A Dangerous Bike Ride

Richard Tracy is a retired detective who is riding the Texas MS 150 because his adult children have talked him into doing it. While riding in this charity bike ride, he meets Mary Beth, a charming blond Texan. Sparks fly. They agree to correspond with the goal of eventual marriage, but as they finish the ride, they are caught in an explosion. Richard is wounded and wakes up in a hospital. Mary Beth is uninjured. but has disappeared. Richard must find her. Mary Beth has been abducted by a group of mental patients who think it is still 1969. They believe they are still in Southeast Asia fighting the Vietnam War. They have mistaken the MS 150 bike riders for a bicycle convoy headed north on the Ho Chi Min Trail for another load of supplies. In the aftermath of their attack on what they believe to be a convoy, Mary Beth is recognized as the sergeant's wife. They have "rescued" her and are taking her with them as they move eastward toward US troops. Richard must risk his life to free the woman he loves.

Richard Tracy is a retired detective who gardens and runs marathons. His adult children have convinced him to join them on the Texas MS 150, a bike ride to raise money for MS research because anyone who runs marathons will have no trouble riding 150 miles in two days. Mary Beth Austin is a retired chef who is a gardener and a serious bicyclist. While riding in the MS 150, they meet and fall in love. Both want this relationship to mature into marriage so that they can spend their golden years gardening together, but at the finish of the event, they are engulfed in an explosion. Richard wakes up in a hospital, but Mary Beth has disappeared without a trace except that the EMT who treated Richard said that a man wearing an old Marine Corps uniform took her by the hand and lead her away. A platoon of mental patients, some escaped from lock wards, think it is still 1969. They believe they are in Laos, separated from their units. They are marching east to rejoin US forces. They want revenge for fallen buddies and are prepared to attack any target of opportunity they encounter. They mistake the stream of bicyclists on the MS 150 for a bicycle convoy headed north on the Ho Chi Min Trail to pick up more supplies to take south. In the aftermath of their attack on the MS 150 riders, the sergeant recognizes his wife, Mary Beth, and "rescues" her from the North Vietnamese. The sergeant does not remember that because of his head wound they are not divorced, he only thinks the North Vietnamese have captured her and he must take her safely back to the US. Richard must risk his life to locate and rescue Mary Beth.

Reynold Conger is a retired scientist, engineer and teacher who has taken up writing as a retirement career. Reynold began writing to entertain himself while on overseas assignments as a technical consultant. This hobby grew into a passion. Upon retirement from teaching,, he began writing for publication. Reynold runs, hikes, gardens and keeps bees. He and his wife live in rural New Mexico. They have two grown children who have careers of their own.