PARADISE - chapt 1

CHAPTER ONE

         "It's just another beautiful day in Paradise."

         Beth whipped around to see who belonged to the strangely deep voice that came suddenly behind her. It was unnerving to see anyone out on the pier so early in the morning let alone a stranger at this remote lakeside cottage where the wilderness was still intact and many of the wild animals had yet to encounter the species called homo sapiens.

         "Hello," she stammered. "Where did you come from?"

         "Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. Nice view of the lake with the sun coming up like that. And Paradise - is that the name of the cottage or the lake?"
He pointed to the sign that was nailed to the oak nearby.

         She stared past the man and felt a sense of panic catch in her throat. There was no sight of vehicle in the driveway, the only approach to the modest cottage she had been calling home for the past 3 months.

         "Who are you? What do you want?" The panic was beginning to blossom into intense fear and as Beth tried to cover it up, the words came out more gruff and demanding than she meant them to be.

         "Hey, take it easy, miss. I'm not attacking you here. My jeep broke down a mile down the road and I'm wondering if you have a phone."

         He looked sincere and his smile was open and honest, white teeth flashing but she had known those types before. She was keenly aware that they were alone at this remote place with no one around for twenty miles or more.

         I should have at least brought my German Shepherd along or even invited cousin Billy to stay longer when he came to visit, she thought. The fear had subsided somewhat but every nerve ending was jangling and the panic signals were still going off in her head.

         "No, no phone," she mumbled and took off for the house.

         Once inside, she wiped her sweaty hands on her faded jeans, leaned against the door and prayed he would take the hint and go away. What was he doing here anyways? No one ever drove out here this far. Usually after five or ten miles of no civilization in sight the curious tourist turned around and headed back to the nearest town.

         He didn't exactly look menacing in his short cropped black hair, light blue T shirt and denim jeans. It was just the idea of being alone here with a stranger. No phone. Twenty miles from the nearest other person. Billy had taken her car to get serviced in Portford and wouldn't be back for two days at least. What was she to do? Maybe he would just leave.

         She moved over to the window overlooking the lake. Cautiously pulling back the cheery yellow curtains she peeked out. He was still there, staring at the lake and scratching his head.
         Beth began to feel a bit sheepish for being so suspicious. I guess if his jeep is broken down he can't exactly go away, she reasoned. Better do something or we'll be like this all day. Me pinned inside and him out there.

         Giving one last wipe of her hands on the front of her jeans, a habit she was becoming more and more aware of, Beth opened the door and with some semblance of courage mingled with an attempt of nonchalance she walked up to the pier.

         "Still here?" she asked trying to sound casual.

         "Well, can't exactly say I have anywhere else to go," he said sheepishly. "I'm sorry to bother you but I'm kinda stuck here for the moment. No phone, you say?"

         "No."

         "Car?"

         "Not at this moment. My cousin Bill took it to town. But he should be back soon."

         Not likely, Beth thought. He wasn't due until Friday, two days from now. But she didn't want the stranger to think she was completely at his mercy.

         "I'm Tony." He stuck his hand towards her. "Might as well get to know each other. That way I won't be a total stranger."

         "Beth," she replied shaking his hand. His hand was warm, big and friendly. Seems friendly enough, she thought, but she couldn't get rid of the unsettling nervousness that had settled in the middle of her stomach.

Chapter 2 - "PARADISE - chapt 2"