The Orphan forced himself to sit up straight on the couch, wincing a little as the movement squeezed his full stomach. “I have a long way to go. All the way to Alaska.”

Roxy nodded approvingly. “Not quite what I asked, but thank you for finally telling me something about yourself.” She paused, nodding to herself. “Alaska, huh? May I ask why?”

Trust only went so far, no matter how much food was offered. “I’m sorry, miss, but I can’t do that. I just need to get up there. I know it’s a long, long way.”

“Roxy, please. You will only call me Roxy—none of this ‘miss’ business, ya hear me?”

The Orphan merely nodded.

After a weighty sigh, she continued. “Listen to me, carefully. I have been alone and sad and scared of the world for what seems like an entire lifetime since my husband died. He was a good man, a wonderful man, and I miss him so much my heart feels like a beating wound. You came here because you’re supposed to come here. I know it like I know I have two feet and nine toes—don’t ask. You need to go to Alaska? Well, son, I have a powerful, working truck and thirty gallons of fuel and plenty of things to carry food and water. There ain’t no buses or trains so you’re gonna have to do with this old lady as your partner. This old lady and her truck.”

The Orphan blinked. The Orphan didn’t know what to say. The Orphan knew that he would accept her offer but could only manage a nod.

“Splendid. But first you gotta tell me your name, son. We won’t survive very long if I don’t even know your damn name.”

A few seconds passed, but only a few.

“My name is Minho.”

“Now that’s more like it!” She slapped her leg. “Now tell me something about your past life—I don’t care what, just a tidbit—and then we’ll think about what we need to do. Come on, now, don’t be shy. Just one itsy-bitsy thing about the man named Minho.”

This woman was strange and used a lot of words and he really liked her. “I . . . was trained to be a guard on a wall. I’d . . . kill people if they came too close. And once, I saved a boy from getting murdered.”

Roxy blinked. “That’s very interesting. Not quite what I expected, honestly. Which is all the better—man, are we gonna have some doozy conversations around the old campfire.” She stood up. “Alright, Minho. Let’s get packin’ shall we? That truck is itchin’ for a road trip.”