Sally was the one that laughed first.“Yeah, that can be confusing.I was married for all of six months decades ago.I kept his last name.”
“I’m sorry for asking, it just seemed weird to me.”
“If you didn’t grow up around here, it can be confusing.This was after the fiasco with Ben, the guy from the factory.Probably about ten years after he left the area.Anyway, I met Steve when he drove his bike through here on his way to Sturgis.He’s the one that encouraged me to amp up my riding, other than Warren, that is.Anyway, on his way home from the bike rally, he stopped to chat.One thing led to another, and after an extremely, and I mean extremely whirlwind romance, we decided to marry.Three months into the marriage, there was a knock on our door.”
“What?Another wife?”Paul asked with a grin.
“Something like that,” Warren said solemnly.“But not of the human variety.”
“Excuse me?”
“Steve was on leave from the military when he drove through to go to Sturgis.He met up with some buddies of his.He had thirty days.When he arrived back here, and we started our relationship, he still had twenty days left.He just never went back.It was his buddies, also military, that told his commanding officers about me, and Fonda.They knocked, he explained everything, and he went away with them.Because he cooperated fully with them, after he returned and stated his case, they were able to issue him a return to duty notice.He followed it to the letter.”
“What happened?”Petra asked as she saw Sally’s expression.She reached out to cover the other woman’s hand with hers.
“He did everything required of him, even pulling extra duty, then he was deployed.He was able to call me, and we talked for hours.Three months after his deployment, the government knocked on my door again to inform me that he hadn’t survived his tour of duty.Because we were legally married, and he left me the beneficiary of everything of his, they shipped his body to me, and I buried him in the family plot out at Zion Cemetery on the other side of Fonda.I go out there occasionally to visit.After that, I gave up on love.If I ever dated, I decided how the relationship would go.I don’t know if this is unfortunate or not, but I’ve never fallen in love with anyone after Steve.”She sighed, sipped her coffee, and looked at both Paul and Petra.
“I didn’t say this to make you feel upset, it’s the truth.I’m hoping that one of these days I’ll find someone to love again, but I’m happy with my life now.I have what I want and need in the diner, I get to ride with Warren, and others.”She shrugged.“What does it matter if I go to bed alone every night.Don’t feel sorry for me.You’ve been here for several months now, and as you can see, the pickings in the area are pretty slim.”
Petra giggled, and covered her mouth with her hand.“Yeah, they are, and I was just telling Paul this morning that being here with him makes me feel like I’m living a real life.We all know what we’re here to do, and for some reason, this feels like real life.”
“I totally understand that,” Warren said.“Before the two of you arrived, I felt like I was just going through the motions of living.Knowing what you two are doing, gave me a new lease on life.I know I’m not privy to most of your information, but I feel part of this by telling you what I know.”He nodded and finished his coffee.Because he had been there several times, he rose and refilled all of their cups, making sure Petra got the first fresh cup.
He settled back at the table, and looked at the two across from him.“Today will be different from any other run we’ve been on this summer.For one, any money raised will go to the local children’s hospital to purchase gifts for the kids that have to be in the hospital.The best thing is that if anyone brings a toy worth ten dollars or more, that toy is donated, and any monies made today, that cash will be donated also, and the coordinators at the hospital will use that to purchase gifts for the patients.This way, they will get what they want.”
“They did that out in New York,” Paul said.“I’ve been thinking about the events Tainted Shield will have once the guys start arriving.I have one coming in the next couple of weeks, but anyway, what are your thoughts of doing some type of run to earn money for a Make the Wish Foundation?”
“I’d donate to that,” Sally said immediately.“I give away a dinner for two at all these events or runs that take donations.I’d be willing to give away more than one.”
“Me too,” Warren said.“I do know that you might have to contact them to see if you could do something like that.Maybe, just maybe, they might have a child that wants to hang out with bikers.If you contact them, maybe you can have the child at the event.Everyone could meet him, or her, and I’m sure that money would flow faster.Not that it’s all about the money.”
“Exactly, it’s not all about the money, but I agree, if the child is there, then the money will flow.I’ve always been interested in Make a Wish and thought a run for them would help.Unlike the other clubs in the area, we’re going to do things for others.Any monies we earn will go to an actual charity.We’ll pick it out before the event so we can advertise.”
“Do you think you’ll ever do an individual as a charity?”Warren asked.
“What do you mean?”
“It hasn’t happened lately, but it has happened in the past.”
“What has?”
“I think he’s talking about me,” Sally said.
“You and others like you.”Warren turned back to Paul.“When Steve’s body was brought here, Sally had to scramble to get the funds for a funeral.Sure, the military paid for most of it, but there were things she wanted that they didn’t provide.They only do the basics.There had been other families in the neighborhood that have been through similar experiences.”
“But not always military funerals,” Sally said.“Back then, there wasn’t Go Fund Me options.Maybe you could have a fund for the town or something that residents can use in cases of emergency.”
“We can put it on the list,” Petra said.“Besides funerals, is there anything else the residents might need?”
“Rides to the hospital, groceries during emergencies, especially during tornado season.”
“You get tornados here?”Petra jerked in shock.
“One went through Greenfield south of Des Moines a couple of years ago.Then another one went through Joplin, Missouri a few years before that.”
“We’ll think about it,” Paul said.“I’m not making any promises, and I’ll have to run it by the others when they arrive.The most important thing is who is going to maintain the fund?You know, who can we trust to use it for real emergencies and not to line their own pockets.We’re talking the possibility of thousands of dollars here.”
“Yeah, we’ll have to think about it and discuss it later.”Warren finished his coffee and gathered the other empty cups to take to the sink to rinse and place in the dishwasher.It took ten minutes for everyone to make it out to the bikes, and Petra waited with Sally as Paul went to get his bike.In under five minutes, they were driving down the driveway with several toys strapped to all three bikes.
