Chapter 6 - Iron and Water
The narrow country road offered no room to maneuver. Rain pounded against the cracked windshield as Sarah pushed the pedal to the floorboards. The truck shuddered violently, its aging engine whining under the strain. In the rearview mirror, the sleek black SUV closed the distance, its reinforced bumper glinting in the dark.
""Hold on, Lily!"" Sarah shouted, bracing herself.
The impact jolted the truck forward, throwing Lily against the passenger seatbelt harness. Lily shrieked in terror. The SUV backed off a few feet, then rammed the truck’s rear quarter panel again, trying to spin them off the asphalt toward the deep ditch.
Sarah gripped the steering wheel, fighting the violent skid. Ahead, the road crossed the old iron trestle bridge over Blackwood Gorge, swollen with rushing floodwaters. An idea flared through her panic.
She slammed the brakes just before the wooden approach to the bridge. The SUV driver, anticipating her to speed up to clear the bridge, swerved sharply to avoid T-boning the flatbed. The heavier vehicle lost traction on the wet leaves, clipping the wooden guardrail and plunging nose-first into the muddy ravine.
Sarah didn't pause to celebrate. She hit the gas, crossing the bridge as the wooden planks rattled beneath her tires.
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In the quiet of the cab, Lily sniveled, reaching into her tiny jacket pocket. She pulled out a crumpled, damp object and held it out toward the windshield.
It was the embroidered patch from David’s navy cap. She had ripped it off before leaving the chair.
