Stowaways

Off in the distance, she spotted what looked like a loading dock, with trucks backed up to it. It was so big, there might be time for them to get out of the truck without anyone seeing them. She kept her fingers crossed for luck, because she knew she was going to need it in this situation.

When they pulled into the yard, she saw the name McBride on a sign outside the office near the long, loading dock. There were several men hauling the freight suspended on a machine looking like a forklift. She felt the truck beginning to back up to a spot where the men working the dock would unload the parts.

When the sound of the air brakes hissing filled the air, she jumped in alarm, almost falling off her perch. The occasional din of talking and laughter from the men working nearby drifted into her.

Well, she thought in agitation, jumping down from the box, they were here and she would soon face the man driving the rig.

Cori slowly inched her way toward the door, an uneasy feeling seizing her. She didn't know what to expect, but there was no getting out of this one, she thought. Time ran out for her and she was ready to face the consequences of her actions.

The closer she got to the doors of the truck, the more nervous she became. Closing her eyes for an instant, she sent up a silent prayer everything would work out. They desperately needed help from above.

When she heard the metal door opening, she gritted her teeth. Squeezing her eyelids tightly closed, she began preparing for the worst. The only thing left for her to do was to face up to her responsibility of stealing a free ride in the back of his truck.

Cori stood quietly listening to the creaking sound of the hinges on the trailer door. It appeared as if the man was taking a long time to open it, but her imagination was working overtime.

A draft of cold air suddenly rushed through the truck and set her teeth to chattering uncontrollably. Wrapping her hands around her arms, she tried protecting them from the raw wind sliding into where she stood. She slowly released her arms and placed her hand above her eyes, shading them against the brilliant sunshine.

Walking closer to the edge of the extended truck, she saw a pair of light green eyes watching her with a puzzled expression. The driver of the truck continued to gaze at her with a stunned look. He reached up and removed his hat before running his hand through his hair, tousling it into more disorder than it already was.

* * * *

Eventually, he spoke. "How did you get in my truck?" Jason couldn't believe what he was seeing as he stared at the young woman walking toward him. How in the world did she manage to get into the back without him seeing her? And where did he pick her up? He couldn't remember seeing her along the way at any of his stops.

It didn't take long for another thought to strike him. She looked so small and helpless, his heart seemed to melt at the sight of her. A million thoughts started racing through his mind. He could just imagine what his brother was going to say when he found out. There would be hell to pay because he left Louisiana without checking his cargo.

His brother Nick wasn't always so understanding. Just when he thought he was getting over the shock of finding the young woman, he spotted a teenage boy standing behind her. The boy's anxious expression gave Jason a clue to how he must feel. He knew this was brother and sister the instant he saw him. Their features and coloring looked so much alike to him. Now, there were two on his hands, making him wonder what sort of trouble they were running from. By watching their faces, he knew something was close behind them.

Cori has only one thought in mind, escape. Finding the solution in a crowded truck stop parking lot is the only way she can protect her brother Billy from the state taking him from her. Will the trucker discover them hidden in his trailer before reaching Chicago or is this their chance to start a new life and gain freedom?