Love on the Horizon (A Northern Woods Novel)

by Roberts, Charliann

  The doorway swung open, and a young man stepped into the reception area.

  “Hello, my name is Bill. How can I help you?”

  Jake shook his hand then quickly asked, “Is the Shiba still available? I saw him on your program an hour ago.”

  “Come with me,” Bill said, and motioned for Jake to follow. He led him to the kennels along the rear wall, and Jake noticed how clean they were. “We don’t have too many dogs here, which is a good thing. This is a small town. Not enough people come to adopt a dog every time we find a lost pet, or perhaps a pet someone can no longer keep. Luckily, it’s not as bad here as it is in the larger cities, where people have been abandoning their pets. Very sad to hear, and we’re glad we haven’t run into that problem. We only receive a newcomer at an average of one to two weeks.”

  They were approaching the kennel that served as Sam’s temporary home. He sat staring sadly, as they moved toward him. When they stopped in front of his cage, he stood and happily wagged his tail.

  “This is Sam,” Bill said, and opened the gate. “He’s hoping to find a loving and caring friend for life. He’s an obedient dog and also quite unusual for a Shiba.”

  “How’s that?” Jake asked when he knelt to greet Sam.

  “Well, a Shiba is alert, courageous, bold, very loving and brave. They are a wonderful pet. They’re clean and most of them even try to avoid puddles. They bark little and bond closely with their owner. He’s playful, active and socializes well with people, but he’ll also protect his master and his home from strangers.” He reached down and scratched Sam behind his ear. “What’s so very different about Sam is that the Shiba is a natural hunting dog and should not be trusted around small pets and birds. However, Sam loves minuscule animals and is definitely not for hunting, if that’s the type you’re looking for. What’s unusual is, with any other Shiba, you have to be careful when taking them off the leash, as they like to chase; but Sam stays right by your side. He’s a very good companion. This breed is also much happier living indoors with his master, rather than outdoors. He does need his daily exercise. They can walk for hours on end, as they have tremendous endurance. I had a Shiba myself when I was a young boy. It was the best dog I ever had, and I’m not saying that to convince you to take him. I’d bring Sam home myself, but I already have three dogs of my own.”

  Jake scratched Sam behind the ears, and carefully held his head in his hands. He looked into his eyes, ears, and examined his teeth. He smiled and Sam licked his cheek and wagged his tail. He brushed up against his leg, glanced up at him, then happily danced in circles. That’s all it took. Jake grinned. “I’ll take him.”

  Bill attached a leash to his collar and handed it to Jake. They entered the office and filled out the short form. Jake handed him a check for seventy-five dollars.

  “The previous owner also told me he loves to travel,” Bill added when they stood and shook hands.

  Sam proved that on their ride back to the cabin and Jake smiled, put an arm around his neck and said, “Sam, I think we’ve both found our best friend.” Sam wagged his tail, looked up at Jake and gave a quiet, happy bark.

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  “Hey, Nick. I thought I’d check in to see how my guys have been doing without me.”

  “Everything’s under control, Jake. How’s it going up there? Catch many fish?”

  “Haven’t been fishing yet, but I met my best friend.”

  “Oh yeah? What’s her name? You’re talking about a girl, I assume?”

  “Nah, something better. I found me a dog, a beautiful Shiba.”

  They both laughed. “You certainly seem to be in a cheerful mood, so I guess you were right. That’s exactly what you needed.”

  “Ah yes, this guy’s my best buddy, for sure.”

  “Well, good to hear, my friend. I’m glad you’ve taken time off. You’ve definitely earned it. So how’s the weather?”

  “Unseasonably warm – highs are in the mid to upper seventies. Sam and I are getting ready to go for a long walk.”

  When he heard the word, Sam began to run in circles, then happily ran out to the kitchen chair and returned with his leash.

  Jake laughed into the phone. “He’s a smart dog. He understands the word walk. I think we’ll take a lengthy hike, follow the path and find a place to cast a line. There’s supposed to be a good fishing hole about a mile up the creek. Also a lake nearby, but we’ll check out the trail before renting a boat.”

  “Well have a great time, Jake, and eat a few fish for me too.”

  “Sure, Nick. I’ll bring some back if I’m lucky enough to catch fifty or so.” Jake closed his cell phone with a grin, and scratched Sam behind the ear.

  He wore jeans, a sweatshirt, and hiking boots. He put a light jacket in his backpack, and then filled it with plenty of food and water for both of them. He slipped his arms into the shoulder straps and whistled at Sam. “Let’s go boy!”

  They left the cabin, Jake with a happy smile, and a rambunctious tail-wagging friend trotting happily alongside his master.

  They headed down the trail that ran along the creek. The weather was perfect for hiking. A gentle breeze lightly drifted through the trees, scattering leaves across the path and around their feet. Jake put Sam’s leash in one of the outside pockets of the backpack. Sam stayed by his side, even as a squirrel scurried approximately three yards ahead of them. Sam noticed it, and stood watching quietly, waiting for it to cross their path. When the critter disappeared into the twigs and wild grass, Sam continued walking.

  “Now I understand what Bill tried to explain to me, of your being different. You don’t like to hunt. You really do love other animals.” He reached down to pet Sam’s head, and then continued along the curving pathway. Jake noticed that the stream had widened and was now a bit deeper with a small pool of water surrounded by the bank, on each side of the creek.

  They approached a “V” in the trail and came to a stop while Jake tried to decide which direction to go. The path had begun to veer away from the stream before it split in two directions. Sam made the decision and started walking toward the trail to the west, then turned to see if Jake was following him.

  “Ah what the heck,” he said, and followed Sam. They had nowhere they had to be. They may as well explore the territory.

  They hiked a mile further when Jake looked over the boulders running along the edge of the walkway. He noticed a young woman who was hanging clothes on a line that hung from one tree to another. He could see that she was very beautiful, her face an oval shape with a creamy warm shade of skin and the complexion of a porcelain doll. She appeared to be quite petite, with light brown hair neatly pinned beneath her soft peach-colored fedora and contained in a ponytail. It drew attention to her face – the face of a princess, Jake thought.

  Suddenly the woman looked up. She noticed Jake and his dog, and the angelic look turned to pure fright. Her eyes darted nervously back and forth. She dropped the clothespins from her hands, and they fell to the ground along with the blouse she was about to hang on the line. She turned and took a few steps toward her cabin.

  “Wait!” Jake called out. “I apologize if I frightened you. My dog and I were only hiking.”

  Facing the opposite direction, she stopped and stood still, unwilling to turn around. “I’m sorry, I’m busy,” she said softly.

  “We won’t hurt you, Miss.… We’re on vacation and trying to find a good spot to fish, although I didn’t bring a pole today. I’m only looking for the perfect place to cast my line tomorrow.”

  She slowly turned to face him, her arms folded at her waist. She tipped her head a bit, as she looked him over. “The best fishing hole is about one block up the path from the “V.” If you had taken the other trail along the creek you would have come upon it.”

  He could tell she was looking him over. He was glad he’d bothered to shave, and wore his new pair of jeans and sweatshirt he bought at the market, which had the resort’s emblem on the front. He smiled and po
inted to it.

  “You can see from my shirt that I’m a new visitor. I’m wearing a sweatshirt I purchased from Hidden Pines Resort.”

  She raised her eyes; her lips formed a bit of a smile, and the sunlight brought out the sparkle in her bright blue eyes.

  Wagging his tail, Sam walked over to her, sat directly in front of her and looked up as if waiting for her to greet him. She glanced at Jake and they both exchanged a subtle look of amusement.

  “Don’t worry. He’s a very affectionate dog. He wants to be your friend.”

  Her smile was soft and delicate as she reached down to pet him. Gosh, she’s pretty. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

  “His name is Sam, and I’m Jake. Jake Morrison.” He held out his hand to her and she hesitated, then placed her hand in his and barely shook it before she quickly pulled it back and again folded her arms in front of her. He noticed as two deep lines of concern appeared between her eyes. “I can understand your uneasiness, when a complete stranger and his dog approach your property.”

  She let her guard down, swallowed hard, and her voice drifted into a hushed whisper. “My name is...” She bit down on her lower lip with a worried expression.

  When he realized she wasn’t going to continue, he said, “It’s nice to meet such a lovely woman while hiking so deep into the forest.” His warm grin finally brought a smile to her sweet and very attractive face.

  She motioned with her hand, walked toward the trail on which he and Sam had arrived. “Follow me and I’ll show you the best spot to fish. Several of my weekly meals come from these ponds.”

  “Are you on vacation also?” he asked, as he and Sam walked alongside of her.

  “No, I live here. The owner of Hidden Pines sold the cabin to me. He built the resort a couple years ago. In fact, he’d added the final cottage last year.” She kept walking while she spoke. “Mine had been the only cabin around. The original owner used it for hunting, fifty-some years ago. When he passed away, his son decided to build a resort and purchased more land. He concluded that my cabin, which is now my home, was located too far from the main office, recreation building, and food market. Where are you from?” she asked and glanced at him.

  “I live in Pinewood Hills. I work at the Colburn Stables Ranch. It’s a well-known horse ranch.”

  She stopped short in dismay. Jake looked over at her. She was quiet, withdrawn, and seemed terribly worried. She shook her head slowly, continued walking, and said no more.

  “Is something wrong?” he asked.

  “No, no,” was all she said, and appeared very frightened. She pointed to the pond where most of the fish were, in the early morning hours. “Well, I do have to return to finish my chores.”

  He hesitated, measuring her for a moment. He could tell that her nervousness reappeared to grip her. For some reason, she seemed to back off, not wanting to say another word.

  “Okay, well maybe Sam and I will see you again while we’re here.”

  She only turned quickly and hurried up the trail toward her home. Jake called Sam, and they started the trek home. He planned to stop by the resort’s bar and grill later. Someone must know something about such a beautiful woman living alone, so far away from any friends and neighbors.

  Chapter Forty

  Jake left Sam in the cabin with a rawhide bone while he headed over to the Hidden Pines Bar & Grill. When he arrived, he parked the truck, grabbed his Stetson, and climbed out. He walked through the side entrance from the parking lot and stood just inside the doorway, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dim lights.

  Quite a few people filled the tables, so he stepped up to the bar and grabbed a stool. The bartender came over to him, removed an empty glass, and wiped down the bar with a towel.

  “What can I get ya?

  “I’ll have a Budweiser,” he said.

  The bartender pulled a bottle from the cooler beneath the bar and set it in front of Jake, who handed him a five-dollar bill.

  “You’re new here?”

  “Yes, I arrived on Friday.”

  “How do you like it? Are you enjoying yourself?”

  “Sure am,” Jake said. “I’ve found it to be a perfect place to come and relax.”

  “That it is. They’ve always been booked, every season throughout the year. Fishing in the spring, summer and fall and duck, bear and deer hunting follow. We also have ice fishing in the winter. There’s something going on up here all year round. My name is Tom, by the way.”

  “I’m Jake,” he said, and he watched when two more men entered.

  “I’ll be right back,” Tom said. When he returned, they talked about sports for a while, until Tom excused himself again and stepped down to the other end of the bar to check on his customers.

  An elderly man sat on the bar stool next to him and introduced himself.

  “Hi there, I’m Gus,” he said, lifted his beer and tipped his head at Jake.

  “I overheard you saying you’re staying in Cabin #9. I’m your next-door neighbor, if you call a block away from each other next door,” he laughed. “I’m in Cabin #8.

  They’d been talking about hunting and fishing, when the bartender returned and asked if they’d like to order lunch. They both ordered a burger and fries and continued talking.

  “Have you met the woman who lives down near the fishing hole?” Jake asked.

  “Nope, never even seen her,” Gus answered. “I’ve heard she pretty much keeps to herself. Just shy, I guess. She hasn’t been around very long. I’m a regular summer tenant. She moved here recently, not sure when. Never shows her face; doesn’t even own a car. That’s unusual for someone who lives so deep in the woods. But then again, she never leaves her cabin.

  “Hey Tom!”

  “I’ll be right there, Gus.”

  Tom finished up at the cash register and came over.

  “What can I get ya, Gus? Need another beer?”

  “No thanks, just wondering about the new gal livin’ in the old place.”

  “Don’t know much about her. Marv sold the place to her for a whoppin’ one hundred dollars, I guess. She handed him the money, then he gave it back to her. The place was just a shack and he was driving over that way on his quad to check things out. He was going to pay someone to tear it down. When he got there, he discovered the girl had already been stayin’ for close to a month. Marv said she’s a cute little thing. Felt sorry for her. She wouldn’t tell him anything, except that she needed somewhere to settle for a while. The shack was so rundown and deserted she figured no one would care. She cleaned the mess up, and turned it into a cute little place to live. When Marv found her, she was frightened. He looked her over carefully, and could tell she was running from someone. She had bruises on her face, arms and legs. He asked her if she needed help. She said no, just a place to stay. She offered him one hundred dollars if he’d let her stay there for a while, and promised she wouldn’t cause any trouble. He figured she was desperate. He let her know the cabin was hers; even signed the title over to her. He wouldn’t take any money. He told her she made the property look almost as beautiful as she looked herself; with that, she smiled, he got back on his quad, promised her she’d be safe, and drove away.”

  “Jake told me he ran into her up the creek.”

  “Well from what Marv said, she wanted nothing to do with anyone.”

  “She did seem quite frightened when I said hello,” Jake said and shook his head slowly when he thought about it. “She spoke to me about the fishing pond, even led me to it.” Then she was suddenly anxious to escape from my presence.

  “Well I’d better get back to my cabin and feed my dog.”

  “Nice meetin’ ya,” Gus said and lifted his beer bottle to him. “Come on back later. We’ll all be here.”

  “I might do that,” he answered, then stood, left the bartender a generous tip and turned to leave.

  “Thanks, Jake,” Tom said.

  Jake raised his hand in response and walked out the door.


  * * *

  Sunday brought rain, but that didn’t bother Jake. He had Sam to watch the Vikings football game with him. It would be their time to bond. Sam didn’t mind either. Jake grabbed some chips and a beer. He sat down on the couch and Sam snuggled up alongside of him and fell asleep.

  When the game ended, he picked up the phone and called Nick – again.

  He answered on the first ring and instead of saying hello, he asked, “You miss us that much, Jake?” They both laughed. “Just joking; how’ve you been? You aren’t bored up there, are you?”

  “Heck no. But hey, I’m not used to being on vacation.”

  “And that’s exactly why I talked you into taking one.”

  “Oh you did, did you?” Jake smirked, though he knew Nick couldn’t see him. “If you recall, I asked you for time off.”

  “How are you and Sam getting along?”

  “Great. He’s one heck of a friend – and so well trained. I swear he knows every word I say to him. He’s really the best.”

  “Trying to hurt my feelings, are ya?” They both laughed, and then discussed the Vikings game.

  “Well, I’d better get going, Jake. Now relax, take it easy, rest up, and stop missing us. Your job won’t go anywhere. Believe me. It’ll still be here when you return.”

  “Hey Nick, I wanted to ask you. Have the police found out anything new about that missing neighbor woman of yours? Wasn’t her name Natalie?”

  “Yes, well actually Mariah said her name is Natalie but she and Sarah called her Nattie in school. Why do you ask?”

  “Oh, just wondering. I’ve never seen nor met her or the husband.”

  “Well, be glad you didn’t have the opportunity to meet Carl. He was quite a malicious person. Mariah and Sarah both had seen his wife a couple of times, and they’re sure he physically abused her.”

  Jake slowly set his beer bottle down on the end table. “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “I just don’t understand what men are thinking when they treat their women that way.”