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SOLIDARITY

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 Solidarity
Copyright © 2010
by Adelle Laudan
adellelaudan@adellelaudan.com

Cover illustration by Adelle Laudan © 2010

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer
who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or
dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The
characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are
used fictitiously.

ISBN: 978-0-9865413-8-4

Ontario, Canada

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 Dedicated to all
Downed Riders
&
Friends & Families

***

A friend knocks on your door.

A brother walks right in and says,
“I’m home!”

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 ~1~

Gut wrenching pain jolted him awake several times in the night. A
tube stuck halfway down his throat made it impossible to convey
his agony with anyone, he concentrated on the rhythmic beat of
the rain dancing on his window to lull him back to sleep. It
seemed like only minutes passed before the hum of the floor
cleaner outside his door nudged him awake. Shag pried his eyes
open a mere sliver. Rays of sunlight reflected through the
lingering raindrops and cast tiny rainbows on the crisp white
sheets.

His leg lay exposed atop the sheet. Bruised and battered, aged
tattoos of naked women now resembled characters from a B-
rated horror flick. The only remnant of his other leg lay beneath a
heavily bandaged stump.

Shag choked back the vile substance being pumped into his body
through the tube down his throat. The slight turn of his head sent
a streak of liquid fire down his spine, erasing all hope he might
wake up any moment from this God-awful nightmare.

Anger and confusion duelled within him as he desperately tried to

grab hold of a thread of memory. All he managed to do is unravel
more questions.

Warmth spread all over his body and eased the panic within. Shag
closed his eyes and welcomed the darkness of a drug-induced
sleep.

***

“Come on.” Larry gave the cord binding his sleeping bag to the
backrest on his bike a final tug. “We were supposed to be on the
road an hour ago.”

Shag laughed at his friend’s inevitable impatience. “Chill brother.

We got plenty of time.”
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Shag’s ol’ lady bent over to pick up a piece of paper, giving him
the perfect opportunity to pat her behind.

Lucy shooed his hand away as she stood and clasped her hands
at the back of his neck. “You just remember your promise, and
come home to me in one piece.” She whispered in his ear,
stealing one last nuzzle against his neck.

“Don’t you worry ‘bout me, Sugar. You know I’ll always come
home to you.”

As much as he’d miss her, he’d looked forward to this trip for
almost a year now. Larry, Bones and him meticulously planned
every aspect of the run to Michigan for the Easy Rider Rodeo. All
three of their bikes were primed and ready to rock the 650 clicks
ahead of them.

Every inch of his low-rider’s’ sleek lines sparkled. Long before

he’d opened his eyes, Lucy buffed every inch of her and made
sure the saddlebags were packed with everything needed. He’d
sure lucked out with Lucy. Even after ten years, his crotch still
ached at the memory of her bent over a bench while an artist
tattooed a portrait of his face on her left cheek, forever
emblazoned to his memory and her sweet ass.

Not bad for a mangy old biker.

Shag chuckled as he tied back his long, dark mane. He’d just
straddled his ride when he heard Bones’ bike gearing down.
Seconds later he rounded the corner of his driveway. His massive
frame dwarfed his midnight blue, Fatboy.

Bones’ size alone had mothers pulling their children close to their
sides. If they took the time to look real close, they’d see the
twinkle in his baby blues. Bad assed biker. The same guy they
protected their children from, spent much of the riding season
organizing Toy Runs for kids in need.

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Only a fool would mistake his kind heart for being a pussy. One
time a guy was foolish enough to slap a chick in his presence.
Before the guy could turn his head Bones picked the asshole up
with one hand and threw him through a plate glass window.

“Finally.” Larry furrowed his brow. “What the fuck is up with you
guys? Am I the only one who wants to get there before night fall?”

Bones’ laughter set the chains holding his vest together in

motion. “Relax, little man.” He pulled a bandana from his pocket
and wiped his brow. “The girls at the Rodeo won’t start the party
without ya.”

“Very funny.” Larry folded his arms across his firm chest. “I
wanna get there sometime this century.”

“Well quit your whining and let’s go.” Shag laughed.

In a matter of moments they were off. If someone looked dead on

at them, they’d think Bones rode solo. His mass covered Larry
riding directly behind him and Shag tail gunning. Larry might be a
pain in the ass most of the time, but his ’53 Indian Chief was a
sight to behold. The iridescent cream paint changed color at each
bend in the road. If it wasn’t for the black leather he wore, he’d of
been lost in the color scheme with his bald head and fair
complexion.

As they turned onto the highway, all thoughts carried on the wind
as the three of them settled in their rides and lost themselves in
the open road before them.

***

“Shag…open your eyes, baby.” Lucy lightly kissed his cheek.

Her angelic voice carried in the wind and once again he awakened
in a hospital bed. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t muster
up the strength need to open his eyes.

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“Come on baby…I know you’re in there.”

Like opening a rusty ol’ crate that sat outside a few too many
seasons, his eyes opened. Bright sunlight temporarily blinded
him, and he blinked rapidly, trying to focus on the blurred image
at his side. The familiar scent of sandalwood caressed him and
coaxed him to try again, until finally his gaze settled on her long
black hair and a trail of tears glistened on her olive skin.

“Hi there.” Shag hardly recognized his own voice. It was as if

someone took sandpaper to the inside of his throat.

“Don’t try to talk, baby.” Lucy pressed a cool damp cloth against
his forehead.

Reality seeped in. The sight of his bandaged stump sent a shiver
through his body.

“My leg…”

The flicker of fear in her expressive eyes did not go unnoticed.

“Not now, Shag. You’ve been asleep for a very long time. You
need your strength.”

She moved the cool cloth down the sides of his face. His eyes
closed, and try as he might, he simply didn’t have the strength to
fight. Darkness befell him once again.

***

The rumble of his belly sounded over the medley of engines, and
his gas gage told his stomach it was time they both filled up. Shag
signalled over his head and watched for Bones’ confirmative nod
in his mirror. Soon they followed his lead off the highway and into
a pit-stop.

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Twenty minutes later they sat in a booth scarfing down the
greasiest burgers on the planet. Funny thing about putting a few
miles on, it made almost anything taste good.

“Well guys, we’re almost half way there.” Shag stretched his arms
up over his head and yawned.

“Whatsa matter ol’ man?” Bones wiped a trail of grease from his
chin. “Do you need a nap?”

“You keep eating like that and we’ll have to roll you out of here.”
He took a bill from his wallet and tossed it on the table.

“Well, I’m ready to roll. Let’s get back on the road. We can still
make it there before dark if we leave now.” Larry pushed away
from the table and stood.

“Yes sir!” Shag saluted.

“Fuck you.” Bones growled and sunk his teeth into a second
burger.

“Well you can sit here and eat ‘til you blow up. I’m outa here.”
Larry shouted back over his shoulder as he stomped the short
distance to the door.

“What’s his problem?” Bones shook his head.

Shag shrugged. “I guess he caught a whiff of pussy in the wind.

I’ll go get him to relax a minute. You take your time, wouldn’t
want to see you waste away to nothing.”

Bones devoured the second half of his burger in one bite.

Shag opened the door from the diner and shielded his eyes from
the blazing sun. Quickly, he pulled his shades from his vest and
put them on. Across the lot, Larry sat on his ride with his arms
folded across his chest, impatience lined his brow.

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“He’ll be out in just a couple of minutes.” Shag shouted over the
screech of a transport pulling up to the pump.

“I’m not going to wait all day. I promise you that much.”

“Chill bro.” Shag patted his shoulder and meandered off to where
his girl sat in the shade.

All the TLC sure paid off. She’d never run smoother. From his
saddlebag he pulled out a light denim shirt Lucy purposely packed
on top. ‘Remember how you burn baby and put this on when the
sun gets hot’. The coolness of the fabric against his warm skin
reminded him just how well she knew him.

If that means I’m pussy-whipped…I’m lovin’ every minute of it.

“Are we ready to rumble?”Bones rubbed his massive hands

together as he neared his bike.

Shag laughed as Larry started his bike without a reply.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” He chuckled and winked at Shag.

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 ~2~

“Sit down please, Mrs. Mann.” The doctor implored.

Lucy paced anxiously in front of the dishevelled desk. She hadn’t

slept a wink since Shag opened his eyes three days ago.

“You need to sit, Lucy.” Dr. Lindon tried to soothe her. “You aren’t
going to be of any use to anyone if you make yourself sick.”

With a sigh, bordering on tears, she flopped into a large

cushioned armchair. Feeling very much like a little girl in the
principal’s office, she drew her legs up to her chest and buried her
head in her arms. Her long black hair draped around herself like a
cloak of armour.

“We need to discuss what is happening with your husband. It’s

not uncommon for someone in his situation who’s been in a coma
for this length of time to drift in and out of unconsciousness. His
body is going to need a lot of therapy in order to function
properly. Remember, he’s not only dealing with the loss of his leg,
but living without a spleen means he’s at high risk for infection.
For the rest of his life he’ll have to be real careful, since the
spleen plays a crucial role in the body’s ability to fight certain
bacteria. His leg will take a long time to completely heal. If the
wound were to get infected...” His fingers steepled under his chin.
“Let’s just make sure that doesn’t happen and concentrate on his
therapy. It’s going to be an extremely painful and tiresome
process.”

“It’s been six months.” Lucy cried. “I never thought I’d see those
blue eyes again…” The last thread of her fragile demeanour broke
and she sobbed uncontrollably.

Several minutes later, she peered over her folded arms to find the
doctor reading from a thick file. “I’m sorry.” Lucky hiccupped.
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“You’ve been very brave these past few months, Lucy. “ His voice
calmed her. “Shag will need your strength more than ever to get
him through this time. When it completely registers he lost his
leg, it’s hard to predict his reaction. In the meantime you need to
get some sleep.”

“I am not leaving this hospital.” She spoke firmly.

“How did I know you’d say that?” Dr. Lindon smirked. “We put a
cot in his room several weeks ago. I think it’s high time you used
it, don’t you?”

She rose, defeated.

“Doctors orders, Lucy.” His glasses teetered precariously on the

tip of his nose. “You get some sleep and then we’ll discuss our
next move.”

Through a veil of tears she nodded and turned to the door. Her
proud stature born of her Cherokee heritage, withered and
beaten.

Doctor Lindon rose from behind his desk and gently tucked her
hand in the crook of his arm and guided her down the hall to her
bed.

***

Like mercury climbing inside an old thermometer, adrenaline

surged through his veins. Every on-ramp they passed brought
more and more bikes—a sea of black leather and chrome for as
far as the eye could see. Shag took a deep breath.

So much power in one place...what a rush.

It became difficult to see the lines on the road as a swarm of

bikes engulfed him from all sides. Periodically, he’d look down
from a rise in the road to see the cab of a transport break the
symmetry of black on black.
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“This is gonna take forever.” Larry shouted over the noise. “I’m
going up ahead to see what’s going on.”

“It’s not going to be any better up there. Why don’t you just relax,
we’re all in the same boat.”

Larry shrugged and twisted his throttle, weaving in and out of

traffic until he reached he shoulder. Totally oblivious to the one
finger salutes offered him by several disgruntled riders.

He better watch his step. There are some pretty heavy hitters on
the road right now.

Shag shook his head and turned his attention back on the road,
just in time to see a bike at the top of a hill go down, setting in
motion a domino effect. He had nowhere to go—wedged in tighter
than a sardine in a can. People honked horns and cursed at each
other, whereas some ditched their bikes and ran to the shoulder
of the road and scrambled over the guardrail. Pandemonium filled
the three lanes, and headed straight for him.

Seemingly out of nowhere a semi pulled up beside him, inching

precariously into his lane. As the chain reaction neared him, he
knew he was going down and couldn’t move a muscle--like being
frozen to the spot. In the same moment the bike ahead of him
was shoved back into him, Shag put his arms up to protect his
head. Thoughts of Lucy filled his mind as his body came down
hard on the asphalt. The crunch of chrome and iron deafened
him, but not enough to mask the cracking of his bones as his bike
was swallowed whole, into the belly of the transport truck.

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 ~3~

Lucy rolled back her shoulders and took a deep cleansing breath.
She never knew what side of Shag lay on the other side of the
door from one day to the next. With a definitive nod she put her
hand on the door.

“How’s my man today?” Lucy walked into the room with yet
another card wishing him well. She reached over his small
bedside table and added it to the collection on the windowsill.
Flowers, multi-colored balloons and a stack of magazines
decorated every open surface in the room.

There were even a couple bottles of whiskey in the mix, but she
took them home for fear he’d get into them on a bad day when
left alone. Jack coupled with the heavy duty meds they had him
take made for a lethal combination.

“I’m just fucking wonderful.”

Four months had passed since Shag awakened from the coma,
almost a year since the accident. Each day she prayed to the
Great Spirits of her ancestors to see the smile he’d once greeted
her with every day.

When the reality of losing his leg had sunk in, he remained silent
for almost two weeks. Gradually he talked again, but refused to
discuss the loss of his leg, with anyone. Thankfully he agreed to
therapy, a painful process he worked hard at on a daily basis.

Bones and Larry were frequent visitors throughout the long

months he lay in a coma. Now, Shag refused to see them, or
anyone else for that matter. At one point he even refused to see
her but she wasn’t going anywhere. Reluctantly he accepted that
no matter what he did or how harsh he spoke to her, she wasn’t
going anywhere.
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“Bones called again.” Lucy fiddled with a flower arrangement.

“You know how I feel about that.” He shook his head. “Tell him to
stop wasting his time and go for a ride.”

“He cares about you, Shag.” She sat at the edge of his bed. “He
really wants to see you.”

“It ain’t happening. Do you think I want him or anyone else

looking at me like I’m the main attraction in a freak show?” Shag
rubbed his face roughly with his hands. “My God, Lucy, I can
barely stand to look at myself.” He turned his back to her and
stared out the window. From previous discussions not unlike this
one, Lucy knew she was being dismissed.

“You’re coming home this Friday, Shag.” Lucy gathered a bag of

laundry and her purse. “Do you really plan on keeping all of your
brothers away? They were here for me like no other family could
have been. Bones never left your bedside over the first month
you were here. After that, they sat in shifts, Bones, Larry, and
Tiny…all of them!” Lucy heard the tremor in her voice and cleared
her throat.

She gazed down at the man she’d shared a bed with for over ten
years, and wrestled with whether to cry or lash out at him. Not
willing to risk saying or doing something she’d regret later, she
opted to do nothing.

“You know, Baby, you can be as angry at the world and everyone
who loves you as long as you need to be.” She leaned over and
kissed his flushed cheek. “I’m not giving up on you, and neither
are the guys from the club. I want you to think about something
for me. What would you do if it were one of them in this hospital
bed?”

Silence permeated the room. It didn’t matter whether he

responded or not. She’d given him something to think about. Lucy

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opened the door and took one last glance over her shoulder. “I
love you, Shag. Don’t you forget it.”

***

Shag hated feeling the way he did, but most of all he hated the
way he treated Lucy.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

A knock at the door stole his attention.

“Shag, you have a visitor.”

“Check the fucking chart. I’m not taking visitors.”

“Well tough shit, you’re getting one.” Bones’ familiar baritone

filed the room.

Shag pulled the sheet up to his waist and held it firmly in place.
“What are you doing here? I think I made it pretty clear I want to
be left alone.” He turned away.

The sound of a chair scraping against the tile had him gritting his
teeth. Before he opened his eyes, he knew Bones sat beside him.

“I’d like to know what the fucking big deal is about coming to see
me. The sun is shining in case you haven’t noticed. You should be
out there riding.”

Bones’ expression sobered and he stroked his jaw. “In case you
forgot, you weren’t the only one who went down that day. While
you’re up here with a serious hate-on for the world, a few people
out there had to bury a loved one who didn’t make it.”

“I wish I...”

Bones shook his head vehemently. “Don’t, don’t you dare say it,
you self-centered ass.”

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Shag narrowed his gaze at his friend. “You have no idea how I
feel, or what it’s like to wake up and only have one fucking leg.”

Bones stood and shrugged. “You’re right, I don’t know. You know,
you would’ve liked the old Shag. Tough as nails, he was. It
would’ve taken more than losing a leg for him to give up,
especially with such a great gal as Lucy at his side.”

Shag opened his mouth; his friend’s dark eyes silenced him.
“Save it. Don’t you worry, you don’t want anyone around, you got
it. You know how to get a hold of me.”

Shag swallowed hard as he watched Bones leave the room.

“Son of a Bitch.”

~4~

The fragrant scent of fresh cut grass and magnolia blossoms

wafted through the house as Lucy opened the window of the
screen door. Over the past three months Shag learned to
manoeuvre around their small house quite well with crutches, but
refused to venture outside. Prosthetics and the topic of riding
again were adamantly deemed off limits.

Rather than push the issue, she concentrated on showing him

how much she loved him, with or without his leg. At first he
refused any visitors, but over the past couple of weeks their
friends had become more and more persistent, and Shag’s
resistance grew weaker and weaker. Finally laughter filled their
house again when two or three of them sat together listening to
tunes and tossing back a few cold ones.

The rumble of motorcycles filled the room. Shag looked up from

his newspaper and his gaze fell on the open window.

“Oh great! Like that’s not going to drive me insane all summer.”
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“You have to come see this, Shag.” Lucy stood at the door and
gazed at him through a veil of tears.

“What’s the matter with you?” He rose from the table and used a
crutch to hop over to the front door. He swung it open and his jaw
dropped.

Every member of the brotherhood sat idling outside their house.

The pack split down the middle to reveal Bones behind the wheel
of his 4x4. The truck veered to the left, revealing the best kept
secret they’d collaborated over the past couple of months. Lucy
breathed a sigh of relief at not having to hide anymore.

Shag’s eyes glistened as his gaze travelled the length of a custom

built trike shining in all its glory in the morning sun. Recognition
danced in his eyes upon noticing the front end of his bike.

He searched her eyes and swallowed hard in a futile effort to keep

his emotions at bay.

“How? Did you know?” He furrowed his brow.

Lucy wrapped her arms around him and whispered in his ear. “Go
see your new ride, baby.”

Bones stepped down from the truck and crossed the distance
between them. He mopped his brow and dabbed the corners of
his eyes before pulling Shag to his chest in a bear like hold.

His friend released Shag and both men wiped their eyes.

“What’s going on here, brother?”

“Well, my friend, we can’t go on a club run without you.” He

laughed and ushered him to his truck. “We installed hand controls
so you have no reason not to ride.”

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A couple of guys from the club rolled the machine off the trailer,
and as Shag ran his hand over the front fender, Larry handed him
a helmet.

“I haven’t got all day, ya know.” Larry smirked and quickly turned
away to sniffle into his bandana.

She didn’t even try to hide the tears rolling down her cheeks. “Go
on, it’s time to get back in the wind baby.”

Shag scanned the sea of leather-clad men sitting on their rides.

Bones now sat on his bike at the head of the pack. He pulled Lucy
close to him. “Go get your helmet.”

Her brow creased and she stepped back. “Are you sure?” Club
runs were usually reserved for the guys.

He chuckled and smiled the smile she’d ached to see for over a
year. “Like I’m going to go anywhere without my co-pilot, but you
better hurry or Larry here is going to have a conniption.”

Lucy ran back to the house for her helmet. Within minutes they
were settled on the trike and ready to go. Shag started it up and
leaned back in his seat, nodding his approval. He glanced back
over his shoulder and smiled, not caring about his own tears or
who saw them.

Shag signalled they were ready to roll and the pack opened up for
him to join Bones in the lead. Lucy leaned forward and wrapped
her arms around the man who held her heart in his hand. To see
him smile the way he smiled right now erased any misgivings she
might have had as to whether or not things would be okay.

Her gaze travelled over the host of bikes following them and she
returned the smile of each and every one of them.

Solidarity of brothers. It doesn’t get much better than this.

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Adelle Laudan lives in Southern Ontario with two of her four children still under her
wing. Life as a single mom of two teen girls is, interesting, to say the least. When
Adelle’s not writing, she enjoys, leather work, sewing and reading, and of course ‘Riding
in the Wind’. It is her dream to show the world, not all motorcycle riders are rude, bad-
assed bikers, with little to no respect for law, or people in general.
Through her stories she will show you the life-style she’s come to know and love. The
side where men and women care about people, and spend most of the riding season
participating in charity runs and raising funds for anyone in need. The side where family
comes first before anything.

I invite you to travel the many twists and

turns of being a published author. Be sure
to hang on tight, as I hope it’s a ride
you’ll not soon forget.

Wishing you Miles

of Smiles 
Adelle
‘Legs’ Laudan

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Iron Horse Rider Series is available NOW

http://adellelaudan.com

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