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

Dayna led Kevin away until she couldn’t see Ash anymore and leaned against a tree.


“I just have a bad feeling. I don’t know if we can trust Ash anymore,” Dayna whispered.


Kevin stepped closer, his face too serious for an eight-year old. “We can, Dayna. I know it. Everybody is bad sometimes even if they don’t mean to be. Like when I tried to steal the candy.”


Dayna sighed. “Are you sure we can trust her?”


“I think she saved our lives. But I can’t let anything bad happen to you. We’re really lucky we’re all okay today.”


“I know. But…last night when I couldn’t find you, I probably would have gotten in Jessie’s car too if she told me she would take me to you.”


Dayna paced, biting a fingernail. “I would have done the same thing to find you,” she said. “Okay, then. Ash is all right.”


“Uh, yeah!” Kevin said, laughing. “Come on, I’m hungry.”


Dayna grinned and whacked her brother’s shoulder playfully. “Okay, let’s go back.”


Chapter 134