“Shh.”
“Uh-oh, what are we doing?”
“I’m sneaking out, and you’re going to get me caught.”
“Why are you sneaking? Is there a curfew?”
“Um .?.?. not exactly.” I reach the main building and glance behind me, my paranoia getting the best of me.
“So, I’m just supposed to guess here?”
My heart thuds in my chest as I tiptoe around the building, ducking by a crooked security light.
I gasp when I reach the lot behind the building with all the carts.Suredoesn’tlooklikeyoudon’thaveanytospare.There must be twenty of them here.
“What’s going on?” Willow hisses.
“I’m going into town in one of these.” I snap a quick picture and send it to her.
She laughs at me. “That’s hardly grand theft auto, Rose. How far you taking it?”
“I don’t know. I’m not even sure how to drive one.”
“Oh, my mom’s boyfriend used to take us golfing. I can totally walk you through this. Do you see a key in the ignition?”
I reach the closest cart, which thankfully is the four- seater one. But I freeze when I see a shadow of a man move out from behind the building. With a gasp, I slide into the cart and dip down.
“What? Someone there?” Willow whispers.
I breathe into the phone.
“OK, stay hidden and don’t move.”
“Damn mosquitoes,” I hear the guy mutter as his footsteps slowly fade away. Lifting my head to peek, I see him walking deeper into the night, waving a hand in front of his face.
“All good?” Willow whispers.
“I think so,” I breathe, my pulse racing. Dipping my head, I gasp. “Wil, you’re not going to believe this. The keys are in the ignition.”
“Well, of course they are. Ranch security isn’t exactly Fort Knox.”
I shut my eyes and hold my breath. Then slowly turn the key. The engine hums to life. My eyes shoot open with a breath. “I am so getting busted.”
“All part of the fun, isn’t it?” Willow reminds me. “Now just like a car, put your foot on the brake and position the switch toforward.”
“There’s a lever,” I say.
“Yeah, try that.”
My heart rate kicks up as I pull it.
Willow’s right. Getting caughtispart of the fun. But so isnot. And I’m not getting caught tonight.
The tires crunch softly against the gravel as I make my way down the road. The gate at the edge of the property looms ahead. I’d have to push the button to get them open. I don’t know where—or who—that button calls. “I can’t get through the gate,” I tell Willow, panic starting to kick in.
“Oh well, you tried. Now head on back.”
“No,” I stammer. “I didn’t get this far to turn around.” I look one way across the ranch—nothing but a faint outline of fenceposts disappearing into the night. I turn in the other direction—same. Nothing but shadows stretching over dry grass. Beyond that, just darkness.
