Twist chuckled, slapping his thigh. Where did Dex come up with this stuff?
“No, I’m not singing sad songs. I helped her, but I don’t know much about her. Scoop tracked down her location. Maureen and Compass offered to do a little reconnaissance for me,” Twist said.
“So you did or didn’t bring the guitar? Just asking if I should run across to thegrocery store and see if they have ear plugs,” Dex said, smirking.
The bartender delivered Twist’s food, and he decided he’d eat. Maybe if he ignored Dex a little, then the man would shut up about sad songs and Twist’s attitude. Dex reached over and grabbed a cheese stick.
“So man, which one do you think we’ll be chasing?” Dex asked, indicating Twist’s screen.
Twist evaluated what he’d been seeing and what the forecaster on the TV was saying. He was leaning toward the second storm, which was a little farther away.
“I think we’ll be chasing that one, but I want to watch for about ten more minutes. I feel like it’s almost time,” Twist said.
Dex nodded, popping the last piece of cheese stick in his mouth. “Got it. I’m goingto hit the head, then we can go whenever you want.”
Twist asked the bartender to box up the food and paid their tab. The more he watched the screen, the itchier he felt. He rubbed the tips of his fingers together. Conditions felt perfect for a big storm, and he wasn’t missing it.
“We’re live in South Dakota, about five miles north of Chamberlain. Winds are picking up. It’s hard to see but the flashes of lightning are showing us a tornado that looks to be easily half a mile wide. Currently heading southeast. Dex, see if you can show the viewers the tornado,” Twist said, drivingparallel to the tornado. At least he was currently parallel unless it turned.
Dex turned the camera toward the tornado and kept quiet while he videoed.
“If you’re in the Chamberlain area, whether your sirens have gone off or not, get to shelter. This is big,” Twist said, waiting for the next bolt of lightning to see if it was changing course. A flash lit the sky, and the thunder sounded in stereo in the car.
“Umm, Twist, I’m not going to be like a certain person we both know and jump on the floor to hide and scream, but that sucker is changing and moving toward us. Get us out of here,” Dex yelled.
Twist turned the vehicle and crossed an open field to head toward another road. He floored the vehicle, thrilling at the adrenaline pumping through his system. He never felt more alive than when he was tryingto outrun the elements and his heart was racing. Instead of it scaring him, everything seemed to become so clear. He crossed the ditch, his wheels grabbing the road as he turned to head out of the path of the storm.
He grinned and glanced over at Dex, who had decided to video Twist instead of the storm. “Best job in the world! Yeah, baby!” he yelled.
Once he’d moved them out of the path of the storm, he pulled the vehicle over and took the camera. He wanted to get some good footage, give the viewers information, but also remind the younger viewers not to do this without training. He couldn’t handle it if his videos got a younger kid hurt because he’d chased a storm without any background knowledge.
Pointing the camera at the storm, he narrated, “I know it’s hard to see with how darkit is, but the next time we have lightning, check out how wide the base of this tornado is. Even if it wasn’t dark tonight, the funnel would be dark with all the debris it has picked up. Now I want to remind you all. I’m a trained storm spotter, and I’ve taken classes in meteorology. Storms are incredibly dangerous. I know this looks fun, which it is, but if you’re interested in it, do your research.”
Lightning arced across the sky, and Twist caught the perfect video of the tornado. “Now isn’t that an amazing sight? Nature creating the perfect combination to wreak havoc. There’s something incredibly beautiful about something that can be so deadly. Now, if you’re loving my videos on storms, make sure you subscribe to not miss anything. We’re going to watch this a little longer. Thanks for watching,” Twist said.
Dex came and stood beside him. Once Twist had ended the video, Dex shook his head.
“That is the closest I’ve ever been when one changed direction toward me. Man, it was all I could do not to cuss up a storm telling you to get your fuckin’ foot to the floor, but I couldn’t remember if you cussed on the channel. My heart still hasn’t slowed down. Whew,” Dex said, shaking his head.
Twist chuckled darkly. He had to admit he got a lot of joy seeing the man who had fought beside him in the Army freaking out over the tornado chasing them. Maybe because Dex couldn’t fight back against the tornado.
“Let’s head back, park, and see if we can get some shut-eye before the next one flares up,” Twist said.
At least the chasing this evening had occupied his mind. For a while, Britt wasn’t front and center. For the first time, he was ready to be done with this storm system. He was itching for Maureen and Compass to get back from their visit. He wasn’t sure why, but he had a fierce craving to know more about Britt.
Chapter Six
Britt finished braiding her hair, then slipped on her cut. Today was one of those days when she vacillated between crying and smiling. She grabbed the mask along with her ball cap. Once a year, during their birthday ride for Charity, was the only time she donned the ball cap backwards.
Charity’s birthday, six days before Halloween, had always been a huge celebration when they were growing up, and Charity had continued it on after they graduated. Her October birthday guaranteed she went all out for the holiday. The basis of the design of their logo was the lastpicture taken of Charity the Halloween before she and Lane were killed. They’d used a picture of Charity that Mace had taken, where she was looking over her shoulder, her ball cap on backwards and her half skeleton mask on. The motorcycle signified both Lane and Charity because they’d been avid bikers. But the brass knuckles were all Lane, though. He’d been fascinated with all types of weapons and collected them. Although brass knuckles were not illegal to own, they were illegal to conceal. It was one of Lane’s idiosyncrasies. He was a judge, but he also believed in protection. He didn’t carry them, though. Britt had always wondered if he could have, would he have stood a chance against the men who had beaten him and slit his throat?
She walked outside and saw most of the group assembled. She’d chosen her 2006Dyna Street Bob. It was the bike she’d ridden on her last ride with Charity. It was one more thing to remind her tonight why they did this.
Mace got on his bike with Hoax, his wife getting on behind him. Their order in line tonight was about honoring Charity and Lane. Daydream had her own motorcycle, but she’d said earlier in the day she wasn’t sure she’d be in any shape to ride back by herself. Axel, Charity’s other brother and their Sergeant at Arms, had offered to have her ride with him. They were beside Mace. Then Snipe, their Road Captain, and Abby, known as Guru, their Vice President. Raven put her mask on, as did all the others. They fell in behind as Mace motioned to move out.
As they rounded the corner to turn onto the main highway, which was also MainStreet for the town, townspeople lined the streets, holding lights and candles up in the dusky evening.
Four years had passed, but days like today, the pain was as fresh and cutting as it was the day she found out. Mace made the turn across the road and into the cemetery. She followed toward where Lane and Charity were buried. She parked her bike. They didn’t worry about blocking the road toward the back of the cemetery. Everyone who might have a loved one in here knew tonight was about the Honey Creek Badgers MC honoring their lost loved ones.
