A/N – Thanks again for all the great reviews and encouragement. I beg minor forgiveness for the whimsy added to the next few chapters. Trust that it's all for a good cause. The oath comes with thanks to John Henry Books, The Shootist."

Chapter 19

"Bina, what's wrong, what happened ?" Maddie was close to her, her arms around her and whispering. Bina was Maddie's special name for Brin and Amy smiled when she heard it.

"These boys walked along with me when I was coming back, one said maybe I'd like to get to know him at the campfire and I said no thank you I have a girlfriend." She was upset, her words coming slowly and with care through her tears.

"Come sit here with Trish Bina." Maddie was talking low, she knew something had spooked her and she was trained to stay calm. Trish Enchino was a Trauma Nurse, aside from being a regular Registered Nurse she was also trained by the Army to deal with patients who have been assaulted or had suffered a traumatic attack or injury. Trish gave a course in how to deal with victims of trauma and the girls had been required to take it as part of their becoming members in the club.

The club was part of an organization called Bikers Busting Bullies which required the course of all members. The club had 100 % participation across all of Central New York, over 500 Marauders actively protected kids from bullying. One call from a parent or child would bring the local den mother to talk with the family. She would contact the local authorities and the child's school for support. The club's fund would be offered for to pay for psychological care and an escort of bikers for the child if he or she was scared. John firmly believed that no child should ever live in fear for any reason and the club was determined to make this a fact in Central New York.

"I'll call Meg."

"Wait mom, let's find out what's going on first." Maddie was very calm and steady.

"Bina, there has to be more than that, you've said no before."

"When I kept walking he, he." Trish looked at her and then down at Brin's hands. She was running one over the other.

Trish leaned over and took her hand "did he grab your wrist sweetheart ?"

Brin cried and nodded, " He said, "Girlfriend, maybe because you haven't spent time with real men. I pulled my hand away and ran but I was so scared Mad."

Maddie took her hand and pulled back Brin's sweater from her wrist, saw the bruising and reached her arms around her and pulled her close. "You did good Bina, you got to safety that's what you're supposed to do and you are allowed to be scared. I'm proud of you Brin. How many boys were there ?"

"Three, just one said it but the others laughed."

"Ok, you're safe now, do you think you could point this boy out to me ?"

Brin nodded.

"Good, you stay here with Trish, Ok."

"Maybe we should call one of the Troopers I talked to before" Jack suggested.

"Wrong message in this crowd GG, you'll just teach that dirt bag that his dad can get him out of assault or anything else he decides to say or do to a woman all with a phone call and an old buddy pat" she was pissed off and her expression showed it when she marched into the trailer and locked the door. She was out in a few minutes tying a skulled bandana on her head, wearing her black boots instead of her cowboy ones and her vest. She was carrying her sister's boots and vest.

"Second me Charlie"

"John ?"

"Easy Amy." Trish said.

"Why does she have that ?" Ty whispered.

"I think they were going out for ice cream after jumping with the club and brought them. Kali, the Saratoga Den Mom loves the girls." Amy stared at Maddie itching to move but Trish held her. "Easy Amy, let John talk to her" she whispered in Amy's ear.

Maddie was facing away moving back and forth on her feet, her fists clenched and knuckles white. Charlie pulled on her boots and put on her colors. She was on Maddie's left a few steps behind and tying on her bandana as soon as she was ready.

John walked over and stood behind her.

"Maddie." His voice was soft.

She didn't turn but when she spoke it was loud enough to hear though she was having problems controlling herself, "He put his hands on her Rocket, she said no and he put his hands on her and she's hurt and scared. He has no right to that power over her."

"Maddie." He heard how upset she was and also that she struggled to keep control. The crowd around her was silent and Trish held Amy's hand.

"I swore an oath John."

"An oath ?" Ty whispered at Amy who had taken his hand as well.

"Maddie repeat your oath for Dr. Borden."

"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them and I will comfort and stand for those without the strength to stand for themselves when others do these things to them and I will be their strength until they can stand on their own."

"Turn around Mad."

"John, it's a matter of honor."

He put his hand on her shoulder, "please don't make me order you to turn around Mad."

She was fighting the tears in her eyes when she turned. Her eyes were turned down.

"Maddie look at me"

"John" her voice was pained and pleading. Gently he put his huge hand on her face and very slowly tuck his finger under her chin and slowly raised it.

"Open your fists sweetheart, you don't need them."

Maddie closed her eyes and took a deep breath and opened her hands.

"Trish colors please."

"John."

"She swore an oath Amy, I'll be with her."

Trish handed Charlie Rocket's vest and she did her best to help him on with it while Trish donned hers.

"Bina, you stay with me, you will tell that boy exactly what he did to you and demand his apology in front of that campfire for everyone to hear."

Brin looked at her, smiled and nodded.

The four now almost comical looking characters and Brin walked toward a distant campfire. The girls were still wearing their dresses just different boots and their vests and bandanas. Same with John and Trish and their nice clothes. Brin held Maddie's hand and stayed close to her as they walked the crowd under the scrutiny of the couples and groups of teenagers along the edges of the meadow where there bonfire burned in it's center.

"Those three with the beer."

"Of course because they're not stupid and disgusting enough on their own." Maddie said it loudly. John smiled, he actually liked that touch.

"Talking to me ?"

"Bina ?"

"He's the one that spoke and grabbed me."

"Lying bitch I didn't grab you."

Rocket literally growled, actually it was more of a rumble, you could physically feel it two or three people away, it was quite remarkable. It felt almost like a vibration passing through a human body. It was then that Trish thought this young man might understand the gravity of the situation. That and the fact that when he turned, his friends had disappeared.

Maddie smiled, "Bullies have no friends. Fortunately for her, Sabrina here has an army. Over in front of the campfire where everyone can see you, move." He looked at her and she nodded her head "now" she did not waver in her gaze. He held his head down and walked over.

"Look her in the eyes" Maddie said.

Maddie looked over at Brin. "You grabbed my wrist and I had to pull myself away, I was hurt. You don't get to do that, I said no to your gross suggestion and regardless you can't just lay your hands on people. You need to apologize." She was loud and squeezed Maddie's hand for support, the boy saw that too.

"Loud enough so that everyone can hear you." Maddie said steadily.

"I'm sorry, I apologize. I was wrong to do that, I won't do anything like that again."

"Thank you." Brin said

"Go back over to the busses with Trish while I finish up here Bina."

When they turned and left, Trish's arm around Brin's shoulder and whispering to her, Maddie walked a step closer, got right up into his face, stared into his eyes and whispered. "Unfortunately for you she's my girlfriend. I'll find out who you are and we'll keep an eye on you. Don't make me have to do this again."

Then just like that she turned, Charlie at her side, Rocket behind her and headed back.

There was a crowd staring on and the girls started hooting, applauding and cheering as they passed, a second later the boys join in and cheered as well.

As soon as she passed the opening of the U to the camp Brin rushed her and attached her lips to Maddie's. Quickly after though John cleared his throat and they broke apart.

"Come on Bina, let's get some water and take a walk."

Maddie hugged Amy and then Ty followed by Charlie.

Amy held Sabrina, "you ok sweetheart ?"

"I am now Amy, Maddie's with me."

"Mad, you don't think maybe you should stay close tonight."

"Come on mom, you don't think I'm passing up sitting at a fire with my girlfriend because of that guy ?"

"Now why would I think that, you wearing that vest out there are you ?"

"Brin ?"

"Ok with me Mad, I like it."

"Night mom."

"Get her home safely Mad, in your trailer by 11 please."

"Count on it."

Just like that the four teens marched off towards the lights of the fires.

"That's it ? He apologized and it's over." Jack asked.

"Well Maddie added a little something at the end. Typically we frown on stuff like that but being it was Brin I thought he got off lucky. Anyway, since it's Maddie and Brin there won't be follow ups with the girls and the like just maybe something tomorrow." He said it and smiled at Trish who smiled back and nodded, then walked off pulling out her phone. "We'll make sure to keep an eye on the kid. Trish will call his school and folks."

"And what did she add ?" Amy asked.

"Unfortunately for you she's my girlfriend, I'll find out who you are, and we'll keep an eye on you. Don't make me have to do this again."

"Good for her." Lisa said. "All this macho crap has gone on way too long."

"She hates bullies, injustice, when people who don't know her challenge her choices, that's do in no small part to you John. Some of the things people have said to those two border on disgusting."

"Nonsense, it's not us Amy, her mom's her inspiration, look at what you've done. It takes a strong woman to raise a strong woman. You've stood up to your share of bullies."

"Thanks for standing with her John."

"We took an oath to each other as well Amy, a lifelong bond of brother and sister and I have never broken an oath. While another Marauder breathes, your daughter's are not alone."

"You Ok Grandpa ?"

"John, I'm impressed with what you did for her, calming her down like that. I'm also impressed in both of them, that oath is something we can all stand to follow."

"Thanks Jack, I appreciate that. They take what we do seriously, especially Mad."

"Jack that nightcap is lulling me to sleep, let's go in."

"I'm with you Lisa" Betty added.

The three hugged and kissed everybody goodnight including John and Trish and headed off to their trailers.

Returning back to their small seating area by the fire John smiled and looked over "So Ty, Amy tells me you've punched every guy who's ever kissed her."

"Up until 8 years ago at least."

"Understandable, but I guess there's still time to track those stragglers down." He laughed again and Ty smiled "Seriously though how long you plan on hanging around ?"

"I'll call my practice and find out what's going on over there. I'd like to stay a couple of weeks at least so Amy and I can work out what this is."

"Then we should definitely ride before you go and Watkins Glen is a perfect day trip, there's a crafts fair weekend after next. Trish and Amy love them."

"We should head over to the B & B John. Kali's on the phone with the other moms, who knows, the girls are popular maybe 200, we'll be busy."

"Ok this doesn't sound good." Amy said looking over.

"Maddie's driving Brin down Broadway tomorrow morning led by 200 brothers and through the gauntlet in."

"John"

"Amy, they deserve this and Brin needs her escort in to the place of her assault. It'll just be bigger than usual. Worried they won't take your money ?"

"That's not the point." Amy answered.

"I'm sorry John, excuse the interruption, do you have a minute ?"

A NYS Trooper had leaned in from the back of the site near the bikes.

"Sure Pat, excuse me, I assume that young man's been lying to his folks, and it is the point Amy, I'll square it with the troopers."

"John, do you need me to call Trev ?"

"I'm fine Amy, Pat and I are old friends."

"John, this lady claims you threatened her son."

"I've never spoken a word to her son Pat."

"He said a biker threatened him."

"Ma'am, your son spoke rudely to a 14 year old girl and when she told him she wasn't interested laid his hand on her which is technically simple assault. He later called her a lying bitch when we went to speak with him. This girls 14 year old girlfriend asked him to publicly admit and apologize to the young lady's charges and he did, if he told you anything else happened, he's a damn liar. Regardless you should probably see that he's punished and told that drinking beer doesn't make for good decisions, to keep his hands to himself unless invited to do otherwise and maybe to mind his language."

"How dare you, my son would never disrespect a woman."

They stood at an impasse until a second Trooper came over. "Ma'am it appears that your son admitted in front of several dozen witnesses to uhm treating a girl badly and was asked to apologize and did. There are numerous witnesses still available and a list of those who have left to bed, it was quite public and he's been seen drinking, your son is 16 ma'am, do you know how he came by the alcohol ?"

"I'm going to get to the bottom of this."

"Yes ma'am perhaps with a large stick." John added with a smile.

It was all Pat could do to keep from laughing.

The lady stormed away muttering to herself.

"Sorry John, I knew if you were involved what she was telling me was nonsense. The posturing and formalities though are big with this crowd."

"Not a problem Pat, why don't you two come have a cup of coffee and warm up, meet the girls' mother."

"Terry, what do you say ?" Pat asked.

"Coffee sounds good, I'm done with these pretentious assholes."

John introduced Pat Sheridan, Troop Division Lieutenant and his aide Sgt. Terry Pritchard. Both had heard of Pegasus, the troop maintained a stable at the Saratoga Retirement Center where Pegasus helped when needed. John told them the story while they sat.

"Your daughters sound like fine women Amy, you should be proud of that one that stood up for her girlfriend. Some of these kids think they can do anything and their dad will buy them out of it, or more likely the girl won't say anything or they'll just accuse and shame her in public. Terry checked, there are several sealed files on that one and apparently a mother who doesn't see it and a dad too busy to care. Maybe you aught to start those talks with the high school groups after all Trish, the girls think they have no power at all and the boys think they can do anything. I bet seeing your two got some of them thinking."

"They applauded when Maddie and Charlie passed, damn I was proud."

"You're just a big mush John." Amy said.

"Maybe I'll do it with the girls and other den moms. Your two could make them believe they have strength Amy."

"This is important to both of them so if they want to stand up it's fine with me Trish. I guess we should head in too Ty, big day tomorrow."

"It was a pleasure meeting you both" Ty said to the troopers. Amy shook their hands as well and kissed and hugged John and Trish. Ty said goodbye too and was glad to accept a brotherly hug from John. He was the real deal.

When they got inside and kicked off their shoes Ty stopped.

"John's seems a much better mentor than I ever had, what I saw him do with Maddie, where was that guy in my life when I was 15."

"Don't kid yourself Ty, in his teens John was a terror and worse than you. He joined the Marines to stay out of jail. The Marines turned him around, he met Trish who was an Army nurse in Germany where John was recovering from his second Purple Heart and ready for his discharge. He had changed, he was a hero and his men respected him, he learned valuable lessons about leadership, honor and integrity, self worth. They fell in love and when he got out he turned around that club through the force of his character. His father started it, his father was a lot like Wade was."

"Honor and self worth, your girls are amazing Amy, they're about the age you were when I met you and their strength of character and self assuredness should make you very proud."

"They don't know that Amy, the one I was. They see this Amy, the best parts of that one and what the rest has become. You're not that Ty either."

"What makes you so sure ?

"You didn't run off half cocked when you heard Brin."

"I didn't think it was my place."

"That Ty would have. That Ty would have become the bully."

He looked at her but didn't challenge it, he didn't want to go there. "You've had no boyfriends Amy ?"

"Is this our conversation for the evening my love ?"

"I guess we should get it out of the way."

She walked over and gently kissed him, her hand alighted on his cheek for a second and it sent sparks through his body then she nodded and smiled. "Let's get ready for bed." She spoke while they changed.

"I dated a man, I don't know, a little after the first year. Before the kids, he was nice, divorced, no kids, we had dinner twice and walked a Sunday fair together. He wanted to go further and I felt nothing. It was nice going out but it wasn't for me. He asked to try, give it time and I couldn't."

"When the kids came I decided that I would only show them me with a man I loved, truly loved. I both missed and was scared of any intimacy to tell you the truth. You were the only one I'd ever, well, done anything with, besides I had two fairly young scared and sad orphan girls and an infant with every bone in his leg broken Ty, arteries crushed, blood flow problems. Betty had lost her son and daughter in law and was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer and being treated. Truth is I had more intimacy than I could stand and is a broken heart."

"I'm sorry Ames."

"You have nothing to be sorry about Ty, you and I both made decisions that, well, hurt each other."

"And through all that intimacy you built this."

"I fell ass backwards into a lot of this. Trevor my attorney, Charlie my money guy, Bryce, Bert, my god Bert is brilliant Ty and he gets it."

"How's teaching ?"

"I love teaching young doctors who were raised differently and see the world as more of a whole, a circle, starting to understand that things like the overuse of antibiotics has to be dealt with and that nutrition, regular exercise, purpose, all play a very big part in a horse's health. That allowing a horse to heal naturally and keeping their immune systems strong, my way, makes for a stronger, happier and far better performing horse."

"And the not so young vets ?"

"I sat at a faculty meeting and proposed a one year moratorium on broad spectrum antibiotics except in the most extreme cases. You'd think I'd have just sacked York, they went ballistic. Explain the concept of herd health and my theory that a head mare moves the herd to provide proper nutrition, letting a horse choose it's own medicine. They think I'm looney tunes. They don't care that I have proof dating back 16 years. That Bert has seen it with his own eyes. Fucking idiots the lot of them."

"Definitely not the Amy I remember. Let's finish the love life part."

"Fine then, all at once. I had two lovers, boyfriends, between I guess a 2 to 3 year or so period, both met through business associates in Europe, friends of friends. We had dinner a few times, neither of us wanted long term anythings, we were attracted to each other and decided to go away together every now and then. Have fun for a week and go back to our lives and careers. 2 or 3 weeks out of the year, always away, mixed somewhat to business. A week in a small town in Switzerland, France, Spain, no one knew who we were, no one cared. Pretty safe emotionally I guess.

"Purely physical ?"

"We liked each other Ty, cared for each other, and for that week we held hands walking on the beach and cuddled by the fire. Romantic dinners watching beautiful sunsets. Caught each other up on our lives. We took what comfort we could and went back to our passions. Me to work and the kids, him to his life. I won't lie to you Ty and say I felt nothing, I don't think I could really be intimate without any feeling or caring."

"How do you break off something like that ?"

"He meets someone and gets married." She said it laughing "It's over when you get the invitation and he introduces you to his wife at the wedding. I'm still friends with both and their wives."

"Nothing more than cared for each other."

"They weren't you Ty, I had no connection to their dreams and they had none to mine. It was back when you dated Helena, when I thought that maybe you" she was whispering and her throat had tightened.

"It took me a long time to realize that none of the women were you." He interrupted understanding what she was trying to say.

"Did you love any of them Ty ?"

"I thought I loved Helena. I danced around it, the words, when she would say it. She would talk about the future, a life with kids and I just couldn't see it. It was weird and strange to me, I felt awkward."

They had moved into bed by now, Ty had his arm around her, she was spooned back against him. Amy glanced at the clock when she heard the girls and saw that it was just before 11:00.

"Do you want kids Ty ?"

"I've always seen myself being a dad."

"Well that's nice I guess, got an answer to the question ?"

"The question is loaded Amy."

"Let me make it easier then, would you like to have a baby with me ?"

"Yes."

"That's a good answer Ty, let's do that, I've dreamed of it, having and holding our baby," the last words came out as a yawn almost as a spoken dream, a yearning.

He held her for a few minutes.

"I guess that's always been my problem, the only kids and future I could ever see having, dream of, have been with you."

He thought she squeezed his hand and he smiled tucking her even closer to him.

After a minute he kissed the back of her head.

"Amy ?" He whispered. "Amy ?"

The only answer he got was her gentle breath, she was fast asleep.