Sleep didn't come easily that night, and when it finally overtook her, it was filled with snakes and insects - and worse yet, Denton. She woke in the morning feeling stiff, sore and tired. It was already hot.

She fought her way out of the bedroll and limped to the bathroom. Why was she torturing herself when a cool apartment waited vacant in Los Angeles? Yesterday she had alienated the only person in Arkansas who had shown the slightest interest in her plight. Well, that wasn't exactly true. Clara seemed to care.

She splashed cool water over her face and washed the sleep from her body. It wouldn't help to feel sorry for herself. If she was bored, it was no one's fault but her own. How many times had she been told this was a fool's mission? But was it? A little suffering never hurt anyone, and already she was beginning to have a new appreciation for the comforts that she had once taken for granted. When it came right down to it, why did she have to stay at the cabin? Why not take a drive into Fayetteville and do a little shopping? Some of her supplies were getting low, anyway. Of course, that meant almost four hours of driving back and forth. Where was the closest town of any reasonable size? Clara would know, and Megan needed to call her parents anyway. Not that they needed a progress report. They were undoubtedly getting a daily report from Keaton - which was more than she could do. Apparently the town and entire area where the cabin sat was a dead spot for cell phones. Why didn't they put in a tower?

After a quick breakfast, she made a list of the items she needed and drove to the tiny town. Clara smiled a welcome as Megan walked into the store.

"Well, you finally decided to be sociable. How are things going?"

Megan dug around in her purse for a piece of paper and pen. "Oh, well enough, I suppose. I did manage to get all that grass whacked down." She pulled out a pen. "I figured I'd better call my family before they sent out a search team."

"Help yourself. Is there anything else you need?"

Megan hesitated. She hated to ask for directions to another store.

"I thought about seeing a movie. Where is the closest theater?"

Any town with a theater should be large enough to have a selection of stores. Keaton had invited her out. Surely he hadn't planned to spend four hours on the road.

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"Huntsville has one. It's about eight miles after you reach the highway."




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