Page 51 of The Trip of a Lifetime

‘What actually happened?’ Erin said. ‘I think I fell asleep.’

‘A deer just appeared in front of the truck,’ Sam said. ‘It literally came from out of nowhere. Chuck swerved and we ended up down here. I think he hit his shoulder on the door. Look, are you sure you’re okay?’

He reached out his fingers and touched the side of the cut on her forehead and even though she wasn’t sure how the gesture was supposed to help, she liked how it felt and how close he now was and…

‘I’m going to look out for Chuck’s son,’ she said and walked the few paces out of the trees to the side of the road.

It took him half an hour to get to them and when he did, Erin waved frantically until he came to a stop in front of her. He was a tall man in his forties and drove a truck similar to his dad’s apart from the fact it looked brand new. Erin explained everything to him: how they came to be in his car, what happened to have them off the road and exactly what his dad’s situation was. And then they helped Chuck into his son’s truck and for the first time, Erin began to worry what they were supposed to do now.

‘I’m so glad you were both with him,’ Chuck’s son said. ‘If this had happened and Dad had been on his own, I don’t even want to think about the outcome. It’s why I’m always telling him to have his cell in reach. Look, so you guys need to get to Winnipeg and so does Dad’s truck. Do you think you can drive it?’

‘I don’t see why not,’ Sam said. ‘We didn’t actually crash. I’m sure I can reverse it back up the bank.’

‘Well, if you can drive it and if I give you his address just outside the city, can you leave it there with my ma? I’d be so grateful.’

‘Yes,’ Sam said. ‘Absolutely no problem at all.’

‘Keep Dad’s cell and you can use it to navigate. Just leave that with Ma too.’

Erin began to say that they weren’t really supposed to be using mobile phones but Sam cut her off with one look. And then they were gone and Sam had to get Chuck’s truck up the bank and back onto the road.

‘I’d call these extenuating circumstances,’ Sam said when Erin raised the phone thing again. ‘And if it’s brought up, then we counter with their ineptitude at leaving us at a service station.’

Then he slid his arm around her shoulders and Erin wasn’t sure why until she could feel her lip wobble.

‘Hey,’ he said. ‘It’s okay.’

‘It’s just that I’m not very good on my own,’ Erin said and sniffed back potential tears.

‘You’re not on your own, though, are you?’ he said and then gently walked her back towards the truck. ‘Now, I’m going to get us down to Winnipeg and you can be reunited with your grandmother. And on the next stage of this race, I suggest we both take control of those bloody trackers. The olds are proving themselves useless.’

Sam helped Erin into the truck and clipped her seat belt in for her. She surprised herself by letting him. It was a gesture that was so ridiculously clichéd. But as she sat in that seat and he leaned across her to make sure she was strapped in, she realised two things: how much she liked this man, and also that he’d only ever get away with doing this once because the next time he tried she would probably laugh at him.

23

MARTHA

‘That’s it, I’m getting off the bus,’ I said, standing up and reaching for my bag. ‘Driver, we need to stop at once.’

‘Martha,’ Harrison said in a soothing tone which only added to my annoyance and the bus driver ignored me, anyway. ‘What are you going to do by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere? They know we’re going to Winnipeg and when we didn’t immediately turn around, they probably got a lift share.’

‘But we don’t know that for sure and I’m not prepared to lose that girl.’

‘He won’t leave her, you have my word,’ Harrison said and I was tempted to say his word wasn’t up to much but I didn’t have the energy for a fight. I still felt really unwell and my focus had to be Erin, not a silly grudge from the past.

‘What are his credentials? What does he do?’ I asked and even to my ears the words sounded ridiculous.

Harrison smiled and guided me back into my seat, which I was quietly grateful for as my legs were a little wobbly.

‘Are we trying to marry them off to each other?’ he said and didn’t drop the smile. ‘Sam is my sister’s grandson and one of the best blokes I know. He’s a temporary housing officer and is great in a crisis. He’s well-travelled, fluent in French – which has been handy on this trip and will be even more so if we end up in Quebec City – and is funny and kind.’

‘And lies to girls he meets in bars,’ I added, perhaps a little unkindly.

‘I’m sure he’s kicking himself about that.’

‘I’m glad Sam is with Erin,’ I said with a sigh, because I had little other choice. ‘And you’re probably right, they most likely did get a lift. But I’m not leaving the bus station when we get to Winnipeg until they find me.’

‘I’m with you,’ Harrison said and I was surprised how much comfort that gave me.