The stranger finished laying the six bear traps at various points in the long grass and trees surrounding the buildings. It had been a major effort too. In the early morning, he had driven in as far as he could from the south. The radio had said that many of the roads further north were closed because of spreading wildfires. So, he had bought a map at a gas station and found an old road which brought him within a mile or so of the farm. But that still left him with a lot of walking to do. To avoid burning himself out, he brought the traps in two at a time. They were heavy, but carrying one in each arm kept him equally balanced. It had taken over half an hour to make each trip, but he made decent time.
The spring traps were difficult for one person to prize open, but he had eventually managed without losing any fingers. Now they were lying, like lethal open mouths, half hidden between the trees.
Once the traps were all placed, the stranger dropped a can of soda and candy bar in the centre of each of them. That would hopefully attract the kid. But also let him know where they were.
His plan was to enter each building in turn, flush the kid out. He reckoned she would most likely run into the flat wooded area in front of the buildings rather than up the steep slope behind them. She would foolishly think that she had more chance of escape in the woods.