The weather was perfect. The southern California desert in the fall was my favorite place to camp. I loaded up my camping gear and my dirt bike and headed out to rendezvous with my friends at our favorite spot.
It all started with a phone call from a close friend, "Hey, what are you doing this weekend?" He asked.
I knew what he wanted so I teased him a little, "Oh, I was thinking about going to the movies and checking out the latest chick flick," I told him.
My friend laughed, "You are so full of it. Let's go riding this weekend. We'll meet at our regular place. What do you say?"
"Have you talked to the other guys?" I asked.
"They all said they're coming."
"OK, I'm in," I said.
There were five of us who have been riding together for several years. We had a favorite camping spot out in the desert. We visited this spot about twice a month every fall and winter. It was inexpensive and fun. It also gave us the chance to see some spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
When I arrived I saw the familiar vehicles that my friends drove, but there was also a big motor home parked at our camp. I arrived later than I said I would. Everyone else already had their tents up and were preparing dinner.
My friend Steve walked up and greeted me, Late as always I see."
"I had to work a little late today," I replied. I knew it sounded like an excuse, but it was true.
"No matter. We're all here and we're going to have a great time," He said, punctuating his words with a slap on my shoulder.
I looked over at the motor home, "Where did that come from?" I asked.
Steve looked back at the motor home and said, "That belongs to Jimmy's cousin Mike. I'll bet you five dollars Mike will let you know just how much it costs within the first thirty seconds of meeting him."
"Oh great," I said sarcastically, "So where is this guy?" I asked.
He'll be back shortly. He rode his Harley to town. He wanted to get some beer and Tequila for tonight," Steve told me.
"Is he going to tell me what he paid for that too," I asked.
"You can count on it," Steve told me.
I unpacked my truck, and then sat on the tailgate to eat a cold sandwich and some hot soup for dinner. Jimmy's cousin returned while I was eating. He revved the motor on his Harley to make sure everyone heard him as he entered camp. He parked his bike behind one of the cars in camp, so I could only see him when he stood up.
When he stood and pulled his helmet off, I could tell he was a big guy. About six foot two and two hundred pounds. To my surprise he had a woman riding on the back of his bike. When she stood up and pulled off her helmet I was rewarded with the sight of a beautiful woman.
"Shit, he brought a woman with him," I muttered under my breath.
My friends and I had a long standing agreement about not bringing women to our camping trips. It just made things too complicated and the women would demand more creature comforts than we wanted to take along with us.
Steve brought Mike over to introduce us.
"This is Mike," Steve told me.
I sat down my soup and reached out to shake his hand, "Soup and a sandwich for dinner," He said rather coldly, "Not much of an outdoors man are you?" He said, not shaking my hand.
"It works for me," I said, pulling my hand back.
Steve jumped to my defense, "I'll tell you what. If I were ever dropped into the middle of nowhere he would be the one I would want with me," He said.
Mike smiled, "Hope you can ride. Tomorrow we have a long trip planned," He said.
"I can ride," I told him, looking forward to showing him in the morning.
"Dinner's almost ready," A woman's voice came from behind Mike."
Steve stepped aside and said, "This is Laura. Mike's wife," He said.
"Hi," she said sweetly.
She looked about five foot eight and had a great body that was topped off by a pair of large breasts. I had to try hard not to stare.
"Hope dinner is better than what this guy's eating," Mike said.
"Go sit by the fire and I'll bring it to you," She said.
She slapped his ass and walked away. I couldn't help but notice that she had a little extra sway in her hips.
Mike went over to the campfire and sat in a chair, leaving Steve and I looking at each other.
"Don't sweat him. He's moving to Ohio after this weekend. Jimmy just wanted to bring him out here once before he moved," Steve said.
"Remind me to thank Jimmy for his kindness," I said, sarcastically.
"I'm guessing that you'll have to stand in line for that. Mike has been like that with everyone here so far, even Jimmy."
I sat and finished my dinner in silence, thinking tomorrow I would cut him down a few notches on the motorcycle ride. I knew this part of the desert like it was my back yard. Mike had better be a excellent rider because I planned to take him on some very challenging routes tomorrow. I doubted he would be so arrogant after the ride.
That night we sat around the campfire, drank beer, and talked. This was our regular custom on our camping trips. I drank soda because I wanted to be sharp in the morning when I demonstrated to Mike who was the better rider. Our conversation was soon dominated by Mike bragging about his accomplishments in college football and then in business afterwords.
I shot a glance over at Steve who in turn gave an irritated look to Jimmy.
The night wore on and Mike switched from beer to Tequila. It was clear to me that he was not going to last very much longer. Mike's wife, Laura had been drinking beer and also drank one shot of Tequila at her husband's insistence.
She was getting drunk, but not nearly as quickly as Mike was.
"Honey, would you take me for a ride?" She asked, in a flirting tone.
"No, I don't want to do any riding tonight," Mike said. His speech was slurred.
"He's going to be in great shape to ride in the morning," I muttered to Steve.
"Honey, take me for a ride," She asked him again.
"I told you, I don't feel like riding," He said, "If you want to go so damned bad, get someone else to take you." He said, his arm gesturing around the campfire.
Laura sat and pouted, then retreated to the motor home. The rest of us continued talking until about fifteen minutes later Laura came back.
"I made some popcorn. Is anybody hungry?" She asked.
Mike got up and mumbled that he was going to bed. The rest of us ate popcorn and talked some more. Laura took the chair next to me and we shared the same bowl of popcorn.
After the popcorn was finished the guys all went to bed, leaving Laura and I sitting alone by the fire. We didn't say anything to each other for several minutes.
"Take me for a ride," She said, finally speaking.
"You want to go for a ride now?" I asked.
