**side chapter - bj88
Jeremy Bower had spent the past week navigating the dangerous forest surrounding Moon Lake. Dangerous because it was teeming with feds, which he hadn’t been expecting. How could they have known he was going after Spencer? Then again, he still couldn’t understand why he couldn’t have her. He’d marked her for God’s sake. That was as good as putting a ring on her finger in his book.
Of course his book wasn’t so much a book as it was a collection of crazy person ideas. All of which had been inherited from his father. A man who was forever trapped in the 1900s. When women couldn’t vote, and were treated like doormats.
“Sir? Are you alright?” A man, a regular human, came up to Jeremy, who was sitting on the wooden fence that separated the cars behind him and the ravine below. He’d stopped to smoke, something he hadn’t done in days. He’d stolen clothing from an unsuspecting couple camping in the woods. Now he was resting at (very appropriately) a rest stop.
“Ya, why? Do I look not right?” Jeremy asked.
“Well, no but you’ve been here for the past half-hour and seemed a bit… out of it.” the man said. He’s older, late forties maybe early fifties. It was so hard to tell.
“Just thinking,” Jeremy said shrugging.
“You’re not from around here are you?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“I guessed you were hitchhiking. You’ve only got the one bag after all.” the man pointed to the stolen backpack at Jeremy’s feet.
“I’m looking for someone.” Jeremy sighed.
“Aren’t we all? What, are you chasing some girl?”
“Again, am I really that transparent?”
“Lucky guess. Hitchers like you are either pining after someone, or they’re out to kill. And you don’t look much like a killer.” The man laughed.
“If he only knew….” Jeremy thought.
“I appreciate the kind words….”
“Ron.”
“Jerry.” Jeremy lied, shaking the man’s hand.
“Can I get you anywhere Jerry?”
“Well, yes if you don’t mind. Ever heard of a little town called Moon Lake?”
“Sure, I pass it everyday when I’m going into town. I’m set in a cabin a few miles outside the town limits. Work for a guy who grows Christmas trees and other perennials.”
“Must be my lucky day. Most people have never heard of the place.”
“I’m sure. It’s not a very large community. And then, it’s a little weird.”
“Weird?” Jeremy asked, knowing full well what was weird about it. Still, it amused him to hear what an outsider thought of the were populated town.
“Ya. Never been able to put my finger on it exactly, but the place gives me the chills. Like one of those towns from a horror movie. Some shady shit goes down there. And lately the feds have been crawling all over it.” Ron said shaking his head.
“That shady huh?”
“Well maybe exaggerated a bit. But it’s still a weird place. Your girl there?”
“I think she might be. Better do a quick check. I’d hate to have come out here, and missed her.”
“Where you from?”
“Uh, down the coast. Just at the border of Oregon and Washington. But originally an east coast kid.” Jeremy lies quickly. Thankfully Ron doesn’t ask anymore questions after that. He directs Jeremy toward his car, a dark blue sedan with hunting bumper stickers on the back.
“Thanks Ron, I hope I can repay the debt someday.” Jeremy said, getting into the passenger seat.
“Don’t think anything of it. Now, off to Moon Lake. Well actually if you don’t mind, I kinda need to take a detour into one of the less peculiar towns first.”
“By all means. I’m in no rush.” Jeremy said, leaning back into the chair. After spending almost a week running on his hands and feet (then paws), he’s glad to let someone else do the leg work. And whether Ron wants to or not, he’s going to do the work.
“Just in time too.” Jeremy thought, glancing out the window. He sees a black car pull into the rest stop just as Ron pulls out. Two feds get out and look around the area. They spend a few minutes talking before peeling back out onto the road. In the opposite direction to Jeremy’s relief.
“I’m gonna take you home Spencer, just wait.” Jeremy thought, before succumbing to exhaustion and falling asleep. He trusted Ron, and it wasn’t like he had anything valuable to steal. On the contrary, Ron was in more danger than the unconscious Jeremy. On false move, Jeremy would tear the guy’s head off.