REBECCA ELSWICK

      No Stopping Her

      Rebecca D. Elswick is the daughter and grand-daughter of coal miners. She is the director of the Writing Center at the Appalachian School of Law and a consultant for the Appalachian Writing Project at the University of Virginia’s college at Wise. Rebecca’s work has appeared in many journals and anthologies, such as A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers II, Drafthorse, The Notebook, and Broken Petals. Her short fiction has won many awards, including first place in the Sherwood Anderson Short Story Contest, and she was a finalist for the New Southerner Literary Contest. Publishers Weekly praised her debut novel, Mama’s Shoes, as “an intricate and beautiful landscape…a well-tuned and complex work.”

      First published by GemmaMedia in 2015.

      GemmaMedia

       230 Commercial Street

       Boston MA 02109 USA

       www.gemmamedia.com

      ©2015 by Rebecca Elswick

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in

      any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher,

      except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or

      reviews.

      Printed in the United States of America

      ISBN:978-1-936846-51-1

       eISBN:978-1-936846-52-8

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Names: Elswick, Rebecca D.

       Title: No stopping her / Rebecca D. Elswick.

       Description: Boston MA : GemmaMedia, 2015.

       Identifiers: LCCN 2015035224 | ISBN 9781936846511 (softcover)

       Subjects: LCSH: Families--Appalachian Region--Fiction. | English

       language--Textbooks for foreign speakers. | Readers (Adult) | Domestic

       fiction.

       Classification: LCC PS3605.L79 N6 2015 | DDC 813/.6--dc23 LC

      record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015035224

      Cover by Laura Shaw Design

      Inspired by the Irish series designed for new readers, Gemma’s Open Doors provide fresh stories, new ideas, and essential resources for young people and adults as they embrace the power of reading and the written word.

      Brian Bouldrey

      North American Series Editor

       For Hugh, the love of my life

      CHAPTER 1

      The word avarice floated from the chalkboard, swirled around the room, and became trapped in the dust motes dancing in the sunlight. Brittany Myerson sat with her head propped up by her right hand, pretending to pay attention. Her long blond hair hung next to her chin, hiding her face from the rest of the English class. She was trying to stay awake, she really was, but the teacher’s voice sounded like it was coming from far away when it asked, “Can someone give me a definition?”

      “Avarice means greed,” Mason answered.

      “Correct.”

      “Wanting what someone else has like, ah, his car,” added Lance.

      “Excellent.”

       Like his car.

      The sting of those three words snapped Brittany awake. She knew Lance was throwing that comment at her. She stole a look at him and there it was—that hateful smirk. And then the big jerk winked at her!

       Like his car.

      Brittany sat up straight and looked at the teacher at the front of the room. She didn’t have to turn around to see the sneers on the faces of her classmates. They felt like darts being thrown at her back, each one striking the bull’s-eye. Brittany felt heat creep up her neck and flood her face. She stared at the clock, willing the class to be over. This was her last class of the day, and she couldn’t wait to get out of there.

      When the bell rang, Brittany escaped into the crowded hallway. It was the start of spring break, so she knew everyone would be in a hurry to leave. The hallway cleared fast, making it easy to hang around her locker and wait for the parking lot to empty. After Lance’s little stunt, she couldn’t deal with the looks and whispers from the drivers in the student parking lot. Besides, she was in no hurry. Facing a week at home made her stomach hurt.

      Brittany slammed her locker door shut and looked around for her best friend, Annie. She had hoped Annie had gotten over their argument and decided to ride home with her, but the empty hallway told her that Annie was still mad. Her hateful words rang in Brittany’s ears. Spoiled! Selfish! She couldn’t believe her best friend had called her spoiled and selfish! Annie was supposed to be on her side, but she had gotten mad just because Brittany complained about the crappy car her father had bought for her. Her face flamed remembering Annie’s words: “So what if it’s not the one you want! At least you have a car!”

       Not the one I wanted! Oh, no, it’s worse than that! Daddy knew I wanted a new VW Bug like the one Lance has, and what did he do?

      Hot, angry tears blurred Brittany’s vision as she marched out to the parking lot. Her hand shook as she unlocked the door of her used car. It was the ugliest color of yellow she had ever seen in her whole life, and even though it had been cleaned inside and out, the dull gray interior always looked dirty. She had thought, even dreamed, about smashing it into a wall. Then he would be sorry!

      Brittany tried to pinpoint when her father had begun to change. He had always promised he would buy her a car. For months before she got her driver’s license, they had sat together and looked at Volkswagens on the Internet, and not once did he say, “You’re not getting a VW Bug.” They had discussed convertibles versus sunroofs, leather seats or plush, automatic or manual transmission, and, of course, the color. Black was the only choice, as far as Brittany was concerned. Then last month, Lance Cooper got a new VW Bug for his birthday—a red convertible with black leather seats and tons of extras. He had taken her for a ride and let her babble on about when she would get hers. She had even promised to take him for a ride when she got her new Bug. Brittany felt her face burn with shame just thinking about it.

      CHAPTER 2

      When Brittany got to the parking lot, it was vacant except for her ugly yellow piece of junk. She unlocked it and slid inside. Her hands clenched the steering wheel. When had it happened? And why had her father changed his mind? She struggled to fit all the pieces together. She remembered her excitement the day she had gotten her driver’s license, and how strangely her father had acted. He didn’t seem the least bit happy for her, and when she asked if he was going to buy her a car, he had said, “Yes, and if you are old enough to drive, then you are old enough to respect my judgment.” Brittany remembered thinking that it was a strange thing to say, but now his words made sense.

      Brittany balled her hands into fists and banged them on the steering wheel. She couldn’t believe she had been so clueless! Her father was always spouting out what he called his “words of wisdom.” The day she got her license, she had thought he was just doing it again. She remembered smiling at him and saying her usual, “I know, Daddy.” She hadn’t even realized anything was wrong when he said, “Part of growing up is learning what is important in life. Things that are earned build character.”