Jean stood on the shoulder of the road, thumb to the wind. Jubliee and Kitty sat on their bags, watching as another semi-truck passed them by. Their money had run out days ago, and Jean resorted to stealing whatever she could.
"I'm tired."
"I know girls," she sighed.
"It's not your fault, Jean."
"Yes, it is. I should know how to take care of you better."
"You haven't been forced out into the world with two teenage girls before."
"I have a college degree! Three of them!"
"I don't think they offer this course in college."

A green pickup truck was quickly approaching, and Jean put her tired arm out again in vain. Her heart began to thump wildly as it appeared the truck was slowing down. "Please please please," she pleaded into the wind. The truck stopped, a man in his sixties leaned against the steering wheel.
"Where you headed?"
"Anywhere," Jean dived into the older man's mind. He eyed the girls, who were standing a few feet behind Jean, and motioned with his head for them to jump in back. Thanking him quickly, she helped the girls into the truck bed.

"End of the road," the man's voice woke Jean abruptly. The sky had grown dark and heavy with clouds, already dropping rain in pattering rhythms on the dry ground. Jean woke Kitty and Jubliee, trying to rub the exhaustion from her eyes. "Where are we," she asked, strapping her bag to her back.
"My place."
"And the road..." she looked over her shoulder.
"Not a good idea to hitch here, wasn't a good idea for you to hitch where I picked you up either."
"I didn't know."
"Come on inside, you can stay for tonight. Then I'll drive you to the next town in the morning," his tone was gruff, but it held no irritation of opening his home to them.
"Thank you."
"Best get inside before we're drenched," the man turned and walked to the house.
Inside, the girls stuck to Jean, waiting for her to tell them what to do. "Sit, it's fine," she replied over her shoulder, dropping her own bag. Jean wandered into the kitchen, getting a curious look from the man.
"Don't have much, it's just me and my nephew here."
"You run this place by yourselves?"
"Don't need many," he shook his head.
"Do you mind? I could put something together. I owe you for the ride and a place to stay."
"Good luck," he reached into the fridge and pulled out a beer.
Jean searched the cupboards and fridge, finding more than enough food for ten people six months down the road. "This is not much," she asked with a hint of a smile.
"None of that junk that you kids eat," he sat at the dinner table with a tired groan.
Jean bit into an apple, wiping the juice from her chin. "We aren't picky eaters."
A fresh chicken went into the oven first. Then, she retrieved a large pot from under the sink and began cutting up vegetables, adding stock and herbs to the mix. And just because she couldn't help herself, she started a pot of macaroni and cheese, a staple food of Xavier's Mansion.
"What's your name," he asked after watching her check the pot.
"Ford, yours?"
"Hank Macarthur. Everyone calls me Mac."
"Well Mac, dinner will be done in an hour."
"Want something to drink," he picked up his beer.
"I'll get it," she took out a glass and filled it with water. "Why isn't it a good idea to hitch here?"
"The Meyers. If they steal livestock form me, I'd hate to think what they'd do to you three alone on the road." A chill went down her spine, thinking of what could have happened.

Jean set plates next to the counter, and felt three pairs of eyes on her back. Even Mac, who was the type to be uninterested with everything, looked eager as the girls did.
"Yes it's ready." She stepped aside as they filled their plates, getting to the table when a good portion of each plate was already clear.
"Uncle Mac!"
"In here, kid."
A handsome man in his late twenties came into the room well soaked from the storm.
"You have guests," he asked with an incredulous grin.
"They were hitchin' out on the highway."
"Good thing you got to 'em before the Meyers did. Is that macaroni and cheese?"
"I made plenty," Jean smiled.
"Thanks."

The next morning, Jean was up early making breakfast.
"Coffee just got finished," she spoke over her shoulder.
"Ford, I was thinkin'. You and your sisters should stay."
"What?"
"It would be better if I knew you were here safe," he sipped his coffee and nodded approvingly.
"That's very kind, but you don't have to do that."
"You don't have a job. Justin and I will teach you everything. Free room and board."
"When do we start?"