“How is your car running?” Tuck asked. “All we’ve seen are disabled vehicles. They’re all over the highway.”

“Not sure, other ’n Bridget here don’t got but one electric component in her. I rebuilt the old girl myself, so I should know.” He smiled, showing a large gap where one of his teeth was missing, apparently exceedingly proud of Bridget. As well he should be as she was currently the only working vehicle for miles around. Apparently. “Got a buddy whose car works just fine too. A sweet Caddy. Course it’s been hard to find roads to drive on with all the broken-down cars and big rigs. It woulda been easier if this thing happened in the middle of the night instead of nearly rush hour.”

“Any idea what this thing was?” Tuck asked.

“Few guesses,” Leonard said. “But listen, I gotta be goin’. Traveling by night isn’t the best idea and I got a trek in front of me.”

I eyed his back seat. I could practically feel those soft cushions beneath my rear rather than the asphalt under my blistered feet. I stepped forward. “We can appreciate that, Leonard,” I said. “If you’d be so gentlemanly as to give us a lift, we could chat while you drive.” I smiled, showing him my teeth, which, even despite all the hardships I’d been through in the last few days, could be counted on to maintain their attractiveness. “I sure would love to hear your theories. Being that you were wise enough to build one of the only cars currently running, I’d imagine your guesses are pretty darn accurate.”

He let out a chuff, his cheeks coloring slightly as he looked away. He tapped his steering wheel for a moment before saying, “Aw, what the hell, you look harmless. Hop in and we’ll chat. I can’t give you a lift all the way to Cali, but barring any blockades, I can get you to Missouri.”

I held back my giddy squeal, grabbed Charlie’s hand and raced around the other side of the car to get in the back seat before Leonard could change his mind. Oh, sweet heaven. A vehicle. A ride. A break from walking.

Tuck appeared less enthused than me, but he still walked around the front of Leonard’s car, eyeing it suspiciously, before climbing into the front seat and pulling the door closed with a loud squeak.

“If we make it somewhere closer than Missouri where the power is on, we can get out there,” Tuck said.

“I don’t imagine that’ll be the case, but okay,” Leonard said before he gunned the engine and then took off.

“Is there a reason you’re heading to Missouri?” Tuck asked.

“Yup. I’m going to my brother’s place. He has a trailer out by a lake. I figure I’ll sit this one out.”

“This one?”