“What’s wrong?”
After a moment, he shifted his attention to her. “I was thinking about a story Natalie told me, from while she was growing up here. You know part of this land belonged to her family from way back, right?”
“I thought all of this land had always been in her family.”
“No. Only the four acres in the vicinity of the house. After her father moved back here, he bought surrounding properties to create a large estate. But there was a lot of resentment from the locals because he returned a wealthy man, thanks to an inheritance from his wife. Everyone else here was struggling and dirt poor. They didn’t want to sell their property, but they needed money, and he made them offers they couldn’t refuse.”
Interesting as that information was, it would have been more appropriate to hear it from Natalie rather than Steven. Her hostess might prefer to keep that sort of background to herself.
Best to get the conversation back on track.
“So what’s the story Natalie told you about the cave?”
“She said there were always rumors it was haunted. Thanks to Marie, I suppose. None of the local people would come anywhere close to it. That makes venturing inside even less appealing.”
“I’m with you. Not that I believe in hauntings, but dark, closed-in spaces give me the creeps.”
Yet if a haunting were to happen on the property, this would be the place. They had to be standing in the vicinity of thespot where Natalie’s aunt had landed after plunging to her death from the cliff above.
A shiver rippled through her.
“They give me the creeps too. Let’s continue on to the lake.”
“You don’t have to ask twice.” She started back down the trail.
Once they returned to the main path, he moved beside her again. “You’ll see Micah’s cabin on the left, in the woods, as we approach the lake. The vegetable garden in the sunny patch in front provides his produce. The rest of his food comes from hunting, trapping, and fishing. And he keeps chickens for eggs. He also has an apple and a peach tree.”
“You mean he lives off the land?”
“More or less.”
“Doesn’t he ever go into town?”
“Not if he can help it. But he does have a motorbike for necessary trips. There he is now.” Steven inclined his head toward the lake just as Cara caught a glimpse of the cabin and vegetable garden.
She redirected her attention to the water as they continued walking.
Micah sat in a small rowboat, fishing pole in hand, a deer tucked among the trees on the bank beside him. If he saw them, he gave no indication of it—even when Steven lifted a hand in greeting.
“Not the friendliest guy, that’s for sure.” She skirted a small branch. “I wonder what he was like before his injuries and the PTSD?”
“I have no idea. Maybe he was always a loner.”
“Do you know if anyone ever tried to get him psychological help?”
“If they did, it didn’t take. And after all the years he’s been here, I doubt he’d be willing to revisit that. The niche he’s created appears to suit him.”
Cara peeked through the trees toward the water as they began to circle the far side of the lake, which was more heavily forested.
Though Micah appeared to be in the exact same position, frozen in place, she had the oddest feeling he was tracking their movements. The deer certainly was, though it stayed on the bank below as they approached.
“He’s definitely a little unsettling.” She picked up her pace.
“I know. He used to spook me big time, until I got used to his odd ways. But I don’t think he’s dangerous. Natalie may be able to give you some insights about him. She knows much more about his history than I do.”
“I may ask her a few questions.”
“And I expect she’ll be happy to answer them. Why don’t we switch to a pleasanter topic? Tell me more about the project you two are working on.”
