I stood up and scanned the trees. A silhouette appeared on the path this time. Not a hulking figure or a shadowy stalker. It was a woman. No sunglasses, no screeching, just a soaked rain jacket and a timid posture.
I recognized her immediately. She was one of the newer cabin owners Randall had mentioned—a couple from Florida had bought a place up the ridge a month ago. I'd seen her once, but hadn't met her officially.
She raised a hand weakly. "Um, hi. Is this the Dalton cabin?"
I nodded slowly. "That's me."
She stepped closer, wringing her hands nervously. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I think someone's been spreading stories about you."
Ah. There it was. I leaned against the porch railing. "Let me guess: Karen."
Her eyes widened. "Yes. And her brother. They came by our place this morning. They said you were dangerous. That you tried to electrocute her? That you threatened them. They... they told us they're forming a complaint group against you."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Of course they are."
The rain-thick air hummed around us as I summarized the entire situation: what Karen did, how I caught her, the police involvement, the trail cam footage, the attempted tampering with my breaker box, even Joey's visit earlier.
Anna's face shifted from concern to disbelief to anger. "My God," she whispered.
"She's been lying through her teeth since the moment she stepped on my property," I said.
Her hands curled into fists. "And she made us feel guilty for not signing her stupid petition. She said you were trying to destroy the mountain community spirit."
"That's one way to phrase not letting her steal."
She bit her lip. "We'll support you. If there's an official complaint, we'll back your version, and we'll tell the other new neighbors. People shouldn't be fooled by her."
Relief washed over me, warm and unexpected. "Thank you," I said. "That means a lot."