Copyright by Elizabeth Goddard
Here?s the opening of the third novella in Oregon Outback.
Legs burning, he pedaled hard and fast, willing his single-speed mountain bike up the rugged trail, his riding buddy Rally Hayes not far behind. As he veered from the track, junipers and sagebrush lashed out at Lucas Love on the right.
The rocky formations, twists and turns of the Dago Gulch in the Sheepshead Mountains tested the skills and endurance of hardcore mountain bikers. An experience with God?s glorious creation, the trails didn?t disappoint.
Lucas never got enough. He loved rising to the challenge, defying gravity when possible. He had two days off from his ATV and recreational vehicle business, Oregon Adventures, and intended to enjoy it to the fullest. He was an extreme sports junkie. Mountain biking, backpacking, hang-gliding, mountain climbing. The riskier the better. Forget about that giant mess that he called an office?at least for today. Forget that owning your own business didn?t return the freedom you thought.
Living in that reality was a necessary evil, but it wasn?t living, it was existing.
A glimpse behind him revealed he?d lost Rally around the lofty crags. He was getting too soft to keep up. Getting married and settling down could do that to a guy. That is, if you married a girl who wasn?t an adrenaline junkie, too, like Rally had.
Lucas yanked the handlebars around for a hard stop, the back tire skidding a half circle and throwing pebbles and sand into the air. While he waited for Rally, he took a swig from his water bottle.
Rally appeared around the crag, panting through his mouth. By the look on his face, he was willing himself, willing the bike, up the hill.
?I was beginning to worry.? Lucas replaced the bottle on the holder and laughed off Rally?s glower.
Lucas jumped on his bike and started on the incline again, working his momentum back up. The sound of heavy breathing, wheels crunching against dirt, pebbles and rocks, came from behind, drawing near and fast. Though Rally hadn?t said as much, Lucas knew it was a race to the top.
He pushed himself harder. The muscles in his legs screamed. His lungs burned. And at the crest, he flew over the rise, releasing a shout.
The bike slammed into the ground, off-trail. His back wheel wedged between two boulders and stuck. Momentum threw Lucas into the air. He flew high, arcing over the trail, his arms and legs flailing, then slammed into the brush, thirty plus feet from his bike.
After the initial shock fell away, Lucas groaned. He shook out his hands and legs, making sure nothing were broken.
Rally?s face filled his vision. ?Are you all right??
Lucas laughed. ?Man, that was great.?
Reaching down, his buddy frowned and gripped Lucas?s arm, assisting him up. ?One of these days, you?re going to get yourself killed.?
Dusting himself off, Lucas made his way to the bike and tugged it from between the rocks where it had jarred. ?It wouldn?t be the same without the thrill, without the risk, would it??
Rally helped him free the bike. ?You?re crazy, you know that? You?ve got no fear.?
The tone in Rally?s voice made Lucas look up. His friend wasn?t smiling.
?What happened to you?? Lucas asked. ?You used to call this fun.?
Rally?s skin gleamed with sweat. ?I can?t afford to get hurt and miss work. I have a family to support. You need to grow up.?
A thousand retorts battled inside, but Lucas ignored the comment and, like Rally, got on his bike again. The frame remained sturdy and strong despite the collision with the boulders. Though he tried to recapture the spirit of the ride, the high it had given him, Rally?s comment had sucked the life out of it.
Rally had wanted to join him today, but it hadn?t been the same. Lucas had lost another friend to domesticity. Even two of his brothers were married now. But it had to happen eventually.
That was another reality. An existence Lucas wanted to avoid.
The next day Lucas and Rally hit the trails early but packed up at noon for their six-hour drive home from Oregon?s eastern border, the Lake Owyhee State Park area. Refreshed from time spent in nature, he steered his pickup into the parking lot at Oregon Adventures. Several vehicles filled the parking spaces. Business was booming today as always. He?d like to avoid seeing the place for one day, maybe two, but. . .not going to happen.
He lived in the apartment at the back of the building.
He and Rally removed their bikes from the truck.
?Got plans?? Lucas asked, even though he knew the answer. ?How about hanging out tonight??
?I?ve got a wife and a kid now. You might try it sometime.?
After seeing what that?s done to you? I don?t think so. Lucas chuckled. ?I?m not husband material. What girl would want me for that??
Why did Rally have to be so serious?
?It can?t be like old times, Lucas. Why don?t you come over to my house? We?re grilling tonight.?
Lucas helped Rally secure his bike on the back of his mini-van. ?You?d better ask Katy first. It?s no secret she doesn?t like me.?
?Only because she thinks you?re a bad influence. Or that you?re going to get me killed by not filing a travel and rescue plan. Plus, I need to help with Jonathan. It?s not fair for her to be the only one taking care of the baby. But come over and show her a different side.? Rally grinned. ?You never know. She might change her mind.?
?Yeah, that?ll be the day.?
Rally climbed in and started the mini-van. ?I?m serious. Come over and bring a date. You haven?t broken every heart in the county yet, have you??
The words stung, but Lucas hid it with a smile. ?Sure, I?ll bring a date.?
After Rally drove off, Lucas started for the back of the building, where his apartment and a hot shower waited.
?Lucas!? Ricky stepped through the front door of the rental business and waved Lucas over.
Ricky was one of the summer employees Lucas hired so he could take a day off. Two if he was lucky. ?What?s up??
?There?s a girl here, looking for a job. What do I tell her??
?Tell her we?ve hired all we need for the summer. And would you take that Help Wanted sign down, please?? He turned his back on Ricky, his shoulders knotting. He should get an apartment away from his business.
Ricky ran after him. ?She?s answering an ad you had in the paper for a bookkeeper. Not for summer help.?
Lucas froze. She came by in person instead of calling first? He scratched his head, recalling he?d asked for interested parties to stop by. He?d long given up on anyone in the sparsely populated area answering that ad.
Images of an organized office and someone else doing his books danced in his head. Gripping Ricky?s shoulders, he said, ?Tell her to wait in the lobby. I?ll be right with her.? After I shower off.
This was the one person to answer his ad for a bookkeeper. He couldn?t let her get away.
Excerpt used by permission of Barbour Publishing. Check out this page for places to buy Oregon Outback!
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Source: http://romancingamerica.com/posts/excerpt-a-love-risked/
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