Into the Mist (Into the Mist 1)

“Yep. I know. And I’ll take more wine, please.”

“Is there anything else we need to do before we leave?” Imani asked as Stella refreshed her wine.

“We need to tell Tyler, or whoever will be running Timberline’s CB—”

“That’d be mostly me,” interrupted Jenny. “Tyler doesn’t know much about them. Thankfully, Imani and I chose to take that workshop on radio waves, which included some archaic but now surprisingly useful info on CB radios.”

Imani nodded. “Which is why I know how to work one too.”

“That’s excellent,” Stella said. “So, Jenny, keep a listen to the CB, but don’t broadcast much. Don’t tell people your position or give them other details. Don’t even talk to anyone except us.”

“What’s going on?” Mercury asked her.

“I don’t know yet. All I know is that Timberline will be safe as long as it’s secluded.” She turned to Jenny. “We’re not going to be completely forthcoming with info when we first get to Madras. We won’t tell them about the CB, or about Timberline, until we know we can trust them.”

“Sounds smart,” said Jenny. “I’ll get the CB set up in the boutique we’re using as a supply room. That’s pretty central. We should be able to hear if you call.”

“Other than an emergency, don’t call us,” said Stella. “And if you do, make up a location away from here.”

“Got it.” Jenny nodded.

“Do we have backpacks?” Gemma asked.

“Backpacks?” Mercury echoed.

“Yeah, I’m assuming we’re gonna be super cautious about everything, which means we won’t be driving into Madras with our truck and all our supplies—including that CB radio—but we’re gonna need some of our stuff, clothes and toothbrushes and such. So, we’ll need backpacks.”

“Excellent idea, kid,” said Stella. “And something I hadn’t even thought about.”

“There were new backpacks in the boutique. We moved them, along with clothes and that other stuff to the little store at the end of the hall today,” said Jenny. “I can go grab five of them for y’all.”

“That would be great, Jenny,” said Mercury.

“Hey, I’m not going with you, but I still wanna help.” She got up and gave Mercury a quick hug before heading for the door.

“I’ll miss her,” Mercury said softly.

“You’ll see her again.” Stella paused, then grinned. “I like good news like that way better than knowing stuff like poor Sim dying.”

“That sucked,” said Mercury.

“He’s happier now,” Imani murmured as she stared into the crackling fire. “He’s with his family.”

“Hey,” Mercury took Jenny’s place beside Imani and put her arm around her friend. “Stay with us, ’kay?”

Imani nodded slowly. “I’m doing my best.”