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I was about to fall asleep, or maybe I was already in that weird half-awake, half-asleep state. Either way, it’s not safe for me to drive any farther tonight.

“Damn,” I whisper, rolling down the window. The cold air smacks me in the face, and I finally feel more awake. Once that hand is back on the wheel, I reach over and pat Echo with the other. “You just saved both our lives.”

I’m normally not so irresponsible.

I never drive at night, let alone when I’m mentally and physically exhausted. This one time, I didn’t have a choice, but we’ve been on the road for over five hours.

I need to find somewhere to rest and recharge. I’m sure Echo is thirsty and wants a pee break. I brought her travel food bowls and her normal ones, but the big set is in the trunk.

I’m really hoping that I can avoid springing for a hotel room.

If the storm gets too bad, I might not have a choice. I want to at least give it a try, though. I’ve watched a lot of social media videos about how solo female travelers stay safe in their cars, vans, or RVs.

I think I can manage it.

I just wasn’t expecting to have Echo with me. She adds to the safety factor, but she’s going to be expensive to feed. Not to mention, I bet most hotels aren’t pet-friendly.

Still, I’m grateful I brought her.

Not only did she save my ass just now, but I also wouldn’t have been able to stand the guilt of wondering how Tommy would have treated her. With me being gone, she would have been the only living being around for him to focus on.

My eyes are bleary, and even the frigid air hasn’t managed to wake me up enough that I feel like I’m safe to drive.

A sign for an exit a mile ahead thankfully pops up. It’s probably going to be pretty miserable sleeping in my car, but with how worn out I am, I don’t think it’ll be a problem.

* * *

The exit might have only been a mile ahead, but it took an extra twenty-five or thirty minutes to locate the town mentioned on the signs. While I normally would have turned around and headed back to the interstate, there was nowhere to do so. No gas stations, restaurants, or other businesses.

It’s actually rather eerie.

It’s my fault for not paying closer attention.

I drive along several of what I assume are the main roads and finally pass two separate hotels that say no vacancy. Not that it would make much sense to get a room now. It’ll be daylight in a couple of short hours, and while I have some money saved up, I’m not in a position to rent a room just to have to check out in five or six hours. Maybe less than that.

I don’t know.

My brain is fried.

The road has changed from what seemed like a main highway down to a smaller street that runs through town.

The first signs of life are a handful of cars in a parking lot that has a few businesses in a strip farther from the road.

There are also two shops spread out from each other, closer to the road.

I pull in, circling the restaurant, at least that’s what I assume it is, based on sight.

I squint as I read the sign.

Maxwell’s.

Yeah, that has to be a bar or a restaurant or some combination of the two.

I might be able to get away with parking here.

I’m sure sometimes people aren’t in a state to drive, so they leave their cars overnight. As long as I was gone before they opened, I probably wouldn’t get in trouble.

It’s probably a good idea to see what else is in the plaza, so I continue on.