I’m fine. Really fine.” Sophie held up a finger and pointed at the phone. Mia wrinkled her nose in sympathy and walked past her to unzip the tent flap and duck inside. “I worry about you out there alone.” “I’m not alone,” Sophie said automatically, even as Mia came back out with a backpack and waved good-night. Sean? She couldn’t be going back to him. But before she could ask, Mia was gone, heading off in the direction of Sean’s tent, half-hidden behind some scrub brush for privacy. And Sophie was alone again, the night falling slow and gentle around her, a rodent scurrying through the dry grass behind her. The sun had set beyond the jagged mountains, leaving the camp in shadow. She could just make out the first stars. The lack of road noise had been astonishing to her when they first got here, almost creepy. Now it was peaceful. Her mother sighed, started to say something else but then paused. “Just a minute.” Sophie heard her muffled voice answering someone in the background.
