Hopefully finding Max will be a quicker proposition. I step onto the rutted dirt track headed north, pulling a hairband off my wrist to tie my hair back, realizing as I do that I haven’t brushed it yet today. Or my teeth. Everyone’s probably holed up in their houses avoiding my breath.

I hear a sudden rumble and a deafening squeal behind me—so close it makes my heart stop.

I turn.

John Ashford’s front bumper glints six inches from my back. A cloud of dust rises above the pickup’s tires.

John tumbles out of the cab. “I didn’t see you. Lord above, that was a close one!”

He lets out a huffing laugh, swiping his hand over his balding head. Then he laughs louder, a single “Ha,” doubled over. “Jesus!”

I laugh too, convulsive, my brain screaming, It’s not funny. What is so damn funny? I nearly got hit by a truck.

“I swear to Christ, you came out of nowhere. Somebody beamed you down there.”

“I was … No! I stepped—”

“I don’t doubt it, completely my fault.” His face falls grave. “It’s early.”

“It is.”

“You headed up to see Matty, then?”

In the past seven years, that has never once occurred.

“Um. No.” I glance behind me. “I’m chasing the dog. He snuck out the front door when we weren’t looking.”

I roll my eyes, convincingly, I think. Lies are easier the second time.

“Well, go on, hop in, if you can trust my driving at all after that.” He jumps back into the driver’s seat, and I don’t see any earthly reason to turn him down. We’ll grab Max, stick him in the back, just like the last time he got loose. We found him on the beach a month ago trying to catch crabs caught in the tidal pools and agitating the nesting puffins. Daft bloody dog, as Hugh says daily.

John puts the truck into gear, and we bump companionably along, windows open despite the chill. Bright days fight the cold here. The sun feels inches away when it comes out, bearing right down on you.

“You must have thought you were a goner.” John chuckles. I’m not sure how to respond, but he turns to me with a wink before I have to, and I realize that this is him calming himself down. That near collision shook him as much as it did me. “But I’m guessing you don’t go in for all this nonsense any more than I do.”

“Oh thank God!” I bark a relieved laugh. “I thought I was the only one!”

He’s a local, as far as I’m concerned. He’s lived here longer than I have, was here last time, and he still doesn’t believe. I could sing, I’m so thankful.