Chapter 1
CHAPTER 1
CALLIOPE
NINE MONTHS EARLIER
This is the perfect way to end up on a crime documentary, meeting a stranger at a cabin in the woods. It’s not the first time the thought has occurred to me on the long drive down here.
Sunwood, Kentucky—population eighteen thousand—looks similar to the other small towns I’ve driven through. Bigger than some but not large enough to be a city. If there’s more than one high school in town, I’d be surprised. It’s not what I’m used to or how I grew up, but if there’s one thing I am, it’s adaptable.
A few restaurants and stores give way to rows of houses. Lawns stretch out between them, pushing them farther apart until the fields take over. Not being accustomed to rural areas, I’m worried I may miss my turn, but Old Church Road is clearly marked. Two signs stand at the corner, one bright green that bears the street name, and one hardly legible under rust which reads Dead End .
About a half mile down the road, the forest creeps up to the shoulders, broken only by an occasional driveway. With no streetlights in sight, I’m glad I showed up in the daylight. The road is paved, but barely wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other, and it has more twists than a crazy straw.
Two small mailboxes mark the edge of a gravel driveway, one bearing my new address. The trees thin out on either side as I drive down it, then open to a clearing. A moment later, the cabin comes into view on my left, and it looks exactly like the pictures. It fits right in among the forest with its dark green roof and wooden siding. To my right, a bit farther along and across the gravel drive sits a modern farmhouse.
A blue pickup truck is parked in front of the cabin, and a woman leans against it, giving me a wave as I step out of my car. “Hi, glad you found the place okay. I’m Silver.”
“Calli, nice to meet you.”
“It’s a shared driveway with the neighbor,” Silver announces when she notices me staring that direction.
It’s not the house or driveway I’m looking at but the area behind it. “Are those tombstones?” I ask, squinting against the sun.
“Ah, yeah. There used to be a church here that burned down years ago. The graveyard was part of it.” She flashes a sheepish smile in my direction. This is probably why I had no competition to rent this place.
The ground is soft under my feet as I follow her to the door. The scent of fresh cut grass hangs in the thick air, with only the slightest breeze to accompany it. The inside of the cabin is cozy and I’m happy to see a fireplace. The generous living room tapers down to a dining area that’s more of an alcove. A doorway to the left leads to a small kitchen with dark wooden cabinets and black appliances.
“The last tenants left some furniture. If you want the place, you can keep it, or I can have it removed. Up to you,” Silver explains while I explore.
Considering I’m moving with almost nothing, it’s definitely a bonus. The grayish green couch and loveseat look and smell clean. They also left a small dining table with chairs, and a coffee table. The only furniture I’ll need to get right away is a bed.
“What do you think?” she asks, leaning against the kitchen doorway.
A cabin in the woods, not visible from the road which dead ends at a graveyard. With only one neighbor in sight but still a good distance away.
I wanted a peaceful place to start over and get away from everything. “It’s perfect.”
Once I’ve signed the lease and paid the rent, we walk back outside. “If you have any problems or questions, you have my number. You can also find me at Lucky’s Diner and Donuts most days. My mom owns the place.”
My mom is in a white cardboard cylinder tucked between a couple of boxes in my backseat.
Our heads turn when a black pickup truck pulls into the shared driveway. The driver raises a hand to wave when they pass my cabin, and we both reciprocate, but the passenger doesn’t look our direction.
“Do you know the neighbors?”
“Neighbor,” she corrects. “His name is Arlow—the one getting out of the passenger side.” She nods across the driveway. “He lives alone as far as I know.”
I can’t make out any of his features, but I’m struck by his height as he closes the door and starts toward his house. He must stand over six and a half feet tall.
“I don’t know him personally. The last tenants said he keeps to himself. They lived here for two years and never met him. He comes to the diner occasionally to pick up an order, but he isn’t the type to sit and chat, I suppose. Maybe because he draws some stares.”
“Because he’s so tall?”
“And he appears to have some kind of skin condition on his face. People can be such assholes,” she says, shaking her head. “Anyway, he owns a good chunk of the land behind his place along with everything west of the driveway to the end of the street.”
“He owns the graveyard, then?”
“Yeah, and past it, actually. I know because Mom was looking at buying that property too since it was adjacent to this one, but he beat her to it.”
“How far back does this property go?” I ask.
She nods towards the forest behind the cabin. “If you follow the path into the woods, you’ll find a creek, then a field that was previously used for crops. Mom hires a guy to mow back there a few times per summer so if you hear a motor, it may be him. Keep going and there’s a tiny patch of woods that runs along the edge of a cliff. You don’t want to be out there at night. It’s a sheer drop to a rocky ravine that’s hard to see, even in the moonlight.” She raises her arm to point in the opposite direction of the farmhouse. “If you go to the east through the forest, you’ll hit a wire fence that separates it from the adjacent property owned by the Daltons. No one lives on it anymore.”
We chat for another few minutes before the truck descends the driveway from Arlow’s place, minus the passenger. After he passes and turns back out onto the road, Silver heads for her truck. “Welcome to Sunwood. Stop in the diner sometime. We serve breakfast and dinner all day.”
“I’ll do that. Thank you.”
Once the sound of her motor has faded away, I take a deep breath and just stand there for a moment. It’s so peaceful, if not exactly quiet. The wind makes a soft whooshing sound through the trees, rattling the leaves. Birds sing back and forth. A big bug buzzes past me. After living my life in cities, this is going to be an adjustment, but I think I’m going to enjoy it.
Most small town businesses close early and there’s shopping to be done, so I waste no time unloading my car. It doesn’t take long. Boxes and bags are all I have. And the container of my mother’s ashes. During the drive, I couldn’t resist peeking back at it a few times. It’s such a comfort to see.
One thing I’m going to like about living here is how efficiently errands can be accomplished. I manage to shop for furniture, get my internet turned on, buy groceries, and stop at a fast food restaurant to pick up dinner before dark.
When I return to the cabin, the sun is starting its descent, stretching the trees’ shadows across the ground. It’s so quiet. A few bats swoop and dive overhead, feasting on bugs. As I turn to go inside for the night, movement catches my eye from the neighbor’s place.
A tall figure walks away from the house. He pauses for a moment, looking up at the sky, then continues without hesitation, winding his way between the headstones. Why is he going into the graveyard at night?
It’s eerie. Unnerving. Goosebumps rise on my arms.
Time to go inside. It’s my first night in a new place. Of course, I’m a little spooked. It’ll be fine.
After dinner, I get my internet working, put on the TV for company, and unpack some bedding, clothes, and bathroom stuff. My last move was much more chaotic, and I got rid of a lot of my possessions. Once the couch is made up with my pillows and a blanket, and I’m freshly showered, I can’t resist stepping outside before bed despite my earlier nervousness.
My breath catches at the sight of the sky. A solid inky expanse, painted with so many stars, it seems impossible it could hold them all. It’s gorgeous.
From this distance, the lighted windows of the farmhouse are visible, but the graveyard has faded into the night. The forest draws a dark boundary around our homes, where the pale moonlight can’t penetrate the canopy.
It’s not scary as I feared.
It’s peaceful. It’s perfect.
One of my first priorities is to find some things to do that will get me out of the house and make me socialize. I’m not going to spend any more time closing myself away like I did for the last two years. It was a nice break after years of working multiple jobs and being surrounded by people—a needed break—but it gets too comfortable. Anxiety I can manage. I don’t want to end up agoraphobic.
Instead of making the pasta I had planned, I decide to have dinner at Lucky’s Diner and Donuts. Silver spots me when I enter the diner and take a seat at the counter. “Hey! Is everything alright?”
“It’s great. I really like the place.”
She beams and slides a menu to me. “Nina will get your order when you’re ready.”
“Thank you.” Someone calls for her and she disappears back into the kitchen.
The dinner rush is dying down, but a few tables are full. Others are being cleared and cleaned. The waitress, Nina, puts in my order then goes to sit at one of the tables, talking and laughing with the customers. It’s odd to be in a place where it seems like everyone knows each other. Like being the new kid at school.
It doesn’t feel unfriendly. Lots of looks, smiles, and nods are tossed my way as people leave, and others come in and out to pick up their orders.
The cook shouts to Nina to pick up my food, but Silver walks out and waves her away. “I’ve got her.” She places my plate of chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes down, along with her plate of food, then pulls up a stool to sit across the counter. “Tell me to get lost if you’d rather be left alone, but I thought you could use some company.”
“I’d love some. So, your family owns this place?”
“My mom does. She’s run it for twenty-five years. I grew up in this dining room. She had me waiting tables in kindergarten.” Silver grins, looking behind me.
“Oh, quit your exaggerating!” The faint smell of cigarette smoke reaches me as an older version of Silver takes a seat beside me. “It was second grade.” She turns to scrutinize me. “You’re the new tenant.”
“I am. Calli Barnes.”
“Mona Mills. It’s good to meet you. I know you have Silver’s number, but if you have any issues, you’re welcome to come find me too.”
“Thank you. The cabin is adorable.”
“Isn’t it? I thought so too.” Mona leans her elbow on the counter, propping her chin on it. “When I bought it, I planned to live there.”
“You changed your mind?”
“Yeah, it wasn’t for me.”
Silver snorts and takes a bite of her sandwich. “You bitched about bugs, then spent two nights afraid to walk to your car after dark because you heard coyotes.”
“I am not the damn roadrunner. Living in the woods sounds good, but it turns out I’m a town girl at heart.”
“I’ve never lived in the woods or a small town. Indianapolis isn’t a huge city but it’s a big difference from here,” I explain, digging into my food.
“Culture shock for sure,” Mona agrees. “What brings you here? Do you have friends or family in town?”
“No, I just wanted a change. When I looked at the online ads for rentals, I saw your cabin and decided to go for it.”
Mona nods at Silver. “It’s like I told you when you were talking about moving to Nashville. People always think they want the opposite of where they grow up. City folks want to live in nature, country folks want to try the city.” She lightly slaps the counter as she gets up. “Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. Welcome to town.”
“Thank you.”
She disappears through the swinging kitchen door. “Your mom is nice.”
The words are barely out of my mouth when Mona’s shout echoes through the diner. “Gary, what the hell did I tell you about leaving this stepstool out? I almost tripped over it! Are you trying to send me headfirst into the fryer, you asshole?”
Silver looks over the counter at me as I force down my sip of iced tea, so it doesn’t get sprayed everywhere. “Yeah, she’s a sweetheart.”
While I’m here, Silver would probably be a good person to ask. “Do you know of anywhere that’s hiring for part time work? Or a place to volunteer in town?” A job or a volunteer opportunity will be a good place to start if I’m going to build a new life here.
After pondering it for a moment, she nods. “The community center has a volunteer program. I think it’s mostly roadside clean up and yard work. Gray care is usually looking for people to hang out and spend time with their clients.”
“Gray Care?”
Silver grins, sipping her drink. “It’s actually called Golden Hours Day Center for Seniors. But it’s like a daycare for old folks so it’s gained that nickname.”
“Got to drop the kids off at daycare and dad off at gray care?”
“Exactly. What kind of work are you looking for?”
“Nothing specific. Something to get me out of the house a few days a week that’s not too demanding.”
“Well, the factories are full time only, but the grocery store and fast food restaurants hire part time. Actually.” She pauses and waves to her mother. “Mom, are you still looking for someone to help with the donuts?”
Mona is busy with a customer, but she nods.
“How do you feel about overnight work? We need someone to come in and help make the donuts. We had one employee quit, and another just had a baby so she can’t work as many hours. It’d be from about nine at night until four in the morning. I’m not sure what wage Mom’s offering, but I’ll check if you’re interested.”
“That sounds perfect. I like to bake but I’ve never made donuts.”
Silver flaps her hand, dismissing my concern. “It’s easy. I can teach you in a couple of shifts.”
We talk for a few more minutes and finish eating. Silver is easy to talk to, funny and a bit of a smartass. I like her immediately. Once the place clears out a little, Mona joins us again.
“You’re interested in the night job?”
“I am. For part time.”
“Can you follow directions?”
“Yes.”
“Can you fill in occasionally if our other girl calls in?”
“Sure. Any night, really.”
“Fifteen dollars an hour work for you?”
It’s more than I expected her to offer, to be honest, and the money isn’t important. “That sounds fine.”
“Great, we’ll try you out for a couple of weeks and see if it works out. I’ll have your tax paperwork for you when you start.” She regards Silver. “What night do you want to start training her?”
“Tomorrow?” Silver suggests, looking at me.
This has to be the easiest, fastest job search of my life. “I’ll be here.”
It’s nearly dark when I leave Lucky’s. With a stomach full of delicious food and a new job, I’m feeling good. I’ve accomplished a lot in the last couple of days.
The heat of the day fades into a muggy night, and I pull my hair up into a ponytail to get it off my sticky neck, then sit out on my porch to watch the light recede. Cicadas scream from the trees, overpowering the crickets that try their best to outdo them.
It’s strange how such a cacophony can somehow seem peaceful. The last of the glow has dissipated from the sky when a light draws my attention to the neighbor’s barn as the door opens. A moment later, the light goes out and Arlow walks between the barn and his house, disappearing into the graveyard.
Again? Silver said he keeps to himself and that the last tenants never even met him, so I doubt I have to worry, but why does he hang out in a graveyard at night? It’s so creepy.
My second night in the cabin is better than the first, mainly because I have a nice new bed to crawl into thanks to today’s delivery. With one of my favorite albums playing, I sink into my pillows. In a blink, night turns into day, and I’m squinting at the beam of sunlight sneaking in between my curtains.
Despite my good night’s sleep, I wake with a familiar rattly feeling, like electricity is coursing through me. It puts me on edge, but I’m not going to let it ruin my plans for today. I’m too eager to explore. Silver mentioned a creek. Undeterred by the heat, I fill my water bottle with ice water and set out to find it.
The trail through the woods isn’t hard to locate, but it clearly hasn’t seen many feet recently, judging by the overgrowth along the edges. Grass has started to crawl over the narrow dirt path. I take out my phone and check what direction my cabin is in on the compass just in case I lose the path or get turned around.
Stepping into the forest feels like entering another world. The temperature drops in the shade of the fragrant trees, cooling the sweat on my skin. The soft rustling of leaves is accompanied by the musical rise and fall of bird songs. My earbuds sit in my pocket, but there’s no desire to put them in as I’d planned. Instead, I soak in the murmur of the forest. My steps are languorous, allowing me time to take in my beautiful surroundings.
Not too far in, another trail splits off to the right. Pausing, I look around, ultimately deciding to keep heading straight. I’ll see where that branch leads another time. The forest is getting a little dimmer, taking on a hazy look. By the time I reach the creek that pushes the trees back from its borders, the sun has disappeared behind rolling clouds.
The creek is bigger than I expected, maybe twelve feet across. The water is unbelievably clear, and the sound it makes as it flows downstream is wonderful. After dipping my fingers in to feel how cool it is, I walk alongside it, just listening to its gurgly song.
It meanders, growing wide and shallow in some spots and more narrow and deeper in others. I’m not sure how long I’ve been walking, lost in my thoughts when I look up to see a small wooden footbridge.
What did Silver say was on the other side of the creek? An empty crop field, I think, and some more forest before the drop off she warned me about. The soft thunk of my footsteps on the thick wooden planks frightens off a few birds from a nearby bush, startling me for a second and making me laugh at myself.
My fear that I’d be afraid in the woods is unfounded. From the second I walked onto the trail, my anxiety began to dissipate. I’m more relaxed than I’ve been in a long time.
It’s not an empty field that I find on the other side, but an overgrown copse of trees. A sweet smell wafts over, and I realize what it is before I get close enough to see the branches hanging low with fruit. A peach orchard. Or maybe it’s considered a grove with so few trees.
Long wild grass grows underfoot, and I’m careful to watch for snakes while approaching one of the trees. A few peaches decorate the ground as well, most being devoured by ants. What a waste. Peaches are delicious and they don’t get any fresher than this. A ripe peach comes easily off the branch when I pluck it.
My plan to walk back to the cliff can wait until my next walk. It’s so warm and muggy. Suddenly, sticking my feet in that cool creek and enjoying the peach sounds like the best thing in the world.