint recently as well, old ladies finding jobs for the prospects even when us men don’t see it needs doing.

I see Sophie with Ollie hanging on to her hand, which gives me an idea. Looking at Ma, I ask, “Can you use a wheelchair?”

She tilts her head to one side. “Probably can if someone can lift me in and out. Didn’t at home, as I’m too heavy for Sarah.”

“’ere. Soph!” Sophie, always curious about strangers, almost runs across. I put her out of her misery before she can ask. “This here’s our neighbour, Ma Jones, and her great-granddaughter, Sarah. We brought them here as they couldn’t evacuate themselves. Can you get your wheelchair for Ma? And show them some hospitality?”

“You one of their whores?” Ma’s examining her intently.

Sophie bursts out laughing. “No way, Ma. I’m the VP’s wife, and this is our daughter, Olivia.” Said daughter is currently hiding behind her, sucking her thumb.

“I’ve got to go and see Drum…”

“They’re in church, Peg. Well, those who aren’t watching out for the fire.” The look of concern she doesn’t quite hide shows me they already know no one’s getting out of here anytime soon. She shoos me off. “You get along, Peg. I can handle Ma Jones.”

As I follow Viper into our meeting room, I grin, wondering if she can. The mirth’s soon wiped from my face by the sombre faces greeting us.

“What do we know, Drummer?” I ask, as soon as I sit down.

“Fire has circled around us. Burned down by the track forming a barrier between us and the road. We’ve no option but to stay and fight here.”

“Done any damage?”

“Nah, didn’t come close. The firebreak did its job and it just circled around us. Luckily the wind’s blowin’ it down toward the interstate. Moved fuckin’ fast though. Accordin’ to the firefighters, fire’s just unpredictable like that. Went through the grassland as though it was a truck mowing it down. No one expected it to break out at that point. We’re just unfortunate I guess. Dollar’s taken some brothers to keep the shop dampened down in case anything else flares up. But for now, we’re stuck here.”

“Well, we were going to stay put in any event.” I can’t see it makes much difference to our plans.

“Women and kids are still here, Peg.”

I nod, frowning at the reminder. That wasn’t part of our plan.

“What about the Jeep. We could go cross country…. Evacuate them that way.” Slick’s looking concerned.

“Have you seen how fuckin’ fast that fire’s comin’ down the hill?” Blade asks sarcastically, pointing with his knife in the general direction of the back of the club. “Too dangerous now. Wind blows up and changes wind direction and even the Jeep won’t be able to out run it on uneven ground.”

I pull on my beard. We’ve no other option. “So, we stay and make a stand.”

“Only thing we can do.” Drummer’s hands run through his hair. “Mouse got on the radio and we made contact with the police. There’s a hotshot crew on their way to us, and the crews working above us are going to head on down.”

“They want to help protect our compound?”

Prez huffs a strangled laugh. “No, they want to piggyback on our fuckin’ endeavours. We’ve made a decent fire break, and they want to use it as a safe zone for them.”

“But we’re still susceptible to the odd spark or burning ash fallin’. Wind’s still blowin’ a bitch out there.”

As Rock makes his observation, I’m thinking fast. “It’s our compound. We do what we can to protect it.”

“With you there, Brother.” Viper’s comment is mimicked around the table, and looking at my brothers my eyes land on Joker, who’s face has softened as he shares yet another one of his silent exchanges with Lady. Christ, if they don’t want to come out into the open, they better put a stop to their private moments at the table.

“All children to stay inside. And the women. Clubhouse is the safest place, it’s in the centre of the compound and slightly away from the blocs.” Drum makes the announcement, but his face twists, presumably remembering his house is right at the top. If the fire gets hold it will probably be the first to go.

“My house is most at risk.” Wraith’s frowning. “Only got the timber frame up.”

“We’ll damp that down, keep it wet. Will soon dry out, but don’t want to feed that fuckin’ fire.”

“I suggest we get on with it. Damp down anything that might burn.” I nod at Drummer as I speak. “That fire’s movin’ as though the devil’s behind it.”

Prez scowls. “Well, it’s going to find more Devils waiting. Want brothers at all points around the compound. See a fuckin’ piece of ash, you stamp it out fast.”

“Ride Satan’s Devils. Satan’s Devils Ride!” The cheer goes up around the table. Invigorated by our battle cry, and ready for the battle ahead, we stand and leave the room.

I take a moment to check on Ma. Sophie’s brought her wheelchair down, so I wave Beef over and ask him to move her. As he goes to pick her up, she looks at him and smirks. “Been some time since a sexy young man had his arms around me.”

“Ahh, can’t be that fuckin’ long, can it, Ma?” Beef says with a wink as he lifts her.

Seated in the chair, she bats his hand away. “Mind your language, young man.”

Looking suitably chastised, Beef stammers out an apology, looks at me and shrugs, then wanders away.

“Where’s Sarah?”

“She’s in the kitchen helping Sam get some sandwiches.”

“And that’s where I’m going if someone will push me.” Ma looks at Sophie.

“Nah, Soph. I’ve got this.” I know why she’s hesitating. Ma’s a big woman, and Sophie’s like me, relying on a prosthesis to walk. But as I’m bigger and stronger, it’s not the same problem for me.

Ma’s obviously used to giving orders. “Why can’t you do it, girl?”

Sophie’s no longer ashamed of her injury. She pulls up the leg of her pants. I bite back a smile when I realise, for once, Ma looks chastened herself.

I push her into the kitchen, wondering how quickly Ma will try to take charge. There’s been a change in her since she arrived. She seems to be invigorated and enjoying herself. It’s easy to see why. Fuck knows how long it’s been since she’s had company other than that of her great-granddaughter.

While I’m wondering how the women will get on, my eyes fall on Marcia. She’s got both hands flat on the counter, and her face is red. Her cheeks are hollowed, then bowed as she seems to be puffing air in and out.

“You okay, Marcia?”

She breathes in and out. “Yeah, just give me a moment, Peg.”

I may not have experience with pregnant women, but something doesn’t seem right. A cold hand clutches at my heart, remembering how we’ve just been discussing there’s no way anyone can leave. Despite my apprehension, I keep my voice calm. “Marcia, come and sit down in the clubroom. I need to go and get Heart.”

She tries to wave me away. “I’m fine, Peg. Just these two babies playing games. Think they’re determined to try to kick their way out.” She pauses, and flushes again, then deliberately straightens and waves her hand. “Heart and you will have enough to do with keeping the fire from the compound. That’s the most important thing now.”

The important thing is making sure she and the babies are alright. I purse my lips. We’ve got a raging fire preventing us from getting her off the compound, and another bearing down on us fast. Even though all the doors and windows are shut, smoke’s still edging its way into the clubhouse. It can’t be good for mother or those unborn kids. As Marcia’s eyes flit toward me, I see the flicker of fear she’s trying to hide. I bite back my warning words. She’s not stupid. She knows exactly what we’re facing, and that this will be the worst possible time for those babies to put in an appearance.

I’m the sergeant-at-arms, and it’s my job to keep everyone in the club safe. That includes old ladies and children, even those which haven’t yet breathed on their own.

Whatever she wants, I’m going to get Heart. He needs to be with his old lady. I’ve got a strong suspicion that while she’s trying to hide, or deny it to herself, she’s going into labour.

Fuck.

Stepping smartly out of the kitchen, I make my way up to the top of the compound where some of my brothers are waiting, poised to jump into action, Shooter’s driving a rotavator, digging up the ground, and Paladin’s moving combustible material onto the opposite side, all eyes watching the relentless orange threat bearing down on us. The fire’s drawn so much closer you can feel the heat coming off it now, and the noise is tremendous. Pulling my bandana up over my nose, I squint to see through the billowing smoke.

“Prez.” As Drummer turns to me, he must see the look on my face.

“What is it, Peg?”

“Where’s Heart? I think Marcia needs him.”

I don’t need to explain the situation. One look at the serious expression on my face must have alerted him. His eyes open wide. “Not now.” He shakes his head. “Not fuckin’ now.”

I grit my teeth. “’Fraid so. Well, hopefully it’s just a false alarm.”

Drummer takes off, going to Wraith’s timber frame where Heart is manning a hose. He runs up beside him, and I watch as he gesticulates, pointing back down to the clubroom.

Heart’s face, reddened by the heat and exertion, seems to go white. I clutch at his arm as he goes past me. “Calm yourself down before you see her, Brother. If this is her time, then she’ll be scared witless.”

“She’s down for a caesarean, Peg. Due to her problems…”

“And she’ll know that just as well as you. I know you’re worried, Heart, but you’ve got to keep your concerns to yourself. You’ve got to be the strong one here, not go off half-cocked.” I place my hand around his arm, holding him back. Marcia obviously needs him, but he won’t do her any good if she’s got to be strong for him.

Heart takes as deep a breath as he can, and nods. My brother’s quick to anger, but just as quick to calm down. Knowing I’ve got through to him, I uncurl my fingers and release him.

“What can I tell her, Peg?”

I rack my brains for what I know, which isn’t a lot. Really just what I’ve absorbed from watching films—oh, and the stories that Wraith and Drum have told me about their horrific experiences in the delivery room. “Labour takes a long time, particularly in first pregnancies.” Well, it did for Sophie and Sam. “And it could be those things Sam was havin’. You know, the false alarm when Drum lost his shit. She wasn’t havin’ contractions…it was…what was it called? Braxton Hicks.”

Heart’s eyes, rimmed red from the smoke, stare at me. “I can’t lose her, Peg. Not her, and not the babies.”

It’s easy to see what’s going through his head, after he went off the rails, unable to cope with losing his wife, Crystal. I can’t even begin to think how he’d recover if anything happened to his old lady. He knows better than any of us how someone you love can so quickly be taken away. I put all the strength I possess into my voice as I try to reassure him. “You got this, Brother.”

He raises his chin and squares his shoulders. “Not got a choice, have I, Peg?” Then he turns and walks off in the direction of the clubhouse.

“Hey!” I call out, and when he pauses and turns, say, “Sparks and Flame. Good names for babies if they come early.”

His middle finger raised shows there’s no chance he agrees, but the huffed, strangled laugh suggests I may have lightened his mood. Which is what I’d been trying to do. Marcia needs her man strong, someone she can lean on. The last thing she needs is to have to hold him up too.

The heat’s getting unbearable. I wave Shooter and Paladin to come back, having assessed we’ve done about all we can now when I see engines approaching and firefighters appearing. As Drummer goes to greet them, I tag along too. And fuck me, there’s Flash. I almost stumble in my relief to see her. While I’m not pleased she’s on the front line of this particular fire, I’m happy to see that, so far, she’s safe. I school my features to show only my pleasure at seeing her and none of my concern, I approach but can’t resist giving her a hug, mindful of her colleagues watching, and knowing she’ll want to remain professional.

Like Drum, I was prepared to fight the fire as it approached, but seeing the fire crews are better prepared, we finally agree to do our part inside the compound and leave the firefighters to do what they’re trained for. Particularly when I realise they’ve got a vested interest in keeping the fire at bay—the compound is now their only safe route of retreat.

As Drum and I head back inside, burning ash carried by the wind starts falling around me. Irritated, I brush some off my cut, inhaling the smell of burning leather, then glance back up and check. Already, Flash and her crew have disappeared, swallowed up by the smoke. The fire is fast approaching our cleared area now and has already started burning through the trees where Road’s race track is. It’s nearing the time when we find out whether we’ve done enough.

“Drum!” Suddenly I see flames burning, and my fears for Flash have to be put on the back burner, as now I need to fight for the compound. Grabbing a broom, I go to the back of his house where the Prez’s veranda is smouldering, but the fireproof paint seems to be doing its stuff. “Bring water. Get all the wood damped down, now!”

A hose appears in Joker’s hands, Lady running beside him to help. Drummer’s there, one look at his face and I know he’s thinking of what he can do to prevent his house from burning to the ground.

Firefighters have started flooding onto the compound, tired looking crews obviously having been working flat out for hours, if not days. Some remain outside, driving dozers to deepen the trench we’d started in front of the line of trees to enforce our firebreak.

As one of the men entering the compound passes, I slap him on the back and mouth my thanks. The roaring of the fire is so loud now, it’s hard to communicate using words. He looks up in acknowledgment, then sees the smouldering on Drum’s porch and goes over to help.

Leaving them to it, I call Beef and Rock, and we grab another hose and go to the sweet butts’ residence. A large fragment of burning material lands on the concrete tile roof, but the roof being resistant to fire, soon burns itself out.

Around us the sound’s getting ever louder, as if it’s a wild beast hungry for food, and the sky is dark, black tinged with red, the air so thick it’s hard to breathe.

“Peg!” Wraith shouts and tears past. I follow as fast as I can, cursing for once my prosthetic leg as the ground’s uneven, and while I can do most things, the lack of feeling in my foot means I have to go slower and take care.

As soon as I catch up with the VP, I see where he’s pointing. “Fuckin’ useless whores!” I berate them in their absence, while knowing the lack of foresight is down to me. I should have checked. “Out. Back up, now.” There’s been bags of garbage left to the rear of their house, garbage which is now merrily burning, right up beside the propane tank.

Wraith grabs Beef and Rock and pulls them back, Jekyll’s running up, but gets shoved away.

A firefighter and is talking to Drum. I interrupt them. “There’s garbage sacks burning around the,” I remember my audience, “girls’ house. The propane tank’s right next to them.”

“Where?” The firefighter says grimly. “Show me.”

I take him back, but careful to keep my distance. “Hear that whistling? That’s the sound you want to hear. It’s venting. The gas is blowing off into the air. It will keep doing that until it runs out of fuel.” He places a call on his radio, and suddenly more firefighters appear through the gate and go forward with rakes to pull the burning trash bags away.

Brave men. And somewhere, Darcy’s out there, doing the same job as them. Watching them move around, no panic, just putting their trade into practice, carrying all their equipment in this raging heat, without complaint. I’m full of respect all over again for my woman. Take care of yourself, Flash.

It’s only minutes later that they report the garbage bags have been put out and removed, and they’re pretty certain all the gas has been dispelled. Drummer’s been swearing up a storm about the laziness of the club whores but turns when he sees his old lady running up the slope.

“Drum. Is there a medic around?”

“What is it, Sam? Who’s hurt?”

Fuck no. I hope that feeling in my gut isn’t right.

But her next words prove that it is.

“It’s Marcia. Looks like the babies are coming.”