Ride to Restoration (Ride Series Book 2) (8 page)

“
Thank you, Vic. Now eat. I
’
ve got five-plus hours to
get your beautiful, whiney hiney soaking in a glorious hot tub.
”

Back
on the bike and on the road, I stopped to show Vic the world
’
s largest teepee on the
outskirts of town. Well, stopping is a relative word. I drove through the
parking lot and onto the concrete pad holding the teepee in place. Circling the
monument, I announced,
“
This is Medicine Hat
’
s claim to fame. Now you can
say you visited the largest teepee in the world.
”

Thinking
back, a long time ago, my dad used to swing us through photo ops like that.
“
Thank you, tour guide. You
could have stopped long enough for me to pee-pee in the teepee. Get it?
”

“
I get it. You make a funny. Hey, if you
’
ve really got to go again, I
can find you a bush.
”

It
’
s not happening
.
“
No bushes for this
girly-girl. I
’
ll wait.
”

Chapter 14

C
ruising
at 125 kph, or a little over 75 mph to those of us illiterates outside the
metric system, we made good time on the Trans-Canada Highway, traversing mile
after mile of endless plains and prairie. With one stop for fuel and two highly
anticipated potty breaks, along with a thousand multicolored splatters on my
windshield, we crossed into the city limits of Moose Jaw, SK at 4:45 with 15
minutes to spare. Well, that’s not exactly true. It took me another 12 minutes
to ‘man’ find the resort, leaving Vic roughly two minutes to find the spa.

“
Hurry in, girlfriend. I've got this. When you
’
re done being pampered, you
’
ll find me imbibing in the
bar.
”

“
Hi Lisa, I
’
m D,
”
I
announced to a bouncy, twenty something blond, who also happened to be the
front desk manager.
“
I believe you have reservations for me tonight.
”

“
I remember. You called from the motorcycle in Medicine Hat
this morning. I booked you a deluxe king suite. It features a large garden tub
fed from our mineral springs.
”

“
Sounds wonderful, Lisa. Hopefully, I
’
ll get to try it out. First
things first, point me in the direction of the bar, if you please. Once I lug our
gear to the room, that
’
s where my body will be.
”

“
Certainly, if you
’
ll follow my right hand as I
point down this long hallway, you
’
ll take a left at the end
and the lounge will be the third set of double doors on your left. Can I set
you a wake up call?
”

“
Thank you no, we
’
ve ridden hard today. It may
take us an extra day to recover. Can I let you know in the morning if we would
like to stay over?
”

“
Certainly, sir. Here are your room keys. Your room is
located on the second floor facing our indoor pool. You
’
ll also find two free drink
coupons, as well as two breakfast coupons for 50% off our buffet. Thank you for
choosing to stay with us tonight.
”

Walking to the elevators, I
couldn
’
t
help but think how special the Canadian people as a whole treat us Yanks.
Unlike home, bike riders here are treated even better. I could get used to
this, possibly even permanently.
The room was more than just a room. It was a four room
suite, featuring a separate bedroom with a king sized bed, a sitting room
composed of a couch and two club chairs, sporting a 42-inch flat screen with a
mini-bar; and a floral, ceramic tiled room specifically crafted to house the
garden tub creating the advertised spa experience.
That tub is calling my name, but then again, so is the bar. The bar
always wins after a long day
’
s
ride in the end, hands down. Tub you
’
ll have to wait. Washing off
my face and hands while giving myself the once over, I grabbed my sat phone and
began the quest to find those ice cold Molson
’
s that were calling my name
a hundred plus miles ago.

Lisa’s directions were dead on.
The bar was exactly where she said it would be. “Barkeep, a bucket of Canadian
Molson’s if you please. It’s been a long day.” Finding a table facing poolside,
I settled down to wait until seven o’clock and Vic's highly anticipated return.
The bartender, plopping a bucket of six iced down Molson’s on the table,
received my customary thank you nod as I twisted off the cap and drained the
first one without taking a breath. Opening the second, I
thought,
I
better pace myself, considering the last time I drank at least six in a row I
woke up in bed the next morning with Candi’s cousin, Giovanna, while the girls
slept elsewhere.
Picking up the sat phone, I dialed my voice mail and
discovered one new message.

D, this is Jim.
Call me tomorrow after twelve my time. Meanwhile, based on an email I received
today your cover is no longer intact. I’m sure after all the recent events, you
knew that already. In any event, your leaving the country has put your protection
by WITSEC in jeopardy. Let’s talk tomorrow and see what story we can come with
that may keep you in the program. Be safe. Oh, against my better judgment, I’ve
forwarded this email on to you as instructed. It’s graphic porn, pure and
simple, and one hot babe. My guess is you know her and this is intended to make
a statement, validating a short seven-word message: Her Actions Speak Louder
Than Your Words.

Downing the second beer, I opened a
third, twirling the emptied second bottle, round and round on the table with my
fingers. My mind was now in overdrive.
Should I get up and find the business
center and access my email or should I wait on Vic to appear to watch it
together? I’m sure I’ve seen Vic with an iPad at some point on this ride. Best
we watch it in private, rather than in a room with too many innocent eyes.
Finally
at ten minutes after seven, I felt a tap on my shoulder, followed by a kiss on
my cheek, announcing rather subliminally that the pampered Priss had arrived.

D
has to be wasted
.
“
How
many do I need to down to catch up with you, D?
”

“
How many are in the bucket, girlfriend?
”

“
None.
”
Unless there
’
s another
bucket somewhere.

“
Well, that
’
s how many you need.
”

“
I count four empties on the table and two on the floor.
”

“
In that case six, not counting the six on the way.
”

“
You
’
ve had enough. Let
’
s go get something to eat.
Or, we can order room service, whichever you prefer?
”

“
Do you still have your iPad with you?
”

“
I do. Thankfully, it didn
’
t take up much of the
precious room you gave me for packing.
”

“
Then room service it is,
”
I concluded, before sliding off the bar stool and spilling
into the floor.

Helping
D to his feet, I asked him point blank,
“
D, the last time I saw you
plastered was the day Candi hung you out to dry at the airport. Is this possibly
about her again?
”

“
I think so. We
’
ll need your iPad to be
sure. It
’
s in an email that I
’
ve heard about, but have yet
to see.
”

How
am I going to do this gracefully?
“
Wait right here. Hold on to
the table please. I don
’
t want you falling on the floor again. I
’
ll order dinner from the bar
menu and have it sent to the room. What would you like? On second thought, I
’
ll order for you.

Chapter
15

“D
amn Canadians!”

“
Excuse me, D. Did I miss something?
”

“
Not the people, the beer. They have way too much alcohol in
their beer. I keep forgetting that till I don
’
t.
”

“
You
’
re making no sense, whatsoever. Walk with me to the bar
while I order.
”
Holding
him up with my shoulder, I steadied D to the counter and ordered, before
escorting him like a paid professional to the room.

“
It
’
s a group of rooms, Vic. Take me to the tub room. It
’
s been calling
…
my name
…
all
night.
”

“
I
’
d love too, D. But first, we
’
ve got to sober you up a
bit. Hot tubs and alcohol don
’
t mix. They served me two flutes of champagne while I was
in the tub and it went straight to my head. Your head
’
s there already. You don
’
t need any additional help
tonight. Thinking outside the box, you
’
ll hate me for this later, a
cold shower would sure do you good.
”

“
You said shower. I want a bath, girlfriend.
”

“
How bout a shower first and then a bath ... with me if you
’
re so inclined?
”
Wishful thinking, but he
’
s wasted. Therein lies my
hope
.

“
Whatever works, Vic. I
’
ll follow your lead.
”

Guiding
D into the bedroom, I sat him down on the bed where I quickly removed his
boots, followed by his clothes
—
all of them.
Nice little package there, I mused. It
would be wonderful to bring it to life while the night is still young. But
first, I have to get him relatively sober.
Stripping down to my underwear
just in case my shower idea goes wrong, I left him sitting on the edge of the
bed and continued with my plan.

I
heard the shower door open and the water turn on as Vic reappeared in a semi
state of undress to assist me into the large walk in shower.

“
You
’
re going to hate me for this, D. But I
’
m one selfish bitch,
tonight. I need you at least halfway coherent,
”
were my last words to him before pushing him headfirst into
the freezing ice cold shower.

The
first thing I immediately felt were my testicles drawing up inside my body,
before falling back down due to the weight of the ice hanging off my Johnson.
The pulsating water continuously pelted my skin like sleet, turning it a
strange pale blue.

The
next words I heard were,
“
That
’
s enough ice water for now, let me help warm you up,
”
as Vic opened the shower door, instantly adjusting the
water dial to warm, and stepping inside to join me.

“
I
’
m sorry, D, I didn
’
t know what else to do to
bring you out of your drunken stupor. Do you forgive me?
”
I asked, using one hand to caress his back, the other to
massage his low hanging fruit.

“
There
’
s nothing to forgive. You
’
re just what the doctor
ordered,
”
I
cackled, as her gentle caress awakened me from an earlier unresponsive and
frigid state.

“
Better, D?
”
He sure feels better from
where I
’
m
standing. What I would give to...

“
You betcha. I
’
m sorry I let myself get
wasted without you being there to prevent me from making a total ass out of
myself.
”

“
I
’
m sorry, too. I
’
m here now,
”
my hands wrapping around his neck, my lips touching his.
Lost in the moment, reality knocked, then knocked again. Room service had
arrived.
“
Damn it! Hang on, please. I
’
ll be right there,
”
I shouted over the cascade of the falling waters shower.
“
Timing is everything and
nothing. Stay right where you are, D, while I get the door.
”

Timing
is everything,
I agreed as the alcohol induced fog lifted from my brain.
You
’
re an idiot, D. What were
you thinking, putting yourself in such a defenseless position?
Stepping from the shower,
disobeying her recent directive, I wrapped myself in an oversized towel and
stood just inside the door. I waited until I heard Vic say goodbye, before
stepping out of the bathroom and into the glaring stance of one very frustrated
looking woman.

Not
a good listener, this man
.
“
You
don
’
t
follow orders very well do you?
”

“
I do most of the time, except when I
’
m on a bender ... then not
so much.
”

“
Well, then, I
’
ll pass on my dessert idea
first. Dinner is served. Put your sweats on and join me. Oh, don
’
t bother hiding your
excitement. It
’
s refreshing to know I still have it in me,
”
I cajoled, my hand grabbing at his tented towel, before he
managed to brush it away.

We
quietly shared Chicken Cordon Blue for two with mixed steamed vegetables and
twice baked potatoes. Vic ordered two bottles of white Moscato and was into her
second glass of the first bottle before we finished our meal.

What
a day
.
“
I
’
m going for a buzz of my own
if you don
’
t mind now that the tables are turning. Join me, D?
”

“
Not likely. Beer and wine don
’
t mix, silly girl. That I
’
ve learned too many times
the hard way.
”

“
Your loss big boy
…
more for me.
”