AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Swiping at the stubborn tears streaming down her cheeks, she pushed the button to follow his instructions.
“Ma’am, you’ve been sitting here for a while now. Is everything all right?”
Softly she replied. “Yes.”
“Looks like you’ve been crying. Can I call someone for you?” She saw the concern in his deep brown eyes.
Her lips trembled, but she managed, “No. Thank you.”
“Ma’am, are you able to drive?”
Nodding seemed like an effort, but she did it to respond. “You appear to need assistance. Let me call for backup, and I’ll help you get home.”
She pulled herself together as best as she could. “I’m sorry, officer.” A quick glance at his name badge told her he was Officer Strum. “Officer Strum. My daughter was killed in a car accident and driving past the one back there hit me hard. I promise, I’m okay. If you can allow me a few more minutes to gather myself, I’ll be on my way.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, ma’am.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black leather pouch. Picking out a card from a fistful of them, he handed her a business card. “We have counselors that work in a network within the state. If you don’t have one, I recommend you speak to one to help you. Sure you’re okay?”
She forced a smile. “Yes. I’ll be all right. Thank you.”
She gave Officer Strum a moment to step away from her car before rolling her window up and reading the business card.Family Services Network.
Tucking the card into the front pouch of her purse she swiped at her eyes once again, straightened her posture, heaved out a breath, and began her journey home.
21
Riding along the farmlands on the outskirts of Harmony Lake, the clean smell of the air, the flowers in the yards and along the roads in full bloom, cleared his head. There was simply no freer feeling than on the back of a bike. The colors not muted by windows, the smells not filtered through a conditioner, the sounds not dulled by anything. Navigating a corner, he admired the rolling farmland along this stretch of road. It was his favorite ride, Highway 55 through the Menominee Reservation. Curvy roads ran along the Wolf River. The trees parted here and there giving him a glimpse of the rapids and the kayakers navigating the river below. Squeals of joy could be heard now and then, even over the rumble of his motor. He met a truck with a stack of rafts on the back, all dripping water, having just been pulled from the river and returning them to the beginning point for the next trip down.
A little bar/restaurant he enjoyed stopping at came into view, and he slowed his speed to make the corner and pull into the lot. A few bikes were parked in the lot which meant he’d have someone to talk to.
He parked his bike and raked his hands through his hair as he made his way to the bar. It took his eyes a few moments to adjust to the darkness of the inside of the building from the blinding sun outside. The circular bar allowed seating either facing the river or not. He chose facing.
Finding a lone barstool by a group of bikers, he sat and motioned to the bartender with a swirl of his finger to buy a round for the group next to him. She smiled at him, her whiter than white teeth almost glowing in the dim light of the bar. She wiped her hands on a towel and made her way to him.
“What’ll ya have, darlin’?” Her makeup was overpowering—bright blues and greens. All that came to mind was that she was trying to look like a parrot.
“Bud. Get this group one as well.”
“Well, that’s generous of you. Hear that, guys? This handsome gentleman is buying.”
The tall, lanky, long-haired man next to him gave him a chin nod, held his beer in the air and mumbled, “Thanks.”
A few in the group murmured, “Thanks.” But most kept chatting. The bartender slid his beer in front of him with a wink. “Where ya ridin’ to?”
“Nowhere in particular, just riding.” He took a drink of his beer and watched a few kayakers float by on the river below.
“Dusty.”
He turned and there stood a man close to 6’5” tall, short cropped blond hair, a neatly trimmed beard, and smiling green eyes. His hand was extended by way of greeting.
David shook his hand. “David. Where you all riding to today?”
“Thanks for the beer. We’re heading north to Antigo. That’s where we’re from. We camped last night along Shawano Lake.”
A few others joined their conversation, and he was glad for the distraction. But that’s all it was, a momentary distraction.
His new friend, Dusty, bought him a drink as a thank you and they left the bar. The parrot, cause that’s all he could think of her as now, kept trying to draw him into conversation.
Then, she became more forward. “I get off in a half hour if you want company for the evening, sugar.”
