Page 18 of Diesel's Perseverance
“Can I go with you?”
He glanced at her sideways. “I travel alone.”
“I can help. I know the places Freddy went to.”
“You can tell me.”
“I want to go. I can’t just sit here alone and do nothing.”
“No reason to talk about it now. We’ll see.”
Myla crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t need your permission, you know. I can go if I want to.”
Diesel opened the passenger door and stood aside. “I’m not gonna stop you from heading out there on your own.”
“Then why can’t we travel together?”
“I told you we’d talk about it later.”
“But—”
He held up his hand. “This conversation is over.” He closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side.
A metal ballad played on the car radio as they drove toward town. The road curved around tall pine trees and towering cliffs. Myla rolled down the window halfway and breathed in the fresh air. The clean, sharp scent of butterscotch from the ponderosa pines filled the car. The smell reminded her of the hard candies she used to buy at the drugstore on the way home from grade school. The creamy, buttery deliciousness was one of the few bright spots during the turbulent days of her childhood.
As they neared the town, the rush of the Colorado River filled her ears. She looked over and saw the water gushing over jagged rocks.
“I can’t believe people go whitewater rafting in that,” she said, pointing to the river below.
“It’s awesome as hell. Have you ever tried it?” asked Diesel.
“No, and I don’t ever want to.” She shivered as they crossed over the bridge.
“It’s a fuckin’ adrenaline rush.”
“I’m sure it competes with riding on your motorcycle.”
He looked over at her. “Nothingcompares to riding a Harley.”
She laughed. “Excuse me.”
“You don’t get it because you’re a citizen,” he said matter-of-factly.
“And only bikers get it?”
“Yeah,” he said, nodding his head.
“I’m surprised we didn’t ride your motorcycle into town.”
“I ride solo.”
“You’ve never taken anyone for a ride?”
“Nope.”
“Is there a reason?”
“It’s an outlaw thing. Only someone special, like an ol’ lady or a serious squeeze gets on my bike.”
