Page 67 of Ranger's Rise
Standing in front of the office waiting for you and As.She makes me smile.
1 minute,I send and throw my leg over.
Mylo’u alofais waiting in my cut, a flowing dress and a smile. How women know what clothes to wear always throws me. The cut looks good with the dress, pulling my helmet off, I lean and kiss her. “You look sexy with the leather and flowing dress.”
She laughs at me. “Glad you think so. I got a big pink package today, so sexy is the theme.”
I moan thinking of the panties we ordered.A Prospect runs out with her helmet and a bag. She straps the bag on and throws her leg over like she’s not in a dress or she just doesn’t give a shit. “Thanks, Cage.” I smile just finishing hooking her helmet to mine on my phone thinking she’s perfect.
Proving that perfection, she says, “I had a plan, but don’t mind changing it.”
I nod. “Circling the compound and office grounds didn’t do it for me. Open road, your arms around me and wherever we stop works. I’m just looking for a view with you in front of it.”
“Works perfect. I know the place. Head northwest.”
I do and like how she thinks. We’re going higher, winding through an old highway that has a few one-light towns. I’ve never been this way and think it’s my new favorite. The mountains in the distance are snowcapped, the desert’s orange coloring is behind us, but we haven’t been riding much more than an hour. The change in scenery is impressive.
“Are we going to the Club tonight?”
“Depends on where this leads and how long you want to stay out.” I’m open to anything as long as she’s in there.
“Dancing with you can wait. I like this.” Her arms squeeze and head hits my back.
I slow down and pull over. Taking my phone out, I tell Siri to play a slow song for my love. Freedom laughs. When we’re off the bike I hit the volume, put the phone on the seat and put my hand out for her. Siri plays a song that’s first words areMy love. Freedom is smiling so it’s a good choice.
We dance with the mountains as the backdrop and the words to the song telling her how I feel. I love Siri. I don’t think I could have planned this better.
When she looks up, her eyes are watery. “You’re perfect, Ranger. I’m glad you’re mine.”
Kissing her head, I thank God that she’s mine too. “Love you,lo’u alofa.”
“It shows.” She always gives me that. I’m glad it shows.
A car goes by blasting its horn. I take it as encouragement and kiss her. Siri makes me laugh with a song that sounds like the banjo needs tuning. “I’m pretty eclectic with music, but I gotta draw the line here.”
She laughs. “I’m with you. What do you like besides the R&B and jazzy feel? You didn’t go into detail.”
I shrug giving her my hand to get on the bike. “I was called to Ops that day. John Mayer and Edwin McCain were sounds I liked as a teen. Not so much of the new, but when they first started out. My dad loved Jo Cocker and a lot of southern rock, so it’s familiar to me. John Legend, Daughtry, Darius Rucker or Hootie as most people know him, Marc Cohn and even Lifehouse, Nickelback and 3 Doors are favorites. There’s a country guy you may know, Brett Young, he reminds me of Marc Cohn’s sound.”
“Marc Cohn sounds familiar. Give me some song titles.”
“My favorite isSilver Thunderbird, but you probably won’t know it. He had a few that were popular,Walking in Memphisisone. I know one you’d probably know.”I start singingTrue Companionas we ride and lose myself in the view with the song playing in my head. When I’m done, I realize I sang the whole thing and she didn’t stop me. She’s not saying anything. “A Brother asked me to sing it at his ol’ lady party. I kind of got lost in the words, it fits howIfeel. Before I just sang it because he asked.”
“You have a nice voice. I felt that it meant something to you. Thank you. Did you sing a lot?”
I smile. “Nah, the tradition was Brothers sing to their ol’ ladies. I never had one, but some of the Brothers were fucking awful so they’d get one of us to sing a second song for them. I’d hide.”
She laughs squeezing my stomach. “Sing me your favorite, the Thunderbird or Brett Young. I know your other favorites.”
I do Brett Young’sIn Case You Didn’t Knowand she squeezes me tighter. “Turn into the state park. Follow to the right. That was really good. Your voice works for the bluesy singers you like.” Her compliment hits deep. I used to get embarrassed that the Brothers looked for me to sing for them and really did hide.
I slow and take the turn. “This is nice, I’ve never been this way, I like the fast change in elevation and color.”
“It was one of my favorite places to come to when I was a teenager. I’d sleep at the campgrounds for the weekends the hippies had company.”
“I’m surprised Victory would leave, I’d think she’d be in her glory.”
She laughs pointing for me to pull onto a trail. “Victory was. She never camped out up here with me. Sometimes Seren did, but her dad was pretty smart and learned to check with Marley. Byron was cool though. When he caught us, he decided on camping with us. He’d stay at the next site with one of his Mason friends.”
