“This place will be perfect. I will never lead you wrong, sweetheart.”

“Okay,” I murmured, clasping my hands together tightly. I turned to the side window, watching as we blew past the campus and crossed the bridge into Maryland.

Fifteen minutes later, Cam turned onto the road leading to the visitor’s center in Antietam National Battlefield. The history nerd in me started doing cartwheels, but I was way too nervous about being out here at night with Cam. Not that he seemed like the type to try anything, but if I knew anything, there was no ‘type’ when it came to that sort of thing. My nerves felt stretched thin and frayed at the edges.

“Are you sure we’re allowed to be out here at night?” I asked, glancing around.

“Nope.” He pulled into a parking spot. There were only a handful of cars.

I stared at him. “What?”

He laughed as he killed the engine. “I’m kidding. All we have to do is tell one of the Rangers that we’re from the University. They’ll be cool about it.”

I hoped so. The idea of being chased off the battlefield by a park ranger wasn’t on my list of things to accomplish before I died.

However, after taking one quick look at Cam, it looked like something he’d be down for.

“You ready?”

Grabbing my bag off the floor, I opened the truck door. “Yeah, let’s get this over with.”

Cam grabbed a flashlight out of the glove box as he chuckled. “Don’t sound too excited.”

I sent him a quick grin. “I’m not.”

“Don’t lie.” He walked around the hood and joined me, pointing over to where a cement tower with a red top rose into the sky. “That’s where we want to go to.”

“The tower on Bloody Lane?”

He shot me a quick look. “You’ve been here before.”

“No.”

“Then how did you know that’s Bloody Lane?”

I smiled slightly as I picked up a strand of my hair, twisting it between my fingers. “I’m a history major, so places like this appeal to me. Read up on it before. Bloodiest day of the whole war took place on that little stretch of dirt road.”

“Yeah, that’s what they say. Hold on a sec.” He turned to where a Ranger was cutting cross the field. “Be right back.”

I watched him jog over to where the Ranger waited. Words seemed to be exchanged and then Cam showed him his notebook. The Ranger laughed and they shook hands. Tipping my head up, I could already see tiny stars appearing in the deep blue sky. Nightfall would be on us in minutes.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Cam swaggered back to my side. “We’re good to go. And we’re not the only ones. There are a few students down by the other side of the tower.”

“Cool.” I fell in step with him, keeping a healthy distance between us. “Why do so many people come here to do this? I’m sure there are places closer to campus.”