by J E Grace
Redemption at Shadow Lake
J.E. Grace
copyright © 2018 J. E. Grace
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the express written permission of the Author.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
All biblical references are from the King James Version 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Prologue
A n attractive man in his early thirties with deeply disturbed eyes stands in the shadows. His body shakes with anticipation of what is to come. He had fought the demons for a long time and had lost. Finally, they had taken over his every waking hour, and he didn’t know who he was anymore.
He stood watching as the young woman walked by in her jogging outfit. She was a looker, and he had seen her many times before, but never this close.
The sun was setting over the lake shore, and the wind was picking up. His long brown hair lifted off his neck, and the sound of rustling leaves set his nerves on edge.
Most of the people had gone. He had watched them leave throughout the day while he remained unnoticed behind the trees and rocky banks. He was tired of running and tired of being a hunted man. Every part of him hungered to be free, but he knew it was out of his grasp. Impossible, after the things he had done.
His shelter was an old abandoned structure, and he lived on whatever he could find. The garbage cans sometimes offered leftover scraps, but food could not fill the need that raged inside him.
His mind wandered back to the woman. He would hang back and follow her, and when he was sure they were alone, he would approach her with caution. He didn’t want to scare her or make her scream. He would be friendly, maybe even offer to take her photo.
He half staggered along the lake’s edge keeping his victim in sight. His feet moved carefully over the twigs trying not to disturb them as he followed.
The sound of laughter made him cringe. He hid behind a rock and cowered down out of sight until the voices faded away into the distance. That was a close call and hopefully the last he would encounter, as time was running out. He exited his hiding place and walked along, sometimes sprinting to make up the time.
As he rounded the bend, he could see the woman taking a drink from a sports bottle, unaware of his presence. She was putting her water away and spotted the man as she turned.
She stood by the cliffs that raised up high giving one a sense of the entrance to a cathedral. A natural bridge formed where the lakefront ended and provided an isolated spot to satisfy his craving.
“Hi. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I didn’t know anyone was still out here,” he flashed the woman a smile. “I see you have a camera. Are you a photographer?”
“My husband’s a professional photographer, but I’m just an amateur. It’s so beautiful and peaceful here,” she said snapping a photo of the lake. She turned quickly snapping his picture. Her nervousness was showing, and he could feel his adrenaline spike.
“Would you like me to take a photo for your husband?” he asked walking toward her.
“That would be nice,” she said handing him the camera.
She took her place in front of Cathedral Bridge to use as a backdrop. She smiled, as he pushed the button.
He glanced around scouting out the landscape nearby. Good, there didn’t seem to be anyone else in sight. He handed her the camera back, and she smiled at him.
As she turned around, he quickly grabbed her from behind and shoved a rag into her mouth. She struggled but couldn’t match his strength. In a matter of seconds, he had secured her hands behind her back. He prodded her along as she struggled and made his way to a dark area underneath the bridge.
Chapter 1
Four Years Later-Present Time
S amantha Dunning exited the building at Shadow Lake Realty. She would have to hurry if she was going to make her two o’clock appointment. It wasn’t too often that she had a client of Mr. Benham’s caliber in the small town of Shadow Lake, Colorado.
Shadow Lake, she still couldn’t believe she had traded her high-rise office in Pigeon Bay, S.C. for this small country town. What was I thinking? But, brokering her own realty office was too good to pass up.
Shadow Lake has a population of around twelve thousand. A gorgeous lake surrounds the town, and Samantha had acquired a lovely cabin on a lakefront lot. She had been in Shadow Lake six months, but to her, it felt much longer.
Samantha got into her Lexus sedan and programmed her GPS for 2168 Orchard Drive. According to the display, it was a short fifteen-minute drive across town and towards the south end of the lake to a newly built subdivision. The owners of the house had vacated due to a job transfer, and it would make an excellent commission if she could close the deal.
She admired the houses as she drove up the winding road. It was a warm summer day, and she glanced at the boaters cruising on the lake having fun with their families. Deep inside she yearned to have a family of her own, but then that would mean she would have to be involved in a meaningful relationship. That was a road she wasn’t willing to go down yet. Work was her priority, and the men she had met in Shadow Lake so far weren’t that interesting.
Just as she crested the top of the hill, she made a right-hand turn and pulled into a circular driveway. Great, it was just like him to be late.
To pass the time, Samantha walked up to the front of the executive home and put her keycard into the lockbox which hung from the front railing. She carefully punched in the code, and it fell free.
Entered the foyer and continuing straight ahead, her eyes taking in the massive white and beige stone fireplace that stretched across the space of the back wall.
On a side wall was a large rectangular mirror and she took a moment to check her appearance. Her long brown hair hung loosely across her shoulders framing her face. She was a striking woman for twenty-four. Her well-tanned body was fit and lean, and her blue blouse and short gray skirt clung to her body in all the right places.
Off the living room was a large open kitchen. The stainless-steel appliances were top of the line and beautiful granite countertops, and dark cabinets surrounded the L-shaped room. The kitchen was Italian styling, and it was apparent, the prior owners had spared no expense.
There were two large bedrooms downstairs, a medium-sized dining room, bathroom and laundry room that completed the main level.
Samantha continued up the circular staircase to the second floor. As she walked down the hallway, her heels tapped on the highly polished hardwood floors.
On one side was a master bedroom suite and across the hall were two more bedrooms with an adjoining bath. As she stood in the middle of the master bedroom, she heard a vehicle pull up.
Samantha moved over to the window overlooking the front drive and looked out, as a tall man dressed in a business suit exited from a black Mercedes Benz. He removed his sunglasses placing them in his shirt pocket and approached the house.
Chapter 2
S amantha was mesmerized by the sight of his lean profile. He appeared fit, nape of the neck length black hair combed stylishly, and he walked with an air of confidence. He was gorgeous, and she could feel a rush of warmth across her face. Get ahold of yourself. He’s a client.
Samantha made her way down the staircase, and just as she grabbed for the front door knob, the door pushed open. She had to brace herself to avoid
falling backward.
When she finally composed herself, she was looking up into the man’s eyes. At first, she couldn’t speak, as her eyes roamed his face.
“Samantha Dunning, I presume. I hope I didn’t frighten you. I’m Calvin Benham,” he said reaching out to shake her hand.
“Glad to meet you, Mr. Benham,” said Samantha placing her hand on his.
“Please, call me Calvin.”
“Calvin, I think the house will be to your liking. What type of work do you do?” asked Samantha.
“I’m an architect and investment broker, looking to build a resort here in Shadow Lake. The lake will be a big draw for my clients who are looking for a getaway,” he said as he walked into the kitchen running his hand across the granite countertop of the island.
“I’m surprised you considered Shadow Lake. We don’t exactly have a large population,” Samantha replied as she stood across from him watching as he checked out the appliances.
“A smaller population is no deterrent. Most of my business would be coming in from outside the area, and it could provide Shadow Lake with a lot of extra jobs. How many bedrooms on this floor?”
“There are two downstairs, a master suite upstairs and two more bedrooms with an adjoining bath. Do you have a large family?” asked Samantha walking towards the staircase.
“I’m not married. I like having room, and do alot of entertaining,” he said grinning. “It’s is a beautiful home. The owner seems to have used the best materials. Let’s check out the upstairs, shall we.”
“Sure, follow me,” said Samantha as she climbed the staircase to the upper floor. She could feel his eyes boring a hole into her back and had to concentrate on each step. Now wasn’t the time to turn into a klutz.
Reaching the top, she felt his presence behind her. Turning to look back his shoulder lightly touched hers sending a shiver through her body. Samantha followed him as he entered each room.
“Well, Calvin, what do you think so far? Can you see yourself living here?” Samantha asked as she walked over to the sliders, following him out onto the deck of the master bedroom.
“The view is sensational. I’ll have to give it some more thought, but it’s a definite possibility. Do you have any other properties similar to this one that I can look at?” asked Mr. Benham, as he walked to the end of the deck glancing at the boats in the distance.
“Executive homes are limited. I have a feeling this one won’t be on the market long. It’s priced well below market value.”
“Does it happen to have a dock?” he inquired.
“It does. There’s a trail just below this deck that leads to the dock.”
“I think I have seen everything I need from here. I would like to check out the garage,” said Mr. Benham as he exited the front door.
Samantha walked over to the detached three car garage and hit the door opener. The door made its ascent upwards. She entered and hit the light switch flooding the interior with light.
Mr. Benham entered the garage and looked around assessing the space. “There is plenty of room here for storage and a couple of cars. It will do fine,” he walked back outside.
Samantha exited behind him and hit the opener again, and the doors went back down. She walked towards the front of the house and placed the keys into the lockbox and closed it.
Mr. Benham was standing next to his automobile and waited for her. As she approached, he gave her a quick smile. “Could I get a business card from you? I will be in touch in the next day or two. If you think you might get an offer, give me a call. I would like to be first in line.”
“You know the best way to make sure that doesn’t happen would be to make an offer.”
“I don’t like rushing into anything without sleeping on it overnight. I’ll be in touch. I’m staying at the Shadow Inn,” he said.
“Here’s my card, Calvin. I’ll wait to hear from you, and I’ll call if I have any activity on the place.”
“I would appreciate it,” he said reaching out his hand to take the card. “Until next time,” he said as he opened the car door and got in.
Samantha watched as he drove away. Wow, if he isn’t a dreamboat, but there’s something about him that makes me uneasy.
Chapter 3
C alvin Benham sat at the desk in his upscale suite at the Shadow Lake Inn. He had booked the best they had, but it still wasn’t up to his standards.
He made some notes in his journal about his encounter with Samantha Dunning. He had to admit, she was intelligent and okay in the looks department, yet he felt she was somewhat out of her league. She didn’t fit the small-town profile either. He wondered how she ended up in Shadow Lake running a small real estate office.
Calvin knew from the minute he met Samantha that there was an immediate attraction. At least on her part. He was used to women throwing themselves at him, so it wasn’t a surprise when Samantha had shown a spark of interest. He could feel the heat when he was next to her.
Maybe, he would make her sweat a little over the contract on the house. He could use her attraction to his advantage, and it wasn’t like there were a lot of buyers with the amount of money he had at his disposal.
Calvin smiled to himself and walked over and removed some casual clothes laying them on the bed. He would take a hot shower and then call his contact to give him an update on his progress, then check out what this town had in the way of restaurants.
He had just showered and dressed in a blue shirt, and khaki’s when the phone rang.
“Well, Calvin my boy, how are things in Shadow Lake?”
“Coming right along, Mr. Donatello. I met with the realtor today and found a good headquarters for our project. It’s an executive home next to the lake and available at a good price. It’s five-bedroom which should be adequate,” said Calvin as he walked over to the window looking out towards the lake.
“We’ve been quite frank with our intentions and want this to go as smoothly as possible. How long before you can get a look at some sites?” asked Mr. Donatello as he swung his office chair around propping his feet up on the desk.
“I’ll see what’s available. I will get the job done. You can count on it,” said Calvin taking a seat at the desk.
“We know we have the right man for the job. I’ll talk to you at the end of the week unless of course, you have some urgent news. We are in a time crunch on this one.”
“I’ve seemed to turn the head of the realtor I’m working with; so it might work to our advantage. Maybe throw the small-town realtor a nice commission to boost her ego and who knows what she might be willing to overlook,” said Calvin.
“Well, keep me posted. The board is getting restless.”
Calvin disconnected the call, put his cell into his pocket, and grabbed his keys off the desk.
He locked the door, crossed the hall, and punched the elevator button. Within a couple of seconds, the doors opened. He hit the button for the main floor, and as he exited, the lobby was reasonably quiet. A tall man in his late forties stood talking to the desk clerk, and he glanced at Calvin as he exited the building.
Calvin walked towards his car punching the keypad. He followed Sleepy Creek Road until he got to the central section of town.
Shadow Lake was much like other small lake towns he had visited. The traffic was relatively heavy this afternoon. He assumed it was because of the summer tourist traffic. He noticed a bakery shop, a couple of gas stations, hardware store, a mom and pop grocery, some gift shops, and what seemed to be a couple of family type restaurants.
At the other end of town was Shadow Lake Park. He noticed some families playing frisbee with their kids and other children using the play area. Across from the park was a historic brick building that housed the Shadow Lake Police Department.
Calvin continued along the street stopping at the stop signs which he felt were way too many for a small town when he spotted Mike’s Steak House. The parking lot was full which suggested it might be the right place to grab a meal. Cal
vin pulled into the parking lot and made a couple of rounds through the parking lot before he found an open space.
As he entered the building, instead of being shown to his seat, he was told to sit wherever he liked. The steakhouse was quite a bit more laid back than he expected. He chose a booth with a lake view. The trees outside swayed as a gust of wind moved them. He could see the sun just starting to set on the horizon marking it with spectacular color. Calvin had to admit it was quite beautiful.
A young teenage girl with her hair pulled back in a ponytail and dressed in a white shirt, and black dress slacks took his order. It seemed to him that the hired help kept getting younger all the time. As long as she got his order right, he guessed that was all that mattered.
The steak was delicious and cooked to his satisfaction. At least the town had passed in the cuisine department. Hopefully, the rest of his meals would be as good. He wasn’t used to sub-standard anything. He was about to leave a tip when a familiar voice hit his ears. No, it couldn’t be.
Chapter 4
S amantha sat across the room at Mike’s Steak House with Beverly, her office manager. She felt as if someone was staring at her and when she turned, her eyes meet Calvin Benham’s. What are the odds? Samantha turned to face Beverly and continued with their conversation, all the while, feeling flustered. Why does this man have such an effect on me?
Beverly noticed that Samantha was acting nervously. “What’s wrong? You act like you saw a ghost?”
“Nothing. Just the client I showed the executive home to yesterday,” Samantha said trying to ignore his presence.
“Well, he must have had some effect on you. Which one is he?”
“He’s just leaving his booth on the other side of the room.”
“The handsome guy that’s walking over here right now? What a dreamboat. I don’t blame you for losing it,” said Beverly as she watched the man approach their booth.
