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

After a long, long time, the field turned into grass and he looked up. They had reached the other side, but the trees beyond were surrounded by a barbed-wire fence. Ash lifted Kevin as if he were three years old and swung him over. She helped Dayna across and then passed the cooler and bags to her.


Kevin held Dayna’s hand as Ash jogged toward a large tree on Kevin and Dayna’s side of the fence. A branch hung over on Ash’s side, and she jumped up and grabbed it. Kevin cheered hoarsely as she pulled herself along the branch and over the fence.


Ash led the way into the trees. Suddenly she stomped her foot and screamed.


“She’s not mad at us, she’s mad at the rain,” Dayna said.


Kevin looked up at her. She had one black eye and one puffy, red eye now. He realized Dayna had been crying, too. He laid his head on her shoulder. “I don’t feel good.”


“I know, Kev. We’ll find somewhere to stop. Let’s just walk a little farther.”


Chapter 113