The　call　of　a　jaybird　made　me　leap　back　and　fall　into　a　thick　stand　of　young

spruce；　scraping　up　my　arms

and　tangling　my　hair　with　sap。　The　sudden　rush　of　a　squirrel　up　a　hemlock　made

me　scream　so　loud　it

hurt　my　own　ears。

At　last　there　was　a　break　in　the　trees　ahead。　I　came　out　onto　the　empty　road　a

mile　or　so　south　of　where

I'd　left　the　truck。　Exhausted　as　I　was；　I　jogged　up　the　lane　until　I　found　it。

By　the　time　I　pulled　myself　into

the　cab；　I　was　sobbing　again。　I　fiercely　shoved　down　both　stiff　locks　before　I

dug　my　keys　out　of　my

pocket。　The　roar　of　the　engine　was　forting　and　sane。　It　helped　me　control

the　tears　as　I　sped　as　fast

as　my　truck　would　allow　toward　the　main　highway。

I　was　calmer；　but　still　a　mess　when　I　got　home。　Charlie's　cruiser　was　in　the

driveway—I　hadn't　realized

how　late　it　was。　The　sky　was　already　dusky。

〃Bella？〃　Charlie　asked　when　I　slammed　the　front　door　behind　me　and　hastily

turned　the　locks。

〃Yeah；　it's　me。〃　My　voice　was　unsteady。

〃Where　have　you　been？〃　he　thundered；　appearing　through　the　kitchen　doorway

with　an　ominous

expression。

I　hesitated。　He'd　probably　called　the　Stanleys。　I'd　better　stick　to　the　truth。

〃I　was　hiking；〃　I　admitted。

His　eyes　were　tight。　〃What　happened　to　going　to　Jessica's？〃

〃I　didn't　feel　like　Calculus　today。〃

Charlie　folded　his　arms　across　his　chest。　〃I　thought　I　asked　you　to　stay　out

of　the　forest。〃

〃Yeah；　I　know。　Don't　worry；　I　won't　do　it　again。〃　I　shuddered。

Charlie　seemed　to　really　look　at　me　for　the　first　time。　I　remembered　that　I

had　spent　some　time　on　the

forest　floor　today；　I　must　be　a　m