"Let's roll."

4

They traveled until it was almost dark. The land around them was wet, deceitful-looking, and by the time they hit higher, dryer ground, the mud had molded to them like a second skin. Marc had chosen to make camp out in the open, on a flat, almost deserted stretch of highway because of the mud, and their only cover was two moss-dotted dogwood trees, both without a single bloom.

"You look like an abused dog."

Marc grinned, moving to the rear of his Blazer. "Feel like one too."

"Let's make a shower."

He thought about it for a minute, then began to gather a mental list. "Got an empty gallon jug?"

An hour later, the wolf was out roaming the breezy, almost warm darkness around them, and they had tested their crude invention on the dinner dishes, sharing a tired grin of accomplishment. It had been a long day.

"Where should we set it up at?"

She didn't answer, just tossed a blanket onto the roof of his Blazer and moved one of the jugs they had warmed to the hood. When she turned, he was frowning. "What's wrong?"

It amused her to see his face was red in the light of their small fire. "Who's gonna hold the towel?"

She grinned back, starting to get a bit nervous but hiding it. "I'll pull my Blazer alongside. Once we open the doors and hang a couple of sheets, it'll be fine."

Thinking this was probably going to be hard on her, Marc got busy. The privacy was for her, not him. He had showered with ten other naked men in the room nearly every day for years.

When the jugs were ready, Angela climbed confidently onto the roof and sat down, supplies next to her. Marc took off his Colt's and stepped inside the cozy little 4x4 area. As he began undressing, Angela lit a smoke, trying not to imagine his every move but failing, as she kept watch on the dark, Missouri sky.

Her sharp gaze picked out shadowy forms of mountains to the east that she assumed were the Ozarks. It looked normal from here, but she wasn't fooled, and went back to keeping watch.

Rap-rap-rap-rap!

Angela fumbled for her gun, felt Marc's frown even though she couldn't see it.

"It's just a woodpecker."

"This time of night?"

"Everything's screwed up right now for them, too."

"Yeah, sorry."

"Don't be, just remember it. Once you make yourself familiar with the sounds of your surroundings, you'll only react to what's not normal for that situation. Your mind will sort it out for you."




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