Excerpt of Included!

JOHN HARTlooked like river bottom. I parked behind a van with a bumper sticker on theback that said, goddess bless.Shadows filled the porch and my skin chilled as I crossed to the door. Iknocked, doubting that she was home. The cabin had that empty feel, andthere was no canoe at the dock. I looked over the river, trying to guess exactlywhere we were. I put the location somewhere north of the farm; couple milesmaybe. I walked down to the dock.There was a wheelchair there, and I stared for a long second. It looked veryout of place. I sat down on the dock to wait. It took about twenty minutes. Sherounded the northern bend in an easy slide, the bow sweeping in, the currenttaking the stern out until she caught it with a firm stroke.I stood, and the sense of knowing her welled up. She was an attractivewoman, with ageless skin and a direct gaze. She locked it upon me when she wasten feet out, and did not look away, even as the canoe sidled up against the sideof the dock.I took the rope from her hand and tied it off on a cleat. She lay the paddledown and studied me. “Hello, Adam,” she said.“Do I know you?”She flashed small teeth. “No, you don’t.” She waved a hand. “Now stepback.” She put her hands on the side of the dock and heaved herself up, turningso that she sat on the edge. Her legs twisted away beneath her, thin, lifelesssticks in loose jeans worn, in places, to the color of sand. I saw wasted skin atthe ankles.“Can I help you?” I asked.“Of course not.” Anger snapped in her voice, so that she sounded verymuch like her mother. She pushed herself back and her legs slid lifelessly behindher. She grabbed the arms of the wheelchair and pulled herself into theseat. She reached down for one of her legs, then fastened those lamplight eyeson me. “No need to stare, young man.”“I’m sorry,” I said, and looked for something of interest on the other side ofthe river. I could sense her behind me, working to position her feet and legs.“No harm in it, I guess. I don’t see people that often. Sometimes, I forgetthere’s something to stare at.”“You handle a canoe better than most.”138