The country they rode through was breathtaking. White oak trees towered over them, straight and bare of branches on the lower part. Their rusty reddish-brown leaves would cling to the branches long after the other trees had lost theirs. Dogwood trees twisted here and there, offering a variety of yellow and red in their multi-colored leaves. Under other circumstances, it would have been an enjoyable ride - and enjoyable company, probably. Would she feel differently about him if she knew he had studied to be a forest ranger?
The trail, if there was one, led them over low hills and along creeks that cut their way through yellow and gray bluffs. He definitely wanted to come back and explore the country.
Leaves rustled in the brush near them and Barrett stiffened. Suddenly a deer leaped across the trail in front of them. It was possible that they could encounter a bear. He caught his breath as he thought about his gun. He had forgotten it under the seat. He had to get back to the car before they towed it away - hopefully before anyone else discovered it.
By the time Mary Jo led Monroe down the last hill to the highway, she was wishing she had taken the buggy to town. The way he was studying the countryside, she was sure he had it in mind to come back with a crew to take out the timber. He looked at those trees like he was measuring them for size. He didn't say a thing when they rode the mules out onto the highway. He simply followed her, still eyeing the timber.
The highway was narrow, with barely any shoulder before it dropped off to ditches on both sides. They rode in the ditch. She'd seen too many cars come around those curves so fast that they took their half out of the middle. The highway was a succession of curves around all the hills. Pelsor was only two miles away, but the hills and curves made it much longer. Still, they were making good time and it wouldn't be much longer. Monroe's face had more color now and he acted like he felt better. She didn't feel quite so guilty about the torture she had needlessly put him through. Maybe he thought it was worth it.
The first car they saw was headed away from Pelsor. The second, nearly a half hour later, sped by them without an indication that the driver even saw them. She turned to look at Monroe and found him with phone in hand, calling for help, no doubt. Apparently he was able to get a connection. She listened as he talked.