Page 65 of The Hitchhikers

Alice looked toward Simon. “I’m not sure.”

“We should stick together,” Simon said. “Might need extra hands.”

Ruth gave a shrug like it made no difference to her. William walked over to the tractor, and it started up with a loud rumble that sent all the chickens scattering. He backed it out of the carport and turned down the driveway, gesturing that they should follow. Simon, Alice, and Jenny began walking, but Ruth had separated off and was climbing the house’s front steps.

Simon stopped. “You’re not coming?”

“I’ll be along in a minute.” Ruth opened the screen door and disappeared inside. Jenny turned to Simon, who was still watching Ruth. Alice had also stopped walking.

“What’s wrong?” Jenny said.

“What if she recognized us? She might be calling the cops.”

“She would’ve just left us in the ditch,” Alice said.

Alice sounded so firm, like she really wanted Simon to listen. Jenny looked between the two of them.

“They’ve seen the RV now,” Simon said.

“They’re farmers. They probably only listen to the news for the weather report.”

Jenny was missing something. A crucial piece, but she could fit part of it together. They’d been parked in front of the church—and the people in the van saw them. Then Simon had done somethinginsidethe church. He knew the police would be looking for the RV.

Simon stared at the screen door for another moment, then reached for Jenny’s hand. She held his back tightly, needing the solid feel of him. Their connection, still there.

“Let’s go.”

The three of them walked down the driveway, staying far enough behind the tractor to avoid dust and exhaust fumes.Bones trotted after them, barking at the air. When they reached the RV, William gave Simon instructions on how to attach the towrope.

Alice and Jenny watched from nearby. Alice was frowning at the RV.

Once the tractor’s towrope was hooked onto the front axle, Simon shimmied out from under the RV. He stood, wiping his hands on his jeans, and squinted toward the house.

Jenny followed his gaze. Ruth was walking down the driveway. As she reached them, Jenny realized she was carrying a carton of eggs and two large zucchinis.

“Little something for the road.”

Simon took the eggs and zucchini from her hands. “That’s very kind of you.” He passed them to Jenny. “Can you put them inside, babe?”

Jenny remembered to mumble thanks to Ruth before stepping into the RV. She slid the food into the fridge. Tom was watching from the bed.

“Water. Please,” Tom whispered.

Simon would be upset if she took too long, but Tom’s face was red, his forehead beading with sweat. She filled a glass, and held it for Tom, who drank it all. Then she took a bag of peas and a bag of corn from the freezer. She put the peas over Tom’s injured shoulder, and the corn across his forehead. He closed his eyes, looking so grateful that she wanted to cry.

“I’ll open the window,” she whispered. “But you can’t make a sound.”

He nodded, and she carefully, and quietly, slid open the window. Luckily, it was on the opposite side of where everyone was standing. A light breeze blew through.

When she came back out, William was sitting up on the tractor.

“Sorry. I had to get a drink,” she said. Simon gave her a long look. She pretended to study the towrope.

“Okay, everyone. Stand back,” William said.

The group moved away and watched as the tractor started to pull. Meaty tires rolled over the furrows. The line went taut. The tractor got louder. It didn’t look like the RV was going to move an inch. Simon began to pace, but at last the RV surged forward.

William towed the RV onto the driveway and steered the tractor up toward the house. He was shouting something about turning around at the top. Simon jogged after him, while Alice, Jenny, and Ruth walked together. Ruth asked Alice about their trip, where they were going, and somehow Alice was managing to answer. Jenny was glad that Ruth hadn’t asked her anything.