She stumbled backward as a section of plaster collapsed onto the floor.
“Oh, Thomas…”
She stood beneath the leaking ceiling, staring upward.
The storm had finally found the weakness she had spent years pretending wasn't there.
She dragged a bucket beneath the largest leak.
Then another.
Then another.
Her hands shook.
Outside, thunder rolled across the dark desert.
Mara sat down at the kitchen table.
For the first time in years, she allowed herself to admit the truth.
She couldn't fix the house anymore.
And she didn't know how much longer she could fix herself.
The storm stranded the riders just before midnight.
There were eleven motorcycles in the group, traveling north when visibility became too dangerous to continue.
Their leader, Caleb Rourke, was the first to spot the old house.
The headlights illuminated a sagging porch and a crooked mailbox.
Caleb raised his hand.
The motorcycles slowed.
One by one, the riders pulled onto the gravel shoulder.
“We can't stay on the road,” Caleb said.
Rain ran from the edge of his helmet.
“We'll get someone killed.”
One of the younger riders pointed toward the house.
“Think they'll let eleven soaked idiots sleep on their porch?”
Caleb smiled.
“We can ask.”
They walked toward the house.
Mara heard the pounding at the door and immediately became nervous.
She wasn't afraid of the motorcycles.
She was afraid of needing help.
When she opened the door, eleven drenched strangers stood beneath the porch roof.
Caleb removed his helmet.
“Ma'am, I'm sorry to bother you.”
Mara looked at them.
Leather jackets.
Boots.
Beards.
Tattoos.
Motorcycle helmets under their arms.
They looked exactly like the kind of people the evening news warned elderly women about.
Yet Caleb's voice was gentle.
“The highway is dangerous. We're hoping you might let us wait out the worst of the storm under your porch.”
Mara hesitated.
Then another piece of ceiling collapsed behind her.
Every rider heard it.
Caleb's expression changed.
“Ma'am…”
“It's nothing.”
“That wasn't nothing.”
Mara sighed.
“Come inside.”
The riders entered cautiously.