He laughed.“I’m sure.I’m a light sleeper.”He handed the keys over to her.“Where are you hoping to make it to tonight?It’s already kind of late.You could spend the night here and take off tomorrow.”
Maggie’s heart thudded in her chest.“If I spend the night, then I’ll change my mind.I need to go now.”
Daniel nodded in understanding.“Give me a general direction where you want to go, and we’ll map out a route.”
Maggie swallowed hard.“I want to see mountains.I was thinking of Colorado, but nothing too busy.”
Daniel smiled.“Have you ever been to Estes Park?”
Maggie shook her head.
Daniel pulled out his phone and quickly typed something.He turned the phone back to her so she could see.
“That’s gorgeous.”She studied the small town nestled against the backdrop of the majestic mountains.An elk was lounging in the park while visitors walked past.
She looked up at him.‘Have you been there?”
Daniel smiled.“I have.I spent a couple weeks at an RV park there and then boondocked near Pagosa Springs for another week.Just remember, if you boondock, make sure you stock up on food and water.Oh, and wood for a campfire at night.”
Maggie nodded as her head filled with a thousand questions.She felt like she was about to jump out of a plane without a parachute.
She wasn’t ready for this.
Her cell phone buzzed, and she looked at the screen.
Her stomach dropped.The text was from Mason.
Your mom invited me over for dinner tomorrow night.Make sure you make that apple pie I like.I deserve a reward after working my butt off this semester.Can’t wait to see you.Love, Mason
“Is everything okay?”Daniel frowned.
Suddenly her mind cleared, and any lingering doubts disappeared like wisps of smoke.
She looked up at him and nodded.“It will be.Everything was just made perfectly clear to me.I’m going to just drive until I get tired tonight.”
Daniel nodded.“Afraid you’ll change your mind if you wait any longer?”
Maggie shook her head.“There’s no going back now.I need to put as many miles as possible between me and here.I’ll send you a text when I stop for the night.”She looked down at Walker.“Ready to go on an adventure?”
Walker gave a toothy grin and let out a bark.
The journey was starting.
Chapter8
Maggie made it over the Arkansas state line before midnight.She would have made better time, but there was a traffic accident on the Memphis bridge which caused traffic to be backed up for miles.By the time she pulled into the small RV park, she was starving and exhausted.
Daniel had gone over how to hook up electricity and water to the van before she headed out.He made her record a video so she could refer to it.
First things first.She needed to take Walker for a brief walk before starting any of that.
After finding her spot for the night, she parked and grabbed Walker’s leash.Attaching it to the dog, she pulled up her flashlight app on her phone and guided him over to the grassy spot nearby their campsite.
Thankfully, most of the campers were already asleep.The only noise around her was the passing cars along the highway and the occasional cracking of a late-night campfire.
Walker quickly did his business and wagged his tail.She walked back to the van and began setting up the electricity and water.
By the time she was done, her stomach growled.Walker looked up at her and let out a bark.
