Chapter 69

The white pickup started with a gurgle, a rumble, and then backfired. Sam jumped, startled. Her arms were numb from being trapped behind her and taped together so tightly. Scruff sat in the driver's seat of the rickety, barely running truck, and grinded gears until he got it into first gear and pulled forward. The action jerked her head back enough to hit the headrest with a hard thump. At this rate, she would have whiplash.

Scruff pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main highway, shifting roughly each time, jerking her head and shoulders back and forth. Sam tried to keep track of all the twists and turns of the roads he turned onto, but not being familiar with the area she was soon lost. She only knew they were out in the wilderness, no houses, stores, or ranches with corrals nearby. Trees soon enveloped the single one-lane dirt road.

Where is he taking me? How can I leave Elliott a trail so he can find me?

After driving mile after mile, the road continued to narrow, until i