Midnight Ride
Part 3
by SiLK

Silk didn't know whether to run or hide.  Hide?  Where did she think she'd do that?  And running wouldn't be any better.  Damn it!  She thought.  She should have stayed with the car.  At least she could have sat in it and felt safer.  But NOOO!  She had to strike out walking in the middle of nowhere.

The sound was getting closer and she knew that it would be coming over the rise she just came across a few minutes ago.  She decided to just stop and hoped that they had motorcycle cops here in Bama.  She laughed at the thought.  Yeah! Ones that rode Harleys.  She had been raised around bikes and could tell the difference.

She turned around just as the headlight of the bike began to shine over the rise.  She said a quick prayer and started walking towards the approaching bike.  He must have seen her because he was slowing down.  He eased the bike over to the shoulder and stopped just in front of Silk.

Damn it!  Silk though why didn't I hide when I had the chance as she took note of the obvious biker in front of her and wondered what gang he was with.  He was dressed in all leather.  Chaps and the whole nine yards.  She couldn't see his face because he wore a helmet.  At least he was a safe biker.  Most of the ones that she knew back home, didn't wear helmets even when there was a law.

Silk turned her attention from the rider to the bike and what a bike it was!  Totally decked out from a custom painted gas tank, to leather saddlebags.  Whoever this person was, he certainly had great taste and must have the money to go along with it.  Silk had always loved Harleys and was lost in admiring the bike.

"A-hem."  Silk heard the rider clearing his throat and she looked up from the bike back to the rider.  She just stared.  "Is that your car a few miles back?"  He asked.  His voice no mistaking who it was.  "Do you need a lift to somewhere?"  He asked this time, Silk could see a grin beginning to form at the corner of his mouth.  What in the hell was HE doing here?!  He cleared his throat again and Silk finally found some words and stumbled over them.  "Y-Yes.  It ju-just quit."  He was eyeing her t-shirt.  He knew where she was going more than likely, and he knew that by the way she was acting that she knew who he was.  "Let's start over."  He suggested with a slight laugh.  "I'm Gene, but I think you already know that and you are?"  "M-Me?"  Silk looked around like there were a million other people standing around her.  He had cut the bike off at some point, when Silk couldn't remember and had propped it up on the kick stand.  He was leaned over with his right elbow resting on the gas tank.  He nodded `yes' and grinned.  GOD!  Why did he have to grin like that?  "I'm Silk."  Was all she could managed to get out.  "Silk?  What an interesting name."  There he went with that grin.  "Well actually it's Cynthia, but I'm on a couple of chat groups and we all ready have a Cynthia on there and so I go by my addy name which is `Southern Lady KISS."  Silk couldn't believe she got out a whole sentence without falling over the words.  "And I take it that this group is a KISS group?"  Gene inquired.  "Yes.  I don't know if you have heard of them or not.  They're KISS girltalk & Paul's Island."  After Silk finished she realized how dumb that sounded and groaned.  "Well actually I have heard of them and quite a few others.  I visit some of them whenever I have a spare minute or two.  Lots of interesting and creative writing going on there."  OMG!  Silk thought.  Gene did visit on their sites.  Wait till she could tell her KISSisters about this.

"I take it then that you are headed to Birmingham to go to the Expo?"  Gene asked his attention again drawn to the KISS shirt she was wearing.  "Yes and I guess I can take it that you are the `Special Guest?'"  Silk laughed.  "Yeah, but don't tell anyone till the Expo.  Okay?"  Gene asked his dark eyes sparkling with mischief.  Okay she is standing out in the middle of nowhere and Gene pulls up on a Harley and she isn't suppose to tell anyone!  Why didn't he ask something easy like not making the sun shine or something like that?

Silk wrapped her arms around herself feeling the dampness in the air.  "You cold?"  Gene asked as he lithely unstraddled the bike.  "Just a bit."  Silk confessed.  He opened up one of the saddlebags and took out a leather jacket, complete with fringe.  He stepped closer and offered it to her.  "Here let me help you."  He offered as he helped her put the jacket on.  His hands lightly brushing her arms as she slipped into his jacket.  Silk looked up and their eyes met for what seemed like an eternity.  Gene broke the concentration.  "I can give you a lift and call a wrecker for your car if you'd like?"  Gene offered trying to get his attention back on what needed to be taken care of first.  There was something about this `Southern Lady', but he certainly wasn't going to take advantage of someone, especially not a lady.

The mention of a phone brought Silk's attention back.  "A phone?  You have a phone?  But this is a no service area.  Believe me I've all ready tried."  "OOh?  Well I probably have a different server than yours, so let's see."  Gene told her as he took out his phone and dialed.  "Hey, no just checking to see if the phones are working.  No.  Yeah.  I'll be a while I think.  Bye."  Gene finished his conversation and handed her the phone.  "Works for now.  Is there someone you need to call?"  "Yes.  Thank You.  Cynthia is probably standing on her head by now."  Silk dialed up the number and purposely turn her back on Gene to keep from having to look into his dark eyes.  

"Hello?"  Came Cynthia's voice on the other end.  "Hey it's me Silk."  "Girl.  Where in world have you been?  It's almost midnight and I was looking for an hour ago.  Are you all right?"  Cynthia sounding frantic asked.  "I'm all right.  Just had some car trouble."  Silk started.  "Car trouble?  Where are you at?"  Cynthia asked.  "Well to tell you I don't exactly know, but I don't think that I am that far from Birmingham."  Silk turned and looked at Gene and he shakes his head no.  "Do you remember the last sign you saw so I can come and get you?"  Cynthia asked.  "Just hold on.  I have a ride I think."  Silk said looking at Gene.  He was nodding yes.  "A RIDE?!  GIRL!  Do you know how dangerous that is?  You don't know anyone up here!"  Cynthia started.  "Hey!  Just chill Sis.  I think that I will be fine and besides there isn't much that can be done on a Harley."  Silk tried to calm Cynthia down; she looked at Gene and noticed that wicked little grin again.  Why in the world was he getting to her?  Paul, Paul, Paul.  She loved Paul.  "Silk did you say a Harley?  Oh hell!  Now I know I am on my way!"  Cynthia told her.  Silk could hear Cynthia fumbling with keys and knew she was determined to be on her way.  "I'll be fine, believe me Cynthia.  I'll call you later and let you know what is going on after I get in touch with the wrecker service."  "Silk are you sure?  Is there something that you aren't telling me?"  Cynthia asked.  "No.  Just don't worry okay.  I'll talk to you in a little bit."  Silk was trying her best to convince Cynthia not to come.  After a few more minutes of promising to be careful and Cynthia giving Silk some advice on what to do if this guy gets out of line, it was settled.  Silk said goodbye and handed Gene the phone.  

"Worried about you?"  Gene asked, eyes just a twinkling.  "Yes."  Silk replied afraid to be thinking what that twinkle in his eyes meant.  "Well let's get things taken care of."  Gene punched in some numbers and talked to someone on the other end.  Giving them information about Silk's car and a few yeah and no's here and there.  "All taken care of.  Wrecker is on its way.  We'll go back to your car and wait.  Should be just a few minutes."  Gene explained as he leaned over and was opening the other saddlebag.  Silk couldn't help herself as she admired the view.  GOD!  What was she thinking?  Paul! Paul!  She repeated silently to herself over and over.   "Here."  Gene straightened up and handed her a helmet as he donned his own.  Silk put it on and watched Gene straddle the Harley again and start it up.  He then turned to her with that `grin' and patted the seat behind him.  Silk laughed lightly and shook her head as she climbed on behind Gene.