Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Cold wind ripped through the area, making the ride miserable. They knew the weather wouldn’t be favourable, but they hadn’t been prepared for the wind. Ducking her head behind Cree’s larger frame, Kennedy tried to find a way to handle the bitter winter weather slamming into her.
Her only saving grace was the full-face helmet. She was thankful her face wasn’t being assaulted by the cold. But any place the cold could seep into her clothing felt like her skin was on fire.
Cree dropped his hand to her thigh and rubbed it.
He’d done it multiple times, and the contact comforted Kennedy when she struggled to stay on the bike.
There was no way she’d tap out. No one would be able to say she held them up.
Taking a chance, she poked her head up so she could see the milage and count the distance they had travelled and what they had left for the day.
When they’d left Red Lake and Maliki, Kennedy was ready to be on the road.
Ready to get to Montreal and Player. Her excitement to reconnect with her brother had kept her fighting the weather.
With the temperature not much higher than a mere thirty-two and a light sheet of ice starting to gather on the road, Cree made the choice to get off the road after three hours. Kennedy hadn’t argued.
It was both their faults they hadn’t gotten on the road on time. Cree had distracted her with too many kisses, which had them lying around, enjoying a romantic morning in bed. It had been well after lunch before they told Maliki goodbye and left the little cabin behind.
On day two, they managed to finish the last leg of the previous day’s trip and over half of the second day’s run.
They had run six hard hours. Now, on day three, they were hoping to put a solid eight hours on the road to make up the miles from the previous day.
The problem had come down to the weather.
With the temperature dropping by the hour, Kennedy didn’t think it was in the cards for them.
Two hours in, the bike’s tires lost their grip as they travelled over a patch of black ice.
Her ass slid off the tiny seat onto the fender.
Kennedy grabbed onto Cree tighter as he kept the bike upright.
She could feel her butt slipping on the icy metal.
Closing her eyes, she felt the bike slow as Cree downshifted.
When they pulled to the side of the road, the only things helping her stay on the bike were the saddlebags and footpegs, where she had tucked the front of her boots underneath them.
Untangling her feet, she climbed off the bike.
“Fuck.” Kennedy didn’t give a rat’s ass how Cree felt about that word coming out of her mouth. She doubted he could even hear it with the face shield down.
Walking along the shoulder, she needed a minute to compose herself. Glancing at Cree still sitting on the bike, she continued walking until she turned around and headed back.
Kennedy climbed back on the bike, tapped his shoulder, and hung on as he pulled back onto the highway.
At the next exit, Cree pulled off the highway and into the parking lot of a hotel.
Evidently, they were done for the day, and she wouldn’t argue.
When he shut the bike off, Kennedy got off and waited for Cree.
“You good?”
“Yeah.”
“Cross your fingers this place has an opening.”
“I’ll cross my toes too.”
Heading inside, they saw the place was buzzing with people. It looked like a business conference, and they might not get a room with as many people were meandering in the lobby. “Can I help you?” came a pleasant voice from behind the counter.
Kennedy peered over the counter to see a young girl sitting in a chair. “Hi, there. Would you happen to have a room available?”
“Let me check. We did have a few people check out early.”
“Thanks.” Kennedy looked over at Cree, who was discreetly scanning the area. “Everything okay, Cree?”
“Yeah.”
He didn’t sound convincing. “We don’t have anything, but give me one second.” the receptionist said. Giving her a minute, she continued watching Cree. Something had him on edge.
“Okay, there’s a room available at the little inn down the road. My girlfriend works there. She can hold it for you.”
“That would be great. Could you give me directions?” Kennedy listened as the girl gave directions. “Who do I ask for?”
“Mandy.”
“I’ll make sure to ask for her. And thank you again.” Resting her hand on Cree’s back, she nodded toward the door. She didn’t ask him what the problem was. She’d do that later, when he wasn’t on edge. Giving him the directions, they loaded back onto the bike and headed down the two-lane road.
The little inn was just that—a little inn. It was a quaint two-story house with a half-dozen cottages along the back side sitting on a pristine piece of property. Kennedy was sure it was gorgeous in the warmer months.
After checking in, Cree pulled the bike around to one of the cottages.
Kennedy chose to walk, which she regretted halfway to the cottage.
Her boot hit ice, which sent her flying feet first in the air.
When she landed, it was on her hip, knocking the wind out of her.
Pain radiated through her as she tried to catch her breath.
The sound of running feet had Kennedy rolling onto her back as she sucked in a breath.
“Kennedy, are you okay?”
Sleet began to fall, making the situation more miserable. “I’m not sure.”
“Can you get up?”
“I’m not sure.” It was the honest answer.
“Give me your hands.” Cree pulled her toward him so she wasn’t on the ice. “Tell me if it hurts for me to move you.”
Before she could register any discomfort, Cree had her off the ground and in his arms. “Cree, I’m too heavy to carry.”
“Are you calling me weak?”
“No, I’m simply stating a fact.”
“I’ve carried you before and you didn’t protest.”
“I plead the fifth.”
Cree put her down outside the cottage door. “Key?”
Patting her pockets, Kennedy couldn’t find the key. “I must’ve dropped it when I fell.”
“Stay put.” Cree headed back across the yard toward where Kennedy had fallen. Glancing around, he didn’t see a key card. “What colour is the key?” he shouted.
“Gold,” she yelled back.
There was nothing that resembled a gold key card.
Walking along the edge of the sidewalk all the way back to the check-in office, he found nothing.
He walked back on the opposite side of the walkway and still found nothing.
“Kennedy, are you sure the key card is gold?” he asked when he stopped by the stoop.
“It’s a gold key. Like an actual key.”
“Shit.” Retracing his steps, he still didn’t see a key. Moving over the lawn, he searched for ten minutes before he spotted it. When she fell, it must have gone sailing through the air. Grabbing it up, he headed back to the cottage.
When they finally got inside, they were both wet from the sleet. Closing the door, he turned on the gas heaters in the small living room, the bedroom, and the bathroom. Finding two guest bathrobes hanging on the door, he grabbed and called Kennedy into the bathroom so they could change.
With them both chilled to the bone, Cree decided a hot bath would be best. Turning on the water, he started running a bath as Kennedy stepped into the room. “How about a bath to warm up?”
“Oh, that sounds good.”
“You also need to soak that hip.”
When she stripped off her jeans, Cree saw that her entire hip had already begun to bruise. “Shit, sweetheart, you’re gonna be hurting tomorrow.”
Glancing in the full-length mirror that hung on the back of the door, she saw what he was talking about. The hip was already discoloured. “I hope not.” It would make the ride worse.
Cree sank into the warm water and leaned his head back. The old clawfoot tub was bigger than any of the other tubs at other locations they’d stayed. It could easily hold three adults. “This must be an original clawfoot tub and not a replica.”
“Looks like an old tub,” Kennedy said as she climbed over the high side. Sinking down in between Cree’s legs, she sighed at the feeling of the warm water. Lying back, she closed her eyes.
They stayed in the tub for over an hour.
When the water cooled, they’d let some out and added more hot water to the bath.
When they finally decided to climb out, the topic of dinner came up.
Neither wanted to go back out. They’d rather go hungry.
Instead, Cree found a binder with menus and pamphlets of local interests inside.
After calling four different restaurants and finding none of them open, they were running out of places to call.
Every time Cree hung up, she would tell him to call the office, which he ignored.
When he threw the last menu in the trash, she suggested to call the office again.
It was funny how a man wouldn’t ask for directions when they were lost. Cree didn’t want to call for recommendations of places to eat.
Reaching for the phone, she laughed as he fought for it. Laughing when she finally got it away from him, she called the front desk. “Hey, Mandy, would you mind suggesting a restaurant that delivers?”
“Oh. Yes. We have a dining room, or we have room service.”
“Even for the cottages?”
“Yes. Look in the binder for a menu. It’s taped to the back.”
“Awesome. Thank you.” Hanging up, she grabbed the binder and flipped it to the back. “They have a dining room and they deliver,” she repeated what the receptionist had told her.
“That’s the best thing I’ve heard since we left Red Lake.”
“The best thing?” She looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
“Those sounds are exempt from this conversation.”
“Mmhmm,” she responded as she scanned the menu. Nothing sounded good, so she closed her eyes and pointed to the menu. Whatever it was, she’d eat it and not complain. Opening her eyes, her finger lay on the special of the day. “I’ll have the stew.”
“Sounds good to me.”
An hour later, with their food eaten, they were under the blankets, watching the weather.
Neither spoke as the weatherman announced that more sleet was on the way.
With a heavy sigh, Cree grabbed the phone and called the front desk, securing the cottage for an extra night.
When Mandy commented that it must have been the food that convinced them to stay, Cree agreed with a chuckle so the young lady wouldn’t feel bad about dinner sucking.