“Maybe.”He hated to admit she was right.Yet he wasn’t turning around to go back to Madison either.“We’ll figure something out.”
She blew out a frustrated breath but didn’t say anything more.He thought back to the conversations he’d had with Mac.The guy had mentioned two different cabin rentals they’d used, the second being near a large farm.He continued heading north, wishing he could call Mac to learn more.
After a brief internal debate, he decided against pulling over to deal with the new phones now.How many cabin rentals were there around here anyway?Probably not a lot.And if he found one that was different from the one Mac had used, that was fine too.
Being off-grid was all that mattered.
Twelve minutes later, he saw a sign for cabin rentals.These were closer than he’d anticipated, and he guessed they were not the same ones Mac had found.But these would work too.As long as there was a cabin available.
And the owner allowed him to use cash.It was Saturday, so he knew they could be booked for the weekend.
Exiting the freeway, he followed the signs to the cabin rental.They weren’t too far from the city known as Wisconsin Dells.It was a recreational place full of indoor water parks and arcades that drew families from as far away as Chicago.He had no intention of putting young kids in harm’s way.
But the cabin rentals he found were far enough away that he thought they might work.
“This looks like a nice place.”Bryn leaned forward to get a better view of the cabins.
“Yeah.There’s a vacancy sign, which is good news for us.”He stopped at the main cabin and shifted into park.“Stay here, I’ll see what they have available.”
“Okay.”She sat back, looking exhausted as she shook her head.“I can’t believe it’s just past eleven o’clock in the morning.Feels like we’ve been on the road forever.”
“I hear you.”His stomach was rumbling for lunch, but he ignored it.“I’ll be back soon.”
He slid out and closed the door behind him.After mounting the stairs, he opened the door, glancing around curiously.As expected, the place sported a rustic cabin motif.Very common in this part of the state, or so he assumed.There were a couple of deer heads mounted on the walls, and he wondered if the grizzled-looking guy behind the counter was the hunter who’d shot them.
“Hi.Do you have a cabin available?”He smiled at the guy and offered his hand.“I’m Mick Newhouse.My wife and I are passing through.”
“Nice to meet ya.”The old man shook his hand in a strong grip.“I have a cabin available.Do you want one night or two?”
“Just one for now, if that’s okay.”Micah pulled out his wallet.“I hope you don’t mind if I pay in cash.Our credit card was declined at the store, and I haven’t had time to call the credit card company to find out what’s going on.”
“Credit cards.”The old man sneered.“Hate those things, the fees are atrocious.I prefer cash.”Then he narrowed his gaze.“Just don’t wreck the place, understand?”
“No, sir, we won’t.”Micah tried not to think about the gunfire that had erupted outside their last rental property.“Thank you very much.My wife will be thrilled.”
“Any time.”The old man named his price, and Micah gratefully paid.
“Thanks again.”He took the keys to cabin number five back out to the SUV and slid in behind the wheel.“We’re set.The owner is a nice guy.”
“Most people are.”Her brow furrowed.“Hard to remember that at times like this, though.”
He nodded in understanding.The cabins were far enough apart to provide some privacy.When he saw a couple leave with two kids tucked into the back seat, he winced.
So much for not putting kids in harm’s way.
He didn’t see how the gunman could find them way out here.Not while using disposable phones.Yet he remembered how Mac had thought he was safe only to realize he wasn’t.
We only need one day, he thought grimly, stopping outside cabin number five.They should be safe there until the morning.
“Wow, this is nice,” Bryn said when he unlocked the door and pushed it open.“I like it.”
“It’ll do.”He dropped the computer and bag of items from the store on the table.Rummaging in the bag, he removed the disposable phones, then pushed the rest toward Bryn.“This is all yours.I need to get these up and running to call Rex and Alex.My buddy at the DMV,” he reminded her.
“Yeah, okay.”She picked up the bag of clothes and toiletries.“I’m going to wash up.”
She disappeared into the bedroom.There were two of them, but he figured he’d sleep on the sofa like he had last night.
If he slept at all.
