Read Online Addicted (Outlaws Book 2) by Elle Kennedy - Free Book Online
Authors: Elle Kennedy
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place. It would’ve made her feel too guilty to look at all those sweet cows knowing she was going to eat one. Apparently the farm had started out with fifteen cows when Reese’s group settled in the area, but last time Jamie was in Foxworth, Reese admitted they were down to three.
“What are they going to do when the beef runs out?” she murmured to Lennox, who was guiding her to the long counter across the room.
He shrugged. “Hunt more, I guess. There’s lots of game out in these woods.”
They slid onto a pair of tattered vinyl stools and greeted the outlaw woman behind the counter.
“Holy shit,” Jamie exclaimed, gaping at the pretty brunette. “You absolutely weren’t this big when I saw you a month ago, Bethany. You look like you’re going to pop any second!”
Bethany rubbed a rueful hand over the enormous bulge of her stomach. “I know, right? Feels like I’m way too big to only be six months along, but I don’t have anyone else to compare it to, so maybe it’s normal?”
Jamie didn’t have a source of comparison either. There hadn’t been a single pregnant woman in her camp growing up, and she and Lennox had never run into one during their travels. Bethany was the first and only woman she knew who was brave enough to get pregnant in the free land, and Bethany’s decision brought a tug of envy to Jamie’s heart.
She wanted children too.
She really, really did.
The one time she’d confessed it to Lennox, he’d laughed gently and told her she was crazy for wanting to get knocked up. Not only was the free land fraught with danger and hardship, but the Global Council strictly prohibited procreation. Only the handpicked breeders and studs in the cities were allowed to increase the population, and every pregnancy was carefully monitored.
Outlaw procreation was even more of a concern to the council. The Enforcers rounded up the pregnant women they found, and if they discovered any children in the free land, the parents were killed and the child was whisked away to the city.
So yes, it was a dangerous desire to harbor. Jamie was well aware of that. But the longing was there. The need to put down roots and bring new life to the world was embedded deep inside her, and seeing Bethany’s rounded belly and rosy glow only intensified the urge.
“Maybe it’s twins,” Lennox suggested, waggling his eyebrows.
Bethany paled. “Oh hell, don’t say that, Len. I don’t think I could handle it. And Arch would faint on the spot.”
“He’d lose his shit,” Lennox agreed with a laugh, before going serious. “Your man taking good care of you, love? Do I need to have a chat with him?”
Bethany rolled her eyes. “Arch and I are doing just fine. We’re both excited for this baby, both pulling our weight.”
“Good.” Lennox nodded briskly.
Jamie hid a smile. She knew Lennox would’ve kicked Arch’s ass if it turned out he wasn’t supporting Bethany. Lennox was everybody’s champion, but that was one of the things Jamie loved most about him. He’d lay down his life for the people he cared about. Hell, he’d lay down his life for strangers, depending on the circumstances.
“What can I get you guys?” Bethany asked. “Burgers and fries or beef stew. Take your pick.”
“Burgers and fries,” they said in unison.
The brunette grinned. “Coming right up.” She disappeared into the back to place their order with Graham, the grumpy, bushy-haired cook who had the tendency to call Jamie “little one” even though he couldn’t have been a year or two older than her.
The wind chimes over the door gave another melodic ring as Beckett and Travis strode inside. Jamie waved at them, then hopped off the stool to join the two men in a red vinyl booth by the window. Lennox slid in beside her, stretching one arm along the back of the booth, his fingertips lightly grazing her shoulder.
“Hey, Bethy! Burgers!” Beckett held up two fingers toward the counter, gesturing from him to
“What are they going to do when the beef runs out?” she murmured to Lennox, who was guiding her to the long counter across the room.
He shrugged. “Hunt more, I guess. There’s lots of game out in these woods.”
They slid onto a pair of tattered vinyl stools and greeted the outlaw woman behind the counter.
“Holy shit,” Jamie exclaimed, gaping at the pretty brunette. “You absolutely weren’t this big when I saw you a month ago, Bethany. You look like you’re going to pop any second!”
Bethany rubbed a rueful hand over the enormous bulge of her stomach. “I know, right? Feels like I’m way too big to only be six months along, but I don’t have anyone else to compare it to, so maybe it’s normal?”
Jamie didn’t have a source of comparison either. There hadn’t been a single pregnant woman in her camp growing up, and she and Lennox had never run into one during their travels. Bethany was the first and only woman she knew who was brave enough to get pregnant in the free land, and Bethany’s decision brought a tug of envy to Jamie’s heart.
She wanted children too.
She really, really did.
The one time she’d confessed it to Lennox, he’d laughed gently and told her she was crazy for wanting to get knocked up. Not only was the free land fraught with danger and hardship, but the Global Council strictly prohibited procreation. Only the handpicked breeders and studs in the cities were allowed to increase the population, and every pregnancy was carefully monitored.
Outlaw procreation was even more of a concern to the council. The Enforcers rounded up the pregnant women they found, and if they discovered any children in the free land, the parents were killed and the child was whisked away to the city.
So yes, it was a dangerous desire to harbor. Jamie was well aware of that. But the longing was there. The need to put down roots and bring new life to the world was embedded deep inside her, and seeing Bethany’s rounded belly and rosy glow only intensified the urge.
“Maybe it’s twins,” Lennox suggested, waggling his eyebrows.
Bethany paled. “Oh hell, don’t say that, Len. I don’t think I could handle it. And Arch would faint on the spot.”
“He’d lose his shit,” Lennox agreed with a laugh, before going serious. “Your man taking good care of you, love? Do I need to have a chat with him?”
Bethany rolled her eyes. “Arch and I are doing just fine. We’re both excited for this baby, both pulling our weight.”
“Good.” Lennox nodded briskly.
Jamie hid a smile. She knew Lennox would’ve kicked Arch’s ass if it turned out he wasn’t supporting Bethany. Lennox was everybody’s champion, but that was one of the things Jamie loved most about him. He’d lay down his life for the people he cared about. Hell, he’d lay down his life for strangers, depending on the circumstances.
“What can I get you guys?” Bethany asked. “Burgers and fries or beef stew. Take your pick.”
“Burgers and fries,” they said in unison.
The brunette grinned. “Coming right up.” She disappeared into the back to place their order with Graham, the grumpy, bushy-haired cook who had the tendency to call Jamie “little one” even though he couldn’t have been a year or two older than her.
The wind chimes over the door gave another melodic ring as Beckett and Travis strode inside. Jamie waved at them, then hopped off the stool to join the two men in a red vinyl booth by the window. Lennox slid in beside her, stretching one arm along the back of the booth, his fingertips lightly grazing her shoulder.
“Hey, Bethy! Burgers!” Beckett held up two fingers toward the counter, gesturing from him to
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