Another nod. While I pack the few clothes I’d brought with me, he checks and locks all the windows and both doors. He lets me carry my backpack but takes my suitcase from me. Leaving one lamp on low, he locks the door and pauses on the deck.
“How’s your night vision? Will you be okay just following me? Or do I need to get a flashlight?”
As big as he is I don’t think I could miss him. “I’ll be fine, there’s some moonlight.”
“When the path narrows, stay right behind me. My truck is in the woods but it’s not far.”
His truck blends in as well. If he hadn’t stopped, I might have missed it. No light comes on when he opens the door to stow my bags and the dash lights are so dim when he turns the engine, I doubt they could be seen from outside. Once we’re both buckled in, he drives the path in the woods that crosses in front of Nana’ cabin.
“Aren’t you going to turn the lights on?”
In the little bit of moon light I think he shakes his head.
“Do you have an aversion to light? Does it hurt your eyes or something? I don’t want to cause you pain if I turn too many on when we get to your place.”
“Nah, I’m okay with lights. I’m just use to working in the dark. I’m comfortable.”
“Nana said you use to be in the military. Some kind of special team.”
“Yeah. Still do a lot of work at night.” He pauses. “Does the dark bother you? I could turn them up if you need me to.”
“No, I... just, most people drive with their headlights on.”
“I will when I hit the main road.”
He’s making me a little nervous, but he seems so confident in how he handles the truck I try to sit back and relax. When we hit the main road, he does turn on the lights but goes the opposite direction from town.
Oh god, is he who he says he is? Should I have asked to see ID. Why am I just now thinking of this? “Whe-where are you taking me?”
Glancing over at me, he reaches up and smooths his beard. “Sorry, not use to telling people what my plans are. I don’t want to go to the closest small town where Twila used to hang out. Iwant something bigger where there we’ll be less noticeable. We’ll go to Tauntan. It’s only thirty minutes and more college kids to dilute the populace. There’s a great burger place, and we can get a few more supplies. I’m a meat and potatoes guy and I have a feeling you may have other, more rounded tastes.”
“You mean like vegetables and fruits?”
He chuckles. “I like salads. Then I want to make a couple phone calls. A friend of mine can check to see if there was a report filed on the accident.”
I’ve only been to Tauntan a few times since it’s the opposite direction of where I grew up. I was going to college in Love Beach. I know that Nana came to Tauntan for big shopping days. “Are you from around here?”
“Naw, I work out of an office in Love Beach. A coworker and I share an apartment there. I prefer the mountains to the beach, so when I can get away, I come to the cabin I rent from Twila.”
“She spoke about you and told me you’ve fixed a lot of stuff for her. She left her home and the land to me. She said I could trust you and you’d know how to help me fix things.”
CHAPTER 3
Rake (Silo)
We stop at the burger place first. Her eyes go wide when I order three burgers, two fries and water for me then ask what she wants. I’m a big guy.
Grabbing a booth in the corner, I watch the other patrons as I eat. A state trooper drives by twice, but I suspect it’s for the kids hanging out on the corner. Norah’s barely eaten when I glance her way. Her gaze is troubled.
“What’s wrong,” I ask, pushing my empty tray to the side.
“I—I’m sorry I’m a bother.”
“You aren’t a bother.”
“Then what have I done? You’ve been ignoring me. Or avoiding me.”
“Why would you think that?”
