Lurch: Demented Souls, #9

By Melissa Stevens

Lurch has come to Gillette to help his president keep the ranch he's inherited. He never counted on what he would find while he was there.
Kerry has been in Gillette for more than five years. She came for school but stayed. Life on her family's farm in southern Wyoming held no appeal to her. She was getting by waiting tables until she found something more exciting. Who would have guessed that more exciting would be a tattooed biker sitting at her next table?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melissa Stevens
• Release date: May 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201193171

Melissa Stevens

Melissa was born and raised in Arizona, she’s spent her entire life living across the southern half of the state. She’s found that, along with her husband and three children, she prefers the small towns and rural life to feeling packed into a city. She started reading at a very young age, and her love for series started early, as the first real books she remembers reading is the Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner. Through the years she’s found that there’s little she won’t read, and her tastes vary from westerns, to romance, to sci-fi / fantasy and Horror.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Lurch couldn’t help the slow grin that spread across his face when he spotted the sign for a restaurant tucked away in the corner of an aging strip mall.

Mon Cha!

It probably didn’t mean much to most people but to him it meant home. And hopefully some food like he hadn’t had in years. He didn’t have time to stop now, besides he was acting as security for London on a grocery trip. When he went in, at least the first time, he didn’t want any witnesses, at least anyone he’d have to deal with daily. At least until he knew what he was getting into.

Lurch had only been in Gillette for two weeks. He hadn’t even settled in yet. No one had. They were still working on setting up a routine. Tuck was still getting a feel for the place, as were all the others who’d more recently arrived.

Lurch was one of four of the Demented Souls who had come up from Arizona with a couple of pickups, bringing with them everything Tuck would need to live here for a year.

Not all of the brothers who had come had been volunteers, but Lurch had been. He’d been looking for a chance to get out of Tucson for a little while for some time. This seemed like the perfect opportunity. He wasn’t really looking forward to middle of nowhere Wyoming, but it had to be better than the heat of Arizona, especially this time of year when the temperatures often hit 110 sometimes as high as 115. The summer wasn’t too bad when you had air conditioning, but more often than not, Lurch ended up on the road somewhere. And 115, even at 60 or 75 miles an hour was still 115. After an hour tops, you felt like you’d been stuck in a convection oven for days. It sucked all the moisture out of you.

At least up here it was well under a hundred degrees, and it was nice weather for a ride. Even if he didn’t get out on his bike as often as he would like.

In fact, he’d only had a chance to get out and ride once since he’d arrived; the rest of the time was in a vehicle. With at least one other person, usually escorting London somewhere.

His attention was drawn back to London and Stretch, who was her other guard for this trip. London had insisted they needed groceries, and while they were in town, they also picked up feed and some hardware they needed around the ranch.

Lurch could tell London wasn’t happy with the restriction of not more than once a week into town, but he hadn’t heard her complain yet. She also wasn’t happy with so many men hanging around the house much less living in it. Hopefully it wouldn’t take them long to get the bunkhouse ready, so the Souls who were there for security could spend most of their time there unless they were on duty at the house.

The extra space and not being in each other’s ass pockets all the time would go a long way to ease the occasionally flaring tempers. As well as restoring some of the privacy they were all used to. Lurch wasn’t sure about any of the other brothers who had come up from Tucson, Stretch, Watt and Ghost, but he was tired of walking in on his president and London in various states of embrace, and once, undressed. London had been mortified. Tuck hadn’t been fazed. The Souls president had used his body to shield her until Lurch and the others had left.

London’s voice drew Lurch back to the present. He shook his head and focused on her where she sat in the passenger seat of the king cab pickup.

I’m sorry, what was that?

Nothing much, just asking what you were thinking about. You seemed a million miles away.

I kind of was, he admitted.

What were you thinking about? she asked.

Everything up here. The differences from Tucson, all of it. Wondering if we’re going to see any action, or if it’s just going to be boring for the next year.

London shot a disgusted look in the mirror. Do you think you’d be here if it had been boring so far? Tuck has only been in the north for a month and we’ve already had more excitement than I care to deal with.

Lurch didn’t ask why she was there if she didn’t want to deal with the drama. It would only get him in trouble with Tuck. And in trouble with the president was the last thing Lurch wanted.

What are we waiting for on the bunkhouse? London asked.

We just got the water leak repaired. We have to do a little bit of sheetrock and tile work before anyone can move in and before the shower is usable. And we’re still waiting for the beds to be delivered. The place was in decent condition except for the damage from the water leak. I don’t know how long it’s been since anyone lived there, but it was in surprising shape for someplace that’s been empty for a while.

Do we have an estimated delivery on the beds?

Not off the top of my head. We probably have one, but I don’t know what it is. We’re trying to get out of your hair as quickly as we can. We know you’re sick of us.

It’s not that. A flush rose up London cheeks all the way to her hairline.

Lurch didn’t say what he was thinking. That she was tired of them of being walked in on as much as they were tired of walking in on them.

I just think we’ll be more comfortable when we all have some space of our own.

And you only have people around up at the house when you need them. Not all the time and underfoot twenty four/seven.

I didn’t say that, London said.

You didn’t have to, Lurch put in. He glanced over at Stretch, who was driving, and was oddly silent through the whole conversation. What do you have to say? Lurch asked.

I’m not saying a word, Stretch said. I know better than getting in the middle of this.

London fell quiet, and Lurch’s mind turned toward the bunkhouse. At one time, Lurch wasn’t sure how long ago, it had been a long, narrow building full of bunk beds for all the hands. Sometime in the past it had been divided into rooms, but there still weren’t enough rooms for everybody to get their own. But at least it wouldn’t be all four of them in a single room.

There were two bedrooms. A kitchen, a seating area and the bathroom. The bathroom had several stalls with toilets and a locker room style shower. After discussing their options, the men had opted to stick with bunk beds for the bedrooms. It would mean more room for other things, though Lurch wasn’t sure what other things yet.

He thought about the options for roommate and suspected he was going to get stuck with Ghost. It wasn’t that he disliked the other man. Only that he didn’t know him well enough to know whether he liked him or not. Stretch and Watt got along and tended to understand each other’s jokes and make jokes that only the other got. It seemed natural that those two would go together in one room.

Lurch wasn’t sure that anyone knew Ghost that well. The other man was kind of a loner. He did his own thing and didn’t care about what the others were up to. But wasn’t that kind of how snipers were supposed to be? Lurch shook his head and pushed those thoughts from his mind, turning instead to think about the group and the reason that they were all here.

The local group that had been harassing Tuck and London while Tuck was here for his mother's service and business. They'd found out that they had been sent by the Diablos. Lurch wasn’t sure what was happening with that, but he knew the Souls still in Tucson were working on trying to find out what was going on with the Diablos.

It had been suggested that Ruger try to contact his father-in-law and ask what the hell was up. But after only a little discussion, the whole club had vetoed it. Neither Ruger nor his wife Krissi wanted anything to do with the old man. And they didn’t want to tie him to the Souls in any way. Unless of course they were putting him behind bars.

Switchblade was someone a lot of people didn’t want to cross. Hell, Lurch didn’t want to cross him. Not unless he had the full might of the Souls behind him. And he did. Lurch knew he had the full strength of the Souls behind him. He had since he’d patched in. The brotherhood of the Souls was something he had dearly missed. He’d had brotherhood to an extent in the Marines, but not like with the Souls. He hadn’t felt anything this close to tight knit since before he lost his family.

As Stretch turned off the highway onto the dirt road that led into the ranch, Lurch let his mind drift back to the restaurant he’d seen. He would have to take the time to go in and try to check it out. If he was lucky it would serve food similar to what he’d grown up on. Just the thought made his mouth water. He’d have to be careful though, because right now the rule was no one went into town on their own. At least not on ranch business, or club business. Maybe he could take a night to himself, take a pickup into town. Not that he wanted to do anything wild, just to have some alone time.

He had to find something to do while he was stuck in Wyoming. He didn’t think anything else would remind him so much of home. Even just spotting the sign had taken him back years. He couldn’t help but wonder just how good their food was.

CHAPTER 2

At the end of her shift, Kerry went out to her car and sat for a moment, exhausted. But knowing she still had to make the drive to her apartment. She looked forward to a hot bath where she could soak her feet for a few minutes. And then going to sleep. She wondered for a moment if Sandy would be home. She couldn’t remember what shift her friend was on. Not that it really mattered. Kerry shrugged, started the car, and turned toward home.

As she stepped into the apartment, she found it empty. Sandy must be at work, or off doing something else. She headed in the bedroom, where she stripped out of her clothes, and stepped into the attached bathroom. She started the hot water in the tub looking forward to soaking her feet. Even after more than five years as a waitress. At the end of every shift, her feet ached and throbbed. She looked forward to soaking them in hot water every evening. Even if only for a few minutes. For a long time, she had been sure she would eventually get used to it, but so far she hadn’t been able to. She didn’t know if she ever would.

She hissed as she stepped into the water, and it nearly scalded her feet. But she didn’t turn on the cold or lower the temperature. Experience had taught her, the hotter the water, the more it would help. And she didn’t have to stay very long. She wished, not for the first time, that her apartment complex had a jacuzzi along with the pool that spent most of the year covered. It would be nice to step down to the Jacuzzi, just dangle her feet in for a few minutes and then be done. Still, there were other benefits of hot baths after her shift, especially during the cold winters.

As her body got used to the heat, she sank down and sat in the water for a few minutes before standing up, showering and finishing her ritual. She was just stepping out of the bathroom when she heard the front door open.

You home yet? The call came through the apartment.

I am, Kerry called back. Give me a moment. I’m getting dressed.

She pulled on her fuzzy pajama pants, an oversized t- shirt, and stepped out into the main room of their shared apartment. Sandy was sitting in an overstuffed chair, sprawled out with her head hanging limp to one side as if half dead.

Long day? Kerry asked.

The worst, Sandy replied. But it’s over. I was thinking we might go out and find a party tonight.

Kerry shook her head.

I’m in for the night. Kerry flopped onto the couch. I’m up for dinner if we throw something together here or have something delivered, then I’m going to bed.

Party pooper. Sandy gave a fake pout.

Kerry knew her friend was likely as tired as she was.

Sandy sighed and relaxed into the chair. Thank goodness. I’m too tired to party half the night.

Oh good. What do you want to do for dinner? Do you want to find something to watch?

Sure, what do we have recorded? Sandy pushed herself up out of the chair and called over her shoulder as she walked out of the room. What do we want to order? Because I know you don’t feel like cooking any more than I do. She disappeared into her room but didn’t bother to close the door.

I don’t know. Nothing is really calling out to me. What do you want?

When Sandy reappeared in the doorway she’d replaced the jeans and tight t-shirt that was her work uniform with loose flannel pajama pants and an oversized t-shirt that hung off one shoulder.

I’m craving Chinese. What do you want? It only took them a few minutes to decide on their order, then Sandy called it in.

I’m having a drink, want one? Sandy bopped into the kitchen with far more energy than Kerry had.

What are you making?

I was thinking about a tequila sunrise, but I can fix you something else if you’d like.

Tequila sunrise is fine, thank you. Kerry didn’t want to move for at least several hours, but knew she’d have to, if only to pee or go climb into bed.

A couple minutes later, Sandy handed her a tall glass with orange and pink liquid nearly to the top. Kerry stirred the drink with the steel straws Sandy had included and sipped it. Most people would likely say that this drink didn’t go with Chinese food, but since it was mostly orange juice, Kerry thought it went at least as well as orange chicken, which neither she nor Sandy had ordered.

How was your day? Sandy asked sitting carefully in the chair she’d occupied earlier so she didn’t slosh her drink.

Long. Nothing remarkable today though, yours?

They both worked as waitresses though at different places currently. They’d long ago fallen into the habit of comparing their days and trading stories about the amusing, horrifying, and occasionally infuriating things that happened at their individual employments.

Sandy shook her head. I had one guy who was an ass, sending things back, yelling about how incompetent everyone is, me, the cook, the manager, the governor, even the president didn’t escape his scorn.

I hate those. Kerry rolled her eyes in sympathy. They both had to deal with people like this regularly enough, but they handled it easily. Still, it was never fun.

There was an upside this time though.

Sandy’s tone held surprise, something that made Kerry look up at her from where she’d been watching her ice spin as she stirred the drink in her glass.

What?

Other people felt bad about his behavior. I made a killing in tips tonight and several people apologized or left nice notes on their receipt.

Oh. That is nice. Kerry had had that happen a couple times, but it wasn’t the norm. Sandy picked up the remote and pulled up their recordings. They were still debating what to watch when their food arrived.

CHAPTER 3

Lurch stepped back and looked at the new tiles with a critical eye. It had been a long time since he’d done any tile work and he was out of practice. The drywall had been no problem, though the tape and mud had taken longer to dry than he was used to. There was more humidity and less heat here than in Arizona.

Are you satisfied, or do we have to rip it out and start again? Watt asked as he stepped into the room.

Lurch had only made them do that once, because the wall had been so badly repaired it would have taken more time to fix rather than start over.

It’s not perfect but it will do. The new tiles were a slightly different color than the ones they’d replaced. Though the difference was from age, light exposure, and wear because he’d used tiles from an existing box that they’d found in the laundry room. Lurch assumed they were leftovers kept for repairs. A common enough practice that Lurch was still confident despite the slight mismatch.

The bunk beds had been delivered the day before. Ghost and Stretch were supposed to be assembling them now, because the mattresses were due today. They were all eager to be out of the main house. In fact, Lurch had already claimed the room he would share with Ghost and had unpacked his things. After three weeks he was sick and tired of living out of a duffle. He’d had enough of that in the military. Now, if he was going to be somewhere more than a few days he unpacked. Even in motels. It was a small thing, but it made him feel more settled, more at ease, no matter his surroundings. The two and a half weeks he’d waited here had pushed his patience nearly to the limits.

Lurch started picking up his tools and cleaning up for the day. He had to wait for these to set before he could do more. It took him a moment to realize Watt still stood just inside the doorway as if waiting.

Yes? Lurch asked. Is there something else?

There’s a problem with the beds, Watt hesitated a moment then continued, Stretch says there are parts missing, Ghost says there’s not and Stretch is an idiot. They’re not yelling, but I think it’s close to getting violent.

Lurch let his head drop as a sigh escaped him. Somehow, he’d become the on-site boss, well, other than Tuck. Lurch suspected it was because he had the construction experience they’d needed, at least for this project. He didn’t know much about ranching or cattle but neither did the others. They weren’t here as ranch hands anyway. Though Lurch was sure they would end up helping and learning as they went.

Of Course. Lurch left his tools and mess where it lay and went to play referee to a pair of grown men. What the fuck is going on here? Lurch said as he stepped into the room he was to share. He found Stretch and Ghost facing off. Each with a length of steel that was supposed to be bed frame held as if it were a club. They circled each other as if waiting to see who would make the first move. Lurch had no doubt it would be Stretch. As a sniper, Ghost knew how to wait until he had the advantage. That would most likely be when Stretch was recovering from a swing. Lurch wasn’t waiting for either one. Instead, he strode into the room and between the two men. He waited only long enough to be sure he had both men’s attention.

I shoot the first one to swing. He laid a hand on the pistol resting against his ribs under one arm and took a step back so he could watch them both without turning his head. Stretch clenched his teeth. Ghost’s eyes flicked to Lurch then back to Stretch with no other reaction. Stretch’s nostrils flared.

He started it. He’s called me stupid for the last time.

I don’t care who started it, Lurch said. I’m ending it.

Stretch snorted and took a step toward Lurch. Lurch didn’t hesitate. He gripped the Glock 19 and pulled it from the holster. He paused a split second, waiting to see if Stretch was going to continue the stupid streak or if he would drop the weapon. Something flickered in Stretch’s eyes. Lurch started to lift and