Five Miles South of Peculiar by Angela Hunt

Author:Angela Hunt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Howard Books

Drawn by the sound of popping gravel, Nolie left her sewing machine and strode to a window from which she could see the front lawn. Darlene’s car sat idling on the long driveway. It lurched forward, rolled a few feet, and stopped so suddenly that the tires slid over the pebbles. The unusual sounds attracted the dogs, who left their shady spot beneath the trees and trotted toward the drive, their attention focused on the unsteady vehicle. The sedan rolled forward again, halted with a squeal, and then the motor revved to a roar. Agitated by the noise, Lucy dashed forward, her ears at attention, her eyes focused on a front tire.

Nolie fumbled with the stubborn latch on the window and finally managed to lift it a few inches. “Lucy!” she called, trying to fit her head through the six-inch opening at the bottom of the frame. “Stay away from that car!”

Ricky swiveled and looked around, but Lucy barked again and growled at the tire. Nolie’s dogs had never developed the habit of chasing cars, and this would not be a good time to begin . . .

Nolie flew down the stairs and bolted out the front door, then ran to the edge of the porch and whistled for her pets. Ricky cocked his ears and obediently trotted toward her, but Lucy had developed a case of selective hearing. She lowered her head near the hubcap and barked again, ignoring Nolie and a flustered-looking Carlene behind the wheel.

What was wrong with Carlene? Couldn’t she see that she was putting Lucy in danger? The car rolled forward, a longer distance this time, then the brakes squeaked again. Lucy’s tail went erect as she raced after the car, snapping at the front tire as if she’d decided the sedan was possessed by an evil entity.

“Stop!” Nolie sprinted off the porch and flew over the walkway, her skirt billowing around her legs. As she drew closer she could see Carlene arguing with Erik, who sat in the passenger seat and kept pointing to something on the dashboard.

“Stop!” Nolie screamed again, feeling the sharp edge of pebbles through the thin soles of her slippers as she ran. “Carly!”

Her sister turned and looked out the window, her eyes going wide. Grateful that she finally had Carlene’s attention, Nolie caught up to Lucy and grabbed her collar, using both hands to hold the agitated dog.

Carlene’s door opened and Erik shouted, “You’re not in park!” Gravel popped as the car rolled forward. A grinding noise filled the air, then the vehicle shuddered to a stop.

Ignoring Erik’s sputtering and the car’s movement, Carly stepped out and marched up the walkway with her lips set in a straight line and her fists clenched. Erik, now sprawled over the seat with one hand on the steering wheel and one on the brake, gave Nolie a look of pure exasperation.

Relieved that the car had died, Nolie released Lucy, who ran over and sniffed suspiciously at the front tire.

She folded her arms as Erik pulled the key from the ignition and wiped perspiration from his forehead.

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