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I expected his mouth to drop open, but it didn’t. In fact, he didn’t seem surprised at all.
“Are you asking for my permission?”
“No. Not really. I guess… Well, maybe I am. I’ve known her for all of a week.”
“About the same amount of time I’d known Lace when I figured out she was the one. So none of this surprises me.”
“I’m just afraid…”
“Of what?”
“Not of anything, really. Just afraid she’ll never want to marry. You know, after what your father did to her.”
“Riley’s a smart girl. She won’t let her past color her future.”
“But didn’t you? You ran off to Montana. Left everything behind.”
He took a drink. “I did. And now I’m back. Confronting the past wasn’t easy, and certainly not painless, but I’m glad I did it. Riley might only weigh a hundred and twenty pounds soaking wet, but she’s a Wolfe, and she’s as strong as I am, if not stronger.”
“She is that.”
“Still, you need to give her some time. If you ask her to get married now, she may run again.”
“She ran to me last time.”
“She ran away last time. Running to you was coincidence.”
I signaled the bartender for another. “You’re right.”
“She loves you, though,” Rock said. “I’ve never seen her look at anyone the way she looks at you.”
“You weren’t around.”
“You got me there. But when I came back after Dad was killed, Riley looked… Not sad, exactly. Not angry. Just…resigned. Like her life was her life and it could never change.” He smiled. “She doesn’t look that way anymore, and if you have anything to do with that, you’ve made a friend for life in me.”
“Where did you live in Montana?”
“A little biker town north of Helena called Grayforke. You know it?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been there a few times.”
“Do you ride?”
“No, though I always wanted to. I got my license a few years ago, but I haven’t been able to afford the bike I want.”
Rock stood. “No more drinking, then.” He shoved several bills on the bar.
“Oh?”
“Yeah. You and I are going to rent a couple Harleys and ride this afternoon.”“Red Rock Canyon,” Rock said. “It’s short, but we don’t have a lot of time. Maybe tomorrow we can do the Valley of Fire.”
A ridiculous grin split my face as I put on a helmet and sat on the Harley Davidson Heritage I’d just rented. I planted my cell phone on the GPS stand and plugged in the route Rock gave me.
“Wait until you see these views,” Rock said. “Nevada isn’t Montana, but parts of it are ridiculously beautiful.”
“You’ve done these routes before?”
“A couple times. Sometimes my buddies and I took a road trip to Vegas, lost all our cash, and spent the rest of the time on hogback riding under the blue sky. Nothing like it.”
“Sounds amazing.”
“You ever ridden a bike like this before?”
“I test drove a couple after I got my license. Loved them all, but my dream ride is an Indian.”
“Let’s see if I can’t change your mind. Indians are great, but nothing beats a Hog.” He strapped his helmet under his chin and then typed into his phone. “Just letting Lace know what we’re up to.”
“Should I text Riley?”
“Might be a good thing.”
I quickly sent Riley a text letting her know I was going riding with Rock. Would she know I meant motorcycle riding? And would that freak her out?
I was all suited up and ready to go, and I really wanted to see how this baby handled. Besides, I was qualified. I quickly added to the text:
Don’t worry. I have a motorcycle license and I’m qualified. Love you.
“Let’s go,” I said to Rock as I cranked my engine.
Man, the sound of those pipes. I gunned them a couple times, and Rock laughed, nodding as he gave me a thumbs up.
We rode west of the Strip to the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area. From there, we’d follow the thirteen-mile loop.
I almost wanted to pull off my helmet and let my hair flow in the wind, but I knew better. Safety first, especially now that I had someone I loved to keep myself safe for.
Even without the flowing hair, the picturesque sights mesmerized me. The gorgeous orange-red rock formations. The sandstone peaks of the Keystone Thrust. I envied the hikers we saw on the way. They could stop and appreciate the deviation of colors and textures. The reddish-orange turned greenish in places, brown in others. Different from Montana, this land was true desert, though greenery was abundant as well. But it was the sandy brown of the desert that drew me most, perhaps because it was so different from what I was used to.
Rock led the way, and he slowed down at the most beautiful places. I took advantage and stared as well as I could while still being careful on my bike.
