CHAPTER FORTY

Website where all photos of all outfits mentioned is on my profile. Sorry this is late, have not been having a good time with my Gall Bladder. Only upside is that in the last year I have lost a total of 30 kgs (66 pounds).

Waking up in the morning I become aware of muscles that hurt more than I thought possible. Jax grins at my winces as I move "Have a really hot shower and you'll be better." He says, pointing towards the bathroom and pulling the covers tighter around his shoulders "I'll have mine after yours."

Pulling clean clothes out of my backpack I toss them on the bed and head into the bathroom.

25 minutes later I feel a lot more relaxed when I step back out of the bathroom. "That worked, that's baby. Now, food?"

Jax shakes his head "While you were in there Hap came by to say that the charter is putting on breakfast before we hit the road. It'll be ready at 8 so we can hit the road at 9."

"So what time will we be in Sturgis?" I ask, dressing while Jax finally slides out of the bed.

"About 8, depending on how many stops we make."

I nod as he heads into the bathroom, already pulling my phone from the front pocket of the bag to make sure it's alright that we check in at 8pm. The sincere thanks I'm given for checking its okay, the assurance that 8pm is fine for a check in and that the office will be open till 9 that night make me smile as I repack the backpack with the dirty clothes.

Breakfast at Salt Lake is an odd experience, instead of the normal bacon, eggs, hash brown spread that Redwood would put on Salt Lake have an industrial size waffle maker working full speed to crank out waffles for the 40 people standing around the lot, the bacon and eggs are present but in much smaller quantities then I'm used to and the hash browns are missing, instead replaced with sausages and grilled tomatoes. Jax keeps pushing me to eat more when after two waffles with bacon and maple syrup I'd pushed the plate away.

Eventually turning to him I grumble "Jax I'm not eating any more cause we're going to be on a bike for the next 10 odd hours, I don't want that much sugary stuff sitting in my stomach which could very possibly make me vomit and not enjoy the ride."

Jax swallows and nods "Okay babe. Do you want more coffee?"

Sighing I shake my head "But I will get some water for the trip."

Jax gestures towards the drum that's got bottles of water and juice floating in it "Help yourself. Maybe get some for D and Ope too. I think she's a bit pre-occupied."

Donna's in the corner of the compound with a couple of the old ladies waving her arms at a set of swings and slide that's obviously a very recent addition. From where I'm standing I can see her explaining about the one that was built at TM for the kids. Pulling four bottles of water out for each of us I carry them to the bikes and dry them on the t-shirt I'd worn the day before then tuck them into the top of the two backpacks. Standing up just as Donna turns around and spots me.

Crossing the lot she frowns slightly "What are you doing?"

"Water." I tell her with a chuckle "But I'd like to get a move on soon, any idea how long the masses will be?"

Donna shrugs "No idea, but I'm sure if our guys started moving everyone would take the hint. Have you got the money from them all yet?"

I roll my eyes "A couple of them have tried so far but I said to wait till we're actually in Sturgis. We're going to have to work out food for 10 days as well and I'm not sure how that's gonna work."

Donna groans "Oh yay, how many women coming?"

"Including us 10 and 20 Sons."

Donna shrugs "That's not as bad as I thought. The 10 of us should be able to cook for us all okay."

I nod "I know that, but I'm more thinking of the buying and transporting of food and beer for those 10 days."

Jax's arm drops over my shoulder "We will sort that when we get there. Stop stressing, this is meant to be a relaxing time for all of us."

I snort slightly, stretching up to kiss him lightly "We ready to go?"

Jax nods, waving his hand behind him where everyone is checking saddlebag straps and pulling on jackets and helmets.

The procession of 20 bikes arrives at the outskirts of Sturgis just after 830, heading straight for the place I've booked it takes Happy and Jax to organise everyone out of the middle of the driveway while Donna and I go get the keys and directions to the 'grove' that we're taking over. The 5 cabins are set in a semi-circle and as Jax coasts through the thick tree line he looks over his shoulder "You sure this is the right place?"

I nod "Yeah, the numbers are over the doors and the map the guy gave me led us here."

The cabins that we're in the middle of look nothing like what I expected. Each is constructed of dark wood logs with a balcony out the front, complete with two rocking chairs, it's obvious which one is the kitchen by the vent for the oven and extractor fans that stick out of the roof, seeing we've rented the whole lot of the cabins the manager had given me the key for the kitchen as well so we could lock it while we were away. Jax backs his bike up beside the cabin in the very centre a huge number '5-3' over the door, the 5 for the fifth 'grove' and 3 for the cabin number.

Jax waits while I get off and stretch slowing before getting to his feet and looking around the group now standing in front of us "So it's up to you all to decide who's sleeping where. Each cabin has 2 double bedrooms and 2 single ones." Donna bounces to my side leaving me with the key for cabin 3 in my hand but lifting the other 4.

"Redwood are gonna claim cabin 3 by the looks of that." She says with a chuckle, watching as Happy, Chibs and Opie back their bikes in beside Jax's. "If anyone has any preferences for which cabin they want, or roommates speak now or I'll just throw numbers at you."

Between the lot of them they manage to sort themselves out, without Donna having to go 'mommy organising' them and 30 minutes later the bikes are parked by the cabins and the area is full of the noises of people slowing moving unpacking.

The first hurdle comes almost 45 minutes after we arrived when one of the women from Salt Lake appears in the door with an apologetic smile "Sorry, but we're wondering how we're going to sort food."

I laugh looking over at Donna where she collapsed on the sofa and refused to move "We were just talking about that. The people that own this place told me I can borrow their pick up tomorrow to go in and get some supplies, D and I thought we'd go in the morning. As for tonight, the pizza place is open till midnight and they do deliver out here. If you want to go do a money collection I'll put an order in. And I'm sorry, but I've forgotten your name already."

She laughs, shaking her head her long dark curls brushing over her shoulders "Bonnie, and don't worry, no one got offended when you said you wouldn't remember names straight away, I don't think any of us will for a couple of days."

Donna snickers "Don't count on it. S won't finally remember everyone's names till the day before we're due to go home."

Poking my tongue out at her I sigh "You're probably right. Anyway Bonnie. There are 30 of us, if I order 10 pizzas?"

Watching her mouth fall open is almost funny but when she realises I'm counting 20 Sons she nods "Maybe 15 to be safe? That place we stopped for lunch was shit."

I laugh nodding "Okay, 15 it is." She leaves while I pick up my cell phone and make the phone call to order food. The stammered reply when I order 15 pizza's makes me giggle again, adding sides of breadsticks, fries and bottles of soft drink I quietly recite my card number when asked.

Bonnie arrives back 10 minutes later "I got $15 from each of them. Is that enough? And I told them all that we'll be doing a collection tomorrow for groceries."

I nod "Yep more than enough. I've paid for the whole lot already, it's the only way they'd accept the order. It's gonna take about 45 minutes though."

"I'll let them know."

After Bonnie leaves Donna sighs "Are we insane?"

"Probably, why this time?" I reply, turning to look at her.

"We've just travelled through four states, and into a fifth for a rally that none of us had heard about?"

Opie plonks down onto the couch beside her shaking his head "Nah Don, we'd all heard about it but no one had the organisation to arrange it all till now."

Happy's voice echoes through the open door of his room "Yeah Cupcake's almost as bad as Gem for organisational skills."

Blowing a raspberry towards his door I smirk "Someone wants to sleep outside?"

"Oh hell no, in fact I think you're gonna have to find someone to feed me, I ain't getting off this bed in a hurry."

I wink over at Donna, leaning into Jax's chest as he settles on the sofa beside me "Cam's not here to feed you, I think you'll have to do it yourself. How is she?"

Happy snorts "She hates LA, misses Ma and Charming already. Though she didn't wanna admit it. And stop grinning woman!"

I bite my lips in an attempt to stop smiling, lasting all of 10 seconds before I shake my head "Sorry Hap but I can't."

The pizza's arrive 5 minutes before the 45 minute time is up and watching the delivery guy open the back of his car and start passing the boxes out is funny, it's just as funny watching the Sons diving into the slices like they haven't been fed in weeks. Jax takes a second to thank the Pizza Hut driver, slipping him a tip that I don't spot the size of, but judging by the widening eyes must be large before pulling a slice out of the nearest box and biting into it.

It takes less than 30 minutes for the pizzas and all the sides to vanish, some of the guys deciding to go for a night ride through town while the more exhausted ones head for bed.