The wind kicked up, making the flames flicker and sway, and she shifted closer to feel their warmth. She’d never enjoyed camping, not after the years she’d spent on the streets. She had too many bad memories of sleeping in the open, feeling defenseless and exposed. But after hightailing it out of Georgetown, worried that the police might spot them, camping at the C&O canal seemed the safest choice. She finished off the last of her hotdog and stuffed her napkin into a plastic bag. Then she glanced at Sully sitting beside her, the reddish gleam from the firelight gilding his face. Thankfully, he’d had enough cash left to buy a tent and food, along with other supplies. And this time of year, the campground was empty, especially with rain clouds gathering in the sky. They’d be lucky if it didn’t snow. Shivering again, she held her hands near the flames to savor their warmth. The woods around them rustled and creaked. The Potomac River—invisible in the stygian darkness—roared and tumbled along its nearby bank.
