The MORE Trilogy by T.M. Franklin

Author:T.M. Franklin [Franklin, T.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Writer's Coffee Shop
Published: 2015-08-05T05:00:00+00:00

“So, tell me again why we can’t use one of the regular border crossings?” Ava slapped away a branch, her feet sinking into the wet mud of the riverbank.

The moon cast a bluish glow on the landscape when it emerged periodically from behind the cloud cover as they slogged through a wildlife refuge in north-central North Dakota, heading for the Canadian border. Emma trudged silently behind them, apparently lost in her own thoughts.

Tiernan held up a hand as they neared a narrow gravel road. He searched in both directions before waving them across.

“And why did we have to ditch the Jeep, if there’s a road right here?” She groaned, kicking up gravel as she darted across the road.

“Jeep’s probably been reported stolen by now,” Tiernan said after a heavy sigh Ava found completely uncalled for. “We couldn’t risk trying to cross the border with it. And I’d prefer not to have my bag searched by the border patrol.”

“Couldn’t you just”—she waved her hand toward his head—“push them? You know, the compulsion thingie?”

He glanced at her sideways. “I’m not very good at that.” After a moment, he asked, “Could you?”

Ava shook her head. “I’m not very good at it either. Most I can do is get someone to scratch their nose or something like that. Caleb is much better at it.” She fought off a wave of sadness at the thought of Caleb and darted a look over her shoulder. “I bet she could have done it.”

“I totally could,” Emma said, kicking off a glop of mud on her shoe. “I’m excellent at compulsion.”

Ava cocked a brow at Tiernan, but he only ground his teeth in response. She knew what he wasn’t saying. That he still didn’t trust Emma. That he didn’t really like people in general. That he actually preferred to stomp through brush and mud rather than rely on someone else for his safety.

They hiked in silence for a few minutes until they neared a clearing, and Tiernan held up his hand again.

“The border’s right there,” he said, tilting his head to scent the air. “When we get across, we’ll need to find transportation as soon as possible.”

Ava kind of appreciated the fact that he didn’t point out she was the only reason they needed to get a vehicle. Actually, she wasn’t sure about that. Maybe Emma was slow, too.

“Go.” Tiernan waved her forward, the planes of his face sharp in the moonlight. “Go now!”

Ava ran across the clearing, only to find Tiernan and Emma both waiting for her in the overgrowth on the other side.

Okay, so wrong about Emma.

They walked quickly along the riverbank as it wound north, passing fields and finally spotting a farmhouse with a beat-up pickup truck parked next to a weathered barn. A low growl drew their attention to the front porch, where a German shepherd watched them, his snout curled in a snarl.

“I got this,” Ava whispered. “You get the truck.”

Her gaze swept the yard in front of the house, finally landing on a stuffed bear discarded in a pile of toys under a newly budded apple tree.

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