I peered up to him with a smile and extended my cup. Martin stood there with him. I watched as he poured some in my mug. “I wish we had some good bourbon,” I said.
“What!” Martin blasted. “That’s two thousand dollars a bottle. You two are too used to beer and dime store bourbon.”
I nearly spat my tea. “Dime store bourbon.” I took in a deep breath and smiled sadly. “Nothing on Dooley’s parents?”
Martin shook his head. “No. It’s dark. We’ll have a better idea in the morning.”
“What if they’re hurt? What if they need help?” I asked.
“We haven’t given up,” Martin replied. “We’re all still looking as best as we can. But you did good, kid.” He reached down and placed his hand on my arm. “You saved that boy. I can say with one hundred percent certainty, that is what mattered most to his parents. Now, why don’t you listen to our medical professional and go get some rest. When a school nurse tells you to lay down, you know you have to.”
I nodded slowly and stood. “You’re right. I will. Is Dooley okay?”
“He is,” Lane answered. “He’s sleeping on the bus with Rosie. Everyone is watching out for him.”
I kissed Martin on the cheek, then Lane, thanked Anita and with my tea in hand, I walked over to the RV.
Carlie and Reese were awake and outside, I told them I was going to try to rest.
The tea was still hot, but tolerable enough for me to take a few good drinks. I didn’t think I’d fall asleep. I feared closing my eyes and seeing everything happen, feeling it happen all over again as my mind replayed it.
That didn’t occur. I was more tired than I realized. Once I lay on the small couch and brought the blanket over me, I was out.
I slept hard, and though I was out for hours no one woke me. I got up on my own. When I stepped from the RV, our little campsite was all cleared and packed. The vehicles were ready to go.
Lane walked up to me. “I was just about to wake you. Alice’s truck is fine. She has it on the street.”
“That’s good.”
“Sun is rising. We’re ready to go.”
“Did I miss anything?” I asked.
Lane lowered his head. “We found Dooley’s dad. He didn’t …” Lane shook his head. “He didn’t make it. He was pretty bad off.”
“Dooley’s mom.”
“No. Martin thinks she was brought into the funnel, you guys were dragged along as it moved by. That’s what he thinks.”
“How is Skip?” I asked.
“Still sleeping, Rick is going to drive the bus.”
I didn’t know who Rick was, I didn’t know many names. Lane seemed to spout them off, then again, Lane was that type of person. He always knew everyone’s name and their story.
When Lane suggested I head back to the RV and hang out with the kids in there until it was time to go, I was happy to oblige. My body was sorer than I had anticipated. Just resting a few hours allowed the soreness to kick in.
I checked my phone for a signal and of course there was none, then I pulled out the maps.
It wasn’t long before the horses were back in their trailer, we all did a radio check and were ready to roll.
Alice informed us she had found the best way possible out of the town with minimal debris. She would lead the way to the highway and then let me take the lead. The plan was to take the interstate to Springfield then jump back on the secondary four lane roads.
I hoped for sunshine when we pulled from the garage, that wasn’t the case. It was dismal and gray, the sky still heavily overcast as if it were only on pause before another storm.
I was glad to see the city hadn’t been flattened, but it did sustain an unbelievable amount of damage. Brick buildings with gaping holes, cars on their sides and roofs missing. A huge tree was to our left when we pulled out of the garage, I didn’t recall seeing any trees in downtown Joplin.
We passed the McDonald’s only briefly, but enough for me to get a quick glance. It looked worse in the daylight. The roof hadn’t been blown off into the lot, the entire building was decimated, and the roof was all that remained.
I just wanted to get out of the city and on the road, putting distance between us and whatever storm was coming next and hopefully not cross paths with another.
Alice led the way, we were behind her, followed by Martin, the school bus was the caboose.
I kept thinking about how we started out the road to survival with thirty people and now we were down to twenty-four.
At the sign for the intestate, Alice turned right onto the ramp.
The ramp was long and had a slight bend.
“Nothing,” Lane commented, looking out his window to his side view mirror. “No cars.”
“It’s early.”
Alice’s truck reached the top of the ramp, I figured she’d drive just a little, then move over for us to pass and take the lead. But she stopped.
“Something coming?” I asked Lane.
“No. Nothing.”
“She can’t be waiting for us to pass her, can she?” I asked. “There’s no room.”
A crackle of the radio came before Alice’s voice. “Hold up, gang.”
Immediately I sensed something was wrong and that was confirmed when I saw her get out of her rig.
Without hesitation I opened my door and stepped out.
Martin did the same. He got out of the pickup and did some sort of hand signal to the bus. I walked around to Lane’s window and met up with Martin.
Alice walked to us, “See if you can get one of the guys to help,” she said to Martin. “Don’t say anything on the radio.”
My eyes shifted to Lane.
“I’ll help,” Lane said. “Kids, hang tight, I’ll be right back.”
He shut off the RV and stepped out.
We followed Alice.
I thought something was blocking the road. Debris or a tree,
