The Adventurer by Diana Whitney

amusement lit his pale eyes. “After seeing your apartment, I never would have taken you for the fastidious type. ” “I won’t dignify that with a response, ” she said primly, then lifted the helmet and awkwardly lowered it into position Devon reached out and fiddled with her chin straps. “
    “How does that feel?
    “Like I have a bowling ball on my head. “
    “You’ll get used to it. ” He flipped down his plastic visor , then hers.
    The world took on an eerie gray hue. “There. Are you ready to go? “
    She eyed the big machine with growing trepidation. “I suppose so. “
    “Okay, here’s the drill. While we’re moving, hang on tight, keep your feet on the pegs- ” he pointed to the narrow steel props on each side of the chassis “and don’t let your leg touch the muffler. It gets red-hot.
    Any questions ?”
    “Only one. ” She smiled sweetly. “Is it too late to change my mind? ” “Absolutely. ” Devon scooted forward on the padded seat, then reached back and patted the ridiculously small portion that was left. ” Hop on. “You’re joking, right? ” She couldn’t see his face through the visor but suspected that he wasn’t smiling. “Look, I’ll never fit on that tiny thing without, uh, crowding you. ” ‘ From beneath the tilted helmet came an unmistakable John Wayne drawl.
    “Haven’t you heard, pilgrim? That’s the best part. “
    She rapped her knuckles on the top of his helmet. “Are you leering under there? “
    “Yes, ma’am, “
    “Good. Just checking. ” With that, she tossed a leg over the seat, held her breath and settled into the intimate position Her heart was thudding so loudly that it was a wonder he couldn’t hear it. He twisted the key, stomped on the starter and the engine roared to life. While he tested the idle speed, she licked her lips and assessed the muscular back looming in front of her face, wondering whether she was supposed put her arms on the outside or inside of his nylon Windbreaker. Deciding that outside would be more appropriate, she tentatively slid her hands around and lightly touched his firm chest. “No He yanked off his helmet and shook his ruffled hair. daredevil stuff, okay? “
    “We’re here, ” he announced. “What do you think? “
    “I’ll pretend you’re a crate of eggs. ” lowering one foot to the ground, she reluctantly turned “How flattering. ” him loose and raised her visor. “Oh my, it’s beautiful.
    There He turned slightly. “Hang on. ” really is a creek.. and trees!
    Honest to goodness trees!” “I am hanging on, ” she insisted even though her delicate Devon swung a leg over the handlebars, hung his helmet embrace was too limp to dent a feather pillow. on the rubber handgrip and helped Jessica dismount. His With a shrug, he revved the engine and kicked the bike exhilaration was contagious. “See that strip of smooth stone into gear. As the motorcycle lurched forward, a startled halfway up the cliff? That’s an ancient riverbed. There was scream reverberated through her helmet and before they’d once a big mining camp here in the canyon. Down the creek traveled fifty feet, Jessica was glued to his back like a postabout a mile are a couple of broken down cabins. And that age stamp. The sensation of speed was terrifying. Every time cave over there- ” he gestured toward a boarded opening they leaned into a turn, she remembered the tiny body in the rock wall “-is the entrance to one of the mines. ” bouncing on the racetrack and thanked God that her will Invigorated by the canyon’s primitive beauty and Devwas in order. on’s unbridled joy at sharing it with her, Jessica could barely After several long minutes of burrowing into Devon’s contain her own excitement. “Can we explore? I mean, I’ve back, Jessica finally gathered the courage to open her eyes never seen a real mine shaft before. ” and realized that the scenery wasn’t moving nearly as fast as “The ones around here are