Post Apocalyptic Ponies: Revolutions Per Mile, Book 1 Read Free Page A

them.
    I didn't dare repeat what I'd said while shouting, I prayed they
didn't hear everything I'd said as they were pulling to a stop, but
the fact is they endangered us both by trying that maneuver. I
was willing to drive all the way home without incident. They wanted
to play rough.
    I gulped involuntarily.
    With my hands and legs spread, it dawned on me I was at their
mercy in every way. I felt the fear in my chest, but also pangs of
sadness and grief. Life wasn't supposed to be like that. My dad was a
police officer. It should have been an insanely expensive ticket,
nothing more.
    “Look at those long legs, boss. I think those could teach us
a thing or two about fast drivin', don't ya think?”
    I couldn't see either of them given my compromising stance, but I
could sense the other man's eyes on me.
    “Oh yeah Nicky, I think you're exactly right.”
    Both men snickered.
    “Sirs, I'm sorry. I'm running freight to captain Ross. He'll
vouch for me.”
    For the first time, they responded to me. “Ross, huh?”
I hoped they realized I would be missed. “Why don't you show me
what you're running for him?”
    “I'm dead-heading back to Hays. I just left Wilmore. My hold
is empty.”
    Dammit! I did it again.
    My mouth was always my worst enemy.
    “Well,” he said with an exaggerated drawl, “mayhaps
you can show me where you keep your cargo and I'll check if you hold is empty.” He pulled me off the car, then pushed me toward
the trunk.
    I could see how this was going to go down, and I couldn't stop the
tears from coming.
    As I stood over my own trunk and prepared to release the latch to
lift it, I saw another vehicle arriving at high speed from the
direction of Hays. I wasn't sure who it was, but both the officers
stepped away from me; a glorious couple of steps.
    I'd seen the car before—it was hard to hide a car in a town
of a few thousand souls—but I'd never seen it up close. It was
a Ford Mustang, new, but not quite as new as the pursuit police car
behind me. It had a custom green sparkle paint job with shiny rims
and a custom hood scoop.
    I wasn't surprised to see a young girl behind the wheel. She
killed her motor before she spoke, though I could hear her electric
engine fan continue to spin.
    “ Hey Officer Nick. Hey Officer Taylor.”
Her voice was friendly. Flirty. She was one of the older girls doing
the east-west run. I didn't know her, but she sure as hell wasn't
doing milk runs with a car like that.
    “What brings you way out here? You're a long way from the
highway.” He spoke in monotone. Not exactly unfriendly, but it
had an edge. He didn't want her around, but couldn't tell her to
leave.
    I had no idea why. Nor did I care, as long as she stayed.
    “Oh, I'm on official business. You need to frisk me?”
I expected them to order her out of the car and soon we'd both be
crying. Instead, she made a big show of noticing me. “What did
this bitch do? If it's not too serious I could use her for an
emergency haul as my second, if I can get her. I'd hate to go all the
way back to town and have to ask for a replacement.” Then she
looked at me, “You're Perth, right?”
    I had no idea how she knew my name, but I nodded yes. The tears
were frozen on my face. I hoped she saw them. I was screaming for
help, though my body was rigid as ice.
    “She was going too fast, right?” She laughed as if it
was the funniest thing she could imagine. There was no speed limit,
so speeding was impossible. “She's exactly what I need. Thanks
for stopping her for me.”
    She had an expectant look on her face.
    Officer Nick got close to my ear to speak. I could see his face
out of the corner of my eye, though I didn't turn his way. “Perth,
huh? Got it.” He said it quietly, and then continued in a much
louder voice, “You drive safe now, miss.” He finished his
charade by tipping his hat to me.
    I didn't dare look back at the cops, but their footsteps were
enough of a relief. In a minute the deathly-looking black