Chapter 11

CHAPTER

ELEVEN

"Donald!" Heidi yelled as the SUV veered to the side.

Then the vehicle bumped, bumped, bumped.

The tires had hit the shoulder.

She screamed and glanced at the gray car beside them. With its tinted windows she couldn't see inside.

Donald muttered something beneath his breath as he fought to keep control of his vehicle.

It was no use. The impact was too jarring.

The SUV tilted. Careened forward. Slammed into the oversized ditch running parallel to the road.

Heidi jerked forward, gasping as her seatbelt caught her. The airbag deployed, filling the space with white powder and making her lose her sense of place.

She coughed, sediment from the airbag filling her lungs.

Donald . . .

She glanced in his direction. But it was impossible to see him past the airbag.

Smoke filled the air, and Heidi coughed again before calling, "Donald?"

There was no answer. Had he passed out? Or was he . . . dead?

The scent of smoke grew stronger.

She swallowed back a cry.

Heidi had to get out of this car. Now.

Stephen watched as the Camry sped away. He immediately turned his gaze back to the SUV Heidi was in.

It had veered into a ditch and hit the edge hard.

Smoke poured from beneath the hood.

It was only a matter of time before the whole thing went up in flames.

He squealed to a stop behind the SUV. Throwing his vehicle into Park, he and Gage wasted no time climbing out.

They ran to Heidi's door, jerked it open, and heard her raspy cough. The airbag jostled as she frantically clawed at it.

She was alive! Praise the Lord. The air left his lungs as relief filled him. But the feeling only lasted a minute.

He had to get her out.

"It's me. Stephen. Let's get you out of here." He grabbed the utility knife from his pocket and cut her seatbelt off.

She coughed again as she said his name. When he tugged her from the seat, she practically collapsed into his arms.

He gathered her to his chest and carried her away from the SUV.

As he did that, Gage ran to the other side and tried to open the door.

"It's stuck," he muttered.

Stephen laid Heidi behind the van, where she'd be safe. Then he raced back to the SUV to help Gage.

A new smell filled the air. Not just smoke. This time it was also . . . gas.

"We don't have much time," he yelled to Gage.

Gage tugged at the door again. "Let's go to the other side and see if we can pull him out."

Stephen sprinted to the passenger side. As soon as he opened the door, the scent of gasoline grew even stronger.

He took a step back. "I don't know about this, Gage."

Gage ran around to meet him and paused. "There's a gas leak. Stephen, we've got to get away."

He stared inside the SUV. Donald still wasn't moving, yelling, or trying to help himself. He must be passed out. Unless he hadn't made it.

"Stephen . . ." Gage grabbed his arm and tugged him back.

Reluctantly, Stephen and Gage hurried back toward the van.

Just as they ducked behind the vehicle, the SUV exploded, sending waves of heat and debris crashing through the air.