Chapter 1 — Tess

Tess McKinnon ran down the dusty country road. The carpet bag swung to and fro in one hand, and the other hand grasped a black quilted bag that held her computer. It was eight-thirty in the morning, and Tess was going home to the log cabin where she’d been born and raised. The log cabin, nestled in the rolling hills of Brier Hill County, was a peaceful place in the Amish country with a slower pace of life, a hard work ethic, and friendly people who waved when they passed by.

It was the only place where Tess had ever felt at home. It would be different now because she was all alone. They’d buried her mother yesterday, and her stepfather, Mac Reardon, had told her to be out of his house by two o’clock because he was getting married tomorrow. But she’d left right away. There wasn’t any reason to stay.

The feisty twenty-one-year-old had stood up to the 6’2” burly man, and called him a ‘snake in the grass.’ She had to leave her trunk behind. It was full of sentimental things—journals, a manuscript, winter clothes, boots, a teapot, and an old sweater that had been her mother’s. She would have to come back for it. There were also a few Jane Austen books that her mother had given her. She couldn’t live without her books. 

Her car was in the shop. She had coaxed it along for over a hundred miles from the college she was attending. The car’s engine had sputtered, then died when she pulled up in the drive at Mac’s old run-down farm. They towed it into town.

Tess was grateful that her mother had planned for her. She was headed to Owl Creek to an old log cabin where she’d grown up. Her mother had deeded it to her years ago. She’d stayed at the cabin when she’d come home from college because she wasn’t comfortable with Mac. She’d known from the beginning he was a scoundrel. It was out of duty she had gone to visit her mother at Mac’s old farm, but had not stayed overnight until her mother got sick. Armed with a teaching degree, she would begin teaching second grade at the elementary school in Brier Hill in the fall. 

When Tess started down the long lane, her mother’s dog, Buddy, followed her, and she didn’t have the heart to tell him to go back. She was sure Mac abused him because Buddy shied away from him.

Tess ran faster. The countryside was a blur as she passed by fields of horses and cows grazing. A truck sped by, sending a blanket of dust through the air. She coughed and slowed. “Damn!” She opened the carpetbag and pulled out a water bottle, took a long swig, then cupped her hand and filled it with water. Buddy lapped it up. Then she filled it twice more for him. He looked up at her.

“Are you happy to be gone, Buddy? Mac Reardon is a psychopath and a thief.” She took another swig of water. “They should lock him up. I hope I never see him again.” 

Buddy whined and sat on his haunches. “We’ve only gone five miles, Buddy.” She patted him on the head—fifteen more to go. “If we’re lucky, we’ll be there by dusk. We’re going home where we belong—where we’ve always belonged. We won’t have much, but we’ll have peace of mind. I’m going to put my sore feet in the creek first thing. And I’m going to put you in there with me. It will be fun.” 

A shiny black SUV rushed by, leaving a trail of dust, then it slowed, pulled over to the shoulder, and stopped. The stranger rolled down his window, and Tess wiped her forehead with her arm and trudged over. 

He stared at her with his dark eyes. “There’s not a house within miles. What are you doing out here alone?” 

“I’m headed to Owl Creek. It’s not far from Brier Hill. I have a cabin there.” 

“You shouldn’t be out here alone. I’d be happy to drive you wherever you need to go. I’m Sawyer Rhodes. I have a horse ranch near your cabin.” 

“Are you sure? Your car looks clean, and my dog is pretty dirty.” She looked the man over. He looked trustworthy. Her intuition told her it would be fine, and Buddy was wagging his tail. 

She nodded, and he climbed out of the vehicle. 

Buddy licked the stranger’s hand. 

“Ferocious dog,” he chided as he lifted the hatch. Buddy jumped in, and Sawyer took the carpet bag from Tess and set it beside Buddy. 

“I’ll keep the computer with me,” she said, holding the black quilted bag close. “My life is in it.” 

He smiled a slow, easy smile. “There’s plenty of room,” he replied, making sure Tess was settled in before he shut the car door. 

She’d noticed a litheness about him when he walked around to the driver’s side and climbed in with ease. He wore a black hat and was dressed in a black jacket and trousers. She guessed he was a Mennonite, though she’d never seen a Mennonite driving a car this nice. 

She settled back into the seat and murmured, “Air conditioning,” as she breathed in the newness of the vehicle and the smell of leather. “It feels really good.” 

“How long have you been walking?” he asked. His face held a look of unconcealed interest. 

“Five hours,” she said, glancing at his profile. His tan face and lean body told her that he liked the outdoors and was a working man. He’d said he had a horse farm. She’d noticed his lips right away; they were firm. His nose was straight. There was no doubt about it; he was incredibly good-looking. Suddenly, she was aware of her dust-ridden, sweaty body. She scooted toward the door to put distance between them. 

He glanced at her. “You must have wanted to leave pretty bad to set off walking in this heat.” 

“I did,” Tess replied.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.

She put her hand to her forehead. “My mother died yesterday,” she said in a broken voice. “My stepfather is getting married tomorrow.” And then she was rambling. “I had to get out of there. The sight of him sickened me. I had to leave my trunk there. It has my books in it and some sentimental things.” Her hand went to her throat with a look of disbelief. “I forgot my mother’s locket. She wore it every day—my father gave it to her on their wedding day. She gave it to me when she was dying, and I left it on the dresser.” 

Sawyer reached over and touched her arm. “Don’t worry. We’ll go back and get your things. I have a truck at my farm.” 

Tess felt unraveled. “I don’t know what to say. Why would you do this? Why do you care?” 

“Somebody helped me,” he said. “He was a stranger. I was down and out on my luck, and he helped me get back on my feet.” 

He patted her shoulder. “It’s payback time.”