The thought of being snowed-in with these horny, alcoholic idiots filled her gut with hot fire, mind working the problem as her stomach burned. She had always been a plan-ahead person, but who the hell could have prepared for this? What she needed was for the heartless drunks to sleep now and get up ready to go on before the snow got bad. It would put them all out in it together and might give her an opportunity to escape.
You know how, don't you? She shuddered, drawing in a deep breath. Yes, she did, but she didn't want to, couldn't stand even the thought of being the one who started it, let alone having to participate or pretend she was willing. What she really needed was a weapon. It would be easier to kill them. She was aching to think of possible help at the Essex compound being so close and yet so far away, but she would do what she had …
Pop-Pop-Pop!
The sound of engines and tires squealing followed the loud gunshots, echoing from the total darkness to the South. Close by. Coming their way?
"Shit! They're back!"
"Henry, get that fire out!"
Samantha was already climbing into the van as fast as the loudly clinking chain around her ankle would allow, as eager for the tepid warmth, as for the hiding place. She slid onto the far corner of the bed in the back, heart beating furiously, and was plunged into darkness as the two men got in behind her. She didn't struggle when Melvin pulled her roughly between them.
The males cleared tiny circles on the dirty back windows and even though Samantha kept her head down, sure she'd be shoved back if she tried to look, she found she could easily imagine the loud group that was now within at least half a mile of the overpass where they were hiding.
There would be only headlights at first, and gunshots, and then they'd see dirty, muddy, rusted-out jeeps and trucks with gun racks that held automatic weapons. There would be cruel shouts and mean gestures; scared, abused women cowering in trunks and on floorboards, their futures grim - short. And all of it surrounded with dangerous, reckless driving, shooting at anything that caught their eye…complete disregard for all the death that had happened.
Danger filled the air as the noises got louder and the barely-breathing trio in the van remained still and silent. Slugs began to slam into the overpass as the group got closer. First the cars around them, and then the van, making Sam bite her wrist to keep from screaming. The gang went by very slowly it seemed to her, headlights glaring off the dirty windows, and none of them moved.