The punishment for a seventh-grade dropout runaway is probably pretty harsh, but Ash Barker doesn't care. She can’t waste time or emotions on anyone but her brother, Matt. They were placed in separate foster homes, so Ash runs away to find him. If she fails, she’s headed back to juvenile detention. Everything is going right on schedule until two kids, Dayna and Kevin, barge into her hideout -- which just happens to be in their house. She ditches the pair fast, but can’t stop thinking about those bruised, skinny kids. Dayna and Kevin live with abusive parents who force them to stay in their room most of the time. If they go to the authorities for help, they’ll be split up, too. Ash knows how that feels, and she goes back to help, taking the two with her. With any luck, they’ll all help each other along the way. Meanwhile, as Matt waits for Ash, he can’t resist telling his foster brother and best friend, Jon-Allen, about the plans. They stash food, earn money, and keep watch for the night Ash appears at their bedroom window. Ash is so happy to be reunited with Matt and to discover she’s falling in love with Dayna that, at first, she doesn’t worry about what they’ll do next. But life on the road begins to take its toll -- they have to resort to shoplifting and scavenging to survive. Ash feels a growing sense of guilt at the disaster she’s made of everyone’s lives. Can she somehow keep her newfound “family” together despite hunger and sickness? Or will she be able to find the strength to reach out for help?

No Turning Back

There was something cozy about the evening, though. They cuddled with blankets or each other as the sun passed overhead. One by one the others drifted to sleep. Ash moved to sit by Dayna, who still leaned against a tree. Kevin had fallen asleep holding her hand.


Dayna nodded and yawned. “I don’t feel any worse than some of the times me and Kevin weren’t allowed to eat for a few days now.”


Ash sighed and held Dayna’s other hand. She fell asleep to the sounds of frogs and crickets.


Kentucky terrain was so different from the flat plains of Indiana, Ash refused to walk at night, and the next day she was glad about her decision. They all felt better and had only been walking for a couple hours when the trees cleared and they came to a cliff. A huge lake sparkled below in the sunlight.


“Let’s go swimming,” Kevin said, running right to the edge of the cliff.


Chapter 77