Chapter 6

Distractions

Danny woke early the next morning, walked out to get the paper, and looked through the want ads. There were several ads for over-the-road truck-drivers, computer techs, and nurses, but nothing Danny thought he could do. Of course, the ad for Smith Lumber Company was still there, and there was a new ad for Gibson's Market. "Maybe I should apply at Gibson's?" Danny said with a laugh.

Danny had a couple of peanut butter sandwiches with his morning coffee, and decided he should go for a ride since he wasn't going to find a job today. He started his usual trip around the outskirts of town, but became bored with the same old scenery so he decided to head west for a while. Hadn't been this way in years, he thought to himself.

The warm spring weather was just perfect for riding, and the Harley-Davidson Electraglide seemed to beckon for the open road. Danny was thinking how his hog seemed to love the back roads even if it was a little old. "Looks like it's just you an' me, baby," he said as he rubbed the five gallon fat-bob tanks with his left hand.

Danny rode until almost noon, then decided he should head for home before he found himself too far away to be back by nightfall. While still about an hour out of town, he came upon a car on the side of the road with the emergency flashers on. I might ought to check on it, Danny thought to himself.

"Thanks for stopping," said the driver, a stunningly attractive, petite brunette who looked to be about thirty or so. "I've been here for over an hour, and you're the first person I've seen on the road. I was thinking I was going to have to walk."

"You're a long ways from anything," Danny replied. "Do you have help coming?"

"No," she said. "My cell phone won't work. It just says, no signal, every time I try to use it."

"Well, I can call somebody at the next phone I get to," he said figuring that a high class chic in heels, and a mini-dress wouldn't want to ride on a motorcycle.

"I'm tired of waiting," she said. "Do you think you could give me a ride?"

Wow, thought Danny, this sure comes as a surprise. She sure doesn't look like the type of chic that spends much time on the back of a hog. "Sure," he replied. "Why not? I'm not going anywhere in particular."

"Cool," she replied, "what do I do now?"

"I didn't think you’d spent much time on the back of a motorcycle," Danny said. "Just keep your feet on the pegs, look out for the exhaust pipes-- they're hot-- keep your hands on my waist, and lean with me when I lean, and have fun."

"Oh, I like having fun," she replied, her smile as charged as was Danny’s attention.

They rode about half an hour until Danny came to an old country store and pulled up to the ancient gas pumps out front. "I hope the pumps still work," he said as he came to a stop.

"Wow," she said as she stepped off the Electraglide, "this really is fun. Of course, if I had been planning to ride a motorcycle today I would have worn jeans and boots."

"I'm not complaining, but I'm surprised you rode at all," Danny said as he looked at her perfectly tanned legs.

"I was tired of being stranded," she said. "You're my hero now."

"I've never been a hero before," Danny replied.

Danny was surprised the route she was pointing out was taking him toward home. About ten more minutes into the ride an afternoon thunderstorm began to fall. It only took a minute before they were both soaking wet. "It's not always fun," he said over the roar of the seventy-four cubic inch engine.

"It's not so bad," she yelled back. "I'm almost home."

As they turned onto the state highway she pointed to the huge mansion house Danny had been run away from a few days before, then shouted, "That's where I live."

"That's your house?" Danny questioned, "You and your ol' man must be loaded?"

"I'm not married," she replied. "This is my daddy's house, but I live here when I'm not in Europe, or doing photo shoots on some island somewhere."

Danny stopped the hog at the front gate, and waited for the guys in the Jeep to get there. They'll probably be a lot nicer this time, he thought to himself. "Thanks for the ride," she said as she slipped gracefully off the back of Danny's motorcycle. "It was a lot of fun. Do I owe you anything?"

"No, not a thing." Danny said, unable to take his eyes off of her as the now wet mini-dress was stuck tightly to her body revealing the fact that she was wearing nothing underneath.

"Are you sure?" she asked adjusting her tight dress. "How far did I take you out of your way?"

"Oh, it wasn't out of my way, I live in town there," he said pointing toward Adamsville as if it could be seen.

"Really," she said with a smile, "well maybe I'll see you down at the Cool Spot sometime."

"I kinda doubt it," Danny replied. "Folk down there don't like me all that much."

"I'm sorry," she replied. "Well you're still my hero. By the way, I didn't get your name?"

"Danny, Danny Johnson," he replied.

"Well hello Danny, Danny Johnson,” she said as she reached to shake Danny’s hand. “I'm Regina Ripley, and it's been a pleasure to ride on your motorcycle."

"Even in the rain?" Danny asked, wishing she would stay and talk a little longer.

"Even in the rain." Regina replied as she turned and walked towards the mansion house, her high heels in hand, and Danny’s attention on every curve of her body.

“Losers like me don’t stand a chance,” Danny mumbled to himself as the Jeep he saw a few days before made its way up the driveway to meet Regina. “Not with a woman like that.” Danny waved goodbye, pushed the starter button on his Hog, and sped towards home.