“Not if we can stop it,” she said. “If we keep spreading the message of peace, people willlisten.”
“That’s what I love about you. You’re such an optimist,”hesaid.
“What do you love about her?” Meadow asked as she sauntered out ofthetent.
“Her optimism,”Riversaid.
“Yeah, she’s got enough flower power in her veins to charm even the most uptight asshole. Speaking of which, how did it go last night?” Meadowasked.
“Fine,” Daisy turned and yanked one of the tent poles out of the ground. “We should get going before he comes back with theshotgun.”
“That panty-waist won’t come back,” Andy said. “But we do need to getgoingsoon.”
As she dismantled her tent, she tried to put the conversation from the previous night out of her mind. But she couldn’t stop thinking about one of his questions. Whatdidshe want to do with her life? She’d never really stopped long enough to think about it. Maybe that was the point of everything though—just living in the moment and seeing what the day willbring.
“You almost ready?” Andyasked.
“Yeah.”
She quickly stuffed the rest of the tent into the bag and carried it along with the metal pole over to the bus. After laying everything down in the back, she circled around to the front and hopped into thepassengerseat.
She waited while Andy kicked dirt over the fire until it went out. Meadow and River were already pawing each other in the back seat. She groaned. As much as she loved them both, their overwhelming happiness grated on her at times. A twinge of jealousy sparked in her heart. If she really wanted to be truthful, she wanted what they had. Why was it so easy for some people to find the love of their lives and an epic journey for others? And how would herjourneyend?
“We’re off in a cloud of heifer dust,” River hollered as Andy hopped into thedriver’sseat.
“What does that even mean?” Daisy asked with a hint ofannoyance.
“I don’t know. It’s something my dad used to say when we went on road trips,”Riversaid.
“Well it’s stupid,”shesaid.
“Someone’s grumpy today,”Andysaid.
“Whatever.”
She turned and scrunched up against the vinyl seat. Although she’d slept fairly well after crying herself to sleep, she could have used a few morehours.
The key scraped as Andy slid it into the ignition. He turned it and the car clicked a few times until the engine sputtered to life. It had been doing that for days. At some point they’d have to take it to amechanic.
“You got the map, River?” Andyasked.
“Yeah. Head back up to the road and turn left on the main highway,”hesaid.
Andy hit the gas. A loud dinging noise sounded in the engine a second beforeitdied.
“What the hell?” Andymumbled.
She sat back up in the chair as he tried to turn the key again. This time the engine clicked once before silenceenvelopedthem.
“Ah, shit,” River said. “Did itfinallydie?”
“Dammit.” Andy opened the door and hopped out. “What do you thinkitis?”
“Definitely engine problems,” River said as he opened the rear door. He leapt out and circled around to the back tojoinAndy.
“We should have stopped at a garage in Salt Lake City,” Meadowgrumbled.
“The boys are stubborn as hell.” Daisy twisted around in the seat to look at her. “Now we’re stuck here. We’re at least six or more miles from town. We’re going to have to walk in and get a tow truck and then get itfixed.”
