Page 39 of Through the Storms

Britt sneered and flipped Oakley off, while the group laughed.

“I apologize to the participants that have to ride with those two,” Asher said. “Unfortunately, I can’t fit you all in my van.”

Oakley raised her fist into the air. “I know you’re eager to get on the road. So we won’t bore you with any more meteorological information out here. We’ll wait until you’re captive in the van before we do that.”

The group laughed and cheered. Oakley liked their energy. Sometimes when they delivered their spiel, they were met with blank stares or a few smiles, but this group was lively.Thank god.She couldn’t take a humorless group, especially this trip. While Oakley felt better after her talk with Lana, an uneasy feeling still niggled at her.

“Gentlemen and ladies, start your engines,” Asher yelled as he jumped from the bumper.

Oakley leaped to the ground. “Let’s do this.”

CHAPTER 18

“Well, I’ll be damned,this is the flattest, most boring land I’ve ever seen,” Sandy said from the seat behind Riley. “Hey, Oakley, can’t you find us some mountains or something?”

Riley chuckled. They’d been on the road for nearly an hour, and apparently, the sisters were restless.

“You’ll be thankful for this godforsaken land when we get closer to the storms.” Oakley swept her hand toward the road in front of them. “The more visibility, the better. Britt here doesn’t even like trees.”

“Hate ’em,” Britt said. “I take it you aren’t from around here. Where do you call home?”

“We’re on the coast of North Carolina,” Peggy said.

“Beautiful part of the country,” Oakley said.

Riley hadn’t thought to ask where anyone else was from. She’d just assumed they’d driven in like she and Chloe had.Duh.Made sense that people came from all over the country, possiblythe world, to chase storms. “Do you get tornadoes in North Carolina?”

“Not many, but we have hurricanes,” Sandy answered.

Chloe shivered beside Riley. “Those are even scarier than tornadoes.”

“I suppose it depends on how you define scary,” Oakley said.

A crease split Chloe’s forehead. “Death. Injury.”

“If that’s your measure, then you’re incorrect. Statistically, in the United States, there are more deaths and injuries from tornadoes than hurricanes,” Oakley said. “First, there are more than a thousand tornadoes a year and only around ten hurricanes. And second, hurricanes are tracked for days, so people have time to get out of the way. Remember, with a tornado, the average warning is around thirteen minutes, and the path is uncertain. But hurricanes tend to cause more property damage, so if you’re an insurance company, you might find hurricanes more frightening.”

Chloe nodded. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but it makes sense.”

“What about you, Riley? You’re an EMT. Ever been called into a tornado site?” Oakley asked.

“Yeah, I’ve been to a few. The destruction is unbelievable.” Riley shook her head at the thought. She could still hear the screams of the people trapped under the rubble. “I’ve never been to one bigger than an EF3.”

“Not surprising,” Oakley said. “Only about two percent of tornadoes are EF4s and EF5s. But they account for about seventy percent of the fatalities.”

“Oak,” Britt called. “You better check the radar. It looks like we might have something forming over yonder.”

Oakley swiveled in her seat and punched keys on her computer.

Riley’s heart raced as she peered out the window. This could be their first storm. In the distance, blue skies had given way to dark clouds. The clouds rolled and appeared to be expanding.

“Do you see it?” Riley asked Chloe. Since Riley sat next to the window, Chloe strained to look around her. Riley sat back. “Can you see now?”

Chloe leaned over farther, and her breast pressed against Riley’s arm.

Don’t react. Don’t react,Riley said to herself. If Chloe’s body being pressed against Riley wasn’t enough, the fresh scent of her shampoo, possibly lavender, made it difficult for Riley to concentrate on the sights outside.

“Am I crushing you?” Chloe asked.