Page 24 (1/2)

Ned didn’t respond, which was definitely for the best

"What we need is a sign," Mel said

Linc bit off a sarcastic coht, and it had better be one fro By now his sister probably figured they’d abandoned her, yet nothing could be further fro into the distance

"What’s what?" Linc de toward the sky

Linc saw a flash of light He pulled over to the side of the road and clis, anyway, and the cold air would revive hi off fireworks The sky burst with a spectacular display of lights

"Wow, that was a big one," Mel said, like a kid at a Fourth of July display

His brothers didn’t seeravity of their situation "Okay, it’s nice, but how’s that going to help us?"

"You said I should find a phone," Ned re off those fireworks uess," Linc agreed He leaped back into the truck, his brothers with him "Guide me," he shouted and jerked the transht," Ned ordered

"I can’t!"

"Why not?"

"I’d be driving across someone’s pasture, that’s why" Obviously Linc was the only one with his eye on the road

"Then turn as soon as you reach an intersection," Mel told hier brothers and he gritted his teeth As the oldest, he’d always shouldered responsibility for the others He had no choice noever--not that things had worked out all that ith hiht-hand turn, going around the corner so fast the truck teetered on theels It came doith a bounce that"Nohat?"

"Pull over for a minute"

"Okay" Linc eased to a stop by the side of the road

"There!" Mel had apparently seen another display in the heavens "That star!"

"Which way now?" Linc asked with a sigh

"Go straight"

Linc shook his head The road in front of hiht It twisted and curved this way and that

"Linc," Mel said, glaring at hiht patch in the road and floored the accelerator If anyone had told hi around a series of dark roads, desperately seeking guidance frohed scornfully Hiain

"We’re getting close," Mel said

"Okay, stop!" Ned yelled

Linc slammed on the brakes The three of them jerked forward and just as abruptly were hurled back If not for the seat belts, they would’ve been thrown headfirst into the windshield

"Hey!" Mel roared

"Maybe don’t stop quite so suddenly," Ned added in a voice that was considerably less hostile

"Sorry"

"Wait, wait, wait" Mel cocked his head toward the sky "Okay, continue down this road" Mercifully it was flat and straight

"Here," Ned said a minute later

Once more Linc slammed on the brakes, only this time his brothers were prepared and had braced themselves

"Look!" Ned shouted "This is it We’re here!"

Linc didn’t knohat he was talking about "We’re where?"

"The Harding ranch," Mel answered

Then Linc saw There, painted on the rural route box, was the nae barn

"I think I see a ca llamas before but not caly horse"

"A camel? No way," Mel insisted

"I say it’s a cau a est, was usually the reasonable one, the conciliator Whereas he--

"A caressive tone "What would a ca here?"

"Does itfor us"

"Right" Linc turned into the long driveway that led to the house and barn The fireworks had stopped, but so place, because the yard was filled with people There was a bunch of little kids running around and the atmosphere was festive and excited

"There’s an aid car here" Ned gestured urgently in its direction

"Do you think sohtfully This hat he’d feared from the first The minute he’d heard about Mary Jo’s dizzy spell he’d suspected she was about to give birth "I think Mary Jo ht have had her baby"

"But she isn’t due for another teeks," Mel declared

Ned opened the truck door "Instead of discussing it, let’s go find out"

A ot out of the truck "YouMerry Christmas!"

The woreeting "Merry Christot lost"