The Wishing Well Curse
Copyright© 2023 by Lynn Donovan
Chapter 14
“Let’s ride,” Pastor James hollered over the two engines.
Zeke nodded.
The pastor turned his handlebar sharply and headed back down the driveway. He turned right on the Copper Gulley Road and pulled back on his throttle.
Zeke struggled with the bike’s gears but soon got the feel for her. The awkwardness slipped away as he caught up with the pastor and rode at a comfortable distance next to him down the county road.
They turned west on Highway 50. The Arkansas River flowed to their right as they wound their way toward Cotopaxi. It was a beautiful drive. Granite outcrops jutted up to their left, distant hills rose from the riverbed to their right. Log homes dotted the occasional clearing. Horses stood inside split-rail fences, munching on the native grass. One, then two, raised its head as the roaring cycles sped by their tranquil world. Billboards advertising river rafting tours and restaurants scattered the freeway.
The highway curved and straightened where the granite mountain allowed the engineers to lay its path however many years ago. Was this the same trail the wagon trains followed to get through the Rocky Mountains? The sun hovered above the horizon ahead of them and cast eerie pink and orange fingers across the sky. Shadows stretched along the multi-colored phalanges where springtime clouds blocked the light.
They eased their bikes into a parking area in front of a diner which apparently doubled as a small supply store. There was a long wooden porch across the length of the building. At the far end was a red telephone booth.
“Hmm.” Zeke marveled at the sight of it. “Haven’t seen one of those in ... forever.”
“True.”
The pastor removed his helmet and carried it on his right hip. His hand hung down relaxed over the bulge of the helmet.
Pastor James looked cool.
Zeke looked like a city boy on a Harley.
Together they entered the diner.
“Hey, Molly,” Pastor called to the graying blond woman behind the soda fountain counter.
“Hey, Pastor,” she called back. “You boys wanna soda?”
“Sure,” Pastor answered and turned to Zeke. “Do you want a soda?”
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