Stand of Redemption (22 page)

Chapter 1

Rachel dug down into the rich soil, her small hand trowel helping her to remove the Gi
nseng root she had been cultivating. A smile passed her lips when she saw the size of the root; this one would make her some money.

She never fussed at her brothers for their lucrative business of selling pot, but she made more from her medicinal herbs than they did. If the jackasses would listen to reason, she would be able to triple her revenue with their help.

It wasn’t going to happen, though; they refused to listen. Rachel thought they enjoyed the danger and excitement they experienced, growing and selling the illegal crop.

Pushing aside those thoughts, Rachel put the root into the canvas bag she had brought with her then began to delicately dig for another one. The sun was just beginning to rise. She always came out first thing in the morning, after she’d drunk her cup of tea and before the day began to get hot with the summer heat. She had two appointments this morning, and then she was going to volunteer at the church store for a few hours this afternoon.

A sound from behind her had her turning and reaching down for the rifle she kept by her side. Carefully rising to her feet, she pointed the weapon at the man staring nonchalantly back at her.

“What are you doing out here, Cash?”

“Hunting.” His terse explanation had her temper rising.

“You’re trespassing. You’re lucky it’s not one of my brothers you walked up on.”

“It must be my lucky day.”

Cash and her brothers had been having a feud since Cash and Tate had attended high school together. The two men had often found each other in a conflict over a woman. Tate’s grudge had begun when Cash had stolen not one but two of his girlfriends.

“If you’re hunting, then where’s your gun?” Rachel asked suspiciously.

“Never said I was hunting game.” His smile quirked to the side as a feminine giggle sounded from the nearby woods.

Rachel rolled her eyes, lowering her rifle. “Play your games on your own property, Cash.”

About a half mile up the mountain was a lookout point that was the local Lover’s Lane. It wasn’t the first time a couple had moved their games to the nearby woods.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” In other words, he would keep doing what he wanted to do, regardless that he was trespassing.

“Cash!” an impatient voice called.

“Don’t keep the lady waiting,” Rachel mocked. Ignoring him, she kneeled back down and started delicately digging again.

“You shouldn’t be out here by yourself.”

Rachel kept digging. She had learned a long time ago it was better for her equilibrium if she didn’t stare at him for long periods of time. His dark-blond hair was slightly curly and always ruffled, as if women were constantly running their hands through it, which they probably were. His shoulders were broad, tapering down to a muscular chest. Lean-hipped, his jeans constantly rode low, drawing attention to the considerable bulge that was hard to miss.

She turned back to him, seeing Cash had crossed his arms over his chest. Rachel swallowed hard at his bulging biceps. He was one of the most sexually charismatic men she knew and t
otally off-limits because of her brothers’ hatred for him.

“I’m not.” As Rachel blew a faint whistle, a dog lying half-asleep, perched on one of the large rocks, got to his feet, ambling down the mountainside and coming to plop down next to her.

“I can see he’s ferocious.” Rachel ignored the amusement in his voice, reaching over to scratch Samson’s belly.

“Samson and my rifle are the only protection I need.” Rachel returned to her digging.

“Samson.” When Cash took a step forward, a low growl came from her side.

“I wouldn’t come any closer. He doesn’t like it when anyone gets near me.”

“I can see that,” Cash replied, taking a step back. Rachel was glad her back was to him so he couldn’t see her smile.

“Cash!” The feminine voice was coming nearer.

Rachel carefully placed another Ginseng root into her canvas bag, brushing a tendril of hair from her cheek. She then carefully replaced the dirt that had been covering the root, smoothing it out before placing small twigs and leaves on top.

“I better go; I don’t want to keep the lady waiting. See you around.”

Not if she could help it, although she wasn’t sure whether she’d imagined the note of promise in his voice or not.

Rachel didn’t bother to reply as he strolled into the woods, seemingly in no hurry. She wondered if it was one of the town’s women or one of the club’s that was waiting to be found. Deciding it was none of her
business, she gathered her things to start her hike back up the side of the mountain with Samson following close on her heels.

It took twenty minutes before she reached the cabin she and her brothers shared. Rachel had threatened to move out on numerous occasions, but each time, one of them always ma
naged to talk her into staying.

After her youngest brother had found out he was a father and had moved his young son and surrogate mother into the cabin, it had created an even-tighter fit. Their home was burs
ting at the seams; however, their solution was to build onto it instead of relinquishing control of their baby sister.

She was twenty-three now and determined to set her foot down in the near future. She was only staying now because Holly still felt uncomfortable being left with the men alone. Her brothers were building her a small cabin next door to theirs, and once it was completed, Rachel planned to move into town, despite her brothers’ protests.

Leaving the Ginseng roots outside in the barn, she went into the cabin to get breakfast started. As she started the coffee, her mind went back to Cash.

He had grown up in Treepoint, attending high school with her older brother. The enmity between them had started then. When Cash had left the area after graduating, many had thought
he had been killed by someone’s jealous boyfriend or lover. However, he had returned years later amongst The Last Riders motorcycle club.

The group stayed to themselves at their clubhouse on the edge of the state line. This didn’t stop the women in town from chasing the bikers, many of whom had been taken up on their offers. Four women had even found their husbands among the dangerous men, while others envied them their happiness.

The ones who had been fucked and left hadn’t been so happy, wanting more than the men were willing to give.

“What’s for breakfast?” Dustin’s
groggy voice had her reaching for another cup.

Her youngest brother came into the kitchen, taking a seat at the large table. Rachel poured him a cup of coffee before pulling out the eggs from the refrigerator. She started cooking breakfast, knowing the rest of her brothers wouldn’t be far behind.

“What dragged you out of bed so early?”

“I haven’t been to bed. I was out most of the night, checking the plants. I came in while you were out. Someone’s been sneaking onto the property, helping
themselves,” he grimly stated. “Did you see anything when you were out?”

She set his plate down in front of him before taking a seat for herself. Rachel took a sip of her coffee to give herself time to think. She knew, as soon as she mentioned Cash’s name, it would make Dustin furious, despite Cash not being on their property to steal weed. Even if she assured Dustin of this fact, his hatred of the man would have him throwing a fit over Cash being on their property.

Thankfully, Holly came into the kitchen with Logan, diverting Dustin’s attention from his question.

Logan climbed onto the chair next to his father. A tender smile came to her lips at the r
esemblance between the two; both father and son had curly, black hair and grey eyes.

“Morning, Holly, Logan.”

“Morning, Rach.” Logan gave her his boyish grin.

“What would you like for breakfast, Logan?” Holly asked, ruffling his hair.

“Can I have cereal?”

“No, but you can have oatmeal.”

“Why ask if I can’t pick anyways?” Logan grumbled.

“You can pick which flavor you want.” Holly ignored his protest, making the oatmeal and giving it to him.

Rachel watched as Logan made a face at the bowl in front of him. Dustin winked at him while Holly’s back was turned, taking a couple bites of the gooey mess for him.

“I saw that.” Holly’s frown had them both straightening in their seats.

Rachel couldn’t believe how the woman kept both of them in line. She was always firm, managing them with love and care. Rachel had hoped that same love would blossom between Holly and Dustin; instead, only a deep friendship had developed.

Rachel stood up from the table, taking her plate to the sink just as a knock sounded on the door. Going over and opening it, she saw her first appointment of the day.

“I hope I’m not too early.”

“Not at all,” Rachel answered, opening the door wider for Cheryl.

She led her to the back of the house to a small sunroom their father had added on for her mother’s use. A massage table had been set up with clean, white sheets and a small pillow lying on top. Rachel had lit a lavender-scented candle before starting the coffee, and now the relaxing floral scent infused the sunny room.

“Go ahead and lie down,” Rachel instructed.

The young woman climbed onto the table, her cheeks flushing red. “I feel silly coming here,” Cheryl admitted. “My husband thinks I’m being ridiculous.”

“Cheryl, you don’t have to stay,” Rachel tried to soothe her nervousness.

“I know, but I want to give this a try. Besides, it’s better than taking all those hormones the doctor wants to give me. If this doesn’t work, then I go that route.”

“All right. Let’s get started then.” Once Cheryl lay down on the table, Rachel zoned ever
ything out of her mind other than the woman lying before her.

Rachael’s hands lightly skimmed over her body from her feet to the top of her head then worked her way back down. When she neared her stomach for the second time, Rachel lightly touched it, letting her palms rest there for a minute. Allowing her consciousness to flow through Cheryl, Rachel searched for something that wasn’t there. She frowned, beginning to move her hands away, but Cheryl reached out, pressing her hands down again on her stomach, incorrectly reading Rachel’s expression.

“I want a baby, Rachel.”

Rachel looked down into the pleading eyes of Cheryl, giving her a brief nod. Cheryl released her desperate grip, allowing Rachel to continue. Once again, Rachel’s hands glided over her
body several times before stopping.

“You can sit up, Cheryl.”

“Well?” Her expectant face stared back at her. The woman was in her late twenties, pretty with long, blond hair and blue eyes. She had married Jared Hicks when she was seventeen, who Rachel despised but Cheryl thought was the reason she existed.

“I can’t help you.” Rachel always believed in being honest about her skills.

Cheryl’s shoulders slumped. Sliding off the table, she reached for her purse. “How much do I owe you?”

“Nothing.” Rachel took a step back when, despite her words, Cheryl tried to hand her some cash. When Rachel refused to take it, she put it back in her purse before going for the doorway.

“Cheryl.” The woman paused, looking back at her. “Did Jared get checked out to see if the reason you two are having problems conceiving a baby might be on his part?”

Her horrified look answered that question.

Of course not
, Rachel thought to herself. Everyone always thought it was the woman’s fault.

“I couldn’t ask him to get checked out.”

Her freaking doctor should have mentioned it! “It’s something to consider, especially before you take the next step,” Rachel advised.

“He’ll get mad. He’s already angry
at me for going to the doctor. He said that, if we get pregnant, it’s God’s will.”

Rachel’s hands fisted by her side.
The inconsiderate asshole just didn’t want any blame focused on his own possible defects. Jared especially wouldn’t want to accept any blame cast on his own masculinity; he was too busy proving it to every woman in Treepoint who would have him. He hadn’t been faithful to Cheryl since they came back from their fancy honeymoon in Hawaii.

Honestly, Rachel thought half of Cheryl’s desperation to have a baby was to save her failing marriage. Treepoint being such a small town, she was sure Cheryl hadn’t escaped the vicious gossip of Jared’s affairs.

“Did the doctors say there was a reason you weren’t conceiving?”

“No. All my tests are coming back normal, but I made an appointment with a specialist in Lexington.”

Rachel sighed. “I don’t think the problem is yours, Cheryl. I think you should ask Jared to get checked out before you spend money on more expensive doctors.”

She bit her lips. “I’ll think about asking him,” she finally agreed.

“Good.” Rachel took her hand, giving her a reassuring warmth that would lessen her anxiety.

“Thanks, Rachel.”