Page 1 of Ruby

CHAPTER 1

RUBY

“Hey! No fightin’ in the bar!” I yell at two guys pushing and shoving each other.

The Rusty Spur can get rowdy on weekends. I’m no bouncer, but I can step in if need be.

This establishment belongs to my MC, the Stiletto Riders, and people can respect it, or they can find another watering hole. That won’t happen in Saddle, however, because this is the only place to drink in town after dark. I don’t work here, but I help out from time to time if Onyx, our Road Captain, gets slammed.

“He was just leavin’,” a man with a Southern drawl says, his eyes never leaving the other dude, and his stance rigid. “Weren’t you?”

“The hell I was!” the other man spits.

“Is that so?” His shaggy blond hair is unruly; he has Charlie Hunnam good looks and blue eyes the color of the Pacific. Well, butter my buns and call me a biscuit, he’s gorgeous.

It’s then I notice Coral, one of our prospects, her arms folded over her chest. Granted, I just walked around the corner, so I’ve no idea what’s going on with this standoff. When I look at Coral, she mouths, “I refused him service.”

Ah, great, a drunken heathen, just what we need. Clearly, this man is from out of town because nobody who lives in Saddle behaves this way.

Before I can interject, Blondie grabs the man by the scruff of the neck and drags him toward the bar. “Apologize.”

“Fuck you!”

Blondie shakes his head. “Nope, that didn’t sound like much of an apology.” He slams his assailant’s head onto the bar, once, twice, three times, until his nose starts bleeding and he squeals like a pig. “Let’s try that again.”

“I’m s-sorry!” the bald guy stammers. “That fuckin’ hurt!”

Blondie does it again. “And what else?”

“I-I don’t know—” He’s really wailing now.

“You’re not gonna treat women like that because you’re a mean drunk. Say it!”

He repeats it, sputtering and flailing around like a floppy fish.

I can’t say that I mind; disrespect around here can be dealt with one of two ways, and he chose the hard way. Asshat.

Blondie walks him to the entrance, shoving him out through the double doors. A round of roars and applause ensues as he waves to the crowd, dusting his hands off. It’s obvious, he’s high on the hog and enjoying all the attention.

I cut him a glance, and his eyes meet mine. “You lookin’ for a job, pretty boy?”

He sits back at the bar. “Nope, but even I know right from wrong, and he’s disturbin’ the peace and bein’ disrespectful. Can’t have that.”

I nod to Coral. “Give this man another beer.”

He grins. “Appreciate it.”

I’ve never seen him around here before, so I ask, “Where you from?”

Turning to look at me, he replies, “Not these parts.”

“Clearly.” My eyes rake him over. He’s probably around six-two, towering over my tiny frame, with wide-set shoulders and thick, muscular arms, plus a baby-face to boot. He’s probably mid-twenties, but who can say. I also don’t miss the way he assesses me right back. “That’s all you got to say?”

He gives me a chin lift. “Is that your natural hair color?”

My hair is bright red, and yeah, I was blessed because I’ve never dyed it. I frown. “Why does it matter?”

He shrugs. “It’s pretty, that’s all.”