Page 40 of Property of Doc

Gretchen

“I can’t believe how busy it is!” I exclaim over my shoulder to Constance.

Ever since the farmer’s market opened, our booth has been swamped. I’ve already sold out of the dipped strawberries, the pretzel rods, the Rice Krispie treats, and three flavors of cake pops. Constance and Maria only have a few more cakes left themselves, and I realize if it’s like this every week, I’m going to need to make more.

“Our booth is always this way,” Maria says. “But we also added a post in the local group that we had something new coming this weekend that folks wouldn’t want to miss.”

“The cake pops and other treats?” I question.

“Yes, and from the looks of it, you’re going to be busy next week making more and stockpiling,” Constance replies.

“I’m okay with that. Maybe the camper will be done by then, since it’s so close to being finished,” I say.

“Gretchen?” Mongrel asks. He’s been around most of the day since Doc had to go into the clinic for a few hours unexpectedly. “I talked to Herb and I’ll be going by to get you two bushels of strawberries on Thursday.”

“Two bushels?”

“Considering how quickly those sold out, I thought it was a good idea,” he replies. “Should I go tell him it’ll just be one?”

“No, no, I think that’ll work just fine.” Looking at Constance, I state, “I’m going to be hanging with y’all in the kitchen a lot this upcoming week.”

“Make it early morning before the heat of the day gets to be too much,” Maria cautions. “It’s one of the reasons we started using warmers and coming up with other options for lunch and dinner. It gets too hot in the kitchen to have the oven running, but thankfully, the men are okay with grilled foods.”

“We live in Texas, so as long as they can get meat of some sort and a cold, frosty beer, they’re perfectly content,” I tease, making both of the other women laugh.

“Let me know if I need to make a run to the store to pick up anything else,” Mongrel adds.

“Mongrel, you don’t have to do that, I can get one of the prospects to get it,” I protest. At his raised brow, I add, “Okay, fine, you can as long as it doesn’t interfere with whatever you’re going to be doing for the club.”

“They’ll get that figured out, but I still don’t mind helping,” he replies.

“And I appreciate all the assistance I can get, especially because I think Gretchen’s Goodies are a bona fide hit!” I exclaim as I see the last few cake pops being bagged up by Maria.

I’m coming out of the bathroom when I hear a male voice say, “I know she’s around here somewhere, dammit. Find her!”

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I freeze in place, my mind taking me back to that abandoned warehouse where I was restrained and drugged against my will. I may not always remember what I’ve had for breakfast the day before, but that voice? I’llneverforget it. Mongrel, who was waiting for me walks closer, leans in and quietly asks, “Are you okay?”

“No,” I whisper. “Do you see anyone around us? A couple of men, maybe?”

“Why?” His tone is sharp, insistent and I see him pull his phone from the inside of his cut.

“Because one of the men who took me is close by,” I admit.

He doesn’t hesitate at all; he hits one of the contacts as he takes me firmly by the arm and starts hustling me back toward the booth and safety. “Yeah, pres, Gretchen says one of the men who took her is here. We’re by the restrooms, but I’m heading back with her to the booth now. Yes, sir. Got it.”

“What… what’s going on?”

“My priority is to get you back to the brothers, then we’re going to see if we can find them.”

“I wish I could remember what he looked like, but I was so out of it, I only have vague memories. I may not remember what they looked like, but I willneverforget that voice,” I reply, my tone apologetic.

“It’s gonna be okay, I’ll keep you safe,” he promises as we near the booth. I notice that there are now a lot of Kings roaming nearby as he hustles me behind the tables. I’m still shaking so badly that Constance leads me over to a chair and makes me sit.

“God, I thought this was over,” I whisper into my hands. “I won’t survive it if they take me again, I know I won’t. I’ll kill myself first.”

“Since nobody fucks with the Kings, I think you’ll live a nice long life,” Gwynee says as she crouches by my side. At my dubious look, she gives me a small, sad smile but adds, “Big Daddy, Wicked, Soulless, the East Texas brothers, and most of the ones who came from your club are out scouring the place right now. If they were smart, they hopefully saw all the cuts and left, but we could get lucky.”

To keep from focusing on what’s currently happening, I ask, “Did I tell you how they managed to abduct me? I was so stupid and wasn’t paying attention while going to my car one night. I had gone by the store to pick up stuff I needed to make some treats because I was going to get my sobriety tattoo the next day and wanted to make them as a thank you to the shop since they offer the tattoos at no cost. Instead, I lost sixteen years of being clean and had to start all over again once Doc and his brothers found me and rescued me.”