The right front wheel dropped with a sound like a cupboard falling down stairs.
Mara struck the dash with her shoulder. The vehicle pitched, stopped, and pitched again. Gravel ran past the open crack of her window. Somewhere beneath them, water roared.
Gideon took his foot off the accelerator.
“Don’t move.”
Tessa was already turning in her seat, looking through the back window. The road behind remained level. Ahead, the pale crown of the culvert had split across its width. One half had sunk toward the ditch, taking the gravel bed with it.
Mara could see the opposite bank. It was close enough to make her think she could step onto it. That was the dangerous thing about it. A gap too wide to cross would have frightened her more honestly.
Gideon put the transmission in reverse. The vehicle shuddered and tilted farther.
“Stop,” Tessa said.
