Page 121 of Mr. B

“Am I going to live through it?”

“Most likely. It might piss your girlfriend off, though. I know it’ll piss off mine.”

“Hmm. What did you have in mind?”

Wes and Abe finished lunch, then left the house in Abe’s truck. After stopping by his house to pick up two motorcycles, they headed to the dirt racetrack on the outskirts of town. Forty-five minutes later, they were straddling the race bikes, with two trails splitting ahead of them.

Abe adjusted his helmet. “Let’s take the outside course. It’s a two-mile loop. If it gets to be too much for your knee, let me know, and we’ll head back.”

“Just try to keep up, little brother.” Wes took off down the dusty trail, which was wide enough for two bikes side by side for most of its length but narrowed at a few spots to barely enough room for a single bike. Abe took off after him.

Staying in front of Abe kept the dust manageable. But when Abe darted around him before a narrow turn over a rise, Wes was hit by a cloud of silty soil flying off Abe’s back tire. Aside from the dust, the trail was rough, with numerous washboard bumps, holes that snuck up on you and were sometimes unavoidable, and two spots where you either jumped the pit on the far side of a rise or soared over it to the next rise. Wes flew over one and rode down the other. He and Abe jockeyed for the front position the whole way. When they reached their starting point, Abe was ahead, and he slowed down, then stopped. Wes pulled up next to him.

“You’ve still got it.”

Wes laughed. “Man, that was fun.”

“Should we go again?”

“My knee is screaming, but yeah. One more time.”

“Should we slow it down?”

“Nah.” They took off again to make a second run.

Before he finished the second loop, his leg was throbbing from the knee up and numb from the knee to his toes. But the wind, dust, and sun on his back were wonderful, and when he pulled up and stopped next to Abe, he was grinning.

“I’d say go again, but I think my leg will literally fall off.”

Abe got off his bike, then went to Wes. “I’ve got the bike. Can you get off?”

Wes took a moment, then stepped off the bike and sat on the ground with a groan. “I need a minute.”

Abe looked down at him. “Damn, Cassandra is going to kill me.”

“It’s not like you dragged me out here.”

“Stay there. I’ll put the bikes in the truck.”

Wes took off his helmet and gloves as he watched Abe load the bikes. It was a job for two men. Fortunately, Abe was as strong as two men. He expertly loaded the bikes, then walked back to Wes.

“Give me a hand up.” Abe held out his hand, and when Wes took it, Abe pulled him to his feet. Wes sucked in a breath as he tried to put weight on his bad leg. “Might need some help getting to the truck.”

“I’ve got you.” Abe put his arm around Wes’ waist, and they slowly headed for the truck. Wes got into the passenger seat, and Abe went around to the driver’s side. Once inside, he turned to Wes. “Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea.”

“It was a great idea.”

Abe took Wes home and helped him inside, then set him up on the couch with an ice pack and some Tylenol. “Is Cassandra coming over tonight?”

“She should be here soon, actually.”

“Then I’m out of here.”

“Thanks for today.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”