When cross stitching, how do you move from one area to another without letting the yarn get loose?

I am starting my first project and I am sewing a line. I just did the stem stitch on a line. Now I need to skip an area and continue the line. Do I have to hide the yarn somehow so it stays attached in the back? I feel like if I just skip the 2 inches, the yarn will catch onto stuff or pull the other stitches the wrong way. How do I go about moving onto the rest of the line without it getting messed up over time?