Angela shook her head, pushing the fear back as her mother's heart spewed awful words at the refusal. "I don't want Kenn to know how close we are."
She turned away with a sigh. "And we need to talk, Brady, about what happens when we get there."
Marc straightened up, heart thumping. "After we make camp tonight?"
"Let's stay here. Meet up with them in the next few days," she stated quietly, eyes wandering over large circles of charred dirt that reminded her of the empty silo holes they'd seen in middle Nebraska.
Marc's frown grew. They had just covered three hundred miles in nine days, driving continuously. Last night, he'd had to insist they rest and get ready to face whatever was coming. They had only made one long stop to replace his Blazer (again they were identical, the only one they had found was the exact match to hers. Fate…), and she had been pushing them hard to get here. Now she was hanging back. Nerves?
"Are you sure? We could be there by dusk tomorrow."
"No. It's already been ninety eight days. A few more won't matter."
Marc took a step toward her. "You can't put it off, Honey. Just face it, and we'll go from there."
Angela watched Dog patrol the edges of the shoulder-high corn, knowing she had to let him in on what she was feeling, thinking. "I'm not avoiding, but I am nervous. I'm cutting ropes, erasing his hold on me, and he'll hate it, hate me for it. You need to have the details you asked for back in Indiana."
She met his eye with complete openness. "Will you drill me on the things you've taught me, remind me that I can fight back?"
Marc's heart broke for her. "I think that's a great idea. You've gotten a lot stronger. He won't know how to handle you."
2
"Faster. You can handle it."
Angela pushed the pedal down and the Blazer leapt forward, throwing them back.
"On my mark. Just like before."
Angela was concentrating, hands and feet connected to the thrum of the engine, the vibrations of the tires.
"Now."
She turned the wheel, jerking up on the emergency brake, and then they were spinning in the dusty street, seat belts holding them in place.
"Now."
Gunning the engine, Angela straightened the Blazer out, and it shot forward.
"Again. Seventy this time."
Angela mashed the gas, emboldened by her repeated successes, and managed to make the emergency turn on her own. She grinned, waved at the line of dirty, faded targets they had come to a stop facing. "Next?"