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

“At least we have food now and mailed the letter. Hey, Dayna, guess what? Ash let me get two candy bars; one for me and one for you,” Kevin said.


Ash grinned at Kevin’s attempt to lighten Dayna’s mood.


“Do you want your candy now?” Kevin asked.


“I think I’ll wait until tomorrow,” Dayna said.


Ash looked at her watch. “It is tomorrow, it’s 1:30 A.M.”


Dayna shoved her and Ash looked down in surprise as she tripped. Dayna was stronger than she looked. As a matter of fact, Ash’s jaw was still sore from where Dayna had punched her. This time, though, Dayna didn’t seem to be mad.


“You know what I mean,” Dayna said with a smirk.


Ash smiled and relief washed over her; Dayna would forgive her eventually, and Ash would apologize to her every day until then.


By the time they reached the edge of town, the rain had stopped. After slogging through a cornfield and crossing a small stretch of weeds and trees, they came to the yard of a farmhouse. A sagging barn stood fifty yards behind it.


Chapter 132