173 - Travel
*It’s a long ride. If you need a break or want to ride in the cage for a while, tap my leg. – Molly*
When Werewolf went to Sid and Trigg’s house to tell them that Becks had passed away, they had been on the phone with Camille down in Louisiana. Instead of calling her daughter back, Sid called Darkness.
“Hey, Sid,” the large Cajun said with his thick accent filling the room from the speakerphone.
“Darkness, I need you to take care of my baby,” Trigg told him.
“Always,” came the simple answer.
“Becks passed away,” Sid said softly.
“*Mwen regret, manmi*,” he said and then translated himself, “I’m sorry, mom.”
“Thank you, honey,” Sid told him as Trigg pulled her into his arms.
“You take care of my baby,” Trigg told him again, keeping his own tears at bay. “I’m going to call Gator.”
“Let me know when we should fly out.” The Cajun said as the work van began to beep as he backed up.
“No flying,” Trigg said. “We’ll get you some hotel rooms booked and send you the details. It’ll be a few days before we leave.”
They spoke for a few more minutes before Sid went and did what she had planned out when she received her ‘assignment’ from Becks. Ever thoughtful and always the planner, Becks did not want her family to have to worry about any of the plans for her celebration of life.
The old ladies, a few brothers and even some of the bunnies had all received calls from Noel or Case to come see Becks. She had everything planned out, from making the arrangements for travel, to the music in her service.
The route from Monroe to Vegas had been planned out for months.
Monroe
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Peoria, Illinois
Kearney, Nebraska
Parachute, Colorado
Las Vegas, Nevada
The southern route for the Cajuns and Renegades had not been planned. With the help of Google maps and Dixie’s experience, Sid quickly plotted out a course and waited for Gator and Roscoe to tell her how many rooms to reserve.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Austin, Texas
Muleshoe, Texas
Gallup, New Mexico
Las Vegas, Nevada
Sid had laughed at the names of the little towns that Dixie had given her. Evie did not seem surprised at all. And when Sid called the hotels that had been recommended, the clerks knew the Renegades and happily booked the many rooms that were requested.
The morning that they were leaving, the Shack was packed with Lowery’s and Saints. There were even a few Eagles sprinkled into the mix. It was unsurprising to see Judge and Dawg sporting the Eagles’ colors. However, it was a little surprising to see Bearcat’s on again off again girlfriend wearing an Eagles’ cut.
Since Bearcat was kissing her as if his life depended on it, Sid assumed that they were back on. Or at least for the trip.
Allison, having never been close to any of the Lowery’s and still reeling from her divorce, opted to stay and she drove the little sports car with her parents’ luggage in the trunk. Since her heart-to-heart with her younger sister, Camille, over Christmas, there had been a change in her demeanor and attitude.
Sid watched as she walked over to where Molly stood surrounded by his large family and offered her condolences. Watching the exchange, she couldn’t help the confused look that crossed her face.
“Aye, that’s Noel.” Nessie said as she stopped next to the president Pops Place and his wife.
“Isn’t the other one Becks’ nurse?” Trigg asked as Sid slid off the back of the bike.
“Aye,” she grinned at the couple, her bright green eyes shining, “have yeh ever known that family to turn away someone in need?”
“No….” Sid admitted. “But…”
“Right now, it’s a mutual need. They all need each other.”
“What do you see, girl?” Toad asked as he stepped up next to her.
Shaking her head, she took her young daughter from her uncle. “Shadows are not showing me much.”
“But they are showing you something.” Trigg stated.
Nessie nodded. “Aye. Hard choices are ahead of them. And that storm over Europe and Asia is closing in fast here.” She shook her head, and her tear-filled eyes skimmed over the large group of Saints and their families. “We are not going to make it to the other side unscathed.”
Closing her eyes, she brushed a kiss over her daughter’s head. Strong arms encircled them, and she looked up at her husband with soft green eyes.
“Mia, Jaye and Alana just pulled in,” Knuckles told them.
“Do we have enough seats for all the kids?” Sid asked as Werewolf walked over to them.
“The Flowers are a little behind them.” Werewolf said as he tugged on Abigail’s little jeans.
The toddler told him no but grinned at him as she reached for him. “Uff.”
Chuckling, he took the little girl from his friend. “Colton and Charlotte are also driving over.”
“Ton-ton!” Abigail said excitedly. “Ton-ton!”
“Yes, your Ton-ton.” Werewolf chuckled as the little girl bounced in his arms. “I guess you want to ride with your Ton-ton?”
“Ton-ton!”
“I’m ordering that boy a patch with the name Ton-ton,” Toad chuckled.
“That boy is going to weigh a ton.” Werewolf said of his oldest who was already six feet at only sixteen years old.
“Is he pulling the trailer?” Trigg asked.
“Yeah,” Werewolf chuckled as Abby played with his beard. “He’s been pulling stock trailers around the farm since he could reach the pedals. That boy can probably back up a trailer better than any of us adults.”
“All the Lowery kids start driving when they can reach the pedals.” Toad pointed out.
“And?” Werewolf asked as his wife and oldest son pulled into the crowded parking lot. With extreme ease, the four-door pickup and trailer were backed up where Cowboy indicated.
“Just let all of them without a license know that I’m not bailing them out of they get caught driving over to the Shack.”
With a feigned look of innocence and knowing smile, Werewolf declared, “None of them drive anywhere but on the farm.”
“Uh-huh,” was Toad’s non-committal response to that as three more vehicles pulled into the compound. “That must be the Flowers.”
“Molly’s riding point, who’s got tail gunner?” Trigg asked.
“Priscilla and the musketeers are rotating out,” Werewolf supplied. “Priscilla is first and last every day.”
“Is she… are they ready for that?” Sid asked.
Werewolf nodded “The rest of us will be there to help if needed. It’s something that they themselves needed to be able to do. For Becks. For themselves. For Priss.”
“I understand that,” Knuckles whispered and pulled his wife close.
Nearly ten years ago, he himself buried his mother after she was killed as a bystander in a robbery at a gas station. All of the adults standing there had lost a parent and understood what Priscilla was feeling. They all understood her need to say goodbye in her own way.
Steele’ pagan’s father and ride captain for the day called the riders over. They went over the route that would be taken that day and the anticipated stops. Alana had a list of all the kids that would be split out among the different cars. Adjustments and changes could be made at the stops along the way.
Once everyone was settled, the bikes that were being hauled for the first part were secured in the trailers, and all the luggage and everything else being taken was secured, the long line of bikes and SUVs made their way out of the compound.
Celt’s family law firm loaned them five of their new black Suburbans for the trip. The only vehicle that they were taking from the Lowery collection was the old Suburban that Alana always took on the long rides. The same one that Becks had napped in on her way to start her new life two decades ago.
After a long day of driving, they pulled into the hotel on the outskirts of Pittsburgh. As was typical for trips with so many people, they found a local buffet that allowed everyone to have what they wanted. Early the following morning, the pickup and trailers were loaded back up. The kids and riders settled into their spots and Molly led the way back onto the road.
The routine was repeated in three more cities over the next three days. On the fifth day of travel, they pulled into the same hotel that they had stayed at on previous trips. The group coming in from the south was delayed due to a road closure because of an unexpected ice storm.
After they arrived the following day, the five young friends were reunited. They locked themselves away in a hotel room until Pricsilla talked Mary into taking them to the club where Molly and Becks had met.