“She saw something.”
One paramedic knelt beside the biker.
The other began opening equipment.
“Sir, can you hear me?”
Adeline remained beside him.
The paramedic glanced at her.
“Sweetheart, I need some space.”
Adeline shook her head.
“His hand.”
The biker was still holding her fingers.
The paramedic softened.
“I know. But we need to help him.”
“I’m helping.”
The deputy crouched nearby.
“Hey, princess.”
Adeline looked at him.
“That’s a pretty impressive crown.”
She touched her crooked tiara automatically.
“Would you come stand with your mom for me?”
“No.”
Kendra stepped closer.
“Adeline.”
The girl tightened her hand around the biker’s fingers.
“He doesn’t want to be alone.”
One paramedic exchanged a glance with the other.
Kendra felt embarrassment rise.
“I’m sorry. She’s normally not—”
The injured biker suddenly squeezed Adeline’s hand.
Everyone noticed.
The paramedic stopped.
“Sir?”
His eyes opened again.
His gaze went directly toward the girl.
“Stay.”
The word was barely audible.
Adeline nodded.
“I will.”
Kendra’s embarrassment disappeared.
The lead paramedic made a decision.
“She can stay until we need to move him.”
The deputy stood.
“Fair enough.”
They began assessing the biker.
Blood pressure low.
Probable concussion.
Possible fractured ribs.
Shoulder injury.
Maybe leg damage.
No catastrophic external bleeding.
The deputy walked toward the motorcycle.
He examined the road above.
There were skid marks near the curve.
No second vehicle immediately visible.
Kendra watched all of this while Adeline remained exactly where she was.
Then the child looked toward the highway.
“They’re almost here.”
The deputy glanced at her.
“Who is?”
“His brothers.”
Kendra rubbed her forehead.
“Honey, we talked about this.”
“No.”
Adeline tilted her head.
As if listening.
The deputy followed her gaze.
“Do you hear something?”
Kendra heard only the ambulance idling above.
Then one paramedic looked up.
“Actually…”
Everyone became still.
A low rumble rolled through the distance.
Faint.
Then stronger.
Not thunder.
Engines.
Motorcycles.
The deputy climbed several yards uphill to get a better view.
The rumbling multiplied.
One engine.
Three.
Six.
More.
Then the first motorcycle appeared around the highway curve.
A huge black touring bike.
Another followed.
Then another.
And another.
They came in formation.
Chrome flashing beneath afternoon sun.
Kendra counted without meaning to.
Five.
Eight.
Twelve.
The motorcycles slowed when they saw the emergency vehicles.
More appeared behind them.
By the time the last rider stopped along the shoulder, nearly twenty motorcycles lined the road.
The deputy looked down toward Kendra.
“Friends of his?”
She stared.
“I have no idea.”
Adeline smiled.
“I told you.”
Riders began dismounting.
Mostly men.
Middle-aged.
Older.
Leather vests.
Heavy boots.
Some gray-bearded.
Some tattooed.
One had a shaved head and sunglasses.
Another wore a faded denim jacket beneath his leather vest.
Their demeanor changed instantly when they saw the motorcycle down the slope.