AN: Alas, a new chapter! Finally!I apologize for not updating before. I had severe writers' block. Can you blame me? But I know that's no excuse. I should have before, right? Anyway, here's my newest installment into the story! Review if you're not angry with me!

Chapter Seven

Vicky

Sunday

Everyone's in a bad mood today. Wait. Scratch that. Danny's in a bad mood. We were supposed to be going to Mount Rushmore, but it's raining extremely hard to even think about going outside. And on top of that, we're lost! Danny left to find help while the rest of us stay in the RV, stranded in the middle of nowhere on a road in the rain. Could it possibly get any worse?

"South Dakota bites!" Kimmy proclaimed, throwing herself down on one of the seats.

"Dad's going to get help. We'll get out of here," D.J told her reassuringly.

"Right. Whatever. Hello! This is a prairie. There isn't even a house or anything around here for miles. Where can Stringbean go to get help? We're miles from nowhere."

"Chill out, okay? Instead of biting each other's heads off, let's try to do something to pass the time," Steve replied.

"Like what? Sit, drink tea, and share our most troublesome feelings?" Stephanie asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Steve shrugged. "I don't know. Anything."

I perked up. Steve actually had a great idea.

"You know, that's not such a bad idea. We can do that," I replied.

"But what?" Kimmy asked, rolling her eyes.

Stephanie took out a deck of cards. "Gia taught me how to play poker. Who wants to play poker?" she asked.

D.J. tossed her book aside. "I guess I'll play. Anyone else want to join us?"

Steve and Kimmy eventually joined the game. I took out my half-finished knitted scarf. It was something I'd been working on off and on whenever I had time. I've been using different colors of yarn. So far, it's green, indigo, red, white, pink, black, and gold. Now, I'm adding purple to the mix of colors.

After ten minutes, Stephanie threw down her cards and folded her arms together. She exhaled deeply and groaned.

"What's your problem?" D.J. asked.

Stephanie scowled. "Dad's been gone for nearly an hour. I mean, what-"

She was cut off when suddenly, we all heard a howl. It was so loud, I thought the sky would split apart. We all became eerily quiet.

"Coyotes?" Kimmy asked unsurely.

"Probably," I said. "But I don't think they'd be out in the rain. Especially a storm like this."

"Well, if they are out there, they can't get us from in here. Can they?" D.J. asked.

Steve shook his head. "Nah. Don't worry, Deej. They won't get us. I'm here for you."

"Aw, Steve…"

Stephanie made a face, but didn't say a word.

Another howl. And this time, it was much louder. It didn't sound like a coyote's howl at all. In fact, it sounded more like a-

"GHOST! It's a ghost!" Stephanie shrieked.

"Don't be ridiculous," I scoffed.

"Yeah, Steph. Still afraid of things that go bump in the night?" D.J. teased.

"Shut up!" Stephanie retorted.

"Alright, alright. That's enough," I demanded sternly. "D.J., stop teasing your sister. And Stephanie, stop that nonsense about ghosts. Everybody, just be quiet."

Stephanie got up quickly. "I gotta go to the bathroom. Be right back!"

After she'd gone, everyone else resumed to whatever they were doing.

D.J. shook her head and laughed. "What a scaredy-cat," she mused.

Steve and Kimmy joined in D.J.'s laughter. I gave each of them a stern look.

The kids continued their game. I kept knitting. That howling noise was still resounding over the RV. I also noticed that twenty minutes had gone by and Stephanie still hadn't returned from the bathroom.

Wh" ere did Stephanie go?" I asked.

Steve looked up from his deck of cards. " She said she was going to the bathroom, right?" he asked, distracted.

"Yes. And that was twenty minutes ago. Honestly, am I the only one who pays attention to the time?" I asked.

"Apparently so," Kimmy chirped.

I rolled my eyes. "Well, we have to find her," I said.

Kimmy looked out the window. "I don't know, Ms. L. I don't think I wanna go out there. Look at the rain and I cannot go out wearing my new purple velvet shoes!"

Whatever the reason why Kimmy bought purple velvet shoes, we chose not to discuss. Steve volunteered to watch the RV while D.J. and I grabbed ponchos and flashlights.

Once outside, it was pouring. And I mean pouring. We ran up and down the road, the rain running down harder and harder. But there was no sign of Stephanie anywhere. I started to get panicky.

After nearly an hour of searching, we gave up and trudged back to the RV.

" Did you fi-" Steve was about to ask. His face fell when he didn't see Steph.

"You guys haven't seen her either?" D.J. asked, throwing herself into a chair.

"No."

We sighed. "Man, Dad's gonna kill us when he gets back," D.J. moaned. "But now I'm getting really worried about Steph. Where could she be?"

"What are you talking about? I'm right here," a familiar voice said.

We jumped when we saw Stephanie in her old nightshirt and pajama bottoms.

"WHERE WERE YOU?" I asked shrilly.

"I was in the bathroom, sitting in the bathtub. I was looking out the window and I just fell asleep in there. Were you guys looking for me or something?"

D.J. looked ready to clobber Stephanie.

"What? "Stephanie asked, looking confused.

"Stephanie, you had us all worried! Don't do that again!" I exclaimed.

Stephanie nodded. "It does flatter me that you guys cared enough about me to look for me…maybe I should get lost again…"

"You might not be lucky next time," D.J. groused, but a second later, she stuck out her tongue and laughed. Stephanie laughed, too. The girls joined in for a hug.

"Where's Dad? He hasn't shown up yet?" Stephanie asked.

"Not that we know of," Steve replied, shaking his head.

No sooner than that was said, right in front of the RV window, a shining set of headlights came bursting through.

"YES! He did it!" Stephanie yelled, pumping her fist into the air. She ran outside, coatless and barefoot.

"Steph, come back! You don't know if that's Dad or not!" D.J. yelled, grabbing her poncho and running in pursuit of Stephanie.

Ten seconds later, the rest of heard D.J. yell in relief and happiness, "Dad!"

Danny arrived back, safe and sound. But he was wet, muddy, and disgruntled. So not the Danny I knew.

"Honey? What happened to you?" I asked, trying to be tactful.

"Whoa, did you mingle with the pigs on a farm?" Kimmy cracked.

Danny glared at Kimmy, but ignored her. "Leaving this RV was a mistake," he said grumpily."First, I stood outside in the pouring rain for what seemed like eternity just to get a ride to the nearest gas station. Some old couple felt sorry for me and offered to give me a ride there, which happened to be fifty miles away from the next biggest town. We got there all right, but coming back, the couple's car got stuck in the mud and it took me and three of the tow truck workers to push it out. That explains why I'm all muddy and dirty. The tow truck is going to take the RV to the nearest shop to get it fixed."

"Are you okay, dear?" I asked, rubbing his arm, despite the mud.

"Sure. I'm just tired, wet, hungry, smelly, and dirty. I'm going to take a shower soon and get myself out of these smelly clothes. We're going to have to stay at a motel tonight. The old couple offered to give us a ride, but since there's too many of us, the tow truck will drive the other half to the motel."

We got to taking a few items with us from the RV. Then we all boarded the waiting cars. Riding with Danny and Stephanie in the tow truck, Steph and I never told him what happened while waiting for him in that RV. We didn't want him to, as Stephanie put it, to "Freak out and give us a lecture or a 'when-I-your-age' type of story or something."

"Dad?" Stephanie asked.

"Yes?"

"Are you still planning that stop to Mount Rushmore?"

Danny grinned. "As a matter of fact, I think so. Thanks for reminding me, sweetheart. I'd forgotten."

Stephanie groaned inwardly. "I think I spoke too soon," she whispered to me.

All I could do was laugh.