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

left Jesse in our dust.  There was no way the mule could keep up with this monster.  I buried my face into Brandon’s back and I prayed I would make it back alive.  He was driving way too fast as he whipped and whirled through the trail and I was beginning to have my doubts that I would survive.  Eventually my heart started to slow when Brandon turned off the four-wheeler and I finally looked up, realizing I was going to live.  We were safely back to the fire and back to civilization and I jumped off as soon as I could.
    “See.  I didn’t kill you,” Brandon said , climbing off too. 
    “Well, you a lmost did!  That was terrifying!” I said, hitting him on the arm again.
    “I knew exactly what I was doing.  You need to chill.”
    I turned around when I heard the sound of the mule behind us.  Jesse eased it to a stop and then he came over to us.
    “You look a little shaken, Boston.  You okay?” he asked.
    “I’m fine, now that I’m off that thing, but he’s a maniac !” I said, pointing to Brandon. 
    “I am not.  I was in co mplete control the whole time.”
    “Sure didn’t seem that way.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    I ignored Brandon and then looked around and finally noticed that the girls weren’t around, but then I heard loud country music blaring from the shed.  I turned around and walked inside.  There was a light coming from a room in the back.  I walked towards it, followed by Jesse and Brandon.  As I got closer to the room, I could hear the clanking of pool balls. 
    “There you are,” Laura said, looking up from where she was crouched over the pool table with a cue stick.  She struck the cue ball, sending the solid purple ball into the side pocket. 
    “How was the mule?” Holly asked a nd I noticed Mandy was missing.
    “Interesting,” I replied
    “She’s afraid of quads though,” Brandon laughed.
    “No, I’m not.  I’m afraid of your driving,” I said , glaring towards him.
    “What?  You got on a four-wheeler with him?” Holly exclaimed. “Jesse!  How could you let Riley get on a four-wheeler with Brandon?”
    “She was fine.  Brandon controls a quad like no one else and you know that.  You guys are just chickens.”
    I glared over t o Jesse, who was smiling at me.
    “I knew you’d be fine,” he said , shrugging his shoulders. “Admit it. You had fun.”
    I continued to glare at him, but then I felt myself softening.  Thinking back to how I’d been holding onto Brandon for dear life as we flew through the air, I realized it was actually kind of fun, now that I was safely back on solid ground.  It had been invigorating, exhilarating, and refreshing.  It had been a rush, and a rush was exactly what I needed in my life.
    “C’mon, it was fun,” Jesse said again, nudging me gently in the ribs. “I wouldn’t have let you get on that thing if I didn’t trust him.”
    “And I knew I wasn’t going to kill you,” Brandon chimed in. “Promise.”
    He crossed his heart again and I felt the corners of my mouth slowly rise into a smile.
    “I guess it was kinda fun,” I mumbled.
    “Alright then,” Jesse said , walking towards the pool table as the tension evaporated. “I’ve got the next game.”
    “Not before we eat cake!” Mandy exclaimed as she walked into the game room holding the birthday cake she’d brought with her.
    Jesse turned to look at her and rolled his eyes, but then smiled and I knew deep down he appreciated what she’d done for him.
     

Chapter Seven
     
    I dawdled around the next morning having slept in till nearly ten o’clock.  I’d gotten home right before midnight, so my mom couldn’t say anything about me being late, even though I knew it drove her nuts when I cut it close to curfew.  I was convinced she was just waiting for me to make a mistake so she could pounce on me, grounding me for however long she wanted, which would be yet another way for her to ruin my life. 
    I walked downstairs, still in my pajamas.  My hair