Page 16 of Paco
Chapter Five
With two blacksaddlebags in hand, Paco zipped them on the yoke and tightened the belt to make sure there was enough clearance from the bottom of the packs to the top of the rear tire. He glanced over at Shotgun, who had just finished installing his bags. Normally, Paco and the other bikers would dismount the satchels when they returned from a longer trip. Paco pulled on the packs to make sure they were secure, then slid his leather gloves on while he waited for Goldie, Army, Chains, and Cueball to come out.
“No rain in the forecast,” Shotgun said as he tightened the screws on his bags.
“Glad of that.” Paco leaned against his bike and lit a joint. Winters in Alina were a combination of bitter winds, rain, and sometimes snow. The San Juan Mountains could be treacherous in the winter with all the snow and ice that covered them, and it would be a pain in the ass to ride if it started raining.
“Are you finished, Shotgun?” Army asked, walking over to a shiny amber Harley.
“Just about,” Shotgun replied.
“I’m gonna ride with you guys until we get to Moab, and then I’ll join you at the rally.” Paco opened one of the bags and took out his sunglasses.
“Whatcha got going in Moab?” Army asked.
“Just something personal.” He put on his sunglasses and swung his leg over his Harley.
“Doesn’t your sister live in Richfield?” Chains asked as he pushed up his bike’s kickstand with his boot.
“Yeah. I’ll see her on the way back. You wanna come with me?”
Chains nodded. “Yep. You staying the night?”
“Planning on it.”
“Doesn’t that chick you used to bang all the time live in Richfield?” Army asked.
“That’s right, she does. That fuckin’ works out for me.” Chains switched on the engine and the low rumble of his Harley filled the space between them.
Shotgun straddled his bike and turned on the engine. Soon a loud rumble from all the idling bikes made some of the club girls come outside to see what was going on. Paco was glad the conversation had been cut off. He wasn’t in the mood for twenty questions, and some of the brothers were nosy as hell, especially Army. He was way worse than any of the club girls.
The six bikers left the club’s grounds and headed to the highway. They rode in formation, two by two, and drivers slowed down when their powerful iron machines roared past them. As the traffic thinned out, Paco relaxed a bit, enjoying the coyote-meets-road-runner desert-scape of southern Utah. Red rocky cliffs and buttes abounded, and high above, pale against the blue sky, king birds rode the thermals in a graceful dance. Gnarled branches of ironwood trees had dropped their leaves, making them look almost dead among the green cacti and agave plants that rose from the coarse ground. As they passed through Monticello, sagebrush-covered cattle ranches dotted the landscape.
Up ahead, amazing red rock formations signaled that Moab was coming up. Paco raised his arm and pointed to an exit, indicating that he was going to turn off. The truck stop was there, and anticipation crawled up his spine. Goldie nodded and pointed toward his bike’s gas tank as if to say he needed to refuel. Soon Paco’s brothers followed him into the truck stop, pulling up to the gas pumps.
“It’s been a while since I rode this route. I forgot how fuckin’ beautiful it is,” Goldie said as he walked inside the convenience store with Paco.
“Even though I come through here quite a bit, it always blows me away. You getting something to drink?” Paco picked up an energy drink and went over to the counter.
“Hailey and I were out late last night, so an energy drink is just what I need.”
Paco took out his money clip. “Twenty on four,” he said to the pasty-faced man behind the counter. “And this.” He slid the can toward him.
After paying up, he stood by the gas pump, filling his tank while he scanned the area where the semis parked. Several women walked in front and between the trucks, but there was no sign of Misty.
“Awesome ride,” Shotgun said as he grabbed the nozzle and fit it into his gas tank.
“So what do you have going on in Moab? I never heard you mention it before.” Army took a bite out of a Snickers bar.
Paco clenched his jaw. “Like I said, it’s personal.”
“Did you get some first-class pussy when you came by this way last week? You coming back for more? Does she have a friend?”
“Fuck off.” Paco put the nozzle back in its cradle.
“I was just screwin’ with you, but I think I hit a nerve. Who is she?”
“I told you to fuck off.” Paco crushed the energy drink can and tossed it in the trash bin. “I’ll meet up with you guys later,” he said to Chains and Cueball. They nodded.
