“Okay. But why are you so sure it’s a message, Mr. Healey?”

“Why else would anyone drag that injured animal to our wall? Think about it, Ms. Metcalfe.”

Then he turned and walked back into his stockade, leaving her to wonder how she could be so wrong. Or maybe so right?

Maybe someone had a grudge against someone inside that stockade. Maybe the people inside had drawn danger to Cash Creek Canyon.

She turned to recross the stepping stones and tried not to think of someone stalking these woods seeking vengeance.

She looked around as she reached her cabin and shivered, as if the day had suddenly turned colder. The first splatters of icy rain hit her face.

The woods no longer seemed as friendly.