Chapter 15

Danny pulled over and they climbed out and had an old-fashioned, sixty’s hippie-type group hug right there by the side of the road. A car went by and honked loudly. They all laughed gratefully.

Danny said, “I’m tired. Who will drive next?”

Jack offered, not remembering what the old man had told him until he had shifted up through most of the six gears and was driving along rather nicely. Ryan played around with the radio and brought in some oldie station that suited their moods. It was about twenty minutes later that Jack saw the cougar coming through the woods, and almost changed lanes while he saw the animal jump into a large tree. His heart started pounding after a second’s hesitation, when he thought it had just quit. He pulled over immediately, and watched the cat out the side window. It kept staring back at him. “Look!” he got out, pointing, not saying anything else.