Page 14 of The Journey of a Lifetime (Tiny Homes and Happy Tails #2)

M aggie woke up and stretched. Walker lifted his head from where he was snuggled against her legs, blinked, and went back to sleep.

She grinned and climbed out of bed. She prepped the coffee the night before so all she had to do was turn it on.

Slipping her sneakers on, she grabbed her pink zip-up hoodie and stepped outside.

It was surprisingly cool this early in the morning. Back in Mississippi it would be twenty degrees hotter.

Maggie pulled her hoodie over her head and sat at the picnic table.

The birds were starting to sing, and the sunrise was streaking across the horizon in vivid colors of orange and pink.

After a while she got up and headed inside the van.

She pulled a coffee mug out of the small cupboard and poured herself a hot cup of coffee.

Walker lifted his head off the bed and let out a whine.

“Come on. Let’s go for a short walk.” She pulled out his leash and collar.

Walker eased off the bed and stood still while she attached everything.

Grabbing her cup of coffee, she headed outside with Walker.

She glanced over at the camping spot where the couple had argued last night. It was empty.

She was relieved the guy was gone, and hoped the woman was okay.

She couldn’t imagine dating someone who was abusive.

Her stomach dropped as she thought about Mason. She didn’t know if she were more hurt by Mason or by Lauren.

Walker barked, bringing her out of her thoughts. She smiled and looked at him. “I guess you are hungry.”

She made quick work of pouring the dog food into his bowl. She put it on the ground and Walker quickly shoved his face in the food.

Maggie chuckled and topped off her coffee before heading outside. She left the van door open so Walker could join her when he was finished with his breakfast.

She sat at the picnic table and sipped her coffee.

A red-breasted robin hopped over toward her and cocked its head. It let out a chirp and then pecked the ground.

Walker poked his head out of the door and stepped outside.

Maggie watched to see if he would chase the bird. His ears perked up at the chirp, but he didn’t seem to notice how close it was.

Instead, he lifted his snout, sniffed the air and then gave a lazy stretch with his back legs.

He smiled as he walked over to her and sat at her feet.

“Good morning.” A man walking his chihuahua smiled as he passed. The little dog spotted Walker and started barking his head off.

“Good morning.” She nodded and glanced over at Walker. His fur raised on his back, and he stood up.

She put her hand on his back in case he started to bolt for the little dog. Walker usually ignored other dogs when they barked. Maybe last night’s encounter with the couple had him on edge.

Walker settled down and Maggie took another sip of her coffee.

Her phone buzzed and she fished it out of her pocket.

It was a text from her mom.

I want to take you shopping before you start work. While you are out with Walker, can you pick up some orange juice?

Maggie’s mouth dropped. She’d been gone two days now and her mother didn’t realize it.

Had she really become so unseen, even to her family?

She quickly typed back a reply

I don’t need clothes. Thanks for the offer.

She hit send.

She didn’t bother telling her she wasn’t even in the state of Mississippi. Hopefully, by the time she found out, she would have put another state in between them.

Dumping out what was left of her coffee—now chilled—she stood and headed inside the van.

She needed to get back on the road.