Ride Free (7 page)

“Oh, Ellen, I’m going to give up my apartment and take to the road.” She threw up her hands and shook her head. “It’s all so exciting, yet inside I’m scared to death. Not scared of going, but it’s such a permanent decision, and I’ve always prided myself in the ability to think rationally. Usually I spend
too
much time making up my mind.”

“You’ll do just fine. I’ve listened to you for the past year talk about how your dream is to ride the roads. You only have last-minute jitters. Once you hit the pavement, those will all disappear.” Ellen patted her hand.

“Oh, I know they will. Being on his bike calms my soul.” She bit her lip. “I have a favor to ask of you, though.”

“You’ve done so much for me the last year, if there’s anything I can do, just ask away.” Ellen smiled.

“I’ve got a few bags of medical supplies and nursing books from school that I can’t part with. Can I store them here in your garage?” Sarah reached out and rubbed Ellen’s hand. “If not, I’ll understand.”

“Of course you can. Go get your things out of the car. You know where to put them, and then I want you to come back and tell me more about this big adventure you’re planning.” Ellen wheeled herself away from the table. “I also want to know more about this man you’ve hooked up with.”

“Okay, I will. Thank you. I’ll be right back.” Sarah hurried out the front door to her car.

Three trips into the garage later, her things sat safe and out of the way on a shelf in the back of the room. Her shoulders felt lighter now that the weight of what to do with the things she found impossible to give up had found a home.

She might never come back for them, but she trusted Ellen to keep them for her; in all likelihood, she’d probably call her up in the near future anyway and tell her to give them to one of the visiting nurses that would take over Ellen’s care.

She returned to the house and found Ellen in the chair she used in the living room.

“All done, and I locked the garage from the inside.”

“Thank you. Now tell me about this man. This is the end man, right?” She leaned forward.

“Yes, he’s the one. You were right. I performed my run-in at the bar across from their motel.” She giggled. “He about busted a vein when he saw me there, but he followed me back home and saw the light.”

“He feels the same way about you?” she asked.

Sarah nodded. “He’s scared to death. I think he lost someone because they didn’t like the biker life. He’s scared I’ll make the wrong decision.”

“That happens sometimes.” Ellen’s mouth drew down.

The older woman stifled a yawn, and Sarah stood. She hugged Ellen longer than usual. She never had time to make friends her own age, and Ellen, although crippled with multiple sclerosis, filled the spot her own mother vacated on her death.

“I’m going to miss you.” Sarah stepped back. “I’ve memorized your address and will drop a postcard in the mail. You can keep track of me and Reefer and where we travel.”

The woman’s face paled, and her eyes clouded over. Sarah leaned over and placed two fingers over the pulse zone on her wrist.

“Ellen, are you okay? Are you feeling funny anywhere? Your chest? Head?” She glanced at her wristwatch. Ellen’s pulse raced faster than normal.

“No, no, dear. I’m all right, just tired.” Ellen grabbed Sarah’s hand and surprised her by the strength in her grip. “When do you leave?”

“I’m not sure. Reefer is picking me up tomorrow.” She tilted her head. She didn’t like the way Ellen’s head shook. Even the therapy sessions didn’t bring on this severe of a reaction.

“Can you convince your man to swing by here before you leave? I’d like to give you something.” She held onto Sarah’s hand.

“Yeah, I’ll ask. I’m sure he’ll do that.” She nodded. “Are you sure you’re feeling all right? I can stay longer if you want me to call the agency and have someone spend the night.”

Ellen squeezed Sarah’s hand one more time. “No, I’m fine. Now, go home and pack a bag with a couple changes of clothes and dream about hitting the road. Just make sure to stop by here on your way out of town, okay?”

Sarah nodded again. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

At the entryway, she turned back to take one more glance at Ellen, who sat with her eyes closed. Sarah smiled softly. Her visit and her excitement had worn off on Ellen, but she knew her friend was happy for her.

Chapter Nine

It was only ten o’clock in the morning and Sarah had already delivered her extra clothes and knickknacks to the recreation hall that served as the apartment complex’s gathering place. She imagined the other tenants would pick through her things until they disappeared.

Unnecessary belongings never played an important part in her life, and gifts from her people were usually in the form of helping each other, or words meant to encourage. She sighed, feeling lighter already.
I came into this world with nothing, and I’ll leave this world with memories and fulfilled dreams.

When she came home, she entered a very different apartment than earlier. Only one bag sat on the floor by the door and it contained everything she owned. She removed the key to the front door from her key chain and stared down at her hand. One key remained on the loop. She’d forgotten all about her car.

She smacked the palm of her hand against her forehead. She’d call the reservation and have Bill come by and pick it up. Letting one of the teenaged boys buy her car would benefit her people, and in return, she could donate the money to the rehabilitation services offered by her people. Lord knows they’d tried hard over the years to help her da.

She placed the apartment key on the kitchen counter. No sense locking the door to a bare apartment. After calling Bill, she ran out to the vehicle, locked the doors, and placed the key in the muffler where he suggested she hide it. He’d come by later to pick it up.

She gazed up and down the street, but no sight or sound came to indicate Reefer’s arrival. She ran back up the steps to her almost empty apartment and sat on the couch. What if Reefer changed his mind and skipped town?

Riddled with worry, she chewed her thumbnail. He did leave her yesterday in a rush. Should she go look for him?

She’d hurried around this morning in a trumped-up frenzy in hope that she’d have nothing left to do by the time he showed up. The last twenty-four hours were spent rushing around to close out her apartment; she’d barely had time to worry about Reefer changing his mind.
Please come to me, Reefer.

She paced the living room for hours—or so it seemed. The longer she waited, the more her heart raced, until finally she heard the loud idle of Reefer’s bike filter through the walls of the apartment. She opened the door. Her indecision over whether or not Reefer might show up dissolved in a sigh of relief.

She picked up her bag, shut the door, and hurried down the steps. She waved and jogged over to the curb.

“I’m all ready.” She held up her bag.

Reefer climbed off the bike, opened a saddlebag, and removed a couple of plastic shopping bags. “Not yet, you’re not.”

She tilted her head.

He handed over the bags. “Is your apartment unlocked?”

She nodded.

“Run upstairs and get dressed. I’ll wait down here.” He motioned toward the building.

She hesitated. She peeked in one of the bags and screamed. “Oh. My. God. You didn’t!” She opened the other bag. “You did! I’ll be right back.” She ran off, stopped, and bounced on her toes. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!”

She returned to Reefer sporting black leather pants with fringe down each side, and a matching jacket. The tassels hanging along her arm and across her back swayed whenever she moved.

“Do you like?” She threw her arms out to her sides and twirled in a circle.

“Come here, Kitten.” Reefer held out his hand.

Sarah ignored his hand and fell into his arms. She loved the way her leathers rubbed against his, and kissed him. She broke away, laughing and full of energy.

“We almost match, except you don’t have danglies.” She flapped her arms.

The side of his mouth rose. “Yeah, well…I’ll leave you with the danglies and stick to my gear.”

Reefer made room in the saddlebag for her extra clothes, and handed her a new, black half-helmet of her very own. Sarah bounced from one foot to the other in her eagerness to hit the road. She had to remind herself that this was really happening.

“Before we go to wherever we’re going, can you stop at the house of one of my patients? Do you remember where you first met me? I promised I would say goodbye.” She climbed onto the back of the Harley.

“Okay. No problem.” He leaned over in front of her. “Last chance to change your mind. You can still go back and get your apartment—”

She grabbed his cheeks and pulled him closer. “Never. I’m ready.” She kissed him with a solid smack. “Let’s hit the road, Tiger.”

Reefer stood, his eyebrows drawn down and his upper lip curled. “Tiger?”

“You call me Kitten. No reason I can’t call you Tiger.” Sarah laughed at the way Reefer scowled.

“Well, that ends here and now. No way am I taking you back to the family with you calling me Tiger in front of everyone.” He crossed his arms.

She laughed so hard tears came out of the corner of her eyes. She swiped them with the back of her hand. “Okay, okay, I’ll have to come up with something different.”

“I like Reefer just fine.” He
humpf
ed and got on the bike.

She slipped on her helmet, and then wrapped her arms around his waist. “How did you get the name Reefer?”

“Long story for another time.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Let’s roll.”

Sarah hid her face behind Reefer’s back to keep the bugs from flying in her mouth, the smile on her lips a permanent feature she was sure wouldn’t disappear anytime soon. Riding in the daytime brought a new sensation, and she enjoyed how fast the world flew by.

Before she knew it, they pulled up in front of Ellen’s house. Sarah hopped off the bike.

“I’ll be right back.” She hurried up the sidewalk.

She knocked on the door and waved over to Reefer, who remained on his bike. The door opened, and she jumped.

“Gosh, Ellen, you scared me to death. I wasn’t expecting you to open the door.” Sarah hugged her friend. “How are you today? I worried about you after I left yesterday.”

“I’m fine. Just fine.” She gazed out at the street. “Why don’t you get your young man and come inside for a minute. I won’t keep you.”

Sarah waved Reefer over. He shook his head and continued to sit on the bike. She clasped her hands together under her chin and smiled. He glanced up and down the street and got off the bike.

Ellen’s grip on the side of the door became more pronounced, and Sarah lent her arm to help support her. “Where’s your walker?”

“Please, just walk me back to my chair. I think I overdid it.” Ellen’s legs moved slow, and her speech became softer and drawn out.

Sarah glanced behind her to make sure Reefer followed and guided Ellen to the living room. She helped her sit and found the walker. Ellen needed to start using the walker. Sarah kneeled and checked the braces on Ellen’s legs.

“Now, I’ve already called the agency, and Denise will take over for me. You remember her, she helped out a couple times when I had the flu last year?” Sarah remained on her knees and gathered Ellen’s hand in hers. “Can you believe this is happening? Finally, after all those days we spent talking about riding the highway.”

Sarah turned to Reefer, who stood off to the side, gazing out the picture window at the street. “Reefer, this is my good friend, Ellen.” She turned back to Ellen and winked. “She’s the one who told me my idea of joining a motorcycle gang wasn’t foolish.”

Reefer stepped over and offered his hand. “Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”

Ellen placed her hand in his and cleared her throat. “Sarah told me that you were beautiful, but I never imagined…”

He lifted the corner of his mouth. “Thank you.” He stepped back and returned to his position at the window.

Ellen’s gaze followed him. Her smile remained, but her eyes grew misty. Sarah ran her hand along Ellen’s arm, confused as to why she appeared sad. Maybe she missed being with her own family out on the road, and Reefer reminded her of times gone past.

“Sarah, I’m going outside.” Reefer nodded at the older woman. “Nice to meet a friend of Sarah’s. She’ll be in good hands.”

“I know she will.” Ellen wiped the corner of her eye. “Come back anytime.”

He nodded. Anxious to get on the road, Sarah knew the time for goodbye had come.

“Ellen, I need to get going.” Sarah continued to rub Ellen’s arm. “You’ll make sure you let the nurse do her job, and call the agency if things don’t work out with Denise, won’t you?”

Sarah glanced over her shoulder. Ellen’s gaze remained fixed on the entryway where Reefer had walked out.

“Okay, I’m going to leave now.” She stood, and Ellen finally brought her attention back. “I’ll never forget you, and I promise if we are in the area, I’ll come back to visit. I’ll send postcards too.”

“Yes, yes, dear.” She reached over on the end table beside the chair and brought her hand back to Sarah. “I wanted to give you this. It was one of the first pins my husband gave me when I took to the road. I want you to have it.”

A round pin, no bigger than a nickel, with the words RIDE FREE scrawled around the circle lay in the palm of Ellen’s hand. Sarah’s vision blurred, and she blinked away the tears that were quickly forming. Sarah accepted the gift and leaned over to hug her older friend.

“Thank you. This means a lot to me.” She worked the pin into the leather above her heart. “How does it look?”

“Beautiful.” Ellen nodded.

Sarah gathered both of Ellen’s hands and gave them a squeeze. “Goodbye, Ellen.”

“Goodbye, Sarah.” Ellen’s eyes shone bright. “Take care of Reefy.”

Sarah shut the door behind her and hurried down the sidewalk to the motorcycle. She got on the bike and gazed back at the house.

“I’m sorry about Ellen. Sometimes, with her disease, she becomes overtired and gets emotional.” She sighed. “Although today she seemed so lost. She even called you Reefy when I told her goodbye.”