The Secrets of Bailey

Chapter 9

Jake was relieved to be back in the woods alone. He had enjoyed having breakfast with Junior and his sons, but he was glad to be back in the wild and away from everyone. His coworkers and colleagues often teased him. They said he had become an anthropologist and did field work because that was as close as he would ever come to living in the wild. As he stood on a rock outcropping overlooking the valley below, he had to admit they might be right.

If he were given the opportunity to live off the grid primitively for a year in the area where he stood, he would not hesitate. This land was perfect for it. There was abundant game and wild foods available not only to sustain oneself but also to thrive. Not only that, shelter would be easily attainable, as well as plenty of fresh drinking water.

Jake took off his backpack, dropping it onto the rock where he was standing. He sat beside it, enjoying the quiet that surrounded him. Jake had an ominous feeling that he couldn’t shake. He felt like he was being watched as he pulled out a snack and water bottle to take a break. He scanned the area as he ate and saw nothing that could explain the feeling. Perhaps it was due to the storms moving in.

When he had finished, he placed everything back in his pack before hoisting it onto his back. He still had the feeling of being watched, and he did not like it. He moved up the hill, traveling along the ridge at the highest point. At least that way, nothing would be watching him from above, and he might have a better view of what was giving him that feeling.

After a while, Jake again felt as if he was alone. There was no more sensation of being watched, which allowed him to relax and enjoy his hike more. He continued along the ridge, taking note of his surroundings. He had seen several things so far that day that made him stop for a closer look.

There had been a few structures that had been made by someone. They were all crudely assembled using saplings and branches leaning together in a teepee-type structure. None of the trees used had been cut down. They were all broken, which was very odd and would take incredible strength or multiple people working together.

Jake had photographed and documented the structures he saw, along with other things that seemed unusual. In addition to the structures, he had seen a deer that had been a victim of predation from something. While it was common in the wild for deer to be hunted by other animals, it was rare to find a kill while hiking.

The one thing he had seen so far that had made him pause and begin to pay closer attention was a few beds. These were not the typical sleeping areas of animals. They had been carefully constructed and lined with thick layers of leaves and moss. The musky, pungent odor around each one was like nothing he had ever smelled before. It was an animal; there was no doubt about that, but he had no idea what kind.

Jake was beginning to question if Bobby Norris was right about creatures living in the area. From the signs he saw, there could be some form of hominid living around Bailey, Kentucky. That would account for what he saw regarding the structures and other evidence. The thought of something unknown living in the woods where he would be camping was both thrilling and terrifying. There were so many things that could happen, both good and bad.

Under the filtered light of the trees, it had taken Jake a while to notice that the light was not dim because of the evergreens but because of the clouds that had moved in. A sharp gust of cold air hit him, making him realize that he needed to find a place to camp sooner rather than later.

He was scolding himself for not planning his campsite for the night better. A campsite was something that could not be put just anywhere. He needed to find a flat, elevated area that would still give his tent some shelter from the incoming storm. He was strongly considering making a run for his vehicle and going back into town for the night.

Jake had not been paying much attention to where he was going while following the ridgeline. It wasn't until he saw a clearing in the valley that he knew exactly where he was. He also knew that if he stayed there, he would be in trouble.

He stopped and took his pack off for a break before returning to the parking lot where his SUV had been left. Jake dropped his bag and fished out something to eat and drink along with the map that Sheriff Mullins had given him. A quick look at it confirmed where he thought he was.

In the valley below him was a beautiful two-story log cabin with a porch wrapped around the entire first floor. A spring formed a pool only yards away from the home before it turned into the stream that ran along the valley. This was where Kaitie Bailey lived, and he knew he would not be welcome in that cabin unless there were a dire emergency.

Jake studied his maps as he ate and rested. Not far from where he was, there seemed to be an excellent place to set up his camp for the night. Jake smiled as he put his things away and thought about the new campsite location. Things had worked out better than if he had planned them.

He hefted his pack onto his back, buckled it, and sighed as he looked at the cabin one last time before leaving. Jake would give anything to live there. The cabin, the location, and the environment were all perfect for him. He never imagined he would be jealous of anyone who lived in Bailey, but after seeing Kaitie’s home, he was.

“Kaitie Bailey, you are a lucky woman,” Jake mumbled to himself.

Smiling as he turned around, Jake began the short hike to where he would set up for the night. Knowing his proximity to that cabin made him feel better about being out in the coming storm. If things got too hairy for him, he should be able to make it there. Kaitie would not be happy, but the sheriff had told him she would help even though a lecture would probably accompany it.

The thought of her lecturing him and scolding him made him smile more. He hated to admit it, but he had always had a thing for redheads and women with blue eyes. She had both, and it made his heart skip a beat. If it meant he got to spend time with her, he would take the scolding or anything else she could dish out. Her fiery spirit and passion she had for everything made it even better.

Jake was making his trek down the backside of the ridge to the area where he would set up his camp for the night. As he did, his foot slipped on a patch of loose ground, causing his foot to fly out from under him. He could do nothing as he lost his balance and began to tumble down the hillside other than try to protect his head.

While falling, he hit several trees and large rocks, leaving bruises and cuts with each collision. One hit knocked his arm away from his head. Before he could recover, he felt his head impact sharply with a tree, causing him to become disoriented and lose all control.

When he finally stopped tumbling, he was wedged against a tree on his side. His backpack had helped to protect him, but even with that, he knew, along with his other wounds, he had a substantial head injury. His vision was fading as he saw someone in the distance walking toward him. The last thing he saw was the person in black staring at him from a distance as he lost consciousness.

-

Kaitie was nestled into her favorite overstuffed chair with her newest book. The first thing she did when she got home was to light the fireplace. Then she put on her softest leggings and an oversized sweater. She had a roast and vegetables in the oven, slowly cooking and filling her home with a delightful aroma. She was quite happy to stay hunkered down in her cabin for a few days as the storm passed and the roads were cleared. It might take a while for someone to get to her private road, but she didn’t mind. If there was a medical emergency, she knew someone would come and get her, even if that meant using a tractor.

She was engrossed in her book and chewing on her thumbnail when she heard a sharp whistle outside. Kaitie scowled as she lowered her book and listened, hoping it was not what she thought it was. When a second whistle came, she closed her eyes and sighed. A loud thump on her front porch got her attention. She quickly placed the marker in her book and hurried to the front door. She yanked it open to see the crumpled form of a man wearing a large backpack on her porch.

Nope,” Kaitie said as she shook her head. “I don’t want him. You couldn’t have just left him where you found him, huh? You had to bring him here?”

Kaitie scanned the darkening forest around her home until she saw a black silhouette not far from the house. She heard a low, mournful groan come from it and sighed.

“I’m sorry. You did the right thing by bringing him here. I just don’t like him because he might be bringing a lot of trouble for all of us,” Kaitie called out to the figure. “Go get to your family and take care of yourselves. I will take care of him.”

Kaitie glared at the man on her porch and grumbled under her breath, “Son-of-a…”