throttle back harder, urging the bike to carry us further up the road. I kept California and the sparkling blue ocean in my thoughts, but it did little to ease the chill.
As we rode on, I fought to stay awake. The thrill of our escape wasn’t enough to keep the fatigue at bay, and there was endless nothing after Copper Mountain. We rode alongside semi-trucks heading equally long distances away, but few cars. We had some luck in our favor, as the snow held off until we passed Copper Mountain.
The sign I did catch sight of said it was another twenty miles to Vail. I knew that one. It was another ski town that wouldn’t have cheap lodging. I wanted to cry. I wanted to sleep. I wanted to be warm more than anything else.
The semi-truck in front of us flipped on its right turn signal, and Eddie followed suit. I didn't know if there was an exit, but I was so cold that I didn't really care. When the truck pulled off to the right, I saw that we were at a rest stop. The all-night glow was alluring, like a chorus of angels beckoning me forward.
Just as the snowflakes started growing, Eddie pulled into a spot right near the entrance to the service center. There was a fast food joint, but it had long closed for the night. The motorcycle shut down, surely glad for the rest. Eddie hoisted himself off the bike, extending a hand for me.
I thought I had been stiff in Frisco, but it was nothing compared to the numbness encompassing my body. Eddie wrapped an arm around me and led our tired bodies toward the oasis. When the doors slid open, hot air blasted against us. As my skin began to come back to the land of the feeling, Eddie and I slid down into a booth. The Burger King had the gate down and locked, but we weren’t after food.
I curled against him, sharing as much warmth as we could. I wanted to speak, but my voice was raw and coarse. My jaw was sore, and my mind was numb from thought. Even through the pain, I drifted off minutes after sliding into the booth.
“No sleeping here.”
I woke with a start to a security guard wrapping on the table. My vision was blurry, but I saw his nightstick on the table in front of us. My head ached from the sudden surprise. Eddie was awake in an instant, too.
“I said there’s no sleeping here. You’re either out in one of the trucks or you’re gone.”
“All right, man. Give us a sec to get up.” Eddie’s voice was groggy. I had no idea how long we were out.
“I’ll be back through in five minutes. You’d better be gone.” His tone was colder than the winds that had blown against us all night. We’d be gone, all right.
The guard headed off to another part of the service station.
Eddie turned to me. “A motel tonight. I promise.”
I smiled up at him, “Good. You could use a shower.”
His hands were at my side, tickling me, and since being startled awake, I realized just how warm I was. Laying against his broad chest had completely thawed me, and I wondered how long it had been. I glanced out the window to see the sun beginning to shine. What little snow had fallen was gone, having seeped back into the earth.
Another hint of luck for us. After maybe six hours of sleep, I actually felt like I could handle crossing the rest of the Rockies. I was dying for something warmer, and even temperatures in the fifties would be a treat after night driving below freezing.
Eddie stood up. “Come on, darlin’. I probably shouldn’t bash this guy’s face in.”
He reminded me of the night before. God, it already seemed like ages ago. “What did he say to you, that guy at the gas station?”
“Nothing good. Maybe I’ll tell you someday. Let’s blow this popsicle stand.”
We headed out to the Harley, still parked and waiting for the open road. After filling up, the miles began to tick away.
Mesquite, Nevada. “Escape, Momentarily.” I had to laugh when we passed that sign. Nothing could have been further from and yet closer to the truth.
Eddie pointed
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