The Ride
Alex’s reply came four hours later. Three short lines. Stay safe. Stay together. Keep me posted. That was it. No argument. No order to stand down. He knew them too well for that. Iris read the message twice before the screen dimmed. There was something about the simplicity of it that made her chest tighten. He trusted them. Or he knew he couldn’t stop them. Either way, they were moving. They left at first light. The sky was pale and colorless, the kind of morning that felt undecided. Two trail rigs rolled out from the south gate, engines low and steady against the quiet of the waking camp. Elias drove the lead vehicle. Iris sat in the passenger seat beside him. Sadie and Ashton took the back. In the second rig were Rowan and Kade — both quiet, steady, chosen because they did
- Writer
