It had been a long drive from Arizona to Texas. Now, her trusty truck was heading toward Dallas, which was supposed to be her final stop. Nina had a love-hate relationship with long trips. She enjoyed seeing new faces, taking in the scenery (both beautiful and not so much). But she hated sitting in one place for too long and the sensory overload that came with a long journey.

The hot day had quickly turned into a rainy evening. Raindrops tapped against the truck’s windows as Nina drove toward Dallas. The wipers were working overtime, the radio played old country songs—everything was as usual. Cars passed by only once every fifteen minutes, which, of course, was annoying. She liked it when there were other people on the road besides her. Especially in such a desolate place.

Then she spotted someone walking along the highway. A girl. Definitely a girl. The rain had soaked her light clothes, making them cling to her frame. Nina frowned. She knew there were people out there who’d love to steal her cargo, but... this was just a girl in the rain, in the middle of nowhere. There was no one around for miles, and the girl looked like a drowned cat, shivering violently in the downpour.

Nina checked the side mirror to make sure no cars were behind her and pulled over next to the girl, gravel crunching under her tires. The cab’s air conditioning fought against the humid Texas air as she rolled down her window, the sound of rain suddenly much louder.

She opened the passenger door and leaned out to get a better look at the poor thing, her own hair getting damp from the spray.

"Hey there, little darlin’, what’s happened? Hop on up in the truck ‘fore ya catch a chill!" Her Oklahoma accent was thick as she yelled over the rain.