CHAPTER
37
“WELL, HELLO THERE.” Amber wiped her hands on her jeans. “Good thing I had to take a pee break, or you would’ve passed right by without us seeing you. That would’ve been a shame, wouldn’t it?” Then her gaze found Mercury, Stella, and Karen, and her pretty eyes widened. “What are you four doing out here?”
Ford stepped a little forward so that he stood between Amber and the women. “No big secret. We decided to leave Madras. I have friends who live south of here, outside Odessa on a potato farm. I heard from a lady in town today that she thinks Odessa made it through the bombs, so we thought we’d check it out.”
“Don’t you really mean you thought you’d sneak out of Madras before dawn?” Amber’s voice held a sarcastic edge as she mimicked Ford.
“No sneaking involved,” said Mercury as she stepped up beside Ford. “We just wanted to get an early start.”
“Interesting,” said Amber. “But I’m going to have to insist you return to the school. It’s not safe for you to leave town on foot, especially with only the few supplies in your backpacks.”
“How would you know what we have in our backpacks?” Mercury asked.
Amber’s eyes glinted with irritation. “Common sense. Which is the same thing that should tell you it’s smarter to return to town and let us fill up an SUV with gas and supplies for you. Then you’ll be free to drive to Odessa in relative safety—though the stories Mayor Cruz has heard of atrocities on the road should make you think twice about leaving at all.”
“You mean like you did for Moira?” Mercury said.
Amber narrowed her eyes. “Yes, exactly.”
Stella and Karen moved to Ford’s other side. “We’re fine as is,” Stella said. “We like to backpack. So, thank you for your hospitality, but we’ll be on our way now.”
Stella strode past Amber with the rest of their group close behind her.
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist—for your own good—that you return to town,” said Amber.
Without slowing, Mercury said, “No, thank you. We’ll take our chances in Odessa.”
“Wes! Mitch! Escort our guests to an SUV, please, and give them a ride back to the school.”
“Get ready to run,” whispered Ford.
“They’ll chase us with the SUVs,” Stella cupped her hand over her mouth and spoke softly.
“I can take care of one of the SUVs. Mercury can shoot the other if she needs to. Just be ready to run when I tell you to.”
Mercury nodded as two men materialized from the slate-colored predawn.
“Yes, ma’am,” said Wes. “Folks, you need to come with me to the SUVs. You really should listen to Amber. She’s knows what’s best for you.”
Mercury sighed dramatically. “Fine. I guess it would be easier if we had more supplies and a vehicle.”
“Of course it would.” Amber’s voice came from behind them like she was herding them to the road.
The four followed Wes and Mitch to the SUVs.
“You can pass Mitch your backpacks. He’ll put them in the rear for you. Damn difficult to sit comfortably with one on your back,” said Wes.
“I’d prefer to keep mine,” said Mercury.
Wes chuckled as he looked at Mercury’s pack. “That’s an awful big thing for a little lady. Just give it to Mitch. It’ll make your life a lot easier.”
Mercury caught Ford’s eye and winked before she sighed again and said, “Okay, since you insist.” She slipped it off her back, but instead of handing it to the man who stood near the rear of the SUV, Mercury swung it in a tight half circle and hit Wes squarely in his chest, knocking him backward into the road and off his feet.
At the same time Ford pulled something out of his coat pocket and with a flick of his wrist clicked it open. He lunged forward to the front left tire of the nearest SUV and stabbed it with the switchblade before he shouted.
“Run!”