Riders stood in groups beside enormous touring bikes, classic Harleys, and machines that looked almost as old as the men riding them.
For a moment, the boy seemed overwhelmed.
Mara took his hand.
“You okay?”
Leo nodded slowly.
“There's so many.”
She smiled.
“Dutch had a lot of friends.”
The boy looked toward the garage.
“Is his motorcycle inside?”
“Yes.”
He started forward.
Then stopped.
His eyes widened.
Standing near the entrance was Gravel Hayes.
The enormous club president wore his black leather vest, dark trousers, and a white memorial patch bearing Dutch's initials.
Beside him stood a woman in her forties with shoulder-length dark hair and tired blue eyes.
Gravel smiled when he saw Leo.
“There he is.”
The boy approached.
“Morning, Mr. Gravel.”
The old biker crouched.
“Morning, little mechanic.”
Leo looked toward the woman.
Gravel placed one hand gently against her shoulder.
“Leo, this is Sarah Sullivan. Dutch's daughter.”
The boy froze.
For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
Sarah smiled.
“Your father was Arthur Hayes?”
Leo nodded.
“Yes, ma'am.”
Her eyes filled.
“I knew him.”
The boy looked surprised.
“You did?”
She nodded.
“My dad talked about him all the time.”
For several seconds, she studied Leo's face.
Then smiled sadly.
“You look like him.”
Leo's throat tightened.
“Really?”
“Especially around the eyes.”
Mara stepped closer.
Sarah turned toward her.
For a moment, the two women simply looked at each other.
Then Sarah took a breath.
“My father loved Arthur like a son.”
Mara's expression changed.
“I know.”
Sarah continued.
“When Arthur died, Dad had a hard time talking about it. He'd go into the garage and sit beside the FXR for hours.”
Mara covered her mouth.
Sarah's eyes filled.
“He said the engine was one of the last things Arthur had built with him.”
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Sarah looked toward Leo.
“And now you're the reason it's running again.”
The boy looked down.
“I just remembered what Dad said.”
Sarah nodded.
“That's enough.”
She reached into her handbag.
Then removed a small, folded photograph.
It showed Dutch sitting on the black FXR with Arthur standing beside him.
On the back, written in Dutch's rough handwriting, were the words:
Arty built the heart of this machine. One day, his boy will understand why.
Leo stared.
For a moment, he couldn't speak.
Then Sarah gently handed him the photograph.
“Dad wanted you to have that.”
The boy took it carefully.
“Thank you.”
Sarah smiled.
Then she looked toward Mara.