Lady of the Canyon

By Gerald Grantham

THE LADY OF THE CANYON

A late foggy night...
Not a good start to his retirement, he is already tired from driving all day in impenetrable fog. Four hundred miles creeping along jammed roads, guided by radar equipped Highway Patrol cars. Finally, he is on a two lane country road passing through a narrow canyon, a last winding step to his new home.
Suddenly she is there, caught in his light beam, standing in the middle of the road. He stops, stunned by her appearance in the middle of the night...
She beckons to him, then disappears into some trees.
Then she is gone.

Who did he see in the Canyon?

• Language: English
• Publisher: CUSTOM BOOK PUBLICATIONS
• Release date: Aug 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310795282

Gerald Grantham

The Author was born in Palo Alto, raised in the San Jose area of California, graduating from San Jose State University − that part of the state known as Silicon Valley. After working there for several years, his training in solid state electronics led him to travel extensively throughout the US. He traveled extensively overseas in Asia and Europe and more recently mainland China, where his work involves the installation of complex systems and training of operators. Although having lived in many parts of the US, he always returned home to California. He began to write after moving to a small mountain community in the north of the state where the ridges and valleys, the towns and characters have been the inspiration for his stories. In his travels, he has come upon accounts of roaming spirits, usually out to revenge a wrong. The Lady of the Canyon pays homage to these tales, and the people who believe in them. The Author respects the sincerity of their beliefs, something science is hard pressed to disprove.

Book preview

THE LADY OF THE CANYON

A late foggy night…

Not a good start to his retirement, he is already tired from driving all day in impenetrable fog. Four hundred miles creeping along jammed roads, guided by radar equipped Highway Patrol cars. Finally, he is on a two lane country road passing through a narrow canyon, a last winding step to his new home.

Suddenly she is there, caught in his light beam, standing in the middle of the road. He stops, stunned by her appearance in the middle of the night…

She beckons to him, then disappears into some trees.

Then she is gone.

Who did he see in the Canyon?

GERALD W. GRANTHAM

The Author was born in Palo Alto, raised in the San Jose area of California, graduating from San Jose State University − that part of the state known as Silicon Valley. After working there for several years, his training in solid state electronics led him to travel extensively throughout the US. He traveled extensively overseas in Asia and Europe and more recently mainland China, where his work involves the installation of complex systems and training of operators. Although having lived in many parts of the US, he always returned home to California. He began to write after moving to a small mountain community in the north of the state where the ridges and valleys, the towns and characters have been the inspiration for his stories.

In his travels, he has come upon accounts of roaming spirits, usually out to revenge a wrong. The Lady of the Canyon pays homage to these tales, and the people who believe in them. The Author respects the sincerity of their beliefs, something science is hard pressed to disprove.

Copyright © 2015 Gerald Grantham

Published by

CUSTOM BOOK PUBLICATIONS

The characters are fictitious and resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental

The

LADY OF THE CANYON

A Novel by

GERALD GRANTHAM

Volume One

The Jonas Valley Saga

PREAMBLE

Sacramento, California, lies in a broad valley, running north-south, defined throughout its length, by two parallel mountain ranges. Gently rolling in some areas, other regions are steep and rugged.

The latter is the case in the area east of Sacramento where the rugged hills are pierced by US 50 to the south and I-80 to the north. These two great freeways angle away from each other as they travel eastward to the Sierras, between them the rolling hills in the west to the forested mountains of the east. This area is dissected by a single highway, running from Placerville in the south to Auburn in the north. The road north is now closed, with no word from the California Department of Transportation as to when the granite boulders blocking it will be removed. The need to blast would probably cause further rock falls.

The road from the south is open, all traffic now comes this way. Farms and dairies dot the western portion, the one town is there. To the east, ranching dominates largely on leased land. Much of the county is National Forest, with ranching and logging of the pines by permission. As a land of ridges and valleys cut by rivers and streams, the region is blessed by these bearers of the Sierra’s winter snow pack. Water is necessary in this region of low rainfall, no rain falls from late May until mid October. These waterways satisfy the needs of farming, ranching and recently, logging. There is a small, active sawmill outside of town.

The Jonas Valley, named in the 1850’s, is a conservative place, so much so that they almost did not build the electronics plant at the edge of town. Many did not want this symbol of the modern world intruding upon the peace of the valley, but by a narrow margin it was allowed. Here, truckloads of devices built in China are repaired under warranty. Computers, printers and digital cameras are unloaded, tested and repaired by technicians, many of whom are retrained locals. Some are local youth, perhaps some of the few who might stay on, given a decent job.

As befitting an area concerned with law and order, the county has a Sheriff Department. It is small, and currently understaffed. They do not know it, but evil is coming to sorely test this small rural department.

In winter, the fog masks so much in this part of the world, it allows things to sneak up on you.

The fog is very much on the mind of one driver trying to reach this Valley. This fog might just let something sneak up on him.

*****

Chapter ONE

The SUV moved slowly along the two lane road, enveloped in fog. Jim glanced at his daughter, sleeping on a pillow against the passenger side door. He had hoped to have her safely in bed before this time – long before this time. Their day had begun early in LA. They had stayed in a motel last night, their furniture was on a truck. The house he bought with his wife now belonged to someone else, ceasing to be their family home when his wife had been killed. This trip promised a new start, for both father and daughter.

It was nearing ten-thirty pm. Damn fog, he thought, as he peered into the swirling white. It had been like this for the last hundred miles. On Interstate 5, the Highway Patrol had escorted long convoys of vehicles, using a form of radar to ‘see’ their way safely through the dense fog. Even now, he had to keep his lights on low as high beam reflected off the fog, blinding him. From I-5, they had traveled east on US 50, with more fog delays. They had finally made it to their turn off, heading north on California route 49. To the south, this road wound through the gold mining area of the 1849 pioneers. This area to the North was less popular with the summer tourists, one reason for choosing it as his home.

He was a tall man, over forty with no gray in his dark hair, yet. There was just the start of ‘crows feet’, too much squinting, like now. He sat hunched over the wheel, staring ahead with both hands gripping the wheel, as the road contained enough curves to keep him constantly alert. Yet, this did not stop him from being startled by the sight around one of these curves. Suddenly, there she was!

A pale apparition, wearing the bonnet and long dress of a pioneer woman. She stood in the middle of the road so Jim had to stop for her. Her mouth was moving, but he heard nothing. She raised her right hand and gestured to him, she seemed to want Jim to follow her. She moved off the road to the right into the trees. Then, she was gone! Jim sat there, wanting to follow, but unwilling to leave his daughter. Stopped on the road, to his left the sound of creek noise echoed off the walls, for this was a canyon. This was the road from Placerville into the Jonas Valley.

Gwen stirred. ‘What’s the matter, Dad? Why are we stopped?’ She sleepily asked.

‘It’s okay, Gwen. Something ran across the road.’

He did not lie, exactly. Chrissy was growling from her bed in the back seat, ‘Quiet girl.’ Restarting the SUV, he did not remember shutting it off. What if another car came along in the fog? Shaken, he continued on toward the Valley. Even twenty years of police work in LA had not prepared him for what he had experienced. What had he seen? He mulled it over, crawling along the fog shrouded road to his sister’s home.

Thirty long minutes later, they drove out of the canyon. He noticed the trees disappeared on his right to be replaced by the ghostly images of scattered homes. Jim had to move slowly to read the street signs. As he did so, a Sheriff’s patrol car pulled up beside. Both drivers lowered a window. ‘Can I help you, sir?’ the Deputy asked.

He did not hesitate to ask for the location of his sister’s street. The directions were simple, and given with a smile. The Deputy had spotted the sleeping Gwen.

‘Thanks for the assist. I didn’t catch your name.’

‘Corporal Tom Baker, no problem, sir.’

‘Jim Roberts, late of the LAPD.’

Tom feigned being greatly impressed, ‘Then I am very pleased to have helped a brother Officer. Just visiting?’

Jim shook his head, ‘I bought the Old Mill. My daughter and I plan on living there.’

Tom saluted. ‘Welcome to Jonas Valley!’ He waved, and was gone.

Jim closed his window, then drove slowly on. Eventually, he found Lynn’s street. Carefully, he crept along the street until he found a house with the porch light on. It was Lynn’s. He pulled into the driveway and killed the lights and engine.

The front door opened, and Lynn came hurrying out. Light brown hair, almost blond, tied into a ponytail topped her lithe frame. Jim saw her anxious face as he came around the front of his vehicle.

‘Sorry we’re late, Sis.’

‘Jim, I was worried. I thought something happened to you.’

‘I’ll get Gwen.’

‘Her room’s ready. I tried your cellphone, it went right to voicemail.’

‘We were probably in the Canyon, must be bad reception.’

Jim opened the passenger side door, the sleepy eleven-year-old nearly slid out.

‘I’ll help her,’ Lynn said, as she put her arm around her niece. They made their way into the house, as Jim got their suitcases.

Chrissy jumped down off her bed, and followed them. Lynn kept Gwen on track for bed, as Jim placed her suitcase in her room. In no time, his ‘Little One’ was snug in bed. He stood in the doorway, watching her rhythmic breathing. The blonde Cocker was already curled up on the rug beside her bed. Lynn smiled as she saw him.

‘Just like Dad used to do for us,’ she whispered.

He quietly shut the door and turned to her, ‘Comes with the birth certificate,’ he whispered back.

She put an arm around him as they walked toward the living room, ‘If only that was true, Big Brother. I see signs that, too often it is just the opposite.’

He looked around at the room and token dining room adjacent, ‘This is nice, Sis. I am surprised a third grade teacher can afford such a nice place.’

‘Well, Dad did help with the down payment. The decorating is all me,’ she smiled as she gestured about her.

‘That’s only fair, Lynn,’ he said smiling back, ‘Mom helped me with my purchase.’

She laughed, ‘How is the Grande Dame of Bel Air?’

‘Great! She and grandfather just hosted a fund raiser for homeless Republicans.’

Lynn laughed, ‘I doubt they were homeless, but I get the idea. Can I get you something?’ She gestured toward the kitchen.

‘Coffee, if it’s not too much trouble.’

‘It’s not, I know how much you cops like your coffee.’

They continued on into the kitchen, she grabbed two mugs and poured them each a cup. It was decaf, she hoped he didn’t mind.

‘How is your Mom?’ he asked as he took the offered cup from her.

‘Busy. She and Dad recently had a benefit for jobless Democrats… or something like that. How in the world did our father marry your mother? They are so different!’ Lynn led him back into the living room.

‘I think Dad wanted her money,’ Jim responded, ‘but he quickly learned she asked too high a price. By that time, I was born.’ They took two seats sharing a small table.

She gazed at her brother, ‘I never envied you being shuttled back and forth between your Mom and our dad. I missed you when you were with your Mom.’

He looked at his half-sister, she had become a beautiful young woman of thirty. No more the skinny teenager. She was always bright and caring, like her mother. ‘Well, Sis, I missed you and your Mom, when I was with mine. Now, we’ll have plenty of time to catch up. I don’t know how much longer the conversion of the old Mill will take. I hope Gwen and I don’t become too much of a pain.’

‘You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need. On Monday, we can get Gwen enrolled in sixth grade. Mrs. Goodwin is a good teacher, I think Gwen will like her.’

Jim looked concerned, ‘She still misses her mother, Lynn. Its been nearly two years, but she still broods.’

‘What about you, Big Brother? How are you doing?’

‘I buried myself in work at first. I took all of the overtime I could. I spent any spare time in my shop. Then I realized that Gwen needed me, so I cut down on work, started taking her out more. I think it helped both of us. By shutting myself off from Gwen. I could have lost her too. I’ll be damned if I let a drunk driver destroy my family! I’ve started teaching her about wood and tools. She never has been much for dolls.’

Lynn grimaced, ‘Yeah, I remember the doll set your mother gave her one year. I think she had more fun with the box than the dolls.’

‘Next Spring she will probably want to try out for a local Little League team. She’s a good hitter, better than most boys her age.’

‘I hope she does, Jim. Of course, it will upset a few local rednecks.’

‘That sounds like there have been problems. Anything for me to worry about?’

‘I don’t thinks so. There was some trouble about the contents of some classes at the High School but I don’t think anyone around here is going to bother a retired LA Homicide Lieutenant, even if he is making fancy furniture,’ she said with a smile.

He smiled back at her, ‘It was Robbery-Homicide, Sis. When they find out who’s buying that fancy furniture, they will probably take notice.’

‘Do you think some of your clients will be coming up here to see their pieces?’

‘I doubt it, Lynn, the long drive and the fog will stop most of them. Speaking of fog, when we were stuck creeping through that canyon, in this wonderful fog, I saw a teenage girl on the road.’

She was startled by this revelation, ‘She was actually on the road?’

‘Yeah, standing on the centerline. I had to stop for her.’

‘What did she look like? What happened?’

‘She was a tall, slim girl, dark hair, dressed in a costume. She motioned to me then disappeared into the trees.’

‘What kind of a costume was she wearing?’

‘She was dressed like a pioneer woman, a long dress and a bonnet.’

‘How strange. Do you think you could identify her, Jim?’

‘Sure, I got a good look at her. Dark hair, dark eyes, cute face.’

Lynn was concerned, ‘The old Emigrant Gap Trail used to run east of here. Plus this area was involved in the Gold Rush. Frontier costumes are very popular around here, but at this time of the year is strange. Halloween was over two weeks ago.’

‘Sis, it occurred to me that she could have been on drugs. Why would she be walking in the Canyon, at night?’

‘Tomorrow, I think we need to tell Larry about this girl.’

‘Who is this Larry?’

‘Larry Reynolds. He’s a Sergeant with the local Sheriff, and my boyfriend.’

Jim looked serious, ‘I don’t know if I like my little sister involved with a cop. He is probably not good enough, for one thing.’

‘Too late. If he asks me, I will probably marry him. Besides,’ she smiled at him, ‘some cops make good husbands and fathers. At least your wife and daughter thought so.’

‘Neither of them knew any better,’ he retorted, smiling, then he grew more earnest, ‘It’s that serious, is it Sis?’

‘Yes, Big Brother, it is that serious,’ she smiled at him.

He reached over and patted her hand, ‘I’m happy for you, Lynn. He had better treat you right, or he will answer to your big brother.’

‘Just like old times, you defending me from bullies,’ she laughed.

‘And one overly amorous suitor when you were in High School.’

‘Oh Jim, I remember… I was a freshman, and he kept asking me out. He wouldn’t take no for an answer. Then you showed up in your police uniform! What did you say to him?’

‘Lynn, all I said was that I would arrest him for harassing a minor. He took off.’

‘You didn’t tell him you were my brother?’

‘No, Sis. That would have spoiled the fun. That poor fool thought the police were on his tail. He never bothered you again, did he?’

‘No,’ she said with a smirk, ‘every time he saw me, he went the other way.’ They both laughed.

He smiled at her, ‘You know, you caused me problems with some of my girlfriends. Some of them saw me with you, and got all jealous. One even accused me of hustling minors! I had a hard time convincing them that you were my sister!’

Lynn laughed, ‘I know! I had the same problem. When I was at UCLA, I had one dorm adviser who warned me that I was seeing a married man! She must have seen you with Cheryl and Gwen, then she saw us having lunch together.’

‘I hope everyone around here knows who Gwen and I are, otherwise there might be talk. Does Larry know about us?’

‘Yes, Jim. Larry knows all about you and Gwen. I don’t think he will like not having me to himself while you’re here.’

‘Can’t you go to his place?’

‘No, he shares a house with his sister. She is a local vet. You’ll meet Susan on Sunday, when they come for dinner.’

‘Does Susan have a ‘significant other’, Sis?’

‘No, Big Brother, she is a single lady. Blonde, attractive, early-thirties, about five foot nine. She smirked at Jim, ‘I think you will like Susan, but I warn you, she is very quiet.’ Jim said nothing, just looked pensive. ‘Jim, don’t start feeling guilty!’ Lynn scolded, ‘You know Cheryl would want you to be happy! If you and Susan hit it off, Cheryl would have wanted you to pursue the relationship.’

Jim grew defensive, ‘When did you become an expert on what Cheryl would want?’

Lynn looked seriously at Jim for a moment, then spoke, ‘I guess you didn’t know it, but Cheryl was my friend. You were a good Big Brother, but sometimes I needed a Big Sister. Cheryl and I talked nearly every day. She was my best friend.’

Jim was surprised, ‘Sis, I didn’t realize how close you two were. Moving up here must have been tougher for you than I thought.’

‘It was tough, but I had family up here too. The school is just what I wanted. My grandmother, uncle and aunt, and my cousins made me feel at home. It was a good move. We emailed each other nearly every day.’

He gave her a compassionate look, ‘Then that drunk driver cost you something too. I’m sorry, I didn’t know, Sis.’

Lynn shook her head and touched his hand on the table, ‘You had all you could handle. I couldn’t have you think about my loss, even if you had known. I felt guilty too. I talked her into the relationship with you.’

Jim grew more serious, ‘I have wondered why Cheryl came back after she broke up with me. It occurred to me that someone probably called her, after we argued. Somebody must have told her that I really loved her, but just wasn’t good at saying it. Someone convinced her that I was worth a second chance. You were so persuasive when you wanted to be. Did you call her, Lynn?’

‘No, Jim. I drove over and visited her. She was all broken up. She really loved you, but she thought you really weren’t serious. It didn’t take much talking to convince her otherwise. Her roommate sure helped, she knew how Cheryl felt. We found it easy to convince her to give my big, silent brother another chance.’

Jim grew a bit misty eyed. He did not say anything, just squeezed her hand and quietly remembered. Then he felt compelled to speak, ‘How many teenage sisters would have even thought of doing such a thing? Thank you, Lynn, for the best dozen years of my life.’

‘And thank you for being my brother so many times when I needed you.’ Their four hands met on the little table. After a moment, Lynn spoke, ‘It’s late, Jim. We both have things to do tomorrow.’

‘Okay, Sis. It has been a long day. What are your plans for tomorrow?’

‘I need to spend part of Saturday at my school. We are planning our Thanksgiving program. I thought I would take Gwen to see the school, and meet her new teacher… if it is all right with you?’

‘I think that would be good. Spending time with you should be good for her.’

Lynn got up and grabbed the coffee cups, ‘I hope so. I want to get to know her.’ She leaned over and kissed Jim on the cheek, ‘Good night, Big Brother.’ She took the mugs into the kitchen.

Jim got up and headed down the hallway. As he got ready for bed, the day caught up with him. He had driven all the way from LA today, he began to feel every mile. He went to sleep thinking of his beautiful redheaded wife, now dead for twenty-one months. He had come to this valley to find peace. Peace from the more than twenty years of conflict he had known. First, as a Marine, then as an LA cop. He intended to raise his daughter, and build custom furniture for wealthy people. He wanted to forget the violence of LA, this was to be a new chapter in his life. But violence is everywhere, in so many forms. Even now fate was transpiring to shatter the peace, the recent past has already prepared a surprise. Even in this beautiful setting, violence was present. Ugly, human, praying on the innocent, evil was close. Try as he might, a veteran policeman like Jim could not avoid involvement. A crime must be solved, perhaps as his last act as a police officer. The only question that remains is, how much will it cost? That night Jim saw her in his dreams, the Lady of the Canyon. She was haunting him, he had been chosen. Why appear to him? What does Sarah want of Jim?

Corporal Tom Baker finished a fog filled, but uneventful patrol. He worked the four to midnight shift. Larry Reynolds was his Supervisor, such as it was. He never felt that he received much supervision. Tom, who was an Army Reserve First Lieutenant, knew something about leadership. Larry did not begin to measure up. Tom saw him as self-absorbed, perhaps consumed by his own patrol work and reports. Was that all he could handle? Everyone knew that he was seeing Lynn Roberts, was that his preoccupation? Tom sat down at a department computer. It did not take him long to find Jim in the LAPD roster. ‘Detective Lieutenant!’ He noted that Jim was listed as active. ‘Not retired yet, must be on terminal vacation.’ Terminal vacation here means taking accrued vacation time just before retirement. This got Tom’s attention. He logged off, then walked to Dispatch. Betty Compton was on duty, her husband was on the Midnight to Eight, patrolling the county tonight.

A short conversation with her told him of Lynn’s older brother. Tom did not think they looked much alike. Betty saw his look, she knew he was deep in thought. It made her wonder about Tom. He had dark good looks from an Indian mother, quiet like her, too. She knew his two sisters, the older one was quiet. Ellen, the younger sister, was more outgoing, and her friend, now a rookie second-grade teacher at a local school. She was teaching, just like her mother and older sister.

There were rumors of women in his life, but Tom was rarely seen in public with a girlfriend. Betty wondered about that. Tom thanked her, then headed on out. He was expecting company tonight, so he headed home. He could not put Jim Roberts out of his mind. ‘Why would a veteran lieutenant from the LAPD give it all up and move here. There was no wife, but he had a child. Is the wife dead, or split? Police work is hard on marriages.’ That made him think of his own situation. He was sure that he would see thirty, without the risk of marriage. Take his current lover, Hillary Patton. She was three years younger, but already had suffered through a bad marriage. She had gone to Sacramento State for her Nursing degree. Tried working in a hospital there, got involved with a guy who turned out to be abusive. She separated and got an Order of Restraint. He violated the order, the local police locked him up. Hillary divorced him and came on home. She wanted a relationship with him, but not marriage. Her Sansei Mother would not agree with that, but it made no difference. Hillary often talked of how the Japanese-Americans were all so conservative. Hillary had almond shaped eyes, and black hair, just like her Mom. Her outlook was all American, her spirit was strong, just like her body. Tom found her a good lover, but she was slow to trust. He figured that if he was a white guy, she would have never given him a chance. For once, being half Navajo had worked in his favor.

He beat Hillary to his house, so Jingles was all over him. His boots were rubbed, then she fell over, giving him ‘tummy’. Tom was soon on his knees, petting the gray striped cat. He figured that she was at least part Manx, for her tail was only about three inches. It stuck in the air when she walked, its movement echoed her mood. Her loud purring left no doubt as to her current mood. She suddenly jumped up, then headed to the kitchen. He put away his jacket and gunbelt, then joined his furry friend at the refrigerator. Tom got out some things to reheat, as Jingles took her accustomed place on his table. He put out a small bowl for her, then slipped some meat into it. She gobbled it down, then looked very pleased with herself.

Tom watched her, and thought about this new resident of the Valley. Would a veteran police officer stay away from the Sheriff’s Department, or would he find out just how poor it was? That made him consider making contact with Lieutenant Roberts, perhaps talking to him about the Department. Then he reconsidered. He figured that it would only meet with hostility from the Sheriff on down.

The sound of a car out front redirected his attention. Hillary let herself in, Tom was ready with a hug and kiss. ‘You sure feel good,’ Tom whispered to her. ‘I bet I don’t smell very good, I need a shower!’

‘You go ahead and get a shower. I’ll have something ready to eat.’

She smiled at him, as she removed her coat. She started undoing her scrubs, ‘What a change, finding a guy that can cook!’ She headed for the bathroom. By the time he had their dinner prepared and read his mail, Hillary emerged in her bath robe, drying her hair.

‘Tough night?’ Tom asked.

She nodded, ‘Bad enough.’ They both sat down. ‘Teen OD, we almost lost her.’

Hillary was an ER nurse, she said that she liked the adrenalin rush. They had that in common. Over their meal, Tom told her about the new resident of the Valley. This piqued her interest, she told him that she would see what she could find out. They watched Jingles jump down from the table, the bell on her collar tingling as she moved. The bell had been on a different collar when Tom found Jingles in the wreckage of a of a meth lab that had been raided. The cat was a true orphan, so Tom took her to a vet. After her shots, and a deworming, Tom took the little cat home. That was almost four years ago. Jingles made herself right at home. In short order, one could easily see who ran this household. Jingles was into everything, but never destructive. She had an overwhelming curiosity, especially about visitors. Jingles always rushed to the door, if someone knocked or rang the bell. She was first to greet them, always looking for attention. Six pounds of outgoing kitty, but she knew that Tom was her special friend. She lay next to him on the sofa, Hillary on his other side. Both desired his attention.

Tom and Hillary talked about the need to buy groceries, speculated about Jim Roberts and family, then retired to bed. Tom liked sleeping with his new friend. Hillary might have a face like her mother, but her sturdy body favored her father’s side of the family. Tom was all for mixed heritage. Their nights together were good, indeed.

Tom wondered how many more dull night patrols he would have to make. Tom should be careful what he wished for.

Deputy Andrea Kelly had her usual twilight run, despite the fog. Down River Street, past the Old Mill, then along the trail beside the river. Clad in her lavender sweats, the tall young beauty set a fast pace. She thought about the old water powered mill, out of operation for many years, replaced by the new mill outside of town. Now, it was being remodeled as a home. Lynn’s brother was moving in, with his daughter. He was leaving a career with the LAPD, coming here to build custom furniture. That bothered her, she was at the start of what she hoped, was a long career in Law Enforcement. Last thing she wanted to think about was retirement. Still, she did wonder what it was like, pulling the plug after twenty plus years as a cop in LA.

She had no illusions, police work was tough for a woman. Not many were willing to put up with the life, fewer still with the ability to succeed at it. It was tough on the social life, for one thing. Most young men don’t date female cops. She was usually armed, like tonight. Imagine dating someone who could blow you away! Most of the young women her age were married or engaged. She was turning twenty-four soon, there was pressure from her father. With her mom gone, he was her only parent. There was just her and her sister now, and she was away at college. Just her and Dad here now, not much family left. Her need for family seemed to diminish, she had her career to fill her time.

She dated a lot, at first. In high school, then after, she was very active. But the young men were not really satisfactory, in bed or out. She was tall, gorgeous, and she was driven. Too much for the local young men, perhaps she needed to look further afield. But leaving this valley was not something she was eager to do. She ran on, turning her mind to