| |
Stone moved into the cover of the trees and circled around until he had a clear view of Moss’s cabin. The old man sat on the front porch, but he was no longer rocking in his chair. He leaned forward, hands folded, posture tense. He gazed intently in the direction Stone and his friends had gone.
Finally, the roar of an engine rose above the birdsong as Alex fired up the truck and drove away. Moss visibly relaxed. Moss sat, head craned, listening until the sound of the vehicle faded away. He waited another minute, then stood, descended from the porch, and rounded the cabin.
Stone’s heart raced. Moving silently like a predator stalking its prey, he shadowed Moss and the man left the clearing where his cabin stood and plunged into the depths of the forest.
He followed along for a mile or so, Moss continuing in a straight path as if making a beeline for a specific destination. Finally, he slowed. Stone ducked down and crept closer. Suddenly, Moss turned and stared directly at him. Stone froze. He was certain the man had neither heard nor seen him, but Moss seemed to be staring at something. Finally, he gave a single nod and plunged into a dense stand of low-growing trees.
Wary of a trap, Stone rounded the thicket and worked his way back in, intending to pick up the old man’s trail. He found it with ease, though Moss’s tracks were faint, almost imperceptible. The man moved well in the forest. Stone followed along for a hundred yards as the way suddenly grew steep. The footprints vanished in a narrow, rocky wash where rainwater and snowmelt had eroded the soil. He paused, listening for the sound of movement. Moss couldn’t be too far ahead of him, and Stone’s hearing, sharpened by training in Tibet, was unmatched. He heard nothing. The man must have gone to ground somewhere up ahead.
Stone considered the situation. He had nothing to fear from the old man, but he wanted to find out what the fellow was up to, and he couldn’t do that if Moss thought Stone was following him. In fact, Stone might have already blown it. If Moss were aware of his presence and was hiding from him, Stone could either confront him and demand answers or try and wait him out. But in the first case, Moss would probably head back to his cabin. Stone would try to wait him out.
He selected a tree that appeared primed for climbing. He’d ascend it until he had a clear view of the surrounding area, then wait for Moss to show himself. He’d catch up with Alex and Trinity later. The pair would realize he wasn’t coming back right away and would head back to town.
He chose a sturdy-looking limb, leaped, and grabbed hold. He swung himself up with the grace of a gymnast. He’d done more than his share of climbing in just about every environment and scenario imaginable. He ascended quickly, and soon found himself a good thirty feet off the ground. He dared not go any higher, lest the branches not support his weight.
Even at this short distance off the ground, the air was less dank. A light breeze ruffled his hair. This would not be a bad place to sit and rest. He hoped it wouldn’t be long, though.
He heard a soft sound in the distance. Someone was trying to move quietly. Oddly, the noise came from the direction of the cabin. Had Moss managed to slip past him? He turned in the direction of the noise and scanned the area. He saw bits of color. Someone was hiding, imperfectly, behind a tree.
“You might as well come out,” he said.
An attractive woman stepped out into the open. Her light brown skin, glossy black hair, and high cheekbones hinted at native ancestry, but her nose and eyes suggested mixed race. She folded her arms and glared up at him. She was clad in a man’s shirt and dungarees, but it did nothing to hide her feminine charms.
“I have to say, you’re the biggest bird I’ve ever seen.”
Stone flashed a grin and clambered down. She met him at the base of the tree.
“You’re good. Most people can’t hear me coming.”
Stone shrugged. “I have good hearing.”
“You got a name?” the woman asked.
“Yes. Do you?”
She tapped her foot impatiently. “You’re on our land, and you’re the gentleman. So that’s two reasons for you to introduce yourself first.”
“I’m Brock Stone.”
“I’m Marian Moss,” she said simply. “Now, why are you stalking my father?”
“Your father?” Stone couldn’t mask his surprise. Marian couldn’t have been older than her late twenties. Then again, it wasn’t exactly unheard of for someone to father a child later in life. He couldn’t but wonder what Marian’s mother had looked like. She certainly didn’t get her looks from Moss.
“Harold Moss,” she said simply.
“Yes, I just had a talk with him. He’s an interesting fellow.”
Marian arched an eyebrow. “Interesting enough that you decided to skulk around on our place?”
Stone trusted his instincts, and right now they were telling him to be truthful with this woman.
“I’m looking for a friend, a woman, who disappeared in these parts not too long ago. I know she met with your father.”
“Are you accusing my father of being a kidnapper?” She took a step closer to him. “Because if you are, I’ll thank you to get off of our land right now.”
Stone doubted Moss owned much, if any, of the forest that surrounded his cabin, but didn’t think that point was worth arguing at the moment.
“No, not at all.” He paused. “I know it sounds ridiculous, but I keep hearing there are creatures around here who have been known to kidnap women.”
“Bigfoot, you mean. I’m disappointed in you, Mister Stone. You don’t seem the sort to believe in fairy tales.”
“Let’s just say I’ve seen enough of the world that I no longer dismiss the implausible as being impossible. Besides, your father says he knows for a fact that they’re real.”
Marian shook her head. “He’s old, confused. Besides, that doesn’t explain why you’re wandering around out here.”
“I sensed your father wasn’t entirely forthcoming with me. I waited, and sure enough, he waited a couple minutes and then made a beeline for this area. He’s holed up somewhere around here.”
“I doubt that. He’s better in the woods than I am, and it seems he’s better than you, too.”
“Fair enough. I’ll just search around on my own until I find whatever it is he’s hiding.” He held up a hand. “And don’t try to divert me with claims that this is your land. I’m certain you don’t own the entire forest. Even if you did, good luck stopping me.”
“What do you believe you are going to find?” Her voice was dull, sullen.
“Ape Canyon?” Stone guessed. “Your father said my friend was looking for it. He claims it’s somewhere on the other side of the mountain, but I think it’s much closer.”
Marian stood, arms folded, brown eyes staring daggers at him. Then her shoulders sagged and her gaze softened.
“Fine. I’ll show you the way, but those creatures never kidnapped anybody.”