Hell Hounds MC: Welcome to Serenity

Chapter Two

The car sputtered and groaned. Eleanor managed to pull over before it stopped completely. She sighed, leaning back in her seat. Now, what was she supposed to do?

She was in the middle of nowhere, no phone and now no vehicle. Eleanor fought back tears of frustration. She had come too far. She wouldn’t quit. She had to keep going. Summoning her determination, she forced herself out of the car and moved to the trunk. Perhaps it was best to ditch the car anyway, though she didn’t relish walking toward an unknown destination and had no idea how far it even was. She should have bought a map.

While she debated her options, the sound of engines echoed towards her. She straightened and turned toward it to see a pair of motorcycles coming up the road. Though she expected them to zoom past her, they slowed and parked behind her.

Eleanor bit her lip, studying them. They certainly looked tough in their dirty jeans and sleeveless, leather cuts baring the name of their club. Though one was definitely several years older than her, the other appeared to be about the same age.

The oldest of the pair swung off his bike and slowly approached. He was easily over six feet tall with arms that were as wide as her waist. A red, white and blue bandanna wrapped his head and a pair of sunglasses concealed his gaze as he scrutinized her. He had a long, scraggly beard giving her the impression of a grizzly bear.

The youngest of the pair remained on his bike, watching the road as if playing lookout. He was also on the larger side with well-muscled biceps. Was that a thing for all bikers or was it only these two?

“Car break down?” the older one asked, drawing her attention.

Eleanor hugged herself, wishing she was wearing anything but the oversize sweater she had. It made her look much smaller than she was. She was little over average height and when she maintained her running schedule she had a toned and fit body. But years of her family and fiancée berating her for being too fat, as well as controlling her meals, meant her body had atrophied and lost its previous conditioning. Eleanor was always careful to avoid mirrors when she was changing, because she hated how bony and pathetic her body had become.

“Yeah,” she finally answered, shrinking back as he continued to approach. She had no hope of fighting off either of them and, given her weakened state, she wouldn’t be able to outrun them in a chase.

The biker approaching her stopped and frowned, noting the way she hugged herself. She was practically quivering in fear and he didn’t like it. Though she kept her face averted, and her long blonde hair obscured his view, it didn’t stop him from noticing the bruises coloring her pale skin. As dark as it was, he guessed it couldn’t be more than a few days since she was beaten. It was enough to incite his rage.

“The name’s Rubble.”

“Rubble?” Eleanor jerked to attention, momentarily forgetting her fear. “That’s your name?”

He tapped the left side of his chest. There she saw an embroidered patch with the name clearly printed like a badge of honor, “It’s my road name.”

“Oh,” Eleanor nodded, not understanding in the least. Her knowledge of bikers began and ended with the Sons of Anarchy.

“Real name is Andrew,” he continued with a friendly smile, hoping to put her at ease.

“Andrew,” Eleanor eyed him carefully.

“Now you know why I need the road name.”

Eleanor opened her mouth, but quickly snapped it shut. He chuckled at her reaction. She couldn’t help but smile and share a little laugh.

“Oh good, you can smile. I was worried,” Rubble said, catching her off guard. “Well, you know me and that there is Matchbook.”

Eleanor glanced at the younger man still seated on his bike. He nodded to her and gave her a reassuring smile. She gave him a small wave before looking back at Rubble and said, “So, I take it there are stories behind those names.”

“You catch on quick,” Rubble agreed, though he wasn’t about to go into lengthy explanations on the side of the highway. “Your name?”

She hesitated. When she left New York she had intended to leave everything behind. That’s why she left her cards, but she hadn’t been sure about her name. She figured she would have to change it somewhere along the way, but hadn’t come up with a plan in her haste to disappear. As long as she kept it to her first name, it would be all right, wouldn’t it?

“Eleanor.”

“Pleased to meet you, Eleanor,” Rubble nodded. “So, your car.”

“Ah, yes. It just stopped.”

“Hmm. Well, let’s see what we can do.”

Obediently, Eleanor released the hood catch and stood to the side while Rubble looked over the engine.

“Try turning her over,” he said after a moment.

She climbed back into the driver’s seat and turned the ignition. The car groaned, shuddering in response. Eleanor knew nothing about cars, but even she knew that wasn’t good.

“Looks like the wrong timing belt was put on,” Rubble said after tinkering for a few minutes. “I’m surprised it got you this far.”

“So if the right one was put on, it would run?” Eleanor asked.

Rubble grimaced, “That depends on how much damage was done. Bent and broken rods will need to be replaced, not to mention the camshaft.”

“Then I should just get a new vehicle,” Eleanor muttered more to herself. It was probably better that way. “How far to the nearest town?”

“Serenity,” Rubble said, nodding in the direction she had been going. “It’s about six miles from here.”

“Six miles,” Eleanor repeated, going back to the trunk and lugging out her suitcases. It was a bit far, but she could do it.

She nodded to Rubble, tossing the car keys inside the vehicle, and started dragging her luggage toward the distant town. The most important thing was to keep moving.

“Hey, what do you think you are doing?” Rubble asked after watching her for a time.

She paused, looking back at him, “Oh, sorry. Thank you for the help.”

Eleanor turned away and started walking again. Rubble let out a long sigh before he marched up to her, snagging one of her bags and forcing her to stop. Startled, she looked at him.

“First of all, don’t thank me when I haven’t done anything,” Rubble said, hoisting the bag and swinging it over his shoulder as he gently escorted her back to their bikes, “and secondly, I’m not letting you walk to town.”

Taking her other bag, he settled both of them on the seat behind Matchbook before securing them with bungee cords from one of their saddlebags. Rubble gave the precarious burden a shake to satisfy himself that it would be fine at least until they got to town. Then he gently took Eleanor’s hand and pulled her to his bike. He climbed on before directing her how to mount the small seat behind him.

“Okay, now park your foot there. Good girl. Don’t touch that because it gets hot.” Rubble stood, kick-starting his bike before settling in the seat again. “Now, hold tight. We won’t go crazy, but I want you to feel secure.”

Eleanor did as instructed, fighting the blush that was rapidly coming to her face. True to his word, Rubble started off slow, letting her get used to the ride before they geared up and eased back to highway speed. She had never ridden a motorcycle before, never even considered it. Eleanor didn’t even think of them as particularly safe, but riding behind Rubble’s broad shoulders she felt remarkably secure. She glanced at Matchbook to see him smirking at her, which brought a fresh blush to her cheeks, but it wasn’t unpleasant.

In no time at all, Serenity rapidly appeared on the horizon. Eleanor glanced at the large welcome sign with a mixture of apprehension and anticipation. What exactly did this town hold for her?