Crimson Storm, Crimson Riders Book 1

Keith hated gate duty anytime, but tonight, it was colder than a witch's tit out here. The snow had been falling for a couple of hours now, just adding to what was already on the ground. It was time for a patrol. Inwardly groaning, he put on his heavy coat and opened the shack door. He started his circuit and was just about to turn around when he saw it. What it was, he didn't completely know. As he watched it got closer, and for a minute, he thought the cold had raddled a few screws loose, cause no way in f*****g hell could he really be seeing what he thought he was. There was a figure fighting their way through the snow. As it got closer, he noticed it was a woman. She wasn't dressed for being outside, no way, no how, damn, she was even barefoot. She finally made it to the gate, and it actually seemed like that's where she'd been going. She had a bundle pulled tight to her chest, and someone had hurt this woman, hurt her badly. Once on the other side of the gate, she muttered, "Hollow and Night, have to see now." She was stumbling over her words and shaking, but he understood she was asking for Prez and the VP. "Please," she begged, "I need to hurry, they're coming, it's not safe, I have to warn them." As soon as she said that, he was on his cell phone. "What, Keith?" Nomad, his contact for duty rosters, answered perturbed. "I have an emergency out here. Get Prez and Night now." Nomad hesitated for a moment. "If this ain't an emergency, it's your ass prospect." Then he heard shouts for Prez and Nomad to the gate, there's an emergency. He opened the gate and led her in. By now, he was mostly holding her up, rather than her supporting herself. Then Prez and Night were running for the gate. " What's wrong?" Just then, they arrived and saw her, looking puzzled. Then she spoke again. "They're coming, devil's hogs, and the savages, coming to kill and steal women and children. Have to protect them, please, protect them." She collapsed on her knees, and the jarring of her landing, as I didn't grab her in time, jarred the bundle. Then, there was a weak baby's cry. Sweet Jesus, she had a baby. Night dropped to his knees in front of her, "Who are you, darlin'? Who hurt you, little one?" She pushed the bundle to him, "Protect my daughter, please. Blood is going to kill us both for this, but I had to warn you. He's my father." With that, she fell face-first into the snow. When Prez turned her over, the front of her shirt was covered in blood. He scooped her up and ran for the clubhouse. Yelling for Bones, our doc, and Digger, the Sergeant at Arms. Night held the baby in that bundle and ran after his dad.