Ride to Redemption (21 page)

Chapter
35

“D
id you reach your
family?” I asked Candi.

“I
did, D. After all the yelling and screaming died down, mom was thankful that I
was okay. She said someone would be flying in to tidy up things and help Gio
and Mile get home. Oh, and mom said to tell you ‘thank you’ for taking care of
them.”

“What
did she mean ‘tidy up things’?”

“I
asked her that, D, and she wouldn’t say. She just said we would probably need
help and she wanted to make sure Gio and Mile, as well as the both of us, were
taken care of. I’m supposed to call when I know what hospital they’ve been air
lifted to.”

“You
might as well call your mom back, baby. Doc said they were taking them to
Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary for treatment.”

“I’ll
do that right now, D. Thanks,” breathed a much-relieved Candi.

“I’ll
need the Sat phone when you’re done, baby. I’ve also got some thank-you’s to
shell out, along with some explaining to do to the powers that be.”

“Done.
Your turn,” Candi announced, as she handed me back the phone.

I
hit the preprogrammed number and heard Jim’s voice on the first ring. “Thank
you for sending the Calvary, Jim. Canadian Rescue landed not long after I got
them stabilized. The rest of the force is here mopping up and I’m going back to
the hotel to get drunk.”

“What
the hell are you doing in Canada?”
demanded Jim.

“Ridin’,”
I replied, rather succinctly, suddenly feeling the effects of the whisky.
Really good whisky, I must say.

“There
are jailhouse rumor’s flying around Texas that A.J. has put out a hit on you,
because of something you’ve been involved in recently. Is there any truth to
that?”

“How
could I have done anything, Jim? I’ve been on this bike going on two weeks.”

“When
are you coming back, D? I hope sooner, rather than later. Be prepared, we may
have to move you again if there’s any substance to this rumor. If you’re
holding out on me, you need to tell me now. You know we’ll find out, sooner or
later. We can’t protect you if you won’t let us, D. I’ve never lost anyone
under my protection, and I’m not about to start.”

“Thank you, sir. Right now, I think I’m fairly safe. Who’s
going to find me on a bike while I’m on a road trip out west, especially since
I’m making the route up as I go?”

“Watch
your ass is all I can say to you. You need to check in with me every day until
you get back. You copy me, soldier?”

“I
do, sir. Loud and clear. But again, there’s a girl riding with me. She keeps me
pretty occupied. Maybe every other day, since sometimes she doesn’t let me come
up for air more often than that.”

“Banging
your way across the U.S. and Canada on a motorcycle? I should’ve known there
was a girl in that mix somewhere. Keep it in your pants long enough to check in
— daily. That’s an order.”

“D,”
Jim pondered long and hard before he could get the nerve to ask. “Is she really
that good?”

“Yes,
sir. She’s really that good. Bye.”

“Candi,
how much is left in that bottle?” wanting one last swig to take the edge off,
before riding back to the Fairmont.

“Not
much,” giggled Candi, “and I don’t even drink whisky.”

“Are
you okay riding back with me or would you like one of these emergency guys to
drop you off at the hotel?”

“Don’t
be silly, D, I came with you, I come with you, and I’m going back with you.
Remember my ole saying, ‘we ride, baby we ride.’”

Note
to self. Candi is a cheap drunk. Liquor is definitely quicker too.

Chapter
36

R
iding
back down the Icefields Highway, I was again immersed in the unequaled beauty
of the Canadian Rockies through this part of Alberta.

“How
are you doing, baby?”

“I’m
good, D. A little hungry, but I’m good.”

“What
say we order room service after we check on Gio and Mile, and just hang out?
It’s too late to drive back to Calgary today and we’ve done all we can do.
Besides, we need to collect all their gear and ship it back to them, via your
family.”

Finishing
up a relatively uneventful and cautious ride, Candi and I arrived at the hotel
in just under two hours. I immediately made the call to the medical center and
after much back and forth, I managed to speak to the admitting ER doctor who
confirmed they were both stable. Oh and it didn’t hurt that he wanted to
compliment whoever set and stabilized Gio’s femur in the field. Had it not been
done so, timely, he might have lost the use of it or even worse, lost it.
“Thank you sir,” I humbly acknowledged, before hanging up, “I’m just glad I was
there to help.”

“What
were you able to find out, D?” asked Candi, after she emerged from a shower.

“According
to the admitting ER doc, they’re both stable.”

“I’m
afraid that’s as good as you’re going to get without showing up in person,”
Candi assured me.

“As
long as they’re both stable, I’m good with that. Oh, and the doc complimented
us on setting his leg.”

“Speaking
of that, you really knew what you were doing out there. You didn’t need my
help. You had everything under control. I mean, I’m the RN here, and all I did
was assist. Just where did you learn your skills?”

“Special
Ops, I was a forward air combat controller during my stint in the Air Force. If
you don’t know what that is, look it up sometime. It just means, I got to work
with many cool people and everyone of us had to be able to do each other’s job;
just in case.”

“Like
CIA, Seal teams, extraction teams, baby. Is that who you worked with?”

“That’s
all I’m at liberty to say, Candi. For now, that will have to be enough.”

“You
continually surprise me, D,” offered Candi, shaking her head in amazement.

“I
have to say, you continue to surprise me, too, which has not always been a good
thing,” I readily confessed.

Just
as Candi was about to respond, I’m sure defensively, a knock on the door signaled
room service had arrived. Candi and I ate whatever it was I ordered like
ravenous wolves. The events of the day had taken their toll on the both of us.
Too tired for sex, too tired to talk, sleep came quickly.

Chapter
37

W
aking
to my 5 a.m. alarm, I dressed quietly, grabbed my phone and made my way out the
door and down to the parking lot.

Finding
Vic’s number, I called her at 6:20 central time, hoping she was still hanging
out in Seattle, still on pacific. On the third ring, I heard a slightly groggy
voice, say “hello” … followed by a long pause … “Asshole.”

“Morning
Vic, it’s good to hear your voice. I’m glad you’re still out west somewhere,
because, evidently I’ve woke you up again.”

“And,
just how did you deduce that in that sexually depleted little brain of yours?
Tell me, please, I’m waiting.”

“You
have the sweetest, endearing seven-letter word for me when I wake you up after
little sleep. Are you still in Seattle darlin’?”

“Nope,
asshole, I’m now in Canada, just like you are or were the last time we talked.
I’m in Victoria, BC.”

“What
took you there? I asked perplexed.

“Well,
I flew up to Seattle and went shopping. There was this cute guy down at the
fish market offering these 2 night gambling junkets to Victoria with first
class accommodations for $499. So here I am, at least for one more night.
 
What’s going on, spill?”

“Do
you remember me telling you about a couple of Italians we hooked up with in
Sioux City and have been riding with them off and on, on this trip?”

“Vaguely
D, honestly no, especially now that it’s 4:30 in the morning, why?”

“Well,
they were involved in an accident yesterday morning. They ran into some moose.”

“You’re
kidding right, D. Moose, like the old fart’s that have nothing better to do but
hang out in the bar and tell war stories or the Bullwinkle kind?”

“Bullwinkle
kind, Two of them, one didn’t make it, lots of blood and guts scattered across
the highway. I had to set the guy’s leg, but the girl was just banged up. They
are family, Vic, as in Italian. Oh and did I tell you, the guy Gio, is Candi’s
cousin?”

“Wait,
D,” said Vic fully awake, “your sweetie, who's been banging your balls off,
every morning, noon and night, is part of an Italian family, as in Mafia? Man
you got bigger balls than I thought pal. I gotta give you that.”

“Yep,
that’s me, big balls and all. What is it with beautiful women and their
Woo-Hoo's? I love them both,” I readily confessed, trying to lighten the
conversation.

“The
problem lies in a conversation Candi had with her mom this morning. She used my
Sat phone to call her family about the accident and it was something her mom
said, that’s been bothering me.”

“What
did she say, D?” asked Vic solemnly.

“Candi
said her mom was sending up some people to get the cousins home and tidy things
up. The first part I got, it’s the last part I can’t wrap my head around. Am I
being paranoid?”

“Let’s
see, you’re banging the daughter of some Mafioso, you’ve just been in a wreck
with their cousins, you’ve just crossed the country, mailing a convicted felons
diamonds to everyone, but him. Yep I’d say you might have a reason to be
paranoid. Have you considered witness protection? Oh, that’s right, you’ve been
there, done that, and have the tee shirt already. But, let me think, your ass
is in Canada. The Marshall’s don’t have jurisdiction there, or did you forget
that one small item?”

“I
didn’t forget, Vic. That’s why I’m calling you. I’ve already pissed off a U.S.
Marshall and I can’t confide in him right now. Look I’m going to send you a
phone number, I captured from my Sat phone, when Candi called home this
morning. If something happens and I suddenly disappear, send this number to
Jim, my U. S. Marshall friend, I’ll send you his phone number, as well as, his
email.”

“You
spooked, D?”

“Not
spooked, per se. Just concerned,” I humbly confessed.

“Where
are you, D, and don’t tell me Canada.”

“I’m
in Lake Louise, but I’ll be in Calgary later. Why?” I asked inquisitively.

“Guess,
I like you and I’m just concerned. If something, God forbid happens to you, I
will at least know where to start looking. Remember, I’ve got your back, as
much as, I possibly can from here, anyway.”

“Thanks,
Vic. Get some sleep. I’ll send you the numbers and email address via email.”

“It’ll
be okay, D.
 
You’ve done too much
good lately to have something bad happen to you. ’Night.”

I
wish I could believe that. But I don’t. Much of what Vic said is true. We’re
not playing cat and mouse games anymore. We’re playing with our lives, precious
ones at that.

Chapter
38

I
returned to the room, without walking to clear the cobwebs from my head.
I am truly disturbed,
I thought, as I
climbed back into bed, beside the sleeping and wondrously naked Candi.

Spooning
up against her from the back, Candi purred, “I’ve missed you,” as she placed
her right hand on my backside, pulling me tightly up and into her, surprisingly
wet and receptive Woo-Hoo. After much thrusting while spooning, I deftly rolled
her onto her stomach, expertly placing two pillows below her hips. Grasping her
shoulders with both hands, I pulled and she pushed in rhythmic motion until we
both reached the edge. Moving my right hand and fingers to the top of her
sensitive spot, while my left hand grabbed her hair, suddenly changed the
sensations and brought us, climatically over the top.

“Oh
my,” whispered Candi, gasping for breath. “Pain and pleasure, D, that did it. I
was about to scream when you grabbed my hair, but then your fingers brought on
the pleasure. “Oh my, Oh my,” were all the words Candi could muster.

“Enough
said,” I replied, strangely content, totally mellow and aptly satisfied.

Showered,
dressed and fed, Candi and I collected Gio’s and Mile’s belongings, bringing
with us their essentials in my trusty duffle bag, while shipping the remainder
to her mom’s in Tampa.

“I
hate it we never made it to the glacier,” I told Candi, as I watched the
Fairmont disappear in my rear view mirrors.

“Next
time, D, next time, we’ll stay here for a week, my treat.”

If
only that was something, I could hang my hat on, I concluded, as we rode east
to Calgary. In just under two hours, we rolled up to the Foothills Medical
Centre, where I parked the bike in a personalized and stripped off no parking
space.

“Candi,
if you please, go find out what rooms they’re in, while I make a quick phone
call.”

“Hi
Josie, this is D,” I began, “I told you we’d be back. Didn’t realize quite this
soon, nevertheless, do you have any rooms available for the next couple of
days?”

“Yes
sir, I do, Jon David,” announced Josie, most adamantly. “I told you it would
come to me where I remembered you from, and it did right after you left. How
dare you not tell me who you were, Jon David? You’re hair is much longer and
salt and pepper, you have grown a beard and even put on a few pounds, (haven’t
we all) but you are still my Jon David … aren’t you?”

“I
am Josie, but much has changed since I sketched out your Inn make over, what,
twenty plus years ago?”

“I
followed your remodeling directions to the letter, and it worked. Lord, I would
have never charged you a penny to stay here, if you’d been straight up with me.
Are you in some kind of trouble? I can help you, if you are, you know.”

“Something
like that, Josie,” I confessed. “Right now, I’m trying to keep a very low
profile and stay under everybody’s radar.”

“You
come right on back here, when you’re ready. I’ll have a room waiting on you, no
charge.”

“You
don’t have to give me anything. Just knowing we’ve got a room there is
sufficient. Bye now.”

Got
to check in with Jim, I remembered, it’s the least I can do. A text message is
all that’s in me at this moment.

I sent:

Jim, back in Calgary, at
hospital now, checking on Italians. Here for a couple of days. Thanks again for
your help. D.

Unstrapping
the duffle bag from my trunk rack, I found Candi at the information desk,
waiting impatiently on me.

“They’re
in room, # 304. It seems like we’re not the only people in the hospital looking
for them this morning. The lady at the info desk over there said three well
dressed men were just here,asking about them, too.”

“Joy,”
I exclaimed to Candi. “Bet your family, capitol F, capitol U, has arrived!”

“Quit
saying family like that, D. I’ve told you, I’ll take care of it. Let’s just
take Gio and Mile their stuff, we’ll make sure they’re okay and then we’ll get
out of here, deal?”

“Deal,”
I replied, knowing full well that my acknowledgement was going to be the
easiest part of our arrangement, now that her family was in town.

Stepping
off the elevator on the third floor, my eyes converged on a monster of a man,
midway down the corridor, dressed in a fine 3 piece Italian suit.

“One
of yours?” I asked Candi, as I led the way to the tall, dark stranger, standing
outside room, #304.

“How
did you know, D?” Candi confirmed, the minute she opened her mouth.

“I’m
not blind or stupid, that’s muscle standing there. Besides, no one in this town
would dress like that for a hospital visit,” I boasted, while trying to pat
myself on the back.

I
nodded to Mr. Muscle, as I walked into the room, while Candi stopped and gave
the guy, (aka “Mikey the Muscle,” I found out later,) a hug.

Damn,
D
! My
mind now on full alert I wondered to myself,
Just what kind of hole have you
gotten yourself into?

Woo-hoo;
once again it’s entirely your fault!

Quickly
scanning the room, I noticed two other suits in our midst, one on the phone,
the other intensely growling at me, until he saw Candi and changed his scowl to
a smile

“D,
my friend,” announced Gio, “you save me. Doc say you no fix leg, I lose or die.
Give me hug,” which I did, before I turned to Mile, resting in the other bed
and gave her a hug, as well as, a soft and endearing kiss.

Something
or someone had startled Candi, because she never made it past the door. Her
sudden shift in demeanor, reminded me of that day at Sweet Fanny’s, when she
realized it was cousin Gio, coming out from under the helmet.

Just
as suit #1 hung up the phone, I announced, “I’m D, nice to meet you both. “And
you are? Addressing suit #2

“Donny,”
came his deep throttled reply, (aka Donny the destroyer.) He did look like a
tank, come to think of it.

Looking
at the “high” class in the room, as in suit #1, I extended my hand, expecting
an acknowledgement and a reply.
Oh well, one out of two ain’t bad,
I
thought as #1 wouldn’t acknowledge my extended hand.
I wonder if he’d
respond better to just a finger?

“My
name is Joseph,” he began, projecting eyes of steel, “I am the family’s legal
counsel and we have been sent here to insure Gio and Candice are returned
safely to Tampa. Therefore from now on, everything goes through me.”

“Excuse
me, Joey is it, I believe you are confused just a little. Mile is Gio’s
girlfriend, Candice as you call her, is…

“My
wife,” nodded Joseph and he didn’t look like he was kidding.

“Therefore
you must be her husband?” I asked Joseph, but before I could continue the
sudden interrogation…

“Ex-husband,”
echoed a voice from the door. Candi finally stomped into the room, where she
calmed down and exchanged pleasantries with Donny, before coming face to face
with Joseph. “Out of all the people in the world my family employees, why the
hell did they have to send you?”

“I
volunteered.” Looking directly at me, he continued,” I thought it would be a
good time for us to rekindle our relationship, you know the one we were hard at
work repairing, before you ran off to Tennessee?”

Trying
to ease the tension in the room, I offered to gladly referee their current
dilemma if they would just take it outside. “No biting, no spitting, no pulling
hair. Hitting below the belt is optional, but only if necessary.”

That
didn’t work as well as I had planned, because Candi, after giving me the once
over, immediately grasped Joseph’s arm and led him out the door, followed by
the two suits, and no referee.

“We’ll
be back,” bristled Candi, tossing us a wave and a good bye with her
unencumbered hand. And with that, they were gone. Hearing bits and pieces of
their now animated conversation as I leaned out the door, I realized our
‘briefly’ planned visit might not be so brief after all.