A short laugh spurted from Everly’s lips, nearly making the gum pop from her mouth. “Holy crap. Did you send a picture with your resume, or did Hal just hire you sight unseen?”

“No picture.” I was a little hurt by her reaction to my working at the mill. “Why? I assure you I am qualified. I even have a degree. Of course it’s in anthropology, but it counts for something.”

“I’m not doubting your qualifications at all. It’s just—” She looked me up and down. “You’re so beautiful, and it’s just a big bunch of horny men working at that place.” She laughed again. “Something tells me we’re going to be hearing about a lot more accidents out there at the mill.” She noticed my expression. “Oh, I’m sorry. Don’t be mad, Tash. It’ll be fine. I’m jealous. I’m stuck working in my uncle’s dreary grocery store, and you’ll be out there on the river with all the men in town walking around shiny with sweat and glittering with sawdust. Although most are not any better with sawdust glitter, trust me. My guy, or at least the guy I hope to land someday, works out there on the water. His name is Finn, and he’s as big as he is sweet. Most people think he’s kind of weird because he’s super quiet, but he’s a big teddy bear. Besides, I like a man who doesn’t waste words or ramble on like—well, like me.” She tucked her tawny brown hair behind her ear, and I noticed a small sliver of the scar trailing up past her ear and stopping at her temple.

“I’ll be in the office. You are sweet, but you over exaggerate about my looks.”

“No. Trust me, I’m not. Take my advice and wear bulky sweaters to cover those curves. There is a severe shortage of women up here, and you—” She dropped the subject with a wave of her hand, and I was glad. “By the way, stay clear of the Wolfe brothers. Ah, you’re smart. You’ll figure that out without me having to tell you. They are sort of the dark, sinister element of the town, if you catch my drift. Dane, the older brother, is as crazy as a rabid bat on LSD. His brother, Jem, the more serious of the two, isn’t crazy, but he’s danger and trouble all rolled up in a beefy package. We went to school together, but when I got to school to start my sophomore year, Jem was gone. He’d been arrested for robbery and spent the rest of his teens in juvenile detention. He was gone for a few years doing heaven knows what, but he returned last year, looking just as troubled as always. It’s a shame though. He’s a real looker, like eye candy on steroids. I think the law could label him as an attractive nuisance when it comes to the girls in town, dangerous and hard to resist. Although, I’ve rarely had anything to do with the Wolfes because my uncle forbids it.” She dashed up some air quotes. “Uncle Landon is always looking out for me, but sometimes he’s just a little overprotective. I guess there was this whole incident when my Uncle Landon and Alcott Wolfe, Jem’s dad, were teens. My mom’s best friend, Elizabeth, was dating Alcott, and she died. It was kind of a weird accidental death. She fell into the river or that was how the story went. Anyhow, everyone decided it was Alcott’s fault, and the town has just always branded him as despicable. My mom always insisted he wasn’t all that bad, but she’s about the only person who ever said that.”

As she spoke I wondered just what kind of place I was heading to. The Grog had a lot of characters, but dark and sinister couldn’t be used to describe any of them.

“I’m pretty good at taking care of myself,” I said with only a stitch of confidence. My aunt had left me on my own plenty, but the sheltered, semi-utopia of The Grog had made that easy.

“I can tell you know how to take care of yourself. You’ll do fine.” Everly stretched her neck to see over the seats. “We’re coming to Trumble’s Bridge. Let’s exchange numbers.”

I blinked at her, not understanding at first what she meant.

“Oh my gosh, that’s right, you don’t have a phone.” She waved her hand in dismissal. “It’s just as well. We get such spotty reception up in Blackthorn Ridge, you have to walk around outside like Lady Liberty with your phone held high in the air hoping you can catch some of those cellular gamma rays or whatever. Can I use one of your blank postcards to write down my address?”

“Absolutely.” I leaned down to fish out a postcard. “I’m staying at a motel on the highway until I can figure out a place to live.”

She sucked in an excited breath and patted her chest as she coughed back up the gum. “Jeez, it cleared my ears but nearly killed me. Anyhow, you need to come live with me. Oh wow, say yes. You have to say yes. My mom will be gone for at least six more months, and I’m all alone, and frankly, I hate being alone. My uncle comes to check on me all the time, but I think he’d appreciate it if I had a roommate. It would ease his worry. We could have so much damn fun.”

It didn’t take me long to decide. I hadn’t relished the idea of living alone in a strange town in a dingy motel. “I’d insist on paying some rent.”

“Great. It’s settled. I’m so freakin’ glad I stopped for that grape slush. I’d nearly gotten on an earlier bus. Must have been fate.” She scribbled her address down and handed me the card. “I’d come with you on your walk, but I’ve got to get to work. Once you step off the bus, turn right and just keep walking along the highway. You can’t miss Phantom Curve because of all the dried flowers and old, splintered crosses. Be careful on the highway.” She reached over and took my hand. “I hope this eases some of the stuff going on inside your heart. I know it helps some people to visit the spot.”

“Thanks.” In her mind, I was just here to see the place where my dad had taken his last breath. She had no idea that what I was really hoping to find was the piece of my soul that had somehow died with him. And something deep down, some little voice in my head, a voice that knew the truth but refused to let me in on the secret, told me I needed to start here, in Blackthorn Ridge.

The bus pulled to a stop in front of a red bench. No one else stood up to get off. I pulled my backpack onto my shoulder.

“After you’re done,” Everly said, “keep walking. Blackthorn is about two miles past the curve. Once you see the sign for the town, take a sharp left and walk two blocks. My uncle’s store is called Gregor’s Market. Stop in and I’ll fix you my specialty sandwich, chicken salad and pickles.”

“Sounds good. Thanks again, Everly. See you soon.”

The bus driver followed me out and opened the hatch. He pulled out my duffle bag and my guitar. I threw the strap around my shoulder and moved the guitar to my back.

“You’re a musician,” Everly called from the window she’d opened. “Can’t wait to hear you play.” She waved as the bus driver motioned for her to put up the window.

The bus kicked up some diesel smelling dust as it roared past. I took a deep breath and turned toward the highway. I headed away from the small town that was just downhill from the bus stop. Everly had warned me Trumble’s Bridge was a grim place, and it was definitely that. But it had been the last stop before my journey to Blackthorn Ridge.

The forest ranger station that I had mysteriously shown up at when I was seven, lost confused and beyond terrified, was located just five miles north of Blackthorn Ridge. It was the reason I’d chosen the town as my starting point. Several cars sped past, one with an annoying driver who laid on his horn as he raced by, nearly startling me right over the edge of the road.

The tall evergreens thinned, and I could see straight down the side of the road to the valley below. In the distance, I could see the mill. It seemed the smoke had dissolved, and the activity had stopped. The mill had obviously closed for the day. Everly’s warning about working at the mill had not helped to boost my already waning confidence. My skills were good, but I hadn’t ever worked for anyone but Margaret Kipple, a wonderful woman with a thriving real estate business. Her son lived in The Grog, and even though she was a business woman and lived outside of the commune, she was, in her own way, one of us. I could only imagine how gruff a mill owner might be. But at least I’d found a friend and a place to stay. I looked forward to getting to know Everly better. She was a lifelong local. She knew a lot about the area. And, it seemed, she wasn’t afraid to tell any of the dirty local secrets.