Read Bug Out! Part 11: Motorhomes on the Dark Road for Free Online

Earl said. “All newer cars do that.”
    They switched, and waited for the auto-dimmer to shut down the dome light, holding their breaths.
    “Finally,” Hilda said in the darkness. “We didn’t miss them, I hope.”
    “No, I’ve had an eye on the road the entire time. If there’s no other way down here, we’re good.”
    “Let’s just relax for a few minutes,” Gabe said.
    The sat silently, watching the road. Gabe adjusted the seat and the mirrors.
    “This town must roll up the sidewalks at about eight pm,” Earl said. “Deadsville.”
    “I’ll bet it’s nice to visit, though,” Hilda said, looking out the passenger side window. “They kept a lot of old buildings from the wild west days down there.”
    “I’d look, but I think I need to watch the road on this side,” Gabe said, chuckling.
    They sat silently for another fifteen minutes.
    “Well, that long enough?” Gabe asked.
    “Yeah,” Earl said. “Need gas?”
    “Might as well top off,” he said. “I need a bathroom break, too.”
    Gabe fired up the SUV and made a right turn, driving down to the gas station. It was the only lighted building he saw. He pulled in and got out to gas up, eyes scanning the area, as Jackson and Hilda hurried to the store.
    “Evening, folks,” said the clerk behind the counter. He was in his late teens, with straight black hair tied in a ponytail behind his head.
    “Evening,” Earl said. “Any other ways into town other than this road?”
    “Nope, this is it,” he said. “Everything okay?”
    “Yeah,” Earl said. “Pretty dead around here.”
    “Usually is unless one of the festivals is going. Nice quiet place to live.”
    “It’s beautiful here,” Hilda said. “You guys have a restroom?”
    “Yeah, back there,” he said, pointing. “Help yourself.”
    Hilda went back. Earl looked out the front window. “Those real buildings down there?”
    “Yep, although some are from the early 1900s, not the 1800s. Seems they saw the value of that style even then.”
    “I’ll bet the movie helped,” Earl said. “And the novel. Edna Ferber, right?”
    The clerk laughed. “No, no, you’re confusing this with Cimarron County in Oklahoma,” he said. “That story was about the land rush. This was just a cattle stop.”
    “Oh,” Earl said, sheepish grin on his face.
    Hilda walked out towards the front of the store.
    “My turn, I guess,” Earl said.
    “I’ll go back outside,” Hilda said as she passed him.
    “Have a nice trip,” the clerk said, smiling.
    Earl joined Hilda and Gabe in a few moments.
    “Be right back,” Gabe said, as he trotted to the store.
    “Think we’re gonna make it?” Hilda asked.
    “Yeah, probably,” Earl said.
    “I have a bad feeling,” she said, looking down the road.

    ***

    George sat up on the roof of the barn with Heidi, the soft breeze blowing through their hair. They heard rustling at the trap door, and turned to see Terry climb up with two rifles. Then he turned and helped Trish onto the roof. She looked nervous.
    “Scared of heights?” Heidi asked.
    “A little,” Trish said. “But I settle down pretty quickly. Glad we don’t have to be by the edge.”
    “See anything?” Terry asked.
    “Not yet,” George said.
    “Wish we would’ve had some say-so about that road block,” Trish said.
    “We’re small potatoes,” George said. “They had the roadblocks up to keep the enemy out of the breadbasket. They weren’t worried about small groups like us.”
    “That’s kinda what I figured,” Terry said.
    “So how’s married life treating you two?” Heidi asked, smiling.
    “I love it,” Trish said. “I wish things would settle down, so we could start a family.”
    “Seriously,” Terry said, smiling.
    “You sound pretty anxious,” Heidi said.
    “We both are,” Trish said. “You two aren’t married, are you?”
    “No,” Heidi said. “We’ve been together for quite a while though.”
    “How long?” Trish asked.
    “Over seven years,” she