After a twenty-minute drive of steep switchbacks, Jacob downshifted the Jeep as he rumbled off the road onto an unmarked path.
“So you never said where we are going,” Gabriel said, still feeling trepidation. He was trying to read Jacob, but his normally calm demeanor was intense and concerned.
Jacob didn’t take his eyes off the road, but he frowned. “I’m not totally sure. I saw a truck turn off here a few weeks ago. I’ve never seen anything or anyone coming in or out of here before, and what you said just got me thinking.”
They wound through the trees on the uneven path and to the precipice of a steep and rocky descent. Jacob stopped the Jeep abruptly and pulled the parking break. He stepped out and locked the wheel hubs, then jumped back in and jammed the shifter of the old CJ-7 into four-wheel drive.
They actually leaned back in their seats, the path was so steep. The Jeep rocked back and forth as it traversed the rocks and potholes like a mountain mule. After about two hundred yards, the path leveled and turned to the right. As they made the turn, Gabriel saw a small, rustic cabin.
“Somebody lives down here?” Gabriel noticed smoke coming from the other side of the cabin.
A frown still creased Jacob’s forehead. “Looks like it.”
The sun was beaming, not a cloud in the sky, but the forest was so dense here it felt like the evening twilight.
A couple of old, faded green kayaks were lying in some overgrown brush at the base of some large firs next to the cabin. The red tin roof had pine needles, moss, and twigs strewn about on it. The small front deck had a lone rocking chair with a couple of kayak paddles leaned up against it.
As Gabriel and Jacob got out of the Jeep, a few tiny chipmunks scampered out of a stack of two old truck tires lying to the right. Gabriel heard the rushing of the white water that was close but out of sight. The two men walked up onto the small wooden porch. Jacob dropped his sunglasses around his neck and banged on the door hard.
No answer.
“Anyone home?” Jacob called.
Still nothing.
Jacob seemed troubled, as if he knew something about this, but Gabriel didn’t feel like he could ask any questions yet.
Jacob started to walk around back. Gabriel cupped his hands and took a peek in the dirty window. He could barely make out a small wooden dining table with a couple of chairs. A couple of books lay on the table next to what looked to be a leather-covered flask of some sort. He couldn’t see much else. He followed Jacob around to the back. There he saw a fifty-five gallon, rusted-out barrel still smoldering and spitting smoke from some debris that was burning.
Some old tools lay up against the back of the house: a pickaxe, a shovel, and a wood splitting maul.
Jacob rattled the back door. It was open. He stuck just his head inside.
“Hello?”
Still no response.
“I’ll be right back.” Jacob eased himself inside, but Gabriel couldn’t do it. This place just didn’t feel right to him.
After a few seconds that seemed like hours, Jacob returned from checking out the one-room cabin.
“No one here. Let’s go.”
Jacob pulled the door closed and led the way. As soon as Jacob made the turn around the corner, Gabriel heard another voice.
“What are you doing here?” The slurred growl was venomous. Gabriel turned just in time to see a tall, wiry man with a shaggy beard charge at Jacob in a full sprint. Jacob quickly stepped to the side, deflected the blow, and the man fell hard into the dirt.
“Easy, man, easy.” Jacob held up his hands toward the man.
Gabriel wasn’t sure what to do. The two men stared at each other, circling like wrestlers in a ring.
The tall, wiry, drunken man wiped his mouth. His faded denim shirt, torn jeans, and boots were covered in mud, and it looked like he hadn’t slept for days.
“Why can’t you leave me be?” he slurred angrily.
Gabriel watched, shocked, Jacob’s face paled, and his mouth dropped open.
“Billy? Is . . . is that you?” Jacob squinted as he stared.
The man waved wildly at them. “Get off my property!”
“I thought you were dead!” Jacob shook his head. “Where have you been?”
Suddenly, the man seemed calmer. “Billy? Billy? Oh, he’s dead . . . he’s been dead for years.”
Jacob looked confused. “How did he die, then?”
“Who’s the pretty boy with you?” The drunk ignored Jacob’s question and pointed at Gabriel. “What are you doing here?” he yelled, but Gabriel stayed quiet.
The man pulled a large hunting knife out of his boot and pointed it straight at Jacob. His veins in his neck pulsed as his face burned red with anger.
“I’m done talking!”
“Okay. Okay.” Jacob held up his hands again and then motioned to Gabriel.
The two men backed up toward their Jeep.
The man kept the knife pointed at them, but it shook as he tried to keep it straight.
“Another time, Billy; it’s okay.”
Jacob and Gabriel got in the Jeep. They didn’t speak as they made the rocky descent back out onto the main road.
Jacob slammed his hand on the steering wheel. He was mumbling under his breath.
“Who was that guy?” Gabriel finally asked.
Jacob stared ahead as he drove. His demeanor looked shaken. “I . . . I haven’t seen him in a long time. I thought he was dead.” Jacob pushed his right hand through his salt-and-pepper curly hair. “I tried to find him for years. He’s going to kill himself if he doesn’t stop.”
Gabriel puzzled over this information. “Have you known him long?”
Tears welled up in Jacob’s eyes. “All my life.”
Gabriel felt a shock like electricity run through his body. “You are related?”
Jacob nodded. “That’s . . . that’s my little brother.” He took a breath and paused, seeming hesitant. “He disappeared after . . . He’s had a rough time, a really rough time . . . more than his share of tragedy. I know everyone has some suffering, some tragedy in life . . . but for some, it seems to overwhelm and get the best of them. God, he looked terrible.”
Gabriel didn’t know what to say. His bushy blond hair blew in the wind as he processed what he saw and heard.
“Are you going to try again?” Gabriel looked over at Jacob.
Jacob took a shaky breath. “I have to. Unfortunately, there’s a lot more to this story that I can’t talk about right now. Hopefully Billy will come home. I want him to come home. There is life after mistakes. Everyone has a past. But everyone has to choose. He has to choose life.” Jacob gripped the steering wheel with both hands. “I hope he chooses life.”
Jacob dropped Gabriel off at the lodge and drove away, saying he needed some time to think.
Gabriel paused on the porch, running his fingers through his hair. He felt overwhelmed by what had happened during the last twenty-four hours. Surely he was due for a break by now.
He glanced in the lodge window before he opened the door, and what he saw made his heart stop—Tabitha, a steaming mug in both hands, gazing up at Samuel, his hand in her hair.
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. What is going on? He threw open the lodge door, making Tabitha and Samuel both jump.
Tabitha stood up from her chair, smiling awkwardly. “Oh, Gabriel! Hi! How did it go?”
Gabriel ignored her question.
Tabitha put her mug down and walked toward him. “Whatever you think is going on, isn’t. I had a leaf in my hair, and Samuel was getting it out.”
Samuel stomped toward the door, slamming it behind him.
Gabriel didn’t know what to think.
Tabitha pulled him into her arms, but he didn’t return her embrace.
“Gabriel, listen to me. There is some history with Samuel. We are just friends. Honest. Samuel wanted more, but I didn’t. I see him like an older brother. Which is definitely not how I see you.” She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair, and Gabriel felt his anger softening.
“Join me for some tea?” she asked.
A few moments later, they were both settled on the couch, sipping tea.
“So, tell me how this morning was with the sheriff,” Tabitha said.
As Gabriel filled her in, her eyes widened with shock. A few moments passed.
“I can’t help it. I just keep wondering what happened. Why here?” Tabitha’s tone escalated. “Who could’ve done such a thing? I wonder how long ago it happened.”
Gabriel didn’t have an answer for her.
Tabitha eventually continued, “It’s interesting that we ended up here at The River. I could have grown up in Chicago or Georgia or somewhere. Colorado is all I’ve really known. Sometimes I wonder . . . I don’t know . . . if there’s more out there. I wonder what I’m missing.” Before Gabriel could respond, she kept going. “You didn’t hear me say that . . . Dad would lose it.”
He paused for a moment. “I’ve often wondered the same thing, how we all ended up here. And I don’t know what life would have had for you in Georgia, but I can say this with absolute certainty: I don’t want you to be anywhere but here.”
She smiled and laid her head down on his shoulder. “I know you’ve had a lot of loss in your life, Gabriel, but I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me. Never worry about that.”