“You sure you feel up to driving?” Ben asked Carlos.

  Carlos nodded. “Yes, I’m feeling much better.” Ben had concerns about the frail-looking old man taking the wheel, but they had little choice in the matter. Allie driving, or doing anything other than resting and staying hydrated, was out of the question. And Rita had barely taken a break since her last stint behind the wheel. On top of that, she still looked a little shaken up from the incident. He could think of no other combinations of drivers and vehicles. None he was happy with, anyway.

  Sandy could drive the Toyota—the thought had crossed his mind before—but Ben liked the idea of having Sandy with him, for Emma’s sake. Also, if they were going to continue bringing up the rear of the convoy, he needed some company in the Blazer. And although he never imagined he would feel this way, Sandy was his first choice. She’d just proven once again that she was capable of handling the big Chevy when the chips were down.

  By his estimations, they were no more than a few hours away from Fort Wayne. Of course, trying to predict how much longer it would take to get to Rita and Carlos’s daughter’s house was a foolish endeavor. Ben learned long ago not to put too much hope in sticking to any kind of a schedule. With no idea of what lay ahead of them, he was happy to settle on the idea that they might arrive sometime before dark.

  “We’re ready when you are.” Joel and Brad ambled back from the Jeep. Brad stopped when he was close to Ben at the Toyota, but Joel continued on to the Blazer.

  Ben rested his hand on the Toyota’s door, although the metal was so hot he only dared to touch it lightly. “I’ll leave the radio with you guys. Let us know when we get close. You’ll have to take the lead at some point.”

  “No problem.” Carlos glanced at his wife in the passenger seat, then back at Ben with a smile. “We’re ready.” Ben believed him this time and nodded back at the couple. They were both excited to see their daughter. The promise of reuniting with a child they probably thought at one time they might never see again was reason enough for Carlos’s sudden return to vigor.

  It reminded Ben of the days and hours leading up to their arrival at Jack’s, although there was plenty of apprehension about what they might find when they arrived. He was sure Carlos and Rita were struggling just as much to keep those feelings at bay now. They were so close, but that was when things went south sometimes.

  Ben’s thoughts were interrupted by the voices behind him.

  “Mom, I’ll be fine. Seriously,” Allie pleaded.

  “I’ll make sure she drinks plenty of water, Mrs. Young,” Joel chimed in.

  “I just want to make sure you’re all right,” Sandy argued.

  “What’s going on?” Ben and Brad joined the small group outside the Blazer’s open passenger door.

  “Allie wants to go back to riding in the Jeep,” Sandy protested. Ben listened while sneaking a peek at Emma over Sandy’s shoulder. She was sleeping, but at least she was out from under the sleeping bag.

  Ben shrugged. “I mean, we really don’t have much room in here.” He glanced back into the Blazer. “I’m sure she’ll be fine as long as she drinks plenty of water.”

  “See, Mom? I’ll be fine. And the sooner we get going, the better.”

  Allie was right. Baking in the afternoon sun was draining them of what little energy they had left to devote to the day’s driving. Allie started to walk toward the Scrambler with Joel before her mother could respond. Sandy shot Ben a look that seemed to ask for help convincing Allie she should ride in the Blazer with them. But there was no good reason Allie should do that. Between the dogs and Emma, plus the extra gear they couldn’t squeeze into Martin’s Scout, they were beyond full. Sandy knew it, too, but he understood her reluctance to let Allie out of her sight after what just happened.

  Ben put his hand on Sandy’s shoulder and stepped to her side so they could both watch as the kids headed back to the Scrambler.

  “See you guys in Fort Wayne, I guess.” Brad cracked a slight smile and chased after Joel and Allie. Ben was always amazed at how resilient that kid was.

  “All right, keep an eye on those two, will ya?” Ben joked.

  “Yes, sir,” Brad shouted back.

  Ben turned his attention to Sandy, who still sported a concerned look on her face. “She’ll be okay.” He tried to reassure her in as few words as possible. He wasn’t trying to discount how she felt, but they really did need to get moving. They had been sitting still for too long, and aside from the relentless heat cooking them alive, they were still being pursued by the Patriot Hooligans, as far as they knew.

  Sandy remained silent for a few more moments before conceding to the fact that Allie was not riding with them. Shaking her head slightly, she climbed into the Blazer’s passenger seat without any further argument, although the look on her face told Ben she wasn’t happy about the arrangement.

  “They’re growing up, aren’t they?” Sandy remained focused on the kids loading into the Jeep as Ben situated himself behind the wheel.

  “Too fast, and in more ways than one,” Ben agreed. All the kids were getting a crash course in life experience right now, and not the normal things that came with growing up. They were losing their innocence. No, they had already lost it; that was a more accurate thing to say, although it was painful to admit.

  Worrying about how the things they saw out here on the road would impact their lives and who they would become as adults was a real concern. The events and experiences since the EMPs would certainly alter their lives and their worldview. But that was something he had little control over. The best thing they could do for the kids was to lead by example and show them that rising above the circumstances was always an option, albeit a daunting one at times.

  Ben watched as Gunner made room for Brad to join him in the back of the Jeep. Even though Brad was no longer in a proper seat and buckled in, Ben somehow felt better about the driving arrangements. Having Allie back in the Scrambler with the boys gave him peace of mind. That in and of itself was a testament to how much he thought of Allie.

  Of course, this meant Martin was on his own again. There was a noticeable difference in how Martin drove the Scout when Carlos was riding along with him. Hopefully, Martin’s more conservative approach to driving would continue without a passenger. After the Toyota pulled out and followed the Jeep, Ben looked back at the Scout and waved Martin on. He glanced over at Sandy and then quickly at Emma.

  “Here we go, finally.” Ben was hoping for a response from Emma but would have settled for either of his passengers acknowledging they were moving again. Sandy was still visibly upset that Allie had chosen to ride with Joel. Ben wasn’t surprised at all. Like Sandy had said, they were growing up.

  The air began to flow through the Blazer’s open windows, and as the sweat evaporated from Ben’s skin, the wind almost felt cool. Sam and Bajer continued their heavy panting but finally settled down to enjoy the fresh air as much as they could. Both dogs had indulged in their share of water during the unexpected stop, as did everyone else, and now Ben was worried they might run out before reaching Fort Wayne. In this heat, that would be bad. He really didn’t want to stop again, and with everyone’s fuel tanks topped off, they shouldn’t have to, barring any emergencies. He’d like to think they’d paid their dues already today, but he also knew the highway didn’t keep score.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Sandy’s visible disappointment with her daughter’s choice to ride in the Jeep dissipated as the miles rolled by. Her continued silence told Ben she still wasn’t a happy camper, but her mannerisms were less angry and suggested she had reconciled with circumstances beyond their control. It was just as well with Ben for the time being. He wasn’t in the mood for small talk right now. Splitting his time checking on Emma, scanning the road behind them for any signs of the Patriot Hooligans, and dodging the occasional wreck was enough to keep him busy.

  Several miles outside of Findlay, Ohio, Ben spotted a sign that let them know they were ninety-seven miles from Fort Wayne. They hadn’t made it as far as he’d anticipated, but considering the day they’d had, it was reassuring to see their destination listed on a sign, followed by less than three digits.

  The changing landscape also brought on a slight sense of relief. The western slope of the Appalachian Mountains had given way to rolling hills and eventually flatter, more open farmland and smaller rural areas. Ben loved the mountains as much as anyone, but to say their experience through Pennsylvania and Ohio was less than enjoyable would be the understatement of the year. He was ready to put it all behind them, and the looming Indiana border promised that, even if it was just in his mind. It was the small victories these days. Those and his kids were the things he clung to in order to find the strength to keep moving.

  A few minutes later, Rita reached out to him and Joel via the radio to say they should get off 224 soon and take a more northern route to her daughter’s. Ben was anxious to do that with Findlay on the horizon. It was a decent-sized town by the looks of the map. But Rita had given him rough directions to her daughter’s before they left this morning, and he was anticipating this move. Besides, the sun was low enough in the sky to create too many shadows in the city among the buildings and rubble. Too many places for an ambush in the fleeting daylight.

  The plan was to take one of the many side roads that occasionally connected to 224 and head north until they cleared the city. From that point on, they would use a series of smaller roads that led to Woodburn, Indiana, where Rita’s daughter lived. Woodburn sat about a half hour outside Fort Wayne, according to Rita. Ben measured it at under twenty miles on the map, a distance that made him nervous, considering the size of Fort Wayne and its potential as a dangerous place. They’d been through lesser towns and encountered plenty of trouble.

  The secondary roads became more and more frequent now that the undulating landscape had given way to flatter terrain. Ben eyed each one for a while as they passed. Open as far as the eye could see, the secondary roads stretched out like gridwork into the surrounding farmland, dividing the fields of young, dead corn plants and whatever else had failed in the heat and dryness.

  As grim as the barren landscape looked, it was also reassuring to see there were now options to the path they could take. The highways they’d been traveling were limited in that regard. Lined with guardrails and rough terrain, the interstates required a commitment between exits. Once they were on the highway, their only choice in direction was back or forward. But now it seemed every couple of miles there was a new road available, if the need arose. And he liked that very much.

  Ben thought about the vehicle that had followed them for so long. It would have been so easy to lose a pursuer out here in this maze of country roads. The towns and cities had become equally easy to avoid out here in the open countryside, and that was always a good thing. In light of society’s rapid decline, maybe this was the better way to go after all. If they were still Cloverdale-bound, their route would be limited to a handful of choices, and more than likely they would have stuck to I-70. Maybe that was what the patriot Hooligans were counting on.

  Ben couldn’t help but obsess over the choices he made. That was the game he played out here on the road, though: second-guessing every move, never being a hundred percent on any decision. Meanwhile, he tried to keep that feeling of being overly responsible for everyone at bay. It was a dark cloud at times, and occasionally it cast its shadow over everything he thought about. But that was also a part of being out here on the road; this was life or death, and every decision carried that weight. Or at the very least it had the potential to put them in harm’s way.

  “Joel, Rita, let’s grab the next road to our right and get off the highway. Over.” They’d taken 224 as far as they should.

  “Okay. Over,” Carlos answered for the Toyota.

  “Copy that. Over,” Joel responded. Any farther and they’d be encroaching the outer limits of town. On top of that, Ben felt they’d pushed their luck far enough here. The smaller roads would make for slower but safer travel. At least that was what he imagined. He also knew well enough not to count on that too much.

  According to the map, the back roads were laid out like a framework. Although many were nameless, it should be impossible to get lost as long as you knew the direction you were going. And that was no problem, thanks to the inclinometer and built-in compass Joel had mounted to the Blazer’s dashboard. Not to mention the relentless sun. It would never let them forget exactly where it was in the sky. Even at this later hour, the sheet metal of the truck was beyond the comfort of touch. Either way, he figured they could easily find their way through the simple maze and come out close to where they needed to be.

  It wasn’t long until Ben saw the Scout’s brake lights and their little convoy began to peel off the highway one vehicle at a time. The road started out smoothly paved with ample lanes and wide shoulders but quickly narrowed to the bare minimum required for two cars to pass each other without hitting. Encountering a wreck on a road like this could temporarily stop progress altogether. Fortunately, the flat fields bordering the road on either side were wide open except for the occasional drainage ditch. Even then, there were crossings every so often.

  If it wasn’t for Emma’s health, Ben might have been able to relax a little as the highway disappeared behind them. He wasn’t about to stop checking the rearview mirror anytime soon; he just wouldn’t feel the need to do it as often. He and Sandy did stay vigilant about checking on Emma, though.

  He couldn’t say for sure that her condition had worsened, but it certainly hadn’t improved. Drifting in and out of a semi-conscious state, Emma remained silent and still for the most part, aside from the occasional mumble or shift of positions due to an overzealous Bajer trying to claim more of the seat for herself. Sandy was attentive and made sure to offer Emma water during those half-awake moments. She was doing a good job keeping Emma as hydrated as possible, and Ben was grateful to have her with him. Convincing Emma to drink was no easy task, thanks to the lukewarm water they were left with in their containers. He was also having a hard time choking down the small mouthfuls of unrefreshing liquid, but he forced himself to drink, anyway.

  Ben was grateful for the little gray, brindle-colored dog and her restlessness. The times Bajer disturbed Emma’s rest were the only times he saw any life in his daughter. If it weren’t for the occasional interruptions from the dog, he would have been even more concerned. As long as she had enough energy to fight for her share of the seat, Ben figured she was still doing all right. Emma probably would have benefited from more rest, but it was easier on him than the times she was completely still and it took more than a quick glance to confirm she was still breathing normally.

  They were almost there now, and the closer they came to their destination, the more Ben doubted the plan and questioned putting all their hope and his daughter’s health in an unknown quantity. He promised himself many miles ago that he wouldn’t do this, but he couldn’t ignore the feeling. There were a lot of what-ifs involved for this to work out, and there was no rationalizing away that reality.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The network of roads seemed endless, but after thirty minutes of crisscrossing their way through the countryside, they emerged onto a more heavily traveled road well on the other side of Findlay. However, the transition from back roads to highway didn’t last long, and soon they were cutting their way across open country again. Ben was somewhat surprised but thankful their only obstacle so far along the route had been a massive John Deer tractor halfway on the road and halfway in the ditch. The modern piece of farming equipment dwarfed the vehicles as they scraped by. Someone had moved the big tractor sometime after the EMPs. That was Ben’s guess, anyway, based on the tire tracks etched onto the old chip-and-tar roadway.

  The tractor was in good shape, and the shiny green paint job stood out against the burnt tawney surroundings. But the tractor wasn’t the only thing to survive the bombs. Occasionally, intact farmhouses stood at the end of long driveways. There weren’t many of them, but there were more than they were used to seeing in their travels. Some of them had solar panels on the roof of either the house or the barn. The fact that they all stood alone, away from any other structures on no less than a couple hundred acres each, had certainly helped as well.

  As they passed the farms that were fortunate enough to survive the surge caused by the EMPs, Ben felt the eyes of their occupants on the caravan. He didn’t see anyone; the houses were set back too far off the road for that. But he was certain that curious and concerned eyes were upon them. Four vehicles rolling through the otherwise desolate countryside wouldn’t go unnoticed. No one came out from the farms they passed to get a better look, and he was all right with that. He didn’t want any complications. The people around here were probably honest, hard-working folks for the most part. None of the places were too fancy, but all were well-kept. Those lucky enough to have a roof over their head were just trying to survive like everyone else, but he’d prefer not to meet them just the same.

  Nothing mattered but reaching Rita’s daughter’s as fast as they could. And with the sun dropping ever lower in the sky, sooner would be better than later. As nice and decent as this area looked, Ben didn’t necessarily want to be out here after dark. The lack of artificial light gave things an eerie feel, something he still hadn’t grown used to. It wasn’t like when they were camping in the mountains. There weren’t supposed to be lights out there, other than the moon and stars. But there should have been porch lights and illuminated windows on the houses they passed. The onset of darkness only served to remind everyone that the world had changed.