“Here’re some clothes. They may be a little big on you, but they’ll do until we can get you something else,” the woman says, handing me a pair of dark blue sweats, a black Harley T-shirt, and thick white socks. “Sorry, but I don’t have any panties or a bra for you. We don’t really keep women’s clothing here, so you’re going to have to go commando for a while.”
“They’re fine. Thank you,” I whisper, taking the bundle from her.
She gives me a sad smile and motions towards a door near the back of the room. “The bathroom’s over there. While you take a shower, I’ll grab you something to eat.”
I nod and walk to the bathroom. As soon as I step into the room, I lock the door. I know that if someone really wants in, there’s nothing I can do to keep them out, but the lock makes me feel a little safer. I can’t forget that these are bikers, just like my dad and his brothers. There’s no way they’re going to help me for nothing. Everything always comes at a price with them.
I get out of my clothes as quickly as I can, throwing the purple nighty in the trash, and glad to be rid of the nasty thing. I fold Chipper’s shirt, setting it beside the sink before stepping into the cool shower. I turn the stainless steel handle all the way over and put the hot water on blast, doing my best to let it scald the filth of Timmons and Rig off of me, the filth I couldn’t fully get off at the rest stop. Grabbing the soap, I spend the next ten minutes scrubbing every inch of myself. By the time I’m done, my skin is red and burning, but I do feel somewhat better. I rush to dry off and get dressed, then run a brush through my tangled hair.
I’m just stepping out of the bathroom when Chipper’s woman walks back in. She’s carrying a plate piled high with food. “Good, you’re done. Now, you can eat.”
She motions me towards a chair and hands me the plate. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I brought you a little bit of everything.”
“Thank you,” I say as I sit down.
She stays and quietly watches me as I eat; each bite causing my jaw to ache even more. I’m not complaining though. I know that I’m lucky Timmons didn’t completely break my jaw. He sure tried hard enough to. The proof of that’s all over my face.
As soon as I set the plate on the table next to my chair, she gently grabs my hand. “My name is Mindy. I guess you already figured out that I’m Chipper’s old lady.”
I nod. “Yeah. I kind of figured that.”
She laughs. “What’s your name, sweetie?”
“Jenna.”
“You want to tell me what happened to you, or do you want me to wait and hear it from Chipper? He told me a little, but I’m sure there’s more to it.”
In truth, I don’t want to tell anyone what happened, but she’s been nice to me, so I figure I owe her something. “Some guys were hurting me, and Chipper stopped them. He saved me, really. Problem is that I didn’t have anywhere to go, so he brought me here.”
“Hurting you?”
I know she wants me to tell her more, but that’s just not something I’m willing to do right now. Instead, I ask her the question that’s been bothering me since Chipper and I pulled out of the Mateland MC parking lot. “What’s he gonna do with me?”
A puzzled look crosses over her face. “What do you mean, do with you?”
I shrug. “Is he going to send me back?”
“There’s no way my husband would send you back to a place where you were being hurt. Don’t worry about that,” she says, placing her other hand on top of our joined hands. “Where are your parents?”
“My dad….” What can I really say about my dad? It isn’t like I can tell any of them my dad is the Vice President of the Mateland crew. “My dad doesn’t want me. He never really did.”
“And, your mom?”
“My mom is dead,” I say, my voice sounding harsh even to my own ears.
“Do you have any other family?” she asks, giving my hand a soft squeeze.
I shake my head. “Not really. I know my mom’s parents live out in Montana, but I’ve never met them. As far as I know, Mom hadn’t talked to them since before I was born. I don’t know anything at all about my dad’s parents.”
“No aunts or uncles?”
“Not that I know of. It was always just me and Mom,” I say, trying in vain to think of someone, anyone that would care enough to take me in. “I have no one.”