I gave a nod. We’d been refilling our bottles wherever we could when they ran out and then boiling the water before drinking it. But we’d finished the last of our water earlier and would need to find some soon.

Tuck turned toward the dirt road that led to the house a good quarter mile off the road and I followed.

“Let’s go through those trees so we can get a better view of the house before we just walk up on it,” Tuck said, and then without waiting for me to answer, began moving in the direction of the evergreens. The copse of trees wasn’t very thick and so it didn’t take long to make it to the edge of the tree line.

Tuck began walking slowly, and I all but halted, watching as he carefully removed his backpack and then leaned through the break in the trees where the house was visible.

I went to join Tuck but halted when I heard a click and saw Tuck freeze and then raise both hands as he stepped back. I sucked in a breath as my pulse rate jumped.

Tuck took another few steps backward, a…child appearing in front of him, holding a raised shotgun. The kid—who looked to be no older than twelve—stepped forward, one eye squinted as he gestured with the shotgun for Tuck to step back. Tuck did and the kid’s gaze swung to me and then back to Tuck. “What do you want?”

“We’d like to speak to your mom and dad if they’re available,” Tuck said. “We’re not here to hurt anyone.”

“What do you want with my mom and dad?” the kid demanded.

“Just to—”

“Kyler?”

“Over here, Dad!” Kyler called. “I caught some trespassers!”

The sound of footsteps over soft ground quickly approached and a moment later, a man wearing a dark green beanie and a brown jacket, appeared. His eyes swept the two of us as he took the shotgun from his son and took over pointing it in our direction. “Who are you?”

“Sir, I’m Tucker Mattice, and that’s Emily Swanson. We’re walking to California, and we were hoping you could spare a couple of eggs, or…well, anything really.”

“Sorry. But we have a full house here and won’t be giving away any of our food.” He used the gun to gesture behind us. “Now move on.”

“Okay, have a nice day.” Tuck began to turn. To give up. My mouth dropped open. What were we going to do now? Catch a squirrel with our bare hands? He probably could. But I didn’t want squirrel. I wanted those eggs.