Accidental Momma

By Tyrone Slothrop- A High Sierras story, part of the Angelverse

A young teen is betrayed by those who should look out for him, and learns the meaning of responsibility and family

Accidental Momma

By Tyrone Slothrop- A High Sierras story, part of the Angelverse

Chapter 1: Sweet Home

Toby was crying again. Bobby knew he sounded hungry and he knew Momma was passed out again. He had heard the clinking of glass during the night which indicated she had been drinking again.

Bobby got up from his cot, pulled on his last clean T shirt, tied his hair back and went to get Toby. It was five am and the little guy smiled as soon as he got into his sight. At six months old, Toby knew his brother and always gave him a big grin, his dark eyes sparkling with delight.

Bobby shuddered. Toby had been put to bed without being changed and probably little to eat. Momma had been getting worse since Dad had gone missing last month.

After patting Toby’s tummy and smiling back, Bobby changed the diaper, noticing the rash developing. Cleaning up at the kitchen sink he noticed they were just about out of formula. And Momma had said they were out of money until the next check came from Dad’s company. She had enough for bourbon and beer though, Bobby thought grimly.

Toby looked at Bobby while he was feeding him in that unique way that babies have, the one that rivets your attention until they look away. Bobby rocked him on his shoulder until Toby burped, and then held him until he was asleep.

Bobby looked at Momma in the chair, her eyes shut, her mouth open and her makeup smeared all over her face. Momma had never been a good drunk. Bobby remembered the beatings he got whenever she was loaded, which was whenever Dad was away on the oil rigs. He could take the beatings, but the erratic behavior drove him crazy.

She would act fine, and tell him she was sorry, and he would then have a few days where he could almost stop watching his back at home. Then she would begin again, usually when he got home from school. One time, when he was eleven, he remembered opening the door to their house to see Momma there with another man, her blouse all undone. The man saw him and pushed Momma away, pulled up his pants and left, shoving Bobby aside.

Momma was furious. “You little pest! You see what you’ve done! What are you doing, coming in on me like that! Why aren’t you in school?”

“School’s over now, Momma. Who was that?” Bobby had said.

Momma staggered up on her feet and hit Bobby on the side of the head with her hand holding a cocktail glass. The glass shattered, cutting into his skull and upper neck, along with Momma’s hand.

Bobby fell over and somehow stayed conscious. Momma loomed over him. He knew she was drunk but still alert, the most dangerous time.

“You little shit, I wish I’d never had you. You’ve done nothing but tie me down since you were born. Now look at you, with that long hair and all, you look like a little fag.”

“Dad’s got long hair, he said I could have it how ever I wanted!” Bobby spat back, knowing enough not to get up.

“Your Daddy has a beard and big muscles and looks like a man, at least when he bothers to stay home. If you tell him about this, I’m gonna tell him you were trying to give blowjobs for money. In fact I’ll turn you in myself. Sheriff Turner will back me up.”

Bobby knew Momma spent time with the Sheriff. He also knew the Sheriff was working for the Disciples, his Dad’s old gang. Dad had left the gang on not exactly friendly terms after he did some time in prison.

Momma left to go lie down. Bobby got up and cleaned his cuts, trying to make sure he got all the glass out. When Momma was asleep, he washed her cut hand and bandaged it.

Chapter 2: When Things Can’t Get Any Worse, They Find A Way

Bobby was thirteen now, and Momma had made him pay dearly for catching her that time. When your own mother spreads rumors about you having a “problem liking boys”, you end up being branded at school by the other kids. Adults assume you are in denial if you tell them you are not gay. Girls won’t go near you, or if they do it’s out of weird curiosity.

Even Dad, when he got home for his six months off, was not sure. Bobby could tell Dad loved him and told him whatever he was was fine with him. Bobby idolized his father, who had turned his life around when Bobby was born. He used to be a biker, running drugs and bashing heads. Momma was his woman and they had Bobby when they were just twenty one. Dad had been in prison shortly afterward, doing a two year sentence for narcotics smuggling. When he got out he went straight and started working the offshore rigs. He was away a lot, but came back for extended stays. Those were the good times for Bobby. Momma never drank, and they were like a real family.

Meanwhile Momma took out some marriage insurance by getting pregnant with Toby. Just to make sure she kept her man in case Bobby somehow convinced his father what she was doing while he was gone.
Toby was a joy to the family. Dad and Bobby did all they could to help Momma and Bobby got to spend a lot of time with his new brother. Since his life outside the home was questionable at best, Bobby spent a lot of his spare time playing with and caring for the baby.

Dad had to go on another job, this time to the Philippines, when Toby was just three months old. Bobby saw his father actually crying as he said goodbye to little Toby.

“Bobby, I wouldn’t be going if there was any other way to pay the bills. This is the best I can do for the family and I need you to be the one I can count on here. Take care of your Momma and Toby. I should be back in about six months. Go to Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins if you have a real problem, I’ve talked to them and they will help you. Goodbye, son.” Steve Dunbar was not a demonstrative man, and he frankly looked terrifying to most people at six four and two hundred sixty pounds, all muscle. To Bobby, he was Dad, and gave his son all the love he knew how. After they hugged, Momma drove Dad to the airport. Bobby could hear the screaming match in the car as they drove away.

After two weeks Momma started drinking again. At first, Bobby thought she was under control. Then he kept hearing about her mumbling “Post Partum Depression” and the drinking got worse.

The day the man from the company came and told them that Steve Dunbar was missing after an explosion on the oil platform in the South China Sea, Momma broke down. Bobby took Toby to Mrs. Jenkins while the medics took Momma to the hospital.

The Jenkins were an old couple that lived next door to the Dunbars. Mr. Jenkins was a retired cop, still in good shape for seventy one and Mrs. Jenkins had been a nurse. Mrs. Jenkins was devastated to hear the news. She looked at Bobby.

“Bobby, you look like a skeleton? Aren’t you eating anything?” She asked.

Bobby was about five foot nine inches, having just had a growth spurt, but was skinny in his arms and legs. His brown hair hung just past his shoulders and hung limply. It was true, Momma had not left him much money for food and he had to make sure Toby got fed first. When Steve was gone, Momma stopped making any meals, preferring to be taken out by her many gentleman friends. Bobby spent his summer cleaning the house and caring for Toby.

“Not much. Mrs. Jenkins. I don’t get hungry much.”

“Toby will be fine. You sit down and I’ll feed you. Then we’ll go to the hospital to see your Momma.”

Bobby spent more time with Mrs. Jenkins over the next two months as the summer progressed. She gave him some relief in the care of Toby.

Chapter 3: When Things Look Their Darkest, You Can Go Blind

Momma came home, with a pile of pills to keep her calm. They did not mix well with bourbon.

Bobby knew never to enter the house when men were there, and he knew the cars and motorcycles of the Disciple members who were Momma’s new friends.

One day, as he was approaching the house with some formula for Toby he spotted a pickup he knew in the yard. He overheard Momma complaining to Sean Cottrell, one of the new Disciple leaders.

“They won’t pay his insurance, dammit! He’s not declared dead yet, they say. How am I supposed to get on with my life without that money and two kids hanging around my neck?” Momma was just starting up the bourbon, and probably was on some of the meth that Sean manufactured and distributed.

“Just give me the word, babe. You’ll have no problems anymore. Hell, abortions legal up till age sixteen, right?” Sean grinned.

“I’ve got a better way. I’ve been planning it for a while. Bobby’s going to drown the baby, and you stop him after it’s too late. He’s such a weird kid anyway. Sheriff Turner will be right here to lock him up. “ Momma said, taking a pull off the Jim Beam fifth.

Bobby knew he had to get Toby out of the house. He was furious with himself for leaving him with Momma for the hour it took to walk to the store. He approached the back door as quietly as possible. Fortunately for him, Sean was driving off as loudly as the pickup truck could make it.

He heard the water running in the bathtub. Through the window, Momma was putting on the dishwashing gloves, something she never did unless Dad was home. Bobby waited until she left the kitchen and then slowly opened the back door. He heard Toby begin to cry.

“I’m sorry baby, but I need to start clean. This is the best for you.” Momma said softly as she began to immerse Toby into the tub.

Bobby swung the baseball bat as hard as he could, catching Momma on the shoulder. She screamed, but fell to the side, gripping her wounded limb. Bobby dropped the bat and pulled Toby out of the water. The infant sputtered and struggled to breathe.

“You leave him alone! You’re not gonna kill my brother!” Bobby ran out of the house, carrying Toby, water streaming off the baby.

Chapter 4: Showdown

Both of the Jenkins were home. Bobby ran inside their house, and looked for a towel for Toby. He got out the story in between gasps for breath, while he and Mrs. Jenkins wrapped Toby up.

They heard Sean’s pickup truck pull up next door, with a couple of Harleys trailing behind. Mr. Jenkins opened a drawer and pulled out his handgun. He dialed the phone and began talking to someone at the state police station.

“I know it’s local jurisdiction, but the sheriff is in on this. I’ll hold these children until you can get someone out here. Now hurry, goddammit!” Al Jenkins was still steady in a crisis. He grabbed a pump shotgun and gave the pistol to his wife.

Bobby’s mother was screaming and flailing around outside their house, attempting to relay what had happened to Sean and the two with him. Bobby saw Cottrell pull an automatic from behind his back and start marching over to the Jenkins’ house. Momma was hanging on his arm. Sean pushed her off.

“Bitch, you’re more trouble than you’re worth. Since Steve is gone, I guess I can clean up some loose ends.” Sean said, firing two bullets into Momma’s head. He only stopped firing because of a misfeed, jamming the action of the 9mm.

The two other Disciples stormed the front and back doors of the Jenkins house. The first one was almost cut in half by the shotgun blast from Al, but the one at the back stitched Al Jenkins up with a burst from a MAC 10. Bobby hid under the coffee table with Toby in his arms while Mrs Jenkins shot her husband’s killer right in the ten ring.

Bobby heard more Harleys in the distance. Mrs. Jenkins scribbled a note and thrust it into Bobby’s hand.

“Try to get away, Bobby. I know you can drive, so get a car and go here with Toby. It’s a good friend. Tell them I sent you, tell them what happened. You need to hide there. Now go! I’ll keep them occupied. Be careful, these gangs are everywhere. And they will want you dead.”

Mrs. Jenkins fired three times at Sean, who had picked up another handgun. Bobby went out the back door with Toby, who chose this time to start crying. He heard another shot and then Mrs. Jenkins screamed. As he circled around the house he was grabbed from behind.

Sean Cottrell looked at him.

“You little faggot. I only wish old Steve knew I was doing you in. But I need some more bullets. So wait here, kid.”

Cottrell threw Bobby down, the boy still clutching at the screaming Toby. He stomped on Bobby’s groin with his boots, and then kicked Bobby in the ribs.

“That ought’a keep you here.” Sean said as he walked away.

Bobby was in a haze of pain, but still holding Toby. He crawled to his feet, just as he heard another shot. He saw Sean swivel and fall to the ground, and Mrs. Jenkins, standing on her porch, holding the automatic. Her housedress had a blood splotch spreading on her stomach. She fell over.

Bobby got to his feet and carried Toby over to Sean. He was still alive and would probably live so Bobby grabbed a rock and swung on Sean’s jaw. He heard teeth crack and saw blood pour from his mouth. Bobby grabbed the truck keys in Sean’s hand and got into the F 150 as fast as his pain would allow. He settled Toby in, binding him with a seatbelt and started the engine.

He could see the parked Harleys and saw two more coming down the road. He put it into drive and first drove into the front wheels of the two parked choppers. Satisfied they were out of commission, he began driving up the road as fast as he could, swerving into one of the oncoming bikes. The biker flew into the roadside ditch, with his machine landing on top of him. The other bike stopped to help. Bobby sped away and got onto the interstate.

Chapter 5: Crime Scene

Sheriff Turner was very upset. He was supposed to have been on the scene first, like Cottrell had said. When he arrived, there was no Cottrell, five dead bodies and State Police investigators all over the place.

“Sheriff, we have a court order placing this crime scene under our jurisdiction. You have been implicated as being compromised in this investigation and you are to render only the assistance requested of you. Consider this a formal notice.” Max Atherton, a senior officer with the Investigative Unit said, stuffing the paper in Turner’s face.

Turner was still livid about that. When he ascertained that the bodies were two Disciples, the Jenkins and the Dunbar whore, and Cottrell was gone, he left.

He passed the ambulance as it was pulling away with the biker who ended up in the ditch. The other biker had not been forthcoming about what happened.

Turner assumed he was under surveillance and picked up his throw away cell phone. After dialing a number, he left a message.

“This is T, I am being watched. Contact with care.” He left the message on the coded voicemail system.

Turner called in off shift and went straight to the Indian Casino. He figured he was due for some time off.

Miles away, in a nondescript warehouse complex, Reed Cottrell, Sean’s younger brother was screaming into the phone.

“I need a doctor and a dentist, you asshole, ones who we control. Sean’s been shot and had his jaw all smashed up and we need to keep this strictly off the books. Use the Nevada organization. He’ll be there in four hours.”

Reed was the smarter and colder of the two, working the business end of the Disciples while Sean was out front for show. While people feared Sean’s unpredictability, Reed terrified them in pure cold bloodedness.

He turned to the group around him in the warehouse offices. “I want the Dunbar kid found and I want him dead. He saw too much and we lost control of the evidence. The State is going to be on this one hot and heavy and the two idiots who let a bunch of old farts take them down are known members. Good for us the kid is running and we think he’ll be afraid to go to the cops. He knows Turner is ours and word has it he’s a smart kid.

“Find Sean’s pickup, kill that kid and get back the cash that was in it. Any cash missing better be made up however you can. Use all our contacts and get someone in the State Police near this investigation.

“Do this one slow and quiet, people, we’re gonna have a ton of heat on our ass for at least a month. Now how hard will it be to find a thirteen year old boy with a baby?”

The group looked down at the floor to avoid Reed’s stare.

“Get fuckin’ going, you assholes!, Now!” Reed said in his normal motivational; style.

Chapter 6: Runaway Into The Night

Bobby was drained. His groin was throbbing with intense pain, his ribs were on fire whenever he took a breath and he knew Toby had wet the towel. He couldn’t stop, he had to follow Carol Jenkins last instructions. He stayed in the right lane and drove five miles under the speed limit, trying to get to his destination without getting stopped by the cops. He assumed they could all be like Sheriff Turner. He knew how hard it was to go up against the Disciples, and all the people he trusted were dead. So he clung to the last guidance Mrs. Jenkins had given him.

He finally gave up and pulled into an empty rest area, about sixty miles from where he started. Toby was soaked, so he took him into the men’s room and was happy they had warm water. He washed the baby as best he could, and then realized he needed some kind of blanket, since the towel was soaked beyond hope.

A search of the truck provided a clean fleece blanket rolled into the emergency kit. Toby thought this was fine after he was wrapped up. Bobby had Toby drink some water fountain water out of a cupped hand, getting a big smile from the little guy.

“Toby, we’re in deep crap now. I hope the people Mrs. Jenkins told me about will help us.” Bobby said. Toby gurgled.

Searching the truck revealed a large duffel bag. Bobby was stunned when he opened it, revealing a 9mm handgun sitting on top of a pile of money. Stacks of twenties. Old but banded into stacks of fifty bills. Bobby counted up to $55000.

“Toby, we may just have some help in this mess. Sean’s already going to try and kill us just like Momma and the Jenkins, so we can at least use his money. But we gotta be careful.”

Bobby stuffed the bag under the seat and drove back onto the northbound interstate. He had another ninety miles to go. He started looking for a convenience store off an exit.

Rolling up to the Circle K next to the gas pumps, Bobby grabbed a twenty from the stack he had kept out, picked up Toby and went inside.

Toby kept pulling at his hair while he was looking for diapers, formula and bottles, so Bobby undid the clip and let it fall freely. Toby loved that, occasionally pulling when his little hand got a grip.

At the checkout, the girl fussed over Toby, cooing at him. She began asking Bobby if Toby had been breast fed, and Bobby said no, Toby had been on formula since he was born.

“Well I have my little girl at home and she just didn’t want to give it up. I guess it’s all in whether you want to or not.” The girl was looking at Bobby’s loose sweatshirt, thinking that Bobby was not very well endowed for a mother. Oh well, he looked young too.

“Those bruises on your face don’t look good, honey. Do you need some help?” The cashier asked, a note of concern in her voice.

Bobby caught on that the girl thought Toby was his baby which meant she thought Bobby was a girl. He decided that he’d rather this checkout girl remembered a girl and baby rather than a boy and a baby. He held Toby in such a way to cover his chest, smiled when she gave him change for the twenty and left, carrying Toby on his hip like he had seen Momma do. “No thanks, I’m fine. I need to get my little one home now.”

Bobby made a bottle for Toby on the front seat of the pickup, hoping the room temperature bottled water was ok for him mixed with the formula. He put a diaper on Toby and proceeded to feed him, scanning the parking lot for anything suspicious.

Finishing up, Bobby took some aspirin and despite the wracking pain, secured Toby with the seatbelt and drove off.

“We can buy you a real car seat now, buddy. It’s much safer. “ He said. Toby looked at him and smiled.

While sipping on his coffee, he saw the big “Sunny Serve” sign coming up in the distance. He hoped Mrs. Jenkins’ friends were able to help.

Chapter 7: Temporary Refuge

Bobby pulled into pumps of the truckstop. Mrs. Jenkins note had told him to go to the Filler exit and ask for a man named Bobby Filler. He would help him if he explained he was sent by the Jenkins. He was to tell him everything.

A pretty young woman approached the pickup. Her nametag said ‘Joelle’.

“Can I help you, honey? Do you need some gas?” Joelle asked, sweetly.

“Is there a Bobby Filler here? I need to see him.” Bobby said, the pain showing in his voice.

“Are you alright, Miss? You look like someone’s been going over you. Is that your baby?”

Bobby picked up Toby and got out of the truck. He staggered over to the Sunny Serve office, tears running down his cheeks from the pain in his groin. The swelling made it hard to walk.

Joelle chased after him, steering him to the chair at the desk.

“Bobby Filler. Hide the truck, can’t let them find us. Get to Bobby Filler.”
Bobby said as he was passing out. Joelle grabbed Toby before Bobby collapsed.

She called the café and a minute later saw a pink waitress uniform run over to the Sunny Serve office.

“Terri, this poor girl drove up, asked for Bobby and collapsed. It looks like someone beat the crap out of her.

The waitress grabbed Toby, who seemed fascinated by the very large breasts the waitress uniform displayed.

“We need to get this baby some clothes and you need to get Doc Schlange. He and mom are at her house. Bobby’s due back in an hour. Maybe he knows who this kid is. It’s slow over at the café and Thelma can handle my shift for now. I’ll get this little fella handled while you stay with her until the Doc comes.”

Joelle watched Terri walk away towards the town store, holding the baby and calling on a cell phone, probably to warn Joelle’s uncle to open the front door. She always loved watching Terri walk away, with those big hips moving back and forth. She was completely in love with Terri, and had been since they were kids.

Bobby Dunbar was sleeping on a bed in Betty Springer’s home, the one she usually shared with Doc Schlange. Doc was talking to Betty, Terri, Joelle and Bobby Filler, who had just arrived. Toby was sleeping in a playpen Terri had set up, clothed in his new sleeper. Joelle had given him a good bath, and with more food, he had fallen sound asleep.

“Well, someone beat our visitor up real bad. The baby seems fine, but the young girl you called me here to look at has some surprises. First of all, I doubt that they are mother and daughter.” Doc spoke in his normal deep tones.

“How do you know that, Doc?” Joelle asked.

“Well, because I’m a good doctor, and while I’ve handled some strange cases before “ He looked at Terri, who giggled, “ I doubt that boy gave birth. “

The crowd gasped. A thin, long haired smooth skinned kid carrying a baby led them to a lot of assumptions. Doc continued.

“He’s had some ribs broken, but his biggest problem other than borderline malnutrition is his testicles have been smashed pretty good. It looked like he got stomped by a boot heel. The strange thing is the baby is healthy and well fed, but this boy has not been eating well. You say he came here asking for Bobby?”

Joelle nodded. “He also said to hide the truck. When I drove it into the bays, I found a duffel bag with a pistol and over $50000 in twenties. Do you think he’s a robber?”

Bobby Filler, stood up, his wrinkled face and lanky body uncoiling from the chair, and he limped over to the resting boy.

“I think he is on the run from someone who was trying to hurt him. We’ll know more when he wakes up. Call me, I’ll have my phone on.” With that, he spun around and left.

“Doc, can you help him? How bad are the injuries?” Betty asked.

“We need to let the swelling go down for now, and then I need to bring him in for an ultrasound to inspect the damage. The ribs will heal, but will hurt like hell for a while. I fear he may be permanently affected. I’ll have to wait and see. Right now, let him sleep. I’m going to call some friends for a consultation.”

Chapter 8: Underground Railroad

Bobby Dunbar felt better than he had in months. He’d eaten food, showered and was given clean jeans, a T shirt and new sneakers. He’s tried to pay but nobody would take his money.

Toby was having the time of his life, with at least five or six women mothering him every second. He seemed to really like Terri, the waitress with the really big boobs.

He and Bobby Filler were sitting together with Doc Schlange, in Bobby’s home. Charlene, Bobby’s wife was running the businesses while Bobby figured out what to do.

“Are you sure you’ve told us everything, Bobby? Every detail could be important.” Bobby Filler said. Bobby Dunbar sensed he was a man of few words.

“All I can remember. I need to take care of Toby. He’s all the family I’ve got and he deserves better than what we had. And the Disciples will never stop until they find us.” Bobby said, stoically. For some reason these two men reminded him of his Dad. Big, steady and caring.

“Al Jenkins was a Marine with me and Terri’s dad. Then he was the best cop this state every saw. And Carol Jenkins was one of the best women I knew. I’m not surprised they went out like they did, they were tough as nails and really good people.” Bobby Filler said.

He continued. “Carol asked me to help out a friend of hers, someone she knew as a Navy nurse. The woman has a big mountain lodge way the heck up in the Sierras and helps people. Usually not like you, but given your situation, I think she’d do it for Carol’s memory. They are sent to me and I kind of filter them out and act as a go between to get them to her. I’ve already called her and she wants you to bring Toby up there and stay.”

“What kind of people?” Bobby Dunbar asked.

“Usually women beaten up by their men, a lot with babies and nowhere to go. It’s gotten a little better, with some new laws, but the ones we see now are a lot of migrants and others, who are afraid to go to the law. If you go there, you follow her rules and do not do anything to put those people at risk. Understand?”

Bobby shook his head.

“Bobby, I need to monitor his condition, and I’m going to need to take him for some tests.” Doc chimed in.

“I know Doc. That’s why I’m bringing you into this. Plus I know you can keep your mouth shut. Now Bobby, I’ve got a duffel bag of money which is yours free and clear, and given your situation, I’m letting you keep the 9mm. Can you use it?” Bobby Filler said.

“Yes, I can. My Dad taught me how to shoot when I was ten.”

“Okay. The truck has been repainted and driven three hundred miles to Arizona, Phoenix actually. The paint washed off in a car wash and we hope it will be found abandoned. The Disciples probably have people in every police station and we hope they think you are down south and east of here. Now gather your things, both of you. You’re going to meet Lady Jean Thomas. “

Chapter 9: Sanctuary

Bobby Filler drove the 6X6 up the logging road, taking care to avoid the most jarring holes and rocks. Bobby Dunbar and Doc Schlange were with him, and Toby seemed fine in his car seat.

After about an hour of twists and turns, Bobby drove off the road on what looked like pure brush undergrowth. He stopped the truck, told the two to get everything they were bringing.

A set of steps went up about twenty feet, cut into the rockface. Bobby banged the stair rail with a rock and Doc saw a stair elevator platform begin to descend. They boarded, Bobby banged the rock again and the platform slowly lifted them up.

Bobby Dunbar saw the most beautiful house he had ever seen. Huge, it must have twenty rooms or more. The wood finish blended in with the surrounding pines, which towered overhead. Several decks ran along the outside, at least three levels he could see. What was strange is that it had been totally invisible from the road.

“Somebody was worried about defensive perimeters here.” Doc muttered.

“When you meet Jean, you’ll see.” Bobby Filler said, chuckling.

They approached the house and two young women dressed in jeans and workshirts met them. Bobby waved and it was clear they knew him.

“Is this our new arrival, Mr Filler? “ the tall one asked.

“Yes, Tracey. This is Bobby Dunbar and Toby. The other big guy is Doc Schlange. He’s a friend.”

“Doctor, Lady Jean wants to meet you right away. Bobby, please bring Toby and we’ll get you two settled into your room. Mr. Filler, can you take him to the library?”

Bobby nodded to Bobby Dunbar, who followed the two women to the left, while he led Doc to the right. The interior was magnificent and Bobby had to keep pulling Doc away from the paintings and artifacts strewn through the lodge.

They entered the library which looked like something transplanted from an English manor house. Dark wainscoting and books shelved to the ceiling, with rolling ladders on the walls. A tall woman with long brown hair strewn with gray rose from a stuffed chair. She was dressed in a prim and proper sleeveless high neck dress which came to her knees. She had a remarkable figure and moved with grace.

“Bobby I’m glad to see you. How is Charlene?” The woman said.

“She’s going crazy, Lady Jean. She says she will quit smoking for sure this time. I just stay out of her way, like everybody else.” Bobby said.

“I really doubt you can stay away from her that long, Bobby.”

She turned to Doc. Doc Schlange stared at her, knowing she looked very familiar, but could not place her.

“I’m Jean Thomas. The ‘Lady’ means I married lucky. Lucky until he passed on. Haven’t you placed me yet, Walter?” Lady Jean stood in front of Doc, smiling.

Doc’s face exploded. “Jean Koslowski? You were at FireBase Mary? I haven’t seen you in almost forty years! Goddamit, Bobby, why didn’t you tell me?” He hugged Lady Jean enough to pick her up off the floor.

“Didn’t know until I gave Jean your name to see if she would allow you up here. Then she told me to keep it a surprise.” Bobby said, grinning enough so his worn wrinkles moved around.

Doc, or Walter as Bobby now learned was his name, had served as Doctor with Jean as chief nurse in a field hospital where a detachment of Marines was reinforcing an Army position. Firebase Mary got nicknamed “Bloody Mary” after it almost was overrun at least six times.

They sat down and Jean told her story. She knew Doc’s history and had been totally surprised when Bobby had told her he had been a frequent visitor to Filler, just fifty miles away, and had married into the Filler ‘family’.

After falling in love with an Aussie officer she helped patch up, she accepted his offer to return to Australia with him. It turned out he was a British Lord, Knight of the Empire and all that, but also heir to a reasonable fortune. They lived a wonderful, happy life until he his heart gave out fifteen years ago. Lady Jean decided to return home to the Sierras, and built the lodge on some property they owned. She became involved in various causes, but settled on funding shelters for battered women and children. As she got more involved, she found there were cases in which the danger level was so high, she did not want them in a regular shelter.

The ‘Extreme Cases’ as she called them she tended to personally, with a small staff at her lodge. She knew Bobby Filler, Al and Carol Jenkins from the war and enlisted them in being her go betweens. She also made sure that her lodge would not be overrun like Firebase Mary.

“Walter, Bobby, right now I have only five girls in residence, two with babies. I have the room for Bobby but we are not really set up for young boys. How long will he have to stay here? “ Lady Jean asked.

“Given the Disciples reputation, he and the baby have to disappear forever. With Al gone, I have no way of knowing who to trust in the police. I’m afraid to even try the one guy who was close to Al until this thing cools off. We need Bobby to become someone else. Can you trust your girls?” Bobby said.

“I hope so. I don’t think any will be leaving in the next year, anyway.”

Doc spoke. “There is another complication. Bobby’s injuries to his groin are severe and probably permanent. He will almost certainly not be producing enough testosterone to even trigger the rest of his puberty. After he heals, I may need to begin supplements if he wants to retain any normal function. I will need to take him for an ultrasound exam soon.”

“No need to remove him, Walter. I have two ultrasound machines here. We have a very well equipped lab and a part time resident OB GYN. You may want to confer with her, however, given she may be a bit out of her specialty. Lord Harry left me more money than I can possibly spend.”

Chapter 10: New Friends

Bobby Dunbar was walking Toby around on the deck, looking at the valley below. Toby loved the sunlight and shadows through the trees.

Bobby felt a little better. His face was still bruised but not as swollen. His ribs still ached but he felt it was lessening. His groin was encased in a diaper like padded garment, with cold packs to try to reduce the swelling. It still throbbed, despite the pain pills Doc and the other Doc, Karen had given him. He felt a bit silly wearing the loose fitting shift which came to his knees, but had to admit it was the only thing he could wear outside over the diaper. Besides, he had come to the conclusion he needed to look like someone else other than Bobby, for his and Toby’s sake.

The girls there had been great. They loved little Toby and made him feel welcome. They all were here escaping from a brutal situation and regarded Bobby as one of them.

He was the youngest. Dawn and Tracey were nineteen and Tracey’s baby was Toby’s age.

Melinda was seventeen and her little boy was just nine months. Barbara was sixteen and Madeline was fourteen.

Bobby found his room next to Madeline’s, and she visited a lot when she was not doing her studies or chores. Bobby had no chores while he healed, which annoyed him since he had been running a household since he was ten.

Lady Jean spent hours listening to Bobby talk. She was amazed at the combination of adult maturity and responsibility and the child like vulnerability in the young boy. His attachment to Toby was more than a brother, Bobby admitted he felt more like Toby’s Momma now that Momma was gone.

“Bobby, your Momma had problems. You know that, don’t you?” Jean asked gently.

“Momma fell apart when Dad wasn’t there. But even when he was, she was mean and only really cared about herself. Mrs. Jenkins used to tell me to be strong for her and Toby, ‘cause Momma lost her way. So I did my best, but I had to stop her from killing Toby. I didn’t want to hurt her.” Bobby broke down and Lady Jean held him.

Jean could not believe what this child had been through. An abusive mother. A father who seemed to care but was gone a lot. Being viewed as gay by the whole town. Beaten up and humiliated. The people who were supposed to help were either hurting him actively or absent. And then watching his mother neglect his brother, and then try to kill him and blame him for it. The most violent criminal gang in the country after him and wanting him dead.

And now he would have to be told he might never be a normal man. This was not a problem child, this was a child that had problems dumped on his head. And still, a core of incredible strength and character shown through. He would not abandon his helpless brother at any cost to himself. This child would be saved, cherished and protected, if she did nothing else before she died. Lady Jean Thomas, the aloof, powerful woman wept openly , holding the boy in a gentle embrace.

Chapter 11: New Identity

Jean was sitting in her office with Doc Schlange, Doctor Karen Peters, her staff doctor and George Romany, a psychiatrist who specialized in transgendered boys. George was part of a very shadowy group that Jean could never seem to trace, but their purposes often coincided with hers and she liked George. He was a bit of a fanatic if you wound him up, but he really cared for the kids he treated.

“Jean, you are right not to trust the police. My contacts have told me the Disciples have penetrated almost every force around. Not enough to change things but enough so they know everything the cops know. You tell the cops where Bobby is and he will be dead in two days. Along with everyone near him. The group makes so much money from
their meth labs and other things they can afford to pay off or threaten their way into anywhere.” George said, glancing at the group’s reaction.

“I read from your statement that Bobby needs to be prepared to assume another identity for the foreseeable future, maybe permanently, George. I have discussed this with him, as well as Walter’s diagnosis. He has expressed the desire to masquerade as a girl.. He is quite a mature boy and he understands his injury. He also identifies as filling in for Toby mother as a worthy life choice. I have never seen such a selfless person, anywhere. Walter, Karen, what do you think?” Jean asked.

“I think appearing as a girl will be relatively harmless for now, if the other girls never engage in humiliation of any kind. It should be done lovingly and with his full consent. I assume Walter can address the effect of holding off testosterone therapy, but we need to keep his options open as long as possible.” Karen said, nodding to Doc.

“Delaying Bobby’s puberty will be helpful to the masquerade, and as long as we monitor him, we can hold off a decision for a year. At that time we either point him one way or another. If he wants to continue the masquerade, then he needs to decide if it should become real.” Doc said, nodding to George.

“If we follow the normal process, which this does not, we would have Bobby live as a woman for quite a while before we push this that way. What’s a problem here is the involuntary nature of the injury. Bobby needs to come to grips with the decision, but the sooner he decides, the better he will be growing up as his selected gender. I recommend we wait no more than that year and then push for a choice. In the meantime, I can provide some help with his appearance.” George said, tears welling up in his eyes. This case was personally difficult since George believed in letting the person come to grips with their gender gently and slowly, but Bobby’s choice was thrust upon him.

“So be it. Bobby becomes Carol, the name he chose to honor Carol Jenkins, who saved his life as her last act. It was his, or rather her idea.” Jean said, sharing George’s tears.

Carol was beginning to get comfortable in his new role. Lady Jean had explained the situation to all the household and they embraced Carol’s identity change as a group challenge. It had been a month and he was finally getting the hang of hair styling, with coaching from Tracey and Melinda. His hair was now jet black and his complexion was darker by a combination of sun and makeup. He really wondered if sleeping in rollers was necessary, but they assured him it was a necessary part of his training.

Although they had only trimmed his hair, it was unrecognizable in the curly style they had him practice. It floated off his shoulders, just brushing them as he swung his head.

He had adapted to earrings and dresses, but found high heels really uncomfortable. He made sure he did at least two hours a day practicing, under Lady Jean’s watchful eye, which included walking with a book on his head in the library. Lady Jean and some of the staff who were also teachers were patient but firm with Carol. If he lapsed on his behavior, they were quick to settle him down and discuss why he was doing it. There was a calm inevitability communicated to Carol that he would become a feminine girl with help and support, and that he was perfectly capable of doing it well.

Carol was treated like a special little sister by all of the girls. They made sure he had help when he needed it, but including him into their group as a full member was crucial to making Carol comfortable. Gossip, jokes and general girl talk became easy for Carol, and seemed normal after a short while. Carol had found a family again.

Mr. Romany was very helpful and seemed to know everything about dressing like a girl. He confided in Carol that he often did it himself, and one day showed up in a skirted suit and wig. Carol thought he looked beautiful. Lady Jean just treated him as another woman. It was amazing. Carol studied how George changed his hand gestures, and body language when he dressed up. George had explained that attitude and the silent forms of communication were the key to appearing believably female.

George had fitted Carol for breast prostheses, showing him how to use the adhesive and the remover. Carol’s ribs were still sore but found applying the breasts less painful as time went by.

It was strange having boobs, but Carol soon adapted, especially since the girls fawned all over him, letting him know how good he looked. He became familiar with brassieres and never went without one during the day.

The girls showed Carol no mercy in appearing and acting girlish, and he was always the most feminine appearing of the entire group. Of course, his injury and padding almost made wearing dresses the easiest choice for him.

The only person he could not fool was Toby, who took it all in stride. He had cried when Carol’s hair went dark, but quickly adapted. The rest of the changes he was oblivious too, except he seemed to love to grab at Carol’s breasts and pinch them.

Chapter 12: School Days

Lady Jean had to admit, Carol was the hardest working student she had ever seen. He just burned through the material, seemingly driven to make up for lousy schools, apathetic teachers and no motivation all in one year. At fourteen he was already caught up to his grade level, and all this while being a full time mother.

Toby was a handful, still smiling and good natured but curious and crawling into everything. He was a handful by any stretch of the imagination. Carol played with him while studying material, never ignoring him or even showing any temper.

Madeline became Carol’s closest friend. Jean, Karen and George observed a continual adaptation to the role of young mother and teenage girl with little or no difficulty. It was like Bobby just became Carol over the space of a few months.

Jean was proud of her girls, and a leaving ceremony was always a tearful occasion. Dawn and Tracey had been at the lodge for three years and were quite different from the scared and beaten girls who had shown up at her door. Jean had determined the danger for them had passed and was starting them off in a new life. The girls were starting a catering business in Denver, a place far from their past.

Carol had used some of his stash of money to buy dresses for everybody for the ceremony, including George. Jean thought it over and then approved. It was the first time Carol had even thought about the money in the whole year he had been there.

The formal gowns were very pretty, each one tailored to the measurements sent in by Carol who had done it as his gift to the departing girls.

Jean led the ceremony with some traditional words and all of them lit the candles they held. Tracey and Dawn were in tears and it was contagious. They said a few words indicating their love, their appreciation for Lady Jean, and the unique rescue that had happened. George was sobbing openly, his mascara running. It was short and poignant.

Chapter 13: Direction and Discovery

Carol sat with Lady Jean. He was dressed up since he viewed this as important, and his hair was a mass of permed curls. He smoothed his skirt as he sat across the desk from her.

“Carol, you know the decision you need to make. Three doctors who love you are all saying you should grow up one way or the other. I wish there was another way. But Dr.Schlange is a leading expert on this and says if you delay any longer you may end up halfway between man and woman. We gave you a year to try living as a girl and frankly you are better at it than most natural born girls.

“You may be just short of fifteen, but you are old enough to make this decision. Just please do me one favor. Do this for you, not for Toby. He’s a wonderful child, but he would not want this on his head when he’s old enough to know what you gave up.” Jean said, looking directly into Carol’s eyes.

Carol/Bobby went quiet.

After the longest ten minutes Jean could remember, he spoke.”I don’t think I would be as good a man as the woman I could be. I can’t be sure, but I think I want to be Carol. Can I do that? “

Jean hugged her newest girl.

Max Atherton had never given up on nailing Al and Carol Jenkins’ killers. He had to let the sheriff go, with the only evidence being Al’s call to the police. He knew the key was the Dunbar boy.

No one had found him, or the baby. It was like the earth had swallowed them up. He knew the Disciples were still looking also, so he took comfort in believing they were still alive. If the gang stopped looking, they were dead.

Max called in the lone investigator who was still working the case. Fred Washington was a massive man who was like a bulldog with a bone. When he got a case, he never let go.

“Fred, did we check out everybody who went to the Jenkins funeral? I mean everybody?”

“Yes, Max. We did. Three times. So did the Disciples through the PI’s they’ve hired. But I have an idea I’ve been working on and I need your help.” Fred said in his slow but penetrating voice.

“Ok, shoot.”

“My latest theory is who didn’t go to the funeral who should have. The murder got nationwide attention, so most people would have found out. I’ve gone through Carol Jenkins address book and I have a list of cop and marine buddies for Al and old friends of Carol. I’m going to start tracing them down. If any of them are sheltering the boy, they would not have been at the service to avoid the Disciples’ attention. Now do any names strike you?”

Max scanned the list. Two popped out, both Vietnam buddies of Al’s. Bill Ferny and Bobby Filler. Both were in state and both would have come for the funeral if they could.

“Okay, Max, I’ll check them out. I have three names to track from Carol Jenkins’ friends. Barbara Holman, Jean Koslowski and Bebe Newhart. The rest are dead or in very bad health.” Fred continued.

“Fred, do this yourself. I really don’t want that damn gang using your work to find them and kill them. If that happens, I’d rather we just drop the whole thing.” Max said.

They found the listening device in Max’s office the next day.

Chapter 14: Return

Sheriff Turner was basking in his new hot tub. The income from his role in the Disciples allowed him to make his lifestyle a bit more comfortable. He was about half asleep, sitting over the water jets with a beer in his hand.

Suddenly he was yanked out of the water and thrown into a bag, tied shut and heaved up on a shoulder.

“Make a noise and I’ll break your skull wide open, scumbag.” This was all Turner heard. He decided to be quiet.

After being thrown into a car trunk, Turner remembered driving for what seemed like hours. The bag was impervious to his efforts to break free.

He felt the car stop and the trunk open. He was hoisted out and carried somewhere. A few minutes later, he is strapped up and hung on a hook, suspended a foot off the ground. He heard two men.

“Turner, we need to go over what happened at the Dunbar place. We need more clues to find the boy. Now start from the top and don’t leave anything out.”

“What? Are you crazy? I work right for Reed and Sean. They already know everything I know. This is a mistake!” Turner said, a whimper in his voice. He heard some dogs, big snarly ones.

“Look asshole, Reed and Sean have fucked this up. We are looking over their shoulder, so to speak. Now, do you answer or should I pour beef gravy on your crotch and let the dogs loose? They haven’t eaten for a day and a half.” The voice was cold and frightening.

Turner felt his bathing suit being cut away and felt something warm and thick being poured onto his genitals. The dogs got louder.

Turner talked. He covered everything.

When he was done, he was punched in the face and gut, taken off the hook and told “Don’t breathe a word about this to anyone, asshole, or next time we won’t be so nice.”

Turner was told to not remove his mask for ten minutes or he would be dead. He knew the gang actually did that to guys, leaving behind a gunman with a stopwatch. They unstrapped him and he then heard a car drive away.

Maybe a half an hour alter, he unmasked and found himself naked, in the desert, miles from anywhere.

Chapter 15: Good Police Work

Max Atherton was in a rush. He knew the Disciples were driving against the leads Fred had developed and blamed himself They had not killed anyone yet, but the people they could find had been visited. And threats were implied.

Bobby Filler had captured two PI’s who had gotten a little rough. The State Police retrieved them and charged assault against an officer of the law, Bobby being the Filler town sheriff. He told the troopers that his favorite song was ‘I Fought The Law And The Law Won’ when they drove away. Bobby started carrying his revolver again.

Max Atherton paid a call on Bobby.

“Bobby, I worked with Al Jenkins for twenty years. He was the best damn cop this state ever had. And I let him down. If I can find that kid I know I can put away Sean Cottrell for a long time.” Max said.

“Mr. Atherton, even you get Sean Cottrell, from what I understand he’s just the top punk. The damn gang will go on and kill that kid just like stomping on a bug.” Bobby said, shuffling papers on his desk.

“We could protect him. Oh, that’s bullshit., I know. But what else can I do? I’ve got to get the guys that took down Al.” Max said, exasperated.

“Sounds like you need to go a bit outside the law, Max. If I hear anything, I’ll call you.”

Fred had just connected Jean Koslowski to Lady Jean Thomas. He was not going to tell anyone except Max, but was not aware there was spyware in his computer, sending out his activity to a hidden location on the local network. Someone was going to pick that up that evening.

The State Police Sysadmin was running maintenance routines, trying to track down some anomalous behavior on the servers. He found the hidden files just as they were leaving the system. He was able to trap the files before they deleted themselves and tried to trace where they went. Failing that, he picked up the phone to call the Duty Officer.

Max Atherton was called a half an hour later.

Chapter 16: Firebase Jean

Lady Jean got the call from Bobby, who got the call from Max Atherton. She immediately started shutting down the lodge. When she decided to handle the ‘Extreme Cases’ here , she knew she might attract some very bad people. Fortunately there were only four girls and two toddlers, plus three adult staff. Plus Jean. She hoped Bobby could get here soon with some reinforcements. She opened the armory and issued weapons to the staff, grabbing a Colt 1911 ACP for herself, along with an M-16 with full auto. She was running through the defenses in her head. Claymores, motion sensors, video cameras and other booby traps.

She debated collapsing the staircase, but decided it made a better kill zone if they tried to use it. Her staff cook was an expert with a SAW (light machine gun) and was assembling it as she watched.

Lady Jean had almost been killed several times defending a position almost forty years ago and was going to be damned if she would let them through hers now. She remembered when the nurses had been offered rifles and asked to help hold the line. It was never supposed to happen, and never had, officially.
Sean Cottrell was angry every time he closed his jaw. The reconstruction was never quite right, and the source of constant pain. That kid had caught him just right and smashed the hinge joint beyond recognition. He had spent the better part of the year going to oral surgeons, who he found, were much more professional at giving pain than he could ever aspire to. His brother had told him he wasn’t allowed to kill the doctors when he was finished, and that really pissed him off.

Sean was going in from the air. There were two helos, each carrying two Disciples to climb down a rope and enter the lodge. Reed had about twenty guys working their way up the hill, ready to go in and lay waste on Sean’s signal. The money paid to the cops IT people was worth it, it kept them one step ahead.

Carol and Toby were in a central room. Carol held the 9mm Bobby Filler had let her keep. She always thought of herself in the feminine these days, since she had committed to the hormone therapy. After just a few months, her body was already taking shape. She knew it would take some time, but she wanted her own breasts so she could ditch the prostheses. So far, her nipples were changing and she showed some growth. Despite the mood swings, she was happier than she had ever been. Until today.

Madeline, Melinda and Barbara, along with Melinda’s toddler were also there, and Melinda had a pump shotgun aimed at the only door.

Reed Cottrell was cursing the underbrush. At first this little hit seemed like fun, like all those war movies he had seen. He had his guys working up the hill, and they were cursing and shouting and making a hell of a lot of noise. Reed knew that was wrong, but who could get in their way out here? He hefted the H&K submachine gun and kept moving upward. He hoped they were on the right hill.

Chapter 17: Confrontation

Jean heard the helicopters and saw the men rappelling down the lines, four of them. She cursed herself. She had never planned on an air assault. She ran up the stairs. She heard the crash of glass and knew at least one had entered the house.

Sean Cottrell sent his companion down the hall. They both began kicking in doors. He heard someone running up stairs. His partner kicked in a door and was taken down by a shotgun blast. Sean crept up and looked inside and saw a bunch of girls and little kids. One was rubbing a sore shoulder from the shotgun blast.

Sean ran in and shouted “Bobby Dunbar! Give it up and nobody else gets hurt!”

The girls all looked at each other, some grasping the babies. Carol hid the 9mm under her skirt. She heard gunfire in the hallway.

“Bobby Dunbar! Come out!” Sean said. Nobody moved.

Carol knew Sean could cut them to pieces if he squeezed off a burst with his weapon. Including Toby.

Jean saw two men coming down the hall, and sent a burst into the first one. He staggered, but didn’t go down. Damn armor she thought. She was then surprised to see the second man snap her target’s neck. He turned, a large man with short hair and a beard, tattoos all over his huge upper arms. He held up his hand and put a finger in front of his mouth, indicating silence. Jean nodded. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, at least this moment.

Both of them heard Sean’s challenge in the room off the hallway. The large man crept inside.

Carol, grasping her skirt, stood up. She gave Toby to Melinda.

“I’m Bobby Dunbar. Leave them alone.” She said.

Sean looked and laughed.

“You are a little faggot. I’ll bet you’ve enjoyed this, girl. Now I owe you some payback.” Sean menaced, his jaw clicking.

Carol drew up the pistol but stopped as Sean was suddenly in a choke hold. Carol stood there stunned.

“You forgot the other Dunbar, Sean. Drop the gun or I’ll snap your neck. I may anyway.” Steve Dunbar stood there. Smiling.

Sean dropped the gun. Steve smashed him right in his reconstructed jaw, sending Sean in paroxysms of screaming pain. Steve tied him up with some plastic handcuffs he had in his assault suit.

Carol was absolutely shaken. Steve came up and picked her up.

“I’ve been looking for you for almost a year, Bobby. I’ll never leave you again. Is that Toby?”

Carol nodded.

“I see you took real good care of him. I’m real proud of you, kid. I got some of the story, but I want to hear it all from you.”

“Daddy! Daddy!” Carol screamed. “I thought you were dead! Daddy!” Tears were streaming down most cheeks in the room. Madeline handed Toby to Steve.

After a few minutes, Lady Jean interrupted.

“Mr. Dunbar, I thank you for your help, but there are at least fifteen men coming up the mountain, all heavily armed. I think we better attend to the defenses.”

Steve set his family down.

“Bobby, please take that pistol and blow that guy away if he tries to get loose. I’ll be back. Take care of the group here.”

Steve kissed his sons and left with Lady Jean.

As they approached the first floor, Jean heard the SAW ripping bursts right at the staircase, and saw her cook take out at least four of the attackers. These morons were plain stupid, Jean thought, we may survive this yet.

Steve took his H&K and worked a gunport under a window. Jean saw a group of five men on the video monitor at the base of the stairs and triggered the claymores. Remote controlled explosives loaded with steel bearings. She watched the shrapnel rip the Disciples to complete shreds. The odds were evening up.

The house was stinking of cordite and sweat. Her staff was now only firing when they saw a target.

Chapter 18: Wrap

Jean saw her attackers start dying on the video monitors, but she could not see how. Suddenly the survivors had their hands in the air.

Jean’s phone rang. She answered it, put the receiver down and shouted “It’s over! Put your weapons down!. Bobby Filler got here with some help.”

Bobby had enlisted the nearby Mountain Resort security team to help out. Most were reservists, former Recon Marines or Army Special Forces. They had no casualties; their only limitation was getting there fast enough.

One of the dead was Reed Cottrell, his face barely recognizable from Jean’s claymores.

Jean looked up and saw another helicopter. Just as everyone was raising weapons, she heard a shout “Friendly! State Police”

Chapter 19: Sweet Home Again

Max Atherton was debating between arresting everyone in sight or just ignoring the whole thing and taking in Sean Cottrell and his remaining Disciples, and squeezing them for what he would need to put a real dent in the organization.

Lady Jean Thomas, her lodge restored to order, all windows airing out the smell of battle, recounted the story as she knew it. Max went wide eyed at what Bobby Dunbar had to go through. Max decided to ignore the several hundred weapons violations in evidence.

Steve Dunbar related his story, which consisted of being found barely alive by ‘freelance salvage crews’ or pirates, working the small islands off the Philippines, graduating from slave to crew, escaping and working his way back to the US. Once he arrived, he contacted an old friend who clued him in to what had happened. He glossed over some of his methods tracking the Disciples, but told Max that he had boatloads of data on their operations which he would be happy to let them ‘find’ them on Reed Cottrell’s body.

A medevac helicopter came for the wounded, especially Sean Cottrell, who, in addition to a re-fractured jaw, somehow had his testicles hammered flat, possibly with a pistol butt.

Jean knew she would never ask Carol about that.

Jean decided that Steve Dunbar was an exceptional man, capable of violence but also caring. He had accepted Carol’s life decision, understanding the logic and knew he had been a part of the circumstance which brought it about. He had a lot of guilt to work out. Jean knew she was capable of violence herself, if it meant defending her ‘family’.

Lady Jean’s mission sometimes required force to extract and protect the women and children while they made it to her sanctuary, and Al Jenkins was gone and had been too old for quite a while, and she knew Bobby Filler , while tough as they come, was getting on in years. She needed someone new to keep things going.

Steve Dunbar spent a lot of time talking to Lady Jean, about his life and his choices. She came to see him as a man who looked for redemption and was struggling to achieve it. He also was driven to protect the innocent. Even in his worst days as a gang member, he applied violence only against those who could defend themselves, and today his smuggling of pot would just make him a minor glaucoma medicine distributor.

So Lady Jean Thomas gave Carol, her newest girl, the best gift she could.

Steve accepted her offer to stay on as a ‘security specialist’ .. He agreed, knowing the Disciples could still lash out while the justice system began to dismantle them. He also knew Carol (he called her that now almost every time) liked it here. He had promised not to leave his family again, and this was keeping that promise.

Later that week, Carol put on her favorite dress, did her hair just the way she liked it, put on some light makeup and scent and even wore heels. She and Toby were going to dinner with Dad.

She realized she was happy, and had been happy for a longer time than ever before.

END