Misty Lake: Book One in the Misty Lake Series by Margaret Standafer Page A
Authors: Margaret Standafer
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either ghosts from the past or vandals of the present to interfere.
When she looked over at Jake she found him watching her, his head tilted slightly as if trying to figure her out. She smiled and impulsively took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “Thank you,” she mouthed, knowing he wouldn’t hear her over the roar of the engine and the whip of the wind.
After a while, Joe slowed down then stopped the motor completely and let the boat drift. Karen passed around snacks and offered drinks. The men each grabbed a beer with the women both opting for bottled water.
“Well, now that we can hear each other, maybe we can get to know you, Sam,” Karen said with a look toward her husband.
Sam grew uncomfortable, not wanting to be the center of attention. “There’s not really much to know,” she began, determined to keep the details vague. “I grew up outside of Chicago. My grandfather owned property here and left it to me when he died this past winter.”
Karen looked at her encouragingly when she quit talking, expecting more information, but Sam remained silent. Although she wanted to ask more about her past, Karen decided to let it go, for now. “How do you like it here?” she asked instead.
“Truthfully, I feel like I haven’t had a chance to decide yet. I’ve been busy since I got here, unpacking, then getting my business going and working with the group of kids from Project Strong Start. There hasn’t been time for much else,” she said with a shrug.
“You’re enjoying working with the kids?” Karen asked although she already knew the answer based on the look on Sam’s face when she mentioned them.
“Oh, yes. What’s not to enjoy? They’re amazing kids. Talented, funny, sweet…it’s incredible working with them,” she gushed.
“Have you had any more trouble at your place?” Joe asked.
“The kids aren’t responsible for anything that has happened there! They wouldn’t cause that sort of damage, especially to their own work.” Then, seeing the surprised look on Karen’s face and realizing she was practically yelling, Sam calmed and apologized. “I’m sorry, I guess I’ve just gotten in the habit of defending them,” she said with a sideways glance at Jake.
“What sort of damage are you talking about?” Joe asked slowly. “I thought it was a broken window, dead animals, and a couple other minor things.”
“Oh.” Sam let out a breath. “I assumed you knew when you asked about trouble…” Her voice trailed off as she glanced at Jake, unsure what she should say.
“There was some vandalism overnight Thursday night,” Jake said. “Her shop was pretty badly damaged. We don’t have any suspects yet.”
“Oh, Sam, that’s terrible!” Karen said, shocked. “Were you home? Did you hear or see anything?”
“I was home but no, I didn’t see or hear anything. The shop is on the other side of my lot so not real close to the house and I had the air conditioning running, the house closed up…I guess I just slept through it.”
Karen gave Jake a long look, clearly implying that he had better do something about the problem.
Sensing Sam was uncomfortable with the conversation, Jake decided she needed a distraction. “Look,” he said pointing. “Your place looks pretty good from here.”
Sam turned and saw her home. The boat had been drifting with Joe starting the motor a couple of times and slowly directing the boat away from shore. Not really knowing the lake well at all, she had lost her bearings and had no idea they were in front of her property.
This was the first time she had seen her house from the water and she couldn’t help but stare. It was stunning, there was no denying it. The windows sparkled and reflected the lake. The log construction coupled with the wide stone chimney and coordinating stone accents gave the home a sturdy yet warm and inviting feel. Sam was quiet as she studied it, once again fighting the melancholy that threatened.
“It’s
When she looked over at Jake she found him watching her, his head tilted slightly as if trying to figure her out. She smiled and impulsively took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “Thank you,” she mouthed, knowing he wouldn’t hear her over the roar of the engine and the whip of the wind.
After a while, Joe slowed down then stopped the motor completely and let the boat drift. Karen passed around snacks and offered drinks. The men each grabbed a beer with the women both opting for bottled water.
“Well, now that we can hear each other, maybe we can get to know you, Sam,” Karen said with a look toward her husband.
Sam grew uncomfortable, not wanting to be the center of attention. “There’s not really much to know,” she began, determined to keep the details vague. “I grew up outside of Chicago. My grandfather owned property here and left it to me when he died this past winter.”
Karen looked at her encouragingly when she quit talking, expecting more information, but Sam remained silent. Although she wanted to ask more about her past, Karen decided to let it go, for now. “How do you like it here?” she asked instead.
“Truthfully, I feel like I haven’t had a chance to decide yet. I’ve been busy since I got here, unpacking, then getting my business going and working with the group of kids from Project Strong Start. There hasn’t been time for much else,” she said with a shrug.
“You’re enjoying working with the kids?” Karen asked although she already knew the answer based on the look on Sam’s face when she mentioned them.
“Oh, yes. What’s not to enjoy? They’re amazing kids. Talented, funny, sweet…it’s incredible working with them,” she gushed.
“Have you had any more trouble at your place?” Joe asked.
“The kids aren’t responsible for anything that has happened there! They wouldn’t cause that sort of damage, especially to their own work.” Then, seeing the surprised look on Karen’s face and realizing she was practically yelling, Sam calmed and apologized. “I’m sorry, I guess I’ve just gotten in the habit of defending them,” she said with a sideways glance at Jake.
“What sort of damage are you talking about?” Joe asked slowly. “I thought it was a broken window, dead animals, and a couple other minor things.”
“Oh.” Sam let out a breath. “I assumed you knew when you asked about trouble…” Her voice trailed off as she glanced at Jake, unsure what she should say.
“There was some vandalism overnight Thursday night,” Jake said. “Her shop was pretty badly damaged. We don’t have any suspects yet.”
“Oh, Sam, that’s terrible!” Karen said, shocked. “Were you home? Did you hear or see anything?”
“I was home but no, I didn’t see or hear anything. The shop is on the other side of my lot so not real close to the house and I had the air conditioning running, the house closed up…I guess I just slept through it.”
Karen gave Jake a long look, clearly implying that he had better do something about the problem.
Sensing Sam was uncomfortable with the conversation, Jake decided she needed a distraction. “Look,” he said pointing. “Your place looks pretty good from here.”
Sam turned and saw her home. The boat had been drifting with Joe starting the motor a couple of times and slowly directing the boat away from shore. Not really knowing the lake well at all, she had lost her bearings and had no idea they were in front of her property.
This was the first time she had seen her house from the water and she couldn’t help but stare. It was stunning, there was no denying it. The windows sparkled and reflected the lake. The log construction coupled with the wide stone chimney and coordinating stone accents gave the home a sturdy yet warm and inviting feel. Sam was quiet as she studied it, once again fighting the melancholy that threatened.
“It’s
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