It’s a cop.

This is the risk she runs hitchhiking.  Not that she’s doing anything wrong.  She’s eighteen and free to do what she wants.

And right now all she wants to go down to the Twin Cities.

It’s one of the white county deputy cruisers.  It turns around and roars its engine, accelerating back towards her.  Then, just when she thinks the car is going to pass on by, it eases over onto the shoulder and whips around behind her.