Home by Dark by Marta Perry

Author:Marta Perry
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HQN
Published: 2012-10-12T04:00:00+00:00

Benj, Be back soon. Please stay with Mandy until then.

She looked at him, seeming impatient. “Are you ready?”

He’d anticipated that Mandy would be here and sure she wouldn’t either leave the child or take her along. But what harm could come to her in broad daylight with him along?

“All right. Let’s go.” He followed her outside. “I borrowed Jake’s truck, since it has four-wheel drive. The nearest road that goes up there is little more than a log drag.”

Rachel nodded, climbing into the passenger seat before he could offer to get the door. Shrugging, he got behind the wheel and started the truck, not without a few grumbles from the engine.

Rachel sent him a questioning look. “Are you sure this thing will get us there?”

He grinned. “Jake always claims the old girl hasn’t left him stranded yet. Let’s hope this isn’t the first time.” He pulled out of the driveway and turned away from Deer Run on the narrow two-lane blacktop.

“I’d think a lawyer like Jake would drive something a bit sleeker than this,” she said.

“He does. Believe me, his father wouldn’t let him call on clients in this thing. But he holds on to it—a relic of his past and a reminder he’s a country boy at heart.”

“Hunting and fishing and all that?” she said, smiling. “I’ll take your word for it. How do we get up to the barn, even with the four-wheel drive?”

“I have a detailed topographic map of the area in the office,” he said over the rattle of the truck. “It shows a lane running up to what used to be the farm just off Carter Road. There’s actually a better road, but you have to go clear around to the other side of the ridge to access it.”

But the lane, when they reached it, was more than the log drag he’d anticipated. A dirt road wound up through the woods toward the ridge. He turned onto it, the truck bouncing mercilessly. Whatever shocks the vehicle had once had must have been shot.

“I thought you said there wasn’t a road.” Rachel clutched the arm rest, probably trying to keep her teeth from rattling.

“It looks as if someone’s been bringing equipment up through here.” Frowning, he leaned forward. “I’ve heard there’s some logging going on in Scotch Valley. This can’t be an access for the logging trucks, though. They must come up from the other side of the ridge.”

“Maybe it was someone connected with the logging who scared the boys.” She seemed to be talking through clenched teeth.

He grinned. “Not easy going, is it? But the turn-off to the barn is just ahead. I suppose it could have been something to do with that operation, but nobody logs in the dark.”

He turned onto the lane toward the barn, the surface leveling out. In a moment they were through the fringe of woods and into what had once been cleared pasture land.

But not for a long time. The raspberry brambles and sumacs had taken over the pastures first, most likely, followed by a scattering of white pines.

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