[jetski]

Hi. I am a writer of books and magazines. This is a page from my newest book, “The Lady Rode A Harley.” Based on a true story of a woman who rode a Harley during the 1930’s. Hope you enjoy.
As a quad, I have 2 good fingers, one on each hand. jetski


“That good to hear,” Hope said. As she stood up she put a five-dollar bill next to the empty coffee cup.
Maggie looked at the five and told her she didn’t have to do that.
“I know, but I want to, you are such good folks here. Hope and Maggie left the café together and walked into the morning sun to find her Harley. It was just where she had parked it the night before. The parking lot was busy with many other drivers doing the same thing as the two women…leaving. Hope had to set the choke and kick the engine a number of times before it caught and sputtered to life. While the two women sat on the big Harley waiting for it to warm up Hope asked Maggie how she had explained her leaving her job at the café’.
“They’ll find out when I don’t show up for work tonight. Say Hope, do I look ok in these overalls? These are the only type of pants I could find cause they belonged to a boyfriend of mine. I packed several pair,”
“I don’t see a problem, you fill them out pretty well.”
The big motorcycle and the women’s conversation caught the attention of four young men in a black, 1928 Buick. They pulled along side of Hope and Maggie and yelled.
“Hey ladies, where you going on that motorcycle? If you want to ride something, get in the car with us, and we’ll let you ride something.” One of the young men shouted. “Yeah, ladies, you could get hurt with that thing. We’ll give you some protection.” His friend chimed in.
“Why don’t you boys go home and find your mommies. It sounds like you’re missing something.” Hope responded to the catcalls.
“Don’t mess with us bitch, we play rough, if that’s what you want.”
“Shove it, little boys” Maggie returned as Hope automatically shifted the idling Harley into first and popped the clutch. The rear wheel fish tailed as the two women flew out of the parking lot, throwing dust and gravel in the direction of the black Buick.
“Get them, don’t let those bitches get away,” the men shouted as they leaned out of the windows, shaking their fists in the direction of Hope. The driver of the black Buick floored the engine also, and the spinning rear tires added to the flying dust and gravel.
The commotion, created from the shouting and the roar of the motorcycle, caught everyone’s attention in the parking lot, including Bud Rankin’s, as he sat in the cab of his tractor-trailer rig, preparing to pull out on to the highway. Bud saw what was happening to his two friends and immediately decided to do something about it.
“Bastards! You punks are gonna get a taste of your own medicine,” he murmured to himself as he piloted the big rig on to the two-lane concrete highway and began shifting through the thirty-three forward gears in his three year old Mack truck.
Hope felt the increased beat of her heart as she leaned forward and down on the gas tank in order to gain as much speed as possible from the Harley. As she twisted the throttle and worked through the gearbox she patted Maggie on her knee to signal her to crouch down and forward as well. Finally, reaching fourth gear, she spoke to the Harley “Come on baby, don’t fail us now,” she coaxed the Harley as it roared on the way to it’s top speed.
Hope knew the young men in the black Buick were not playing games and they meant to do the two women harm, provided they could catch them. Her only defense was to out run the Buick until she could find help. Looking to the side and behind her, she could see the Buick was still some distance from them, but she couldn’t be sure if they were gaining. Or were they? But then she saw a large object behind the Buick. Were there more people chasing them?
Bud felt he had the advantage over the men in the Buick because they hadn’t realized he had joined the pursuit. True, his rig was a couple of years old, but she could pull ninety-five in top gear even with a loaded trailer. It would just take a little longer to get there. Shifting through the two gearboxes and the split rear end, caused black smoke to fill the air as it poured from the large stack that protruded above the cab of his truck. Soon the gray, foreboding diesel truck was like a large locomotive, bearing down on the four men and their Buick
The driver of the Buick commented to his three friends about the speed of the Harley. “I don’t know if we are gonna be able to catch them. They say those Harleys are fast, and it looks like that gal can ride. Maybe we will just follow them for a while to scare the hell out’em.” At that moment the inside of the Buick suddenly began to turn dark and men turned in time to see a chrome bulldog trying to drive through their rear window.
“That truck driver is crazy. What is he trying to do?” one of the men screamed as the front bumper of the truck contacted the rear of the Buick. “Come on, floor this thing and let’s get outta here,” another passenger yelled.
“Hey, I’ve got the Buick floored. It’s doing seventy now.”
“Hang on,” someone else shouted as the large nose of the truck slammed into the Buick once more, this time sending the carload of men into a sideway skid, causing it to land in the roadside ditch. The Buick ended up leaning severely to one side, as if it were on the verge of tipping over. The four men scrambled from the car and shouted as the tractor-trailer rig flew by. Bud hit the air horns in response and flipped them off.
“Next time you punks will think twice about picking on women,” he spoke to his mirror
Hope had caught glimpses of what had happened in her side mirror and knew it must have been Bud. She quickly brought the Harley to a stop alongside the road, waiting for him to do the same. When he did, she pulled the Haley along side the driver’s door.
“That was some mighty fine truck driving, Bud. I owe you one.”
“Nope, you just take care of yourself and that lady with you. How did you ever convince Maggie to join you?”
“I kept telling you I was going to quit that place Bud.” Maggie answered.
“Yeah, but I never expected it to happen so soon.” Bud grinned.
“You two know each other then?” Hope interrupted.
. “Sure, Maggie and I go back away. Tell you what I’m gonna do girls. As soon as I get to a telephone, I’ll call the highway patrol and turn in a report on those punks. You should be well clear of the area by then. No need to wait around. When you get to Laredo, make sure you stop in at Thomas and Charlie’s Bar and tell Charlie to give you my mid-night special. He’ll know what you mean. Ok, you ladies ride safe but ride free.”
“Goodbye Bud, and thanks again.” both women spoke in unison.
They sat astride the motorcycle watching in silence as the big truck slowly disappeared from sight. Then Hope turned to Maggie asking. ”You alright?”
“Oh sure, just a little shaken. I didn’t expect the excitement to come so soon.”

[qbounce]

Bill,
Sounds like a fun read. Did you ever make it to Cooks Corner down here?

Probably one of the first biker bars ever established in the Orange County area (and definately the last).

[jetski]

Hi bounce. There was one biker bar I spent a lot of time in. It was north of Escondido. A lot of the Marines went there from camp Pentalton. It was called the Ranch X, I believe. A lot of topless dancers and nude dancers.

A biker group by the name of the Iron Horsemen plus some of the Commoncheros. It was a pretty wild place. They finally had one too many police raids and shut the place down.

Thanks for the read. Bill

[evilmac64]

Nice page look forward another

[jetski]

Thank you Mac. If the readers would tolerate it, I will gladly post others here. Who knows, I might be moved to post the entire book here so that others may enjoy some reading fun.

jetski