Episode 7 - The Night Before the Rescue
1111 Words
“When we get to the gas station,” Sylvia said, gripping the steering wheel tighter than she meant to, “I’ll jump out and pump the gas. Zariah, you watch the tree line. No one sneaks up on us. Leanne, you watch the road. If anyone comes our way, I want to know before they see us.”
The Tahoe rolled slowly toward the pumps, gravel crunching too loud in the quiet evening air.
“Hold on,” Leanne whispered suddenly. “There’s a car over there.”
Sylvia eased off the accelerator immediately.
“We wait,” she said. “We wait until they leave.”
The seconds felt like minutes. The minutes felt like hours.
The sky was already turning that dusky gold that made everything look peaceful — which only made Sylvia’s stomach twist harder.
“Come on… come on…” she muttered under her breath.
Finally, the other car pulled away and disappeared down the highway.
“Okay,” Sylvia exhaled. “Now we go. Zariah. Leanne. Be on point.”
She jumped out, heart hammering in her ears, and grabbed the nozzle.
Silence.
She frowned.
Then she saw it.
“Girls… we have a problem.”
Zariah stepped halfway out of the truck. “What?”
“You need an MFA gas card to get fuel from this pump.”
Leanne blinked. “You’re kidding.”
“Nope. Card reader only. No cash option.”
For a moment they just stared at each other.
Sylvia’s mind raced. James would think through this. What would James do?
“We park in the back corner,” she said finally. “We wait. Someone else pulls in, we persuade them.”
“How exactly do three teenage girls persuade a grown man to give up free gas?” Zariah asked flatly.
Sylvia swallowed. “We’ll figure it out.”
They parked in the farthest corner of the lot, mostly swallowed by shadow. The sun dipped lower. And lower.
Still no one came.
“This is ridiculous,” Zariah muttered. “The sun’s almost gone.”
“We camp here,” Sylvia said firmly. “I’ll take first watch.”
“You’re serious?” Leanne asked.
“Yes. We rotate. Nobody travels blind. Nobody travels tired.”
She hesitated.
“And nobody travels at night.”
James’s voice echoed in her head as she said it.
⸻
Headlights appeared nearly an hour later.
Sylvia straightened.
A truck rolled slowly into the lot.
Her heart leapt into her throat.
Before she could think twice, she stepped out from the shadows, c****d the hammer back on the pistol, and raised it with shaking hands.
“You move,” she said, forcing steel into her voice, “and I’ll put a bullet between your ears. Raise your hands.”
The man froze instantly.
“Whoa, whoa. Whatever you want. Just don’t shoot.”
“I need your MFA gas card.”
He blinked. “What?”
“You heard me.”
“It’s in my truck. Can I grab it?”
“Slow. And remember — I will shoot you.”
He nodded carefully and reached inside.
“I’ve got it. Now what?”
“Unhook the pump. Lay it on the ground. Then pay so I can pump gas when you leave.”
He obeyed quickly.
“There. Done. Now please lower the gun.”
A familiar voice drifted from behind her.
“Little lady, I’d do what he says. He might hesitate to shoot a kid. Me? I don’t take kindly to having guns pulled on me.”
Sylvia froze.
Her breath caught in her throat.
“Drop it,” Corey said calmly.
She lowered the pistol slowly.
“Dad?” she whispered.
He stepped into the light.
John stood beside him.
“Bring her into the light,” John said quietly.
Sylvia turned fully toward them, tears spilling before she could stop them.
“Dad!”
Corey’s expression shifted from confusion to alarm. “Sylvia? What are you doing out here?”
“We were with James and Joe,” she rushed. “They got surrounded. Trucks. Guns. We were too far back to help.”
Corey grabbed her shoulders, steadying her. “Slow down. Who is ‘we’?”
“Leanne. Zariah. Me.”
“Where are they?”
“In the Tahoe. Sleeping in the back lot. I was on watch.”
Corey’s jaw tightened.
“John. Go get the girls.”
⸻
John approached the Tahoe carefully.
“Excuse me… which one of you is Zariah?” he called gently.
Both girls woke screaming, scrambling for the handles.
“It’s okay!” John said quickly. “I’m with Corey. Sylvia’s at the pumps. You’re safe.”
They stepped out cautiously.
“James said you taught him never travel blind, never travel tired, never travel at night,” Zariah said quietly once they rejoined the others.
Corey nodded. “Those are my rules.”
“Then why are you traveling right now?” she asked.
“We had vehicle trouble,” Corey answered. “Took longer than expected. Now we need somewhere safe for the night.”
“We know a place,” Sylvia said quickly. “On the way back toward James.”
Corey studied her.
“Show me.”
⸻
When Veronica stepped out of the truck and saw Sylvia, her composure shattered.
“Mom,” Sylvia breathed.
Veronica rushed forward, wrapping her up tight.
“Where’s James?” she asked immediately.
Sylvia’s face fell. “The last time we saw him was outside Devil’s Elbow. He was alive. But…”
Veronica turned toward Corey, panic rising. “We have to go back for him.”
“Calm down,” Corey said firmly. “We do not rush into a trap blind. If we lose our heads, we’re no good to him.”
“He’s our only son,” Veronica whispered.
“And he’s mine too,” Corey replied quietly. “Which is why we do this right.”
⸻
They drove back toward Palomino Ranch.
Sylvia leaned forward. “Turn here. Right after the sign.”
Corey slowed.
“I remember this place,” he said softly. “When James was six, he made me stop so he could pet the horses.”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“He was so carefree then.”
“He still loves you,” Sylvia said gently. “When we were in the truck, he did everything he could to keep us safe. Just like you would.”
Corey swallowed hard.
“He’s a good kid,” he said. “And I’m proud of him.”
- Writer
