I've been a go getter all of my life. Being an only child to an oil tycoon I was definitely spoiled growing up. Though what I got I shared with others. I gave as much as I got. I'm a shrewd businessman myself. My dad taught me everything that he knew. It was him that gave me the love of riding motorcycles. He rode one himself, and passed that passion onto me. Watching mom eagerly climb on the back of his bike to ride with him I couldn't wait to have Marisol want to ride with me when we grew older.

I definitely have loyalty to the club, and to my family. A sense of brotherhood that I love! There's nothing like riding down the road and feeling the rolling thunder between my legs and all around. With my wife riding behind me. Goosebumps sometimes erupt at the thrill of it all. I can be downright friendly if your a friend, but cold as ice if I don't know you. Especially if I feel like your a threat to me or my family. I hide my feelings from everyone, but for my wife who can read me like a book since we've been best friends since we were babies with our parents best friends.

I rarely get pissed at one of my kids, but when I do I hold my tongue and just glare at them. Afraid I'll say something that I will regret. So they really know they are in trouble for something when I get that way. I would never hit one of my kids as I'd rather cut my hand off than do so. As that would hurt me more than them mentally if I were to do so. Our kids are good kids though as I feel we have raised them right.

The year was 1947, and my grandfather Dante Baxter lived on a ranch in Austin, Texas. He was twenty years old, and he and his wife Helen had just had their first child Augustus. In total they had seven children over the next six years. Two girls and five boys. Augustus is my father born and raised in Texas. His father had been approached about drilling for oil on their property. At first he was skeptical, but in the end he was more than glad that he agreed. For they struck oil. My grandfather actually got his hands dirty working as a roughneck helping drill the oil along with his brothers.

Which was the start of Hayes Oil Company based out of Austin, Texas. My grandfather and his three younger brothers rose to fame as Oil Tycoons in the industry. Each of them having sons who branched out the business to other states becoming one of the biggest in the industry. It became tradition when their sons came of age, and started working for the company they learned from the bottom up just as my grandfather did. Starting out as a redneck and moving up to branching out themselves one day.

My father was no exception, and even at the age of 75 is still in his prime having started out as a roughneck even working from time to time over the years in the field as he loved it instead of shutting himself up in his office. Preferring to be outside in the fresh air, and getting his hands dirty. After college he moved to Kansas City, Kansas and opened up a branch of the office there. All the Hayes men from as far back as the first motorcycle was introduced have ridden a motorcycle. From a panhead to a Knucklehead, and even to an Indian. One generation after another sharing their passion of riding to the next. As well as the oil passion.

Dad was twenty-seven when he met my mother Hester Grant. Her father was an oilman and came from money too. He met her through his best friend Gunner Raines, and his wife Korina. After a whirlwind romance and falling in love they were married a year and a half later. I was born when dad was thirty. Mom was three years younger at twenty-seven having been twenty-four when they met. A couple of months after I was born, Gunner and Korina had their only child Marisol. So Marisol and I were often thrown together in the cradle.

Marisol and I were best friends from the beginning growing up. There are pictures of us sharing our first kiss at around two years old that our mother’s still gush about. Honestly though we loved one another, but we dated other people in high school staying best friends. It was our junior prom that changed everything. We’d gone with whoever we were dating, but we ended up together that night sharing our first real kiss. Her date had been pushing her too far, and he had hit her when she refused going to a motel room with him. I had definitely intervened as a couple of other friends. We left him in a world of hurt.

I had taken her home, and as we stood at the front door as the sun was coming up on the horizon we shared our first kiss. Her father opened the door with a sigh though neither of us even realized that he was there as we kissed. It was her mother’s squeal of delight that alerted us we had an audience, and we broke apart. Her mother’s thrill quickly disappeared though seeing the bruise on her face. So we explained what had happened, and her parents thanked me for helping her out as well as bringing her home. They had it from there, but they’d see me at brunch on Sunday that our families usually had together at my family's residence. Marisol had caught my hand giving me one more kiss, before I left with a big grin on my face.

Of course my parents already knew all about what had transpired by the time I got home, and they couldn’t be happier. Mom said it was fate. Written in the stars for me and Marisol to be together. I just sighed too tired for anything more right then. So I gave my mother a kiss on the cheek, and bit them goodnight head to bed even though the sun was still rising in the bright blue sky.

Marisol and I dated through our senior year, and I started roughnecking the summer I graduated. We both headed off to Manhattan, Kansas to go to college after the summer. I had built up quite a bit of muscle getting a six pack that she was more than loving from working in the oilfield over the summer. Unable to wait, we married our first year of college, and got a place off campus for the summer and to finish out college.

It was also that first year at Manhattan that I prospected the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle club after making friends with a few of them. Having run into them at the local Harley Davidson store more than once I had started riding with them, and visiting the clubhouse even taking Marisol with me. During the summers I was still rednecking, and that was just what the sons assumed I did for a living. I never set them straight not wanting them to know I came from old money. Nor that my father was a big rich oil tycoon. That I had money too, but I didn’t go around flashing it around. Nor bragging about it.

Which was a good thing with one of the brothers called Snoddy. He made his way to president by shady ways that I wasn’t really into. I was in the club for the brotherhood, and riding with them. Still I got pulled into the dark world. Earning the patches of Men of Mayhem, as well as an Unholy one. I quickly learned who I could trust, and who I couldn’t. Secrets were rampant in the club between the sons, and I hated that part of it, but there was nothing I could do about it. I just kept my mouth shut.

Marisol and I were twenty when we had our first son Gunner Augustus named after his grandfathers. Both of them were all smiles when we introduced them to their first grandson , and they practically beamed hearing he had their names. Two years later we had Easton Hayes. Two years later Dante William was named after his great grandfathers. Barely a year later we had our first baby girl. Stella Blue. She had me wrapped around her little finger the moment she was put in my arms. I was more emotional at her birth than I had been my boys who I loved and adored. She was my first baby girl though, and my heart was bursting with joy. Tears of joy ran down my face as I gazed upon her.

It was three years before we had another child. I was busy with working roughneck as well as doing stuff out of a home office. I hadn’t given up being a roughneck, because I loved doing the job. It was hard work, and the rewards of it were great. I had my own wells now, and was living well. That stayed in the background though from the sons. Except for a few chosen few who I had learned to trust with my life. I had more than one talk to my father about it. He didn’t like it, but he knew it was for the best. He’d experienced Snoddy one time, and that was more than enough for him.

Years passed and things were getting worse in the club. I sponsored Gunner when he became a prospect, and then my sons sponsored one another when it was time for the next one. My sons were also learning the family business. Becoming roughnecks themselves. I told them that they had to do at least one summer, and if it wasn’t for them they’d have another job in the company. So far they seemed to be liking it, and I’m teaching them all the aspects of the business. Even Stella has shown interest in the family business.

When the illegal drugs were brought up I wanted no part of it, but when Marisol and the kids were threatened I had no choice. I made a deal with Snoddy to do what he bid, but my sons were to be left out of it. Marisol knew about it, and wasn’t happy, but she was more than glad our boys were being kept out of it. I made a trip to Kansas City to visit my dad, and told him what was going on. He wanted me to get out, but I couldn’t do that. I loved living the life, and some of my brothers in the club. I warned him of what might happen so he was prepared for it.

It was another illegal drug run that Snoddy was sending us on. One that was hidden from half of the officers of the charter, and we were threatened with our kids and wives if we had one not to tell. We did his bidding as long as our sons were kept out of the illegal part of the business. There were quite a few of us in on this, but tonight it was just Snoddy, two of his crones, and the three of us. Us being Nick Michaels, aka Bomber, Zombie, aka Mark Bennett, and me Smokey Baxter. All three of us felt something was up, but we didn’t confront Snoddy, just went along with things to protect our families.

Business went on as usual out at a designated place for the exchanges. Miles from Manhattan so as not to give away our location. Bomber, Zombie and my bikes were used as the Mules and we were the backup. Enforcers in case things went sideways. Well they did after the other party left. Snoddy confronted the three of us saying it was time for our boys to step up and join in on the illegal rides. It would bring more money in. All three of us vetoed it right away. My boys were not getting in on this! No way in hell. Bomber was adamant as well that Austin wouldn’t be doing any smuggling either. Zombie’s eldest son would only be a prospect soon, but they wanted him on it too. Zombie went off on Snoddy calling him every name in the book. The air was more than charged with our anger.

Gunshots rang out, and I saw Zombie’s body jerk as the shots hit him, before he fell to the ground. Horror shot through me as the guns were turned on us. I saw Bomber hit a few times, and I felt the agonized pain as the bullets ripped into me. The faces of my wife and kids rushed through my mind as I fell to the ground and the blackness took over. When I came to groaning in pain I panicked as I was covered in dirt. Thankfully it was a shallow grave, and I clawed my way frantically out of it. Gasping for air and coughing out dirt and god knows what. I threw up even before laying there knowing I had to get up and move if I wanted to survive.

Finally when I caught my breath I lifted my head and pushed myself to a sitting position hissing in pain. I’d been shot in the arm, the right side, and in the shoulder. The way everything burned I figured the bullets had gone right on through me. It was then that I saw the other two graves. I crawled over and dug till I had uncovered Bomber’s face so he could at least breathe if he was still alive, before crawling over to Zombie’s and digging his face out. His eyes were wide open, and I knew he was definitely gone. The only way I could help Bomber if he was still alive was to get out of there, and find help.

I crawled over to a large rock and pushed myself up, before making my way carefully through the wooded area. We were still in the same vicinity as the drug deal I realized. I also realized they had stripped me of my kutte. My bike was still where I left it along with Bomber and Zombies. They’d probably be back later to get them. I climbed on my bike groaning, but I got it going, and I made it home. I made it into the bedroom falling on the bed waking my wife out who let out a little scream alerting the kids. She was all over me then after turning the light on and frantically looking me over. My boys were there asking questions and wondering who to get even with.

I was finally able to explain everything to them. My wife patched me up the best as she could as the kids packed up bags so we could get out of there. Masher, who I called, and I headed back to the scene of the crime. Unfortunately by the time we got there the graves were empty, and the bikes were gone. Making me wonder if I had been hallucinating having dug out their faces. We booked it out of there, meeting up with my wife Marisol, my kids, and the kids of Bomber and Zombie who she had gotten out of their beds so we could get them all to safety. Telling the kids what happened to their fathers wasn’t easy when we got to our first designation. Masher helped us get settled and got supplies for us to last for a while. He was one of the only ones I trusted that were in on the drug running part of the charter. The other’s I could trust had no idea any of it was even happening so I kept them out of it as did Masher.

Our time on the run we moved constantly as Masher would warn us when Snoddy was getting close. We were always on the move. The kids were depressed and tired. I was recovering from my gunshot wounds slowly as I had no real medical attention. I got through it though for the safety of my wife and kids. As well as my friends' kids. For three months being paranoid of every little sound and movement Masher called me and had a way out for us. There had been more trouble within the club. The VP had resigned and already transferred to a new charter out in California. After the trouble three more members that were his relatives were transferring. So we packed up what little we had and were waiting at the airport for Kevin and the rest of them.

Explaining wasn’t that easier letting ones that you trusted know what had been going on behind their backs. Masher came barrelling in breaking up things that Snoddy knew what was going on, and was on his way. He suddenly counted down and there was an explosion on the other side of town. He’d blown up the illegal drug warehouse that was going to send Snoddy on even more of a war path! Kevin gave the order to get the bikes loaded up and get on the jets waiting to take everyone to California. Masher, since he was on Snoddy’s warpath, now went right along with us.

Our time in California has definitely been eventful. With the national president Jax stepping in my sons, Austin’s, Mashers, his son, and my transfers finally got put through. All of us decided on becoming Redwood Originals though. Washington was a little too small for me as well as my boys. Our youngest two will still be in Washington attending the brand new high school there and boarding there. As well as our older daughter Stella will be attending the college. We do have a home up there now so we will be spending our holidays there as a family.

I know my friends up in Washington will keep an eye on my kids so I’m not worried about them being up there. Along with Zombie’s kids who chose to stay and attend college and high school. Even Masher’s daughter, Pandora, will be attending the high school along with Bomber’s youngest daughter Avalon. With Kevin, Fury, Dice, and Grizzly watching over them up there they will all be fine. They’ve already said the kids are welcome to stay with any of them if they need to.

We’ll be there for the first week to make sure the kids get settled, and then head back to Charming where we found a house for the boys and Marisol and I. The boys knowing them will probably stay at the clubhouse quite a bit. We're settling into our new life, but I’m still having nightmares about that night. Guilt as well as I’m the only one who survived. I feel like I owe something to Zombie and Bomber for not being able to save them too. So I have made sure to keep their children that they loved more than anything safe for them. Those not eighteen yet us Kansas sons here in California are sharing custody of them. So that we are all there for them. The only two yet not eighteen are Gage Bennett and Astoria Micheals. Gage and my youngest son Remington are best friends. So he’s definitely lived with us this summer. Just hoping our lives get back to normal as we all get settled down for the rest of the year ahead of us.

I kept in contact with my dad while on the run for those three months so he didn’t get too worried. Still didn’t stop him from worrying or mom for that matter. Marisol’s parents had been kept in the loop as well. They're planning a trip for the four of them out here to visit in the next few weeks. I’ve decided to open up a business here in Charming branching the family business out even more. Even bringing Masher in to work with me. Already bought up some land that I did some witching on. Which brought back memories of my grandfather teaching me how to witch that brought tears to my eyes. It had me calling him up and talking to him. Laughing and talking had settled a part of me that I realized hadn’t settled. The boys are working with me, and I’ve given Austin a job too since he’s dating my daughter Stella. Which isn’t the only reason. He’s Bomber’s son.