Goddamn Mother F***er!

Before we have time to restrategize, a loud burst is heard and a moment later the deflating howl of a back tire causes each of our hearts to race at lightening speed.

"What the hell was that?" yells Mildred as she pedals the gas and swerves quickly to the left. 

Another shot is heard, but this one ricochets off of the side view mirror on Annie's side.

"Goddamn Mother Fucker," Annie says as she hoists the double barrel up to her shoulder.  She lowers the window as much as she needs to, before shooting two shots towards the dark woods that are now attacking us.

Another shot is fired towards us, this time narrowly missing the back windshield.  Mildred tries to avoid  a clear shot by swerving as we make our way back down the lane way as fast as our deflated tire will allow. 

Luck is on our side.  Since the road is dirt, we are able to ride on the hubcap -- for now.

"Faster!" screams Annie as she climbs over the passenger seat towards the back and re-aims her shotgun out of one of the back windows. 

For now, the shots have ceased.

We manage to reach the road, but the strain on the axle is evident -- and so, we are forced to stop.  Now a mile or so away from the shooter, we have minutes to change the tire. 

Annie gets out of the car and aims her gun straight towards the darkness.  I quickly scurry toward the deflated tire to hold the flashlight while Mildred does her best to hoist the jack.  I'm trembling.  I can see the light from the flashlight shaking in epileptic fashion.

Mildred moves with record precision, and in what seems like seconds, the flat tire is off.  A moment later the spare is hoisted on, and Mildred's arm becomes one with the wrench as she frantically whirls each bolt back into place. 

My heart is pounding so hard, I barely hear Annie telling me to get back in the car.

But I do. 

As I duck my head and dive into the backseat, a shot is fired.  It whizzes past where my head was an instant ago.

Mildred fidgets with a rusty bolt, before sliding into the front seat.

Another shot is fired.

Annie fires back.

"Get your ass in the car!" Mildred screams.

Tears are now forming as I watch Annie race backwards towards the open car door.  Mildred has the car rolling, forcing Annie to quicken her pace. 

Another shot is fired.  This one bounces off the back bumper --

A second later, in the moonlit haze, we see our attacker.  Without hesitating Annie stops in her tracks and takes aim.

He falls.

Mildred increases the pressure on the gas pedal, Annie turns and gallops into the car. 

For now, we are safe. 

I stare out the back windshield towards the fire and watch until I can no longer see it. 

For the next hour we drive, in silence;  processing what just happened and hoping that we will find shelter.

Sunrise is only a few hours away.