Juniper Creek

Chapter 1

The sounds of bodies clapping together, and loud moans sent a shiver of disgust down June's spine.

She got up and moved away from the log of wood she sat on, half a yard away from the shabby cabin she, Georgie and their mother called home.

She kicked pebbles in her path as she pulled tighter, the fraying old rangers jacket that hung from her narrow shoulders. It wasn't this old when she had inherited it six years ago.
June had worn its worth and had no plan to retire it anytime soon. She had the habit of digging her fingers, one at a time into the hole that had formed in its left pocket.

The sound of twigs snapping caught her attention. She shivered as she paused and slowly looked around.
Nothing, except for the uncanny feeling of being watched. She shook her head, burying her unease. It was a silly thought. After all, she had lived and grown up here. The woods didn't and shouldn't scare her.

She continued walking, weaving her way through trees, and down a sloping mound of earth until she broke into a clearing holding another cabin similar to theirs.

Old-Doherty–as she and everyone who knew him called him–sat in an old rocking chair on the porch, a gray and sorry looking blanket covering his shoulders. His peppered gray hair moved gently with the soft wind.

He smiled as soon as his round glasses focused on her. June smiled back, kicking the earth off her boots before climbing the small stairs leading to him.

"Hey old man."

"Junie." He called excitedly with his raspy cracked voice.

"What're you doing sitting out? You look cold." June said with a mocking stern look on her face. She stopped before him, hands akimbo.

"Watch the tone, old lady." He huffed. "Can't a young man enjoy the weather unbothered?"

That made her laugh so hard, her sides ached. Old Doherty joined in too. He stopped, his face suddenly going serious. It made June immediately self conscious.

"What? Have I got lettuce stuck in my teeth?"

"Your face...She hit you again didn't she?" He asked.

June grimaced, as if his reminder awakened the smarting pain on the corner of her left cheek.

"Oh!" She exclaimed, like she was as surprised as he was. "It's nothing, I ran into the wall while putting together the shed yesterday." She continued, plastering a smile on her face.

Old Doherty didn't look like he believed her. He had reason not to. After all, this wasn't the first time her mother had put hands on her.

The man before her sighed, but didn't push further. His mood had turned pensive.

"Georgie could spend the week here if Emma wouldn't mind." He said.

June's brow lifted, of course their mother wouldn't mind she'd be happy to be rid of any of them.

"But wouldn't that inconvenience you? We would hate to burden you." She said, looking down at her boot.

"It's not much, but this is your second home, Junie. You already look after me like I hired you. You sleep over whenever. Of course it's nothing." Old-Doherty said.

A warm smile coloured June's face. She bent over and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Don't slobber over me now." He teased.

June chuckled, "Shh, you're too old to be mean. You're what? Eighty?"

"Hey! I'm seventy-three." He complained.

"Seventy-three, eighty. Potato-Potatoe." She replied, grinning satisfied.

Old-Doherty shook his head with an exaggerated sigh and a small smile on his face.