Paradox Lake by Vincent Zandri

Author:Vincent Zandri [Zandri, Vincent]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Published: 2021-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 25

BY THE TIME our desert is finished, complete darkness has enveloped Paradox. Some lightning can be seen flashing off the opposite west side of the lake. The thunder rumbles moments later. We both occupy our respective Adirondack chairs, our hands wrapped around our coffee mugs, which are set in our laps, our eyes staring not at the fire but into it.

Shifting my eyes to the Paradox trailhead, I somewhat nervously await the nightly dark figure that always seems to emerge from the woods not long after full dark. This time, I’ll have Tim here to tell me precisely who or what the dark shadow belongs to. If it’s something dangerous or threatening, I guess Tim will have no choice but to shoot it. I’m praying something like that doesn’t happen. How would I explain it to Anna?

“See anything yet, Tim?” I ask.

His eyes are focused on the trailhead.

“Not yet,” he says, his voice lowered to little more than a whisper. “But don’t worry. If it’s out there, I’ll see it.”

“Probably just a deer, right?”

He turns to me, smiles devilishly.

“Or a monster,” he says. “Like a big bad wolf, only worse.”

“Thanks,” I say, reaching out for his hand. “Way to scare me.”

He takes my hand, squeezes it.

“Just having a little fun with you, Rose.”

I’m just about to tell him about the cross I found this morning, when my eyes catch the shadow coming from the trailhead, quickly scooting past the woodpile and disappearing around the side of the house.

“There,” I say, jumping up. “Did you see it?”

Like always, it appears to be an animal on all fours.

He stands. Dumping what’s left of his coffee, he sets the mug onto the picnic table.

“Stay here,” he says, pulling out his gun.

“If you insist,” I say.

He disappears around the side of the house. My heart is pulsing in my neck, precisely because I’m not sure what to expect right now. Is there going to be a scuffle? Man versus animal? Maybe I’ll hear a shot and see a bright muzzle flash. Anna will be scared out of her wits. But that never happens. Instead, Tim returns, walking nonchalantly around the woodpile. His pistol is no longer gripped in his hand, but returned safely to its holster.

Placing both his hands on my shoulders, he purses his lips.

“Just like I expected,” he says. “It’s a deer. Good-sized buck, too. Something to keep in mind come November because me and my thirty-thirty have definitely got our names on it.”

“Deer hunting season?” I ask.

“Do you hunt, Rose?”

I laugh.

“I’m an art professor from Albany,” I say. “I’m supposed to hate guns. But my father and brothers used to hunt.”

“Well, if you’d like to learn,” he says, “I’d be happy to teach you. One buck can provide you with enough venison for a whole year. And it’s delicious.”

“I’ll think about it, Daniel Boone,” I say.

He looks at his watch.

“I really should be getting back,” he says. “Long day tomorrow. But I hope I’ve put your mind at ease.”

“You have, Tim,” I say.

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