Found_Hamilton's Heroes series

by Annabella Michaels

  “No, ma’am. Thank you, this looks great,” I responded.

  “Such manners,” she sighed. Her eyes wandered over my face, but then she turned and made her way back to the kitchen. Feeling uncomfortable with the attention, I shook my head as I picked up my fork and dug in. As I ate, I went over the plans in my head for once I reached Columbus.

  I’d just finished the last bite when Kim sauntered back over. “How was everything?” she asked in a peppy voice.

  “Very good, thank you,” I told her sincerely.

  “Did you save any room for dessert? A slice of chocolate cake or cherry pie perhaps?” she urged.

  “No, ma’am. I’m not sure I could fit another bite,” I said, leaning back in my seat and patting my stomach.

  “Are you sure? Miss Patty makes the best pie in the county and I’d hate for you to miss out on it before you leave. In fact, she’s won the blue ribbon three years in a row at the fair. She says it’s because she uses…” Kim continued speaking, but my attention was drawn to the front door where a man had just walked in.

  He was dressed in a gray tank top and jeans that were smudged with grass stains as if he’d been doing some sort of yard work. His dirty-blond hair was cut short around his ears, but the top was kept longer, allowing some of the strands to hang down over one eye.

  I followed his movements as he made his way to the counter and spoke to the waitress there. She smiled at him then I watched as she handed him a white carry-out bag of food. He pulled a wallet from the back pocket of his jeans and reached inside, pulling out several bills. He handed them to her, waving her off as she offered to get his change.

  He turned to leave, and our eyes connected for just a second, but it was enough to make me feel as if I’d been sucker punched. “Where did you say you were headed?” Kim’s voice cut into my thoughts just as the man walked out the door, closing it behind him.

  “Umm, I didn’t,” I responded distractedly. “Do you know the guy who just left?”

  She glanced over her shoulder and we both watched as the man climbed into an old beat-up blue Ford truck. “Who? Oh, that’s Zach.”

  I looked back at her, the hair on the back of my neck standing up. “Does he live around here?”

  “He moved here a couple of years ago. Works over at the lake,” she informed me.

  “Which lake is that?” I asked, already climbing up from my seat. Kim eyed me suspiciously but answered anyway.

  “Bradbury Lake. It’s a pay lake just down the road.”

  “Thank you,” I said, grabbing my bag and tossing more than enough money on the table to cover my food and a tip.

  I raced out the door and hurried to put the name of the lake in my GPS. Seconds later, I turned around in the parking lot and peeled out onto the road. A couple of miles down the road, I turned into a gravel drive and pulled to a stop. A sign welcoming me to Bradbury Lake stretched over the entrance to the drive. It was blue with various fish hand painted across its surface.

  I slowly crept down the long drive, my tires crunching the gravel below and kicking up dust in my wake. The lane was nearly a quarter of a mile long and as I neared the end, I let out a whistle at the surprising beauty laid out before me.

  The setting sun shone over the lake’s surface, casting beautiful pink and orange streaks across the water. The area was surrounded by trees, cutting it off from the rest of the world and giving it a private and secluded feel, even though it was obviously open to the public.

  I pulled up alongside a small building with a sign that read BAIT SHOP and I turned off the engine as I looked around. The lane I’d been on separated at that point, going off in either direction and circling the lake.

  Having been born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, I’d never been fishing in my life, never really understood the draw of it and it seemed absurd to me that people would actually pay money to sit and stare at a pole, but it was obviously a very popular thing to do in the middle of nowhere Ohio. There were campers and tents scattered along the edge of the lake, their owners spread out, enjoying the warm spring air. Some were grilling their dinners over open fire pits while others sat in chairs, laughing and drinking beers with their buddies as they kept an eye on their fishing poles and prayed for the fish to bite.

  I could see a woman moving around inside the bait shop and I figured she must work there. Maybe she could tell me more about the guy the waitress had called Zach. Perhaps I could even charm her into telling me where he lived. I got out of my car and continued to scan the area as I came around the side of the building, but suddenly, I stopped in my tracks.

  On the other side of the lake, situated just inside a heavily wooded area, I saw several small cabins. They looked fairly new from what I could tell, but what caught my attention was the old blue Ford parked at the side of the furthest cabin to the right. A man sat on the tailgate of the truck. I could tell it was the same guy from the truck stop because of the clothes he was wearing.

  As I watched, he wadded the white bag beside him then stood and stretched his arms up over his head. His hands came back down, but he left his face tilted up towards the sky. He stood that way for several minutes and I found myself unable to look away. Finally, he dropped his head back down and turned, making his way to the front door of the cabin. It must have been his place because he pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door.

  I continued staring until he’d disappeared inside the cabin and then I turned to walk into the bait shop. I glanced down at the sign in the window and a plan immediately started to formulate in my head. I didn’t even have to force a smile as I walked up to the counter and introduced myself to the woman working there.

  After six months of searching through the proverbial haystack and turning up absolutely nothing, it seemed my luck had finally changed. If what my gut was telling me was correct, I may have just found the elusive needle.

  The sound of my alarm clock buzzing woke me up and I reached over to shut it off. With a yawn, I sat up in bed, my feet landing on the hardwood floor. I rested my elbows on my knees and rubbed my hands over my face tiredly.

  I glanced around my place as I forced myself to wake up. The cabin I lived in would probably be considered tiny to most people, with a bathroom, small eat-in kitchen, a living room big enough for only a couch and one chair, and just one bedroom, but it was more than enough space for me. Besides, the appliances were fairly new, the place was clean, and it was mine for free as long as I worked at the lake.

  The plain cream-colored walls were still as bare as the day I moved in. I suppose I should’ve bought some decorations to hang or found some knickknacks to give it a homier feel, but I had never seen much point. I’d always figured that a home should reflect the people who lived there. I had no family photos or mementos from the places I’d been, so anything I bought would be generic and not a reflection of me anyway.

  I stumbled my way into the bathroom, and after taking a leak, I washed my hands and splashed some water on my face. As usual, I avoided looking at the reflection in the mirror. I already knew what I would see there; a sad, worn-out, altered version of myself.

  I quickly set about brushing my teeth then grabbed a towel off the rack before heading back to my bedroom where I pulled a pair of swim trunks out of the dresser by my bed. I slid my briefs down my legs and tossed them into the very full hamper, making a mental note to do laundry on my next day off, and I pulled my swim trunks on.

  I checked my watch and noticed it was getting past the time I usually left, so I hurried out to the living room, slipped my feet into a pair of flip-flops and rushed out the door. It was still pretty dark outside, but I’d been doing this for so long, I easily found my way.

  Once I reached the edge of the lake, I kicked my shoes off and tossed my towel to the ground then stood there with my eyes closed. Frogs croaking, and the occasional splash of a fish jumping were the only sounds I could hear that early in the morning. It was my favorite time of the day.

  I’d
started the routine nearly two years before when I’d first been hired on at the lake. It had been a particularly rough night, filled with nightmares and voices from my past that refused to be quiet. Unable to sleep, I’d left my cabin and wandered down to the lake. Surrounded by fresh air and the calming sounds of nature, I’d found a sort of peace I never knew existed.

  People would probably think I was crazy if I told them, but part of me wondered if there was some magic in that place. All I knew for sure was that I had never felt that way anywhere else. I’d gone back every morning since then. Even when it was cold out, I would wrap blankets around me and sit on the edge of the water, soaking in the tranquility of my surroundings.

  There was no need for thick blankets anymore. It was the middle of May and I could already feel the warmth of summer creeping in. Without giving it another thought, I stepped into the water, the thick mud of the lake bed squishing between my toes.

  I sucked in a sharp breath as the chilly water enveloped my body, but I didn’t let it stop me, continuing to wade further out instead. By the time I reached the middle of the lake, my body had adjusted to the temperature and I began to relax.

  I leaned back, allowing myself to float along the surface of the water. Water filled my ears, until the only sound I could hear was my own heartbeat. I could still make out a few stars and the moon overhead. The sun would be up soon, chasing the moon out of sight, but until then the moon seemed content to hold on to the serene moment as much as I was.

  I closed my eyes and let myself relax to the steady rhythm of my heart and the water lapping at my sides. As I floated, my thoughts drifted to him. For years, I hadn’t allowed myself to think about him. It had been too fresh, the pain too great when I thought of everything I’d lost. But something about the lake helped dull the pain, and I’d begun to remember the only person I’d ever loved; the only person who’d ever loved me.

  I stayed that way for a while, until yellow and orange streaks of light began to fill the sky and then I swam several laps before heading back over to my towel. My muscles were warm and limber as I slid my shoes back on and threw the towel over my shoulders. I noticed a few of the fishermen who had camped there the night before had woken and were setting their poles up for another day of fishing.

  Once I got back to my cabin, I quickly showered the lake water off me and got dressed before I went to the kitchen and poured myself a bowl of cereal. I ate, standing at the sink, then washed my dishes and put them away. I went back outside and climbed in my truck then slowly began making my way over to the bait shop. I pulled up alongside the newer Chevy truck that belonged to my boss.

  I smiled as I thought about the woman who’d hired me. Edith Bradbury was in her fifties and had been a dispatcher for the local sheriff’s office for over twenty-five years. She and her husband had always talked about traveling once they both were old enough to retire, but her husband had died of a heart attack before that ever happened. When Edith finally retired a few years later, she decided to take their life savings and buy the abandoned pay lake. She was hard working and determined, and within a couple of years, she had completely turned the lake into a profitable business.

  She was tough as nails and expected a lot out of her employees, but she was also fair, kind and compassionate. And that softer side of her was never more evident than when she was around her animals. I’d seen her care for all kinds of strays in the two years I’d lived there. Anything from cats and dogs to rabbits and wounded birds.

  I climbed from the truck and walked towards the bait shop, still humming the song that had been playing on the radio. It was the newest hit from Carter’s Creed and I just knew it was going to be stuck in my head all day.

  There were two men in the shop and they both said hello as I opened the door. They were regulars at the lake and I stared at the floor as I mumbled a quiet hello and then quickly made my way around the counter.

  The first several years after leaving home, I’d been bitter and angry and purposefully avoided other people. It had been necessary to both my sanity and survival to keep everyone at arm’s length. After a while, it became a habit. Even after moving to the lake, I’d just found it was easier to keep my distance.

  The only person I’d let in, even just a little bit, was Edith. It had started out as a necessity because we work together, but eventually I’d found myself opening up a little more as I learned to trust her. She was the only person in the world that I would consider a friend, but even she didn’t know the painful secrets of my past.

  Edith was slim with brown hair that contained just a touch of silver, hazel eyes and dimples that showed when she smiled at me as I poked my head into the back room of the shop, giving her a little wave. She was crouched down next to one of the large tanks on the floor, and I watched as she used a net to scoop several small fish into a plastic container.

  There were three large tanks along the floor, each holding over two hundred and fifty gallons of water and fish that would be used as bait to catch the much larger fish that swam in the lake. Each tank had its own motor which helped filter the water and keep oxygen flowing into the tank. It was nearly impossible to hear anyone speaking over the sound of the motors, so I decided to go up front while I waited for her to tell me what she needed me to work on that day.

  The front half of the bait shop reminded me of the concession stand my high school would open up during sporting events. There was the usual candy, mints, and gum, but the fishermen could also purchase warm foods such as soft pretzels, hot dogs, and popcorn. Hooks, fishing line, and brand-new poles were also on hand in case someone forgot or lost some necessary fishing equipment. The walls were decorated with pictures of fishermen proudly holding up giant catfish. Under each picture was the length and weight of their catch.

  I was just stirring the creamer into my cup of coffee when I heard Edith come out from the back room. She went to the cash register, smiling at the friendly wager the two fishermen were making as she rang up their items. They paid and then headed to the front door. Edith and I were still laughing at the two of them as they continued to trash-talk each other.

  “What have you got for me today?” I asked as she began straightening up the counter.

  “Well, I need that old dead tree at the front gate cut down and dragged to the brush pile. Then, the back part of the lake needs weed-eating and the dock needs to be stained.” I nodded my head as she continued to tick off items that needed to be done.

  I had been a little overwhelmed when I first started working for Edith by the number of things that needed to be done each day. But, over time, I’d gotten used to it, and had even begun to enjoy it. I’d never been afraid of hard work or getting my hands dirty, and I liked the sense of accomplishment I felt whenever I completed a project.

  The best part though, was the physicality of the job. As a kid, I’d always been very athletic, excelling at many sports. It was something I had been proud of and it was supposed to have gotten me out of the hell I’d been living in. But, in one night, my dreams, my future and the one person I held dear were all taken from me.

  “…Get the cabin ready,” Edith finished saying.

  “I’m sorry, what?” I asked sheepishly as I realized I’d let my mind wander.

  “I said I hired someone new. He looked like he’d be a hard worker,” she answered with a shrug. “So, I’ll need you to get the empty cabin ready for him. He’ll be here in about an hour, so you better get a move on. I’ll send him over as soon as he gets here.”

  “Okay,” I mumbled.

  I was grateful that she had hired someone. We needed the help, especially with Memorial Day weekend coming up, but the thought of meeting someone new, of having to introduce myself to a stranger, made my heart race and I felt my palms growing slick with sweat. Edith gave me a sympathetic look as I tossed my nearly full cup of coffee into the trash can, my nerves making it impossible for my stomach to handle the rich brew.

  “His name is Jeremy and he seemed like a ni
ce guy, but I’m here if you need anything,” she said gently.

  “Nah, I’ll be okay,” I assured her. I pasted a smile on my face, but the concerned look on her face told me she wasn’t buying it.

  Without another word, I left the shop and climbed back in my truck. There were several fishermen already set up for the day with their bobbers in the water and coolers of ice-cold beer next to them and they waved to me as I slowly drove around the lake. They’d stay that way for hours and I often wondered how they never grew bored.

  When I got to the empty cabin, I got out and quickly set about uncovering the furniture and opening the windows to allow fresh air to filter through. After that, I wiped down all the counters, made sure the refrigerator was clean and then swept the floors.

  I tried to focus on my list of things to do that day, but I was curious about the man Edith had hired. I hoped that he would be able to keep up with the demands of the job. I really didn’t want to spend several weeks training someone who was just going to turn around and quit. I also hoped that he wouldn’t want to talk too much. I liked having peace and quiet when I worked, and I didn’t need someone following me around, trying to become my friend.

  I finished drying off from my shower then slapped on some deodorant and brushed my teeth before finally getting dressed. I picked my phone up from the bedside table and checked the time on it. I still had a few minutes before I needed to check in, so I quickly gathered all my toiletries and shoved them into my suitcase.

  When I was sure I had everything packed up, I sat down on the bed and opened up my laptop. With the type of job that my coworkers and I had, it wasn’t often that we were all at the office at the same time, so to make sure we all stayed in touch with each other, our boss had begun scheduling weekly video conferences.

  I looked forward to it every week, not only because the guys I worked with were like family to me, but because for however long the conference lasted, I felt a little less alone. I’d been on my own for a very long time and, usually, it didn’t bother me, but sometimes it was harder to accept than others. I was happy with my life for the most part, but my career choices weren’t exactly relationship friendly. It was a sacrifice I’d willingly made in order to do what I loved.