Page 69 of The Roads We Follow

“As high as it goes,” I repeat as I engage the emergency flashers. I decelerate and pull off to the old country highway.

“Hey,” Hattie hollers from the back. “It’s stifling back here. Can you turn up the AC, Micah?”

Raegan’s eyes go wide. “Wait—why are we pulling over here? There’s nothing but cows and wheat for like a hundred miles.”

“Because every minute I drive on is another minute we risk blowing up the engine.” Sweat dampens my shirt front and back and seems to pool from every pore on my face. I maneuver Old Goldie into park and turn off the engine, plunging us into an eerie silence.

Suddenly, every Farrow woman on the bus is crowding around the cockpit, demanding answers to a million questions at once. It would appear the emotional freeze-out phase of the last three hours has come to an abrupt end. However, this wasn’t exactly the kind of pull-the-bus-over situation I’d had in mind.

Slowly I stand and turn to face them, my hands raised so as not to poke the bear any further.Bears,I mentally correct. “First, I’d appreciate it if everybody remains calm. It would appear we’ve overheated the radiator. I’ll give the engine a fifteen-minute cooldown before I decide if I should try and limp us along to the nearest service station, but that would be a best-case scenario.”

“And what’s the worst-case scenario?” Adele asks, waving her phone. “Besides being stuck in the middle of nowhere without air conditioning or cell coverage?”

I fan my shirt, which does absolutely nothing. “Worst case, we’ll have to walk to the nearest town. The last sign I saw was for Scarecrow, five miles to the west.”

“Scarecrow, Kansas?” Cheyenne blurts. “That can’t be a real town name.”

“Darlin’, I can tell you from experience that Scarecrow doesn’t even make the top ten for craziest town names I’ve come across in my career.” After a moment, Luella grants me a nod and says, “We trust your judgment, Micah. If we have to walk, then we’ll count it as part of the adventure.”

Grateful for her sudden optimism, I give her a courteous smile. I much prefer this version of Luella to the one who’s been hibernating for the better part of the day.

“Speak for yourself, Mama. I’ve only recently stopped seeing double.” Hattie groans and then ducks her head to look out the window. “Anyone know if a cow can be ridden bareback?”

I don’t know Hattie well enough to determine if she’s joking or not, but the sweat dripping from my chin as I cut through them for the exit must convey I’m not in much of a joking mood. An inch from the exit, I turn back. “In the meantime, you should all prepare the items you’d want to carry with you before it gets too hot to remain inside.”

And with that, I push out the door, only to be trailed by my favorite Farrow.

“I’m sorry,” Raegan says, shuffling behind me in the dirt.

“Why, did you break the radiator?”

“No, but I feel bad that you’re having to—”

I spin in the dirt and face her. “You did nothing wrong, so there’s nothing for you to apologize for. I, on the other hand, will likely be apologizing for several offenses once my brain is no longer set to broil.”

She bites the smile of her bottom lip. “Can I at least help you with something out here? Hold the tools or ... I don’t know, read you an instruction manual?”

I yank my sweat-soaked shirt over my head and wipe my face with it, before sitting on the shaded back bumper and patting the open spot next to me. “No need. We’ll be walking in about ten minutes.”

Her mouth falls open, but I have no idea which of my offenses she’s deemed gape-worthy. “But you said we’re only walking if it’s worst-case scenario.”

“It is worst-case scenario. That acrid smell is not just antifreeze. Most likely we’ve burned through a hose or two.”

“Then why did you even give us both options?”

“Because offering even a modicum of hope creates a far better psychological outcome than starting from a place of despair. Hope, even at the smallest level, builds a quiet resilience, whereas forcing a hard decision on them would only create resistance and resentment.”

Her eyes go round.

“It’s basic psychology,” I say as genuinely as I can. “This way, they have time to prepare mentally and physically while also working toward a common goal with one another. And if your family needs anything right now, it’s that: a common goal.”

After a hard sigh, she plops next to me and drops her head in her hands. “You must think my family is an absolute mess.”

“All families are messy.”

“Mine especially.”

I nudge her shoulder and then huff a hard sigh. “Come on, we should probably go break the bad news to them. It has to be stifling inside that bus by now.”

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