Read Online Last Train Home by Megan Nugen Isbell - Free Book Online Page A

how quiet it really was out here.
    We got out of the mule and I followed Jesse up to the platform.  He stood at the base of the ladder and as I looked up, I guessed it was at least ten feet tall.  Jesse looked at me and then began climbing up.
    “Are you sure it’s safe?” I asked, questioning the stability of the elevated lean-to as I tried to squash my fear of heights. 
    “Of course it is.  I built it.  Now, c’mon.”
    A second later, Jesse was at the top, looking down at me, the light of the half-moon just bright enough so I could see his silhouette.
    “You coming?”
    “Yeah,” I said as I stepped onto the first rung of the ladder nervously , and before I could talk myself out of it, I was climbing up.  Jesse held out his hand once I’d reached the top and he helped me step onto the platform.  I breathed a sigh of relief when I discovered it felt surprisingly stable.  I looked out into the black, flat land that from up here wasn’t obstructed by anything.  In the distance, I could see the faint lights of Carver.  It was barely a blip and I couldn’t help but compare it to Boston.  The lights of the city at night were amazing as if announcing: This is Boston…the greatest city on Earth!
    “From up here, you can see everything.  When I’m hunting, I just sit up here and wait,” he said as he used his hands to make a gun.  He pretended to shoot something and then dropped his arms back to his sides.
    “It seems like a good spot.  It’s so quiet out here.”
    “Yeah , it is.  Sometimes I come out here just to get away.  Do you think that’s strange?”
    “No.  Not at all.  I’d probably come out here too if I had some place like this.  Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever heard this much quiet.  It’s kinda unnerving.”
    As if on cue, the buzz of an engine cut through the stillness.  I looked out and saw a light coming toward us.
    “So much for quiet,” Jesse said as the noise grew louder and the lights drew closer.  A second later, a four-wheeler came to a screeching halt below us.
    “What are you guys doing out he re?” Brandon yelled up to us. 
    “I’m just showing Ri ley where we hunt.”
    “Well, you’ve shown her, now c’mon! ” Brandon bellowed.
    “Yeah, we should go,” I told Jesse.  I walked back to the ladder and nervously grabbed at it, which shook when I touched it.  I hesitated as I tried to get myself back down.
    “Let me help,” Jesse said, coming over and holding the ladder so it didn’t wobble. 
    A minute later, I was back on solid ground, joined shortly by Jesse.  Brandon revved the engine of the four-wheeler until my ears were ringing.  I was grateful when he finally stopped and then he looked over to me.
    “So, you’ve never been on a quad before?”
    “Nope.   Never.”
    “ Wanna ride back with me?  It’s way more fun than that thing,” he said, pointing to the mule.
    I looked over to Jesse and he shrugged his shoulders.  The mule had been scary enough.  The quad was downright terrifying. 
    “You won’t kill me, will you, Brandon?”
    “Cross my heart,” he said , crossing his chest with his pointer finger, but I found myself looking over to Jesse again for reassurance.  While he’d driven fast, I did trust him.  Brandon, on the other hand, was another story entirely. 
    “He won ’t kill you,” Jesse assured me.
    “Remember, this is my first time ,” I said, reluctantly climbing onto the four-wheeler.
    “Oh, don ’t worry, baby, I’ll be gentle.”
    “You’re disgusting!” I said , whacking him on the shoulder and he started laughing.
    “Just hold onto me tight,” he told me and I wrapped my arms around his waist.  He revved the engine again and I instinctively tightened my arms around him until I practically had him in a bear hug.  A second later, he turned the quad around and we were tearing down the narrow path.  I could hear the mule for a second, but then it faded and I knew we’d