Page 17 of Hell on an Angel
“You’re gonna hit some weather. Be careful on the roads, cousin.”
“See ya when I see ya.” Cree hung up. Staring at Kennedy, he told her about the phone call to Alice and saw her pale at hearing about the two men.
“We’re changing directions, heading into Minnesota. Up to Red Lake Reservation.” If they stayed on the lake and not in town, they might not be looked at too closely. If they laid low and blended in, there was a great chance it could work.
“How far?” She saw the look and knew it would be another long run.
“More than seven hours,” he said, and she closed her eyes.
“Kennedy, we can’t stop yet.” He watched her, concerned she was mentally spent and physically exhausted. Being on a bike could be gruelling for seasoned riders. For someone who had never ridden, it was overtaxing. “I know I’m asking a lot, but can you keep going?”
“I’ll manage.” Everything hurt from her head to her toes. She had barely been able to squat on the toilet to pee much less walk in and out of the store. She wanted to lie down and not move. “I swear, I’m good.”
Squaring her shoulders, she stood and picked up the heavy full-faced helmet Cree had gotten her. “Standing here isn’t getting us there any faster. Can I have my jacket? It’s getting colder.”
“You should’ve told me you were cold.” Opening the saddle bag, he drug both their jackets out. He could see lighting dancing across the sky off in the distance. The last thing they needed was to get caught in the rain with the temperature already dropping.
“I didn’t want to make you stop. I knew we were getting close to needing gas.”
Cree climbed onto the bike, listening to Kennedy. “How did you know that?” he asked with a chuckle.
“I was watching the gas gauge,” she told him as she pulled the helmet on and shut the blacked-out face shield.
Nodding, he thought,smart girl. He felt her hand grip his shoulder as she threw her leg over the bike and slid behind him. When she tapped him on the shoulder, he fired up the bike and rolled back onto the highway just as a dark sedan pulled into the station.
Cree felt Kennedy tighten her hands in his shirt, a sign she recognized the car. Keeping his cool, he took his time shifting through the gears as they followed the flow of traffic. Checking his mirrors, he saw the car had pulled up to a pump and both men had exited. Not wanting to take any chances, he went past his on-ramp and took the next one. Even though he would have to make a loop, it was better than drawing attention to themselves. Once on the freeway, he kicked the bike into high gear and blasted down the road, wanting to put as much distance between them and Sioux Falls as he could.
Chapter Eight
With the weather deteriorating, the wind had become brutal. Cree checked the odometer. Seeing they still had two hundred miles before reaching Red Lake Reservation, he twisted the throttle. With not knowing how far into the interior of the reservation they’d have to ride before arriving at the house, he wanted to push it for fifty more miles before stopping for fuel.
Coming up on an exit, he noticed a sign for gas and food. With that nagging voice telling him not to chance finding a gas station fifty miles up, he decided to gas up now.
Pulling up to a gas pump, Cree looked around the parking lot, taking in the cars and people lingering around.Could I have found a seedier place to stop?Tapping Kennedy’s leg, he motioned for her to get off the bike. He didn’t like how slow she was moving. When she stumbled into the pump, Cree didn’t laugh. He was just as tired. Climbing off the bike, he opened the tank to pump the gas as Kennedy tugged off her helmet. “I’m gonna go pee.”
“Not here.”
“What? Why?”
“It’s not safe. I’ll stop somewhere else for you.”
Kennedy was too tired to argue with him. Standing next to the bike, she held onto the helmet by the face opening. Her eyes caught motion behind Cree and nodded for him to pay attention.
Cree turned around, staring down a doper. Pulling back his jacket, he showed the gun at his waist. “You need something?”
“Nah, man, it’s good.”
The guy held up his hands and walked back the way he had come. “Kennedy, get on the bike, please.”
Kennedy pulled the helmet back on and climbed onto the bike while Cree finished fuelling up. She saw what he did. The guy who had approached stood with two other men, talking and pointing toward them. The click of the pump made her jump.
She kept her eyes on the three men until Cree got on the bike, blocking her view. Without warning, he fired up the bike and took off out of the parking lot. Kennedy desperately grabbed his waist, trying to keep from falling off. Something told her Cree had seen something she had missed.
As they blasted down the road, she looked back to make sure no one was following them. The bike shifted, causing her head to bounce forward. Her helmet bumped Cree’s, jolting her neck. The damn thing was freaking heavy, and her neck already hurt from wearing it.
Half an hour later, she finally felt him relax into her. She had gotten used to him resting back against her body. If he needed her to be a back rest, Kennedy would do her best.
They’d gone one hundred miles since the last stop. Determined to make the reservation, Cree tried shaking himself to stay awake. He was tired, and his awareness was diminishing fast. By the number of times Kennedy’s helmet had knocked into his, she was toast.
