With another three hours to kill, he checked his laptop for recent news, particularly about the Middle East. Friends were there. He wished he were there, as well. He felt like a fish flopping on land in this peaceful town in the middle of nowhere.
One website led to another until he heard an approaching vehicle. He closed the laptop and went to meet his temporary host.
The top was down on a Jeep and his visitor was accompanied by a Belgian Malinois. Jubal recognized the breed from his SEAL days. It was the service’s dog of choice because of intelligence and size.
Even if he hadn’t known Josh Manning had been a soldier, he would have instantly recognized him as one. Although there was a slight limp, Manning walked with an assurance that came with being a career warrior.
They shook hands, each sizing up the other.
“This is Amos,” Josh said. “He’s also a veteran.”
The dog lifted his paw politely and Jubal leaned over and shook it. Jubal knew instantly he was going to like both his host and the dog. “Thanks again for the use of the cabin,” he said.
“Glad to have someone here to take care of it.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” Jubal replied.
Josh raised an eyebrow. “Okay. Let’s talk while I show you around. Maude’s a great diner but it’s not a good place for private conversation. News and rumors travel with the speed of light.”
“I discovered that when one of your officers stopped while I was running and knew me by name.”
“Drove me crazy when I first came here,” Josh said. “Now I just accept it. People here are interested in what’s happening in their universe, and Covenant Falls is their universe. But there’s no malice about it.” He paused, then asked, “You walk up the mountain yet?”
“Yeah. Right after I arrived.”
“Me, too.” He turned a corner. “I thought I would show you the falls. It’s our main attraction. It’ll take a little more than an hour going and coming. We can talk, then stop at Maude’s for lunch. I’ll never hear the end of it if I don’t take you there.”
Jubal mostly listened as Josh drove through town. They passed what looked like an old, rustic saloon with a dozen cars in the parking lot. “That’s the Rusty Nail,” Josh said. “It’s our watering hole. The owner is a vet and makes sure we feel welcome. He’s also a member of our Monday night vet poker game.”
They passed an inn with a sign portraying a whimsical camel that looked toward the mountains. “The Camel Trail Inn?” Jubal asked.
“My pride and joy,” Josh said. “My partner—another vet—and I finished rehabbing the inn two months ago. We’re getting tourists, but unfortunately we don’t have enough activities to keep them here more than a day or two. We want to start a wilderness adventure business but we have to have the right person.” He glanced at Jubal. “Would you be interested?”
“Thanks, but I don’t plan to stay more than a few days.”
“Heard and understood,” Josh said. “I’ll say no more.”
After a few more miles, Josh saw a large sign: The Falls of Covenant Falls. Josh turned left and followed a winding road through a virgin forest. Then he stopped in a parking area. “The falls are just beyond the bend.”
Jubal heard the roar ahead and walked with Josh around the corner to a picnic area. It was empty. The falls were grander than Jubal had imagined. Torrents of white frothy water cascaded over rocky outcrops into a gorge below. Water vapor hung in the air forming a rainbow.
“Impressive,” he said. He’d seen a lot of waterfalls, but there was a pristine beauty about this one that touched something inside him. He understood now why Josh wanted him to see it. “I would think there would be more visitors.”
“The locals come here on the weekend and special events,” Josh said, “but we’re trying to attract more out-of-town visitors and new residents. For a long time the majority of the town leaders didn’t want change or growth, but that policy resulted in a town that was dying off. My wife and others are trying to reverse that.”
“A new mission for you?” Jubal heard the longing in his own voice.
“Something like that. I didn’t know how much I needed one until I came here. But that’s not why you wanted to see me. I gathered from Clint that you have something on your mind.”
In the short time they’d been together, Jubal sensed he could trust Josh’s discretion. He told him about the kid.
Josh listened without commenting until Jubal finished. “He’s probably the brother of Lisa Redding, the new doctor in town,” Josh said. “I understand he got into some trouble back in Chicago.”
“It’s your property,” Jubal said. “I thought you should know.”
“And you want my input?”
“It’s your town. Your cabin. Your dock. I don’t want to do anything that would put you in a bad spot.”
“Can’t see how unless you intend bodily harm.”
“Other than throwing him into the lake?”
Josh chuckled. “Haven’t heard anything about it this morning so I think your kid is keeping silent.”
“He’s not ‘my’ kid.”
Josh met his gaze. “I would have done the same thing—except maybe throwing him in the lake. I don’t like cold water.”
“Yeah, but he’s the brother of your new doctor, who, I’d imagine, is important to the town.”
“She is. We’ve been looking for a doctor for months and Dr. Redding is said to be a very good one.”
“And,” Jubal continued, “according to the kid, she considers the military ‘fascists.’” He paused. “I wouldn’t want to be responsible for her leaving because of this.”
“Well, I get the impression she’s made of stronger stuff than to turn and run. She also has a contract. As for the ‘fascist’ comment, I met her several weeks ago and she seemed perfectly fine with me, and I’m pretty sure she knows I’m ex-military. Eve did say Lisa was concerned about Gordon and it was the main reason she moved here.
“As for the kid himself,” Josh said, “he may not show up. If he doesn’t, I would forget about it. You probably scared the hell out of him. And if you didn’t, the lake probably did.”
“And if he does?”
“It would be a step in the right direction.”
“What could he do around the cabin?”
“Maybe build a bench on the deck?” Josh suggested. “I’ve always kinda wanted one.”
“And say nothing to the sister?”
“We probably should,” Josh said with a wry smile. “But then he might get defensive and act out more.”
“I know,” Jubal said. “Been there. Done that.”
Josh chuckled. “Me, too.”
“What will your wife think about this? I hear she’s the mayor.”
“Truth be told, I’m not sure. She keeps surprising me. She has a devious soul underneath an innocent facade. She can be more concerned about the end rather than the means. I think she would approve, unless we lose the doctor. Then there will be hell to pay.”
Jubal didn’t answer. He felt trapped in a spiderweb but then he was the one who decided to reform the kid on his own. He just damn