Monday morning rolled around, a day Jolena had off from work, and she took the liberty of sleeping in.
Upon finally dragging herself to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, she was taken aback to find Joe leaning against the counter, coffee in hand.
“Morning, Jo. Sleep well? Want some coffee?” he asked, his energy levels seemingly high, perhaps due to an excess of caffeine.
“Joe, why are you still here? Shouldn’t you be at work?” Jolena questioned, her brows furrowing.
“I’m working from home today,” he replied, reaching for a fresh cup and filling it with coffee.
Handing the cup to Jolena, he cleared some of the scattered papers off the kitchen table, making room for her to sit.
Once she’d settled into her chair and taken a sip of her coffee, Jolena asked, “Did you get a chance to talk to Ava yesterday? How’d she react?”
Joe closed his laptop and looked at Jolena from across the table. “I did. She’s excited about the opportunity. She’s meeting with the clinic’s head next week. But she does have some reservations.”
“What’s there to be unsure about? It’s a perfect fit for her.” Jolena shook her head, unable to comprehend Ava’s hesitation. If she were in Ava’s shoes, she wouldn’t think twice.
“The clinic’s location is a bit of a problem. It’s in Miller Creek,” Joe explained. “The traffic is horrendous, and the final stretch is a dirt road without streetlights, winding up the mountains.
“I’ve visited my sister there a few times, and driving in the dark isn’t exactly a pleasant experience. Ava doesn’t want to move that far away and fears she’ll miss us too much. She doesn’t know anyone there.
“And since it’s a secluded community, not much is known about its residents. So, I understand her apprehension.”
“I see.” Jolena paused, her curiosity piqued about the people living in that community. “You’ve been there, though. What can you tell me about them?”
“Not a lot. Most of my time there was spent hiking in the Grey Mountains,” Joe admitted.
“The locals aren’t too fond of outsiders. Apart from the clinic staff, I only met one man who seemed to be in charge. He works here in Litchley, owns the Anderson Corporation downtown.”
“Christopher Anderson?” Jolena asked, taken aback.
“That’s him. You know him?”
“Not personally, but I’ve heard of him. He’s one of the most notorious businessmen in town. Rumor has it he’s a tough boss, not easy to work for.
“He’s a millionaire, so everyone tries to stay on his good side. But what’s a man like him doing in the countryside? I don’t understand.”
“I’m not sure what he’s up to there, but he spends more time there than here in the city. He has a team that manages his business when he’s away, and they reach out to him when necessary.
“That’s all I know,” Joe shrugged, reopening his laptop and rummaging through his papers. “Sorry, I need to get back to work. Can we continue this later?”
“Of course, sorry for interrupting,” Jolena replied, heading towards the kitchen door. “I’m going grocery shopping later, need anything?”
“No, I’m good, thanks,” Joe responded.
Jolena retreated to her bedroom to grab her keys and phone, her mind still occupied with thoughts of the secluded community. She pulled out her laptop and began searching for information about it from the edge of her bed.
There wasn’t much to find, just a few news articles about wolf sightings near Miller Creek Station.
As Jolena was about to leave, her phone rang. “Ava! How are you?”
“Hi, Jolena, I’m good, thanks. I was wondering if you’re home. I’d like to come over and talk,” Ava said, getting straight to the point.
“I was just heading out for groceries. But I’ll be free when I get back,” Jolena replied. “You can come over then, and we can order takeout. Just like old times, you, Joe, and me.”
“Count me in,” Ava declared, her voice bubbling with excitement. “I’ll swing by around four. I’ll bring the vino.” “Great, see you then.”
An hour later, Jolena found herself back home, crossing paths with Joe in the kitchen once more. His laptop was still open, the mess around him seemingly multiplying since she’d left.
“Hey, I’m back,” she announced. “Ava rang. She’s dropping by in a bit to chill.”
“Hmm, are we ordering in?” Joe queried.
“That’s the plan, yes. She wanted to chat.”
The doorbell chimed, drawing their attention. Jolena made her way to the entrance and welcomed Ava inside. They embraced warmly before making their way to the kitchen. Ava darted towards Joe, arms flung wide for a bear hug.
“Goodness, I can’t breathe,” Ava gasped, her smile undiminished. “Ease up a bit.”
“Ava, darling, I’ve missed you!” Joe bantered. “How’s your day been? Given any thought to that job proposal?”
Jolena fetched some glasses, filled them with soda, and handed them to Joe and Ava.
“I have,” Ava confirmed. “I’m meeting your sister on Wednesday to discuss the job specifics. Your sister seems really sweet, by the way.”
“She is,” Joe agreed, taking a sip of his drink. “Are you going alone? Do you want me to accompany you? Miller Creek roads can be pretty dark at night.”
“No need, really. I can stay the night and head back after breakfast.”
“Well, I hope you enjoy it there. The woods have a certain magic to them.”
Jolena chimed in, “I wish I could tag along. A little getaway would do wonders for my stress levels. From what you’ve described, the woods sound like a great place to explore.”
“It’s a great place for a hike, especially the trails leading up to the Grey Mountains. But only during daylight. It gets quite eerie when the sun isn’t out,” Joe added, his stomach growling audibly.
He patted his belly. “Are you guys hungry? Because I sure am. Should I place the order?”
“Sounds good,” Jolena agreed, and Joe grabbed his phone, stepping out to order food.
“Would you like to join?” Ava asked Jolena. “Think you can get a couple of days off?”
“I’m not sure,” Jolena sighed. “I could really use a break. But I don’t want to impose. I wasn’t exactly invited.”
“I’ll talk to Adina. I could say I’m not comfortable traveling alone,” Ava proposed. “I could use the company, and it would make the journey more enjoyable. Joe wouldn’t be as much fun, I think.”
They shared a smile.
“I’ll talk to my boss tomorrow. Hopefully, she’ll let me take some time off,” Jolena decided.
Wednesday morning arrived all too soon, Jolena’s alarm sounding at an ungodly hour. Normally, she’d hit snooze a few times before dragging herself out of bed, but not today. She sprang up, ready to face the day.
She packed a backpack with clothes, shoes, and toiletries. She also grabbed her phone, wallet, and keys, tucking them into a small purse. She’d requested two days off the previous day and, to her surprise, her request was granted.
She’d informed Ava, who’d taken care of all the arrangements. They were traveling by train, and someone from the community would pick them up.
Joe wasn’t thrilled about her going with Ava instead of him, but he understood her need for the trip.
The train ride was laid-back. They chatted about Jolena’s nonexistent love life. Ava insisted that Jolena needed to get out more, to see more of the world.
When they reached Miller Creek Station, their destination, the weather was overcast and drizzly. The station was small and seemed a bit neglected, as if it didn’t see much use.
The station was nestled in the woods; towering trees were visible in every direction. In the distance, they could see the imposing Grey Mountains. They stood tall, powerful, majestic, and unyielding, as if reaching for the heavens.
When you looked at them, you couldn't help but feel a sense of submission.
A tall, muscular man stood at the end of the platform. As they approached, he stepped forward, extending his right hand in introduction.
“Good morning. I’m Danny. You must be Ava and Jolena? I’m here to take you to Miller Creek.”
“Hi, I’m Jolena.” She reached out to shake his hand.
“Ava,” Ava introduced herself, shaking his hand as well.
He held her hand a moment longer, staring at her. “Mate,” he murmured, too quiet for Ava and Jolena to hear.
“You can let go now,” Ava said, a playful smile on her face.
“Er, yeah, sorry.” He seemed a bit flustered, his cheeks reddening. He quickly turned and led them to a black SUV.
The girls didn’t pick up on his nervousness as they handed over their suitcases. He tossed them into the trunk, then opened the driver’s door and climbed in.
“Please buckle up and hold on,” he instructed. “The ride might get a bit bumpy.”
His focus was on the road, dodging the larger potholes. But every so often, his gaze would flicker to Ava. “How was your train ride?” he asked.
“It was fine,” Ava replied. “Actually, it was really comfortable. The train was practically empty. And we didn’t have any delays.”
“You’re lucky,” Danny said. “There are usually delays on this part of the track.”
“Why’s that?” Jolena asked from the backseat.
Danny stiffened slightly, but not enough for the girls to notice. “There are a lot of wild wolves in this area. They tend to hang around the tracks and cause delays.”
“Wolves?” Ava asked, surprised. “Will we see any?”
“Maybe, but it’s not likely,” Danny answered.
“Are they dangerous?” Jolena asked.
“Some are, some aren’t. It’s hard to say. The wolves near the station are definitely dangerous, but there are some deeper in the woods that are friendly.”
After another half hour of driving, a large white brick building came into view through the trees.
“Is that the clinic?” Ava asked, excitement in her voice.
“Yes, it is,” Danny confirmed, a note of pride in his voice. “It was recently renovated. Looks good, doesn’t it? We’ll take a tour later, but first I’ll show you where you’ll be staying.”
