Forrest loaded the final crate in the back of the men's truck. He pushed back his hat, and swiped at the sweat on his forehead. It was hot, even for August up in the hollow. He chewed on a toothpick as he peered through the trees but couldn't see anything of the store. The barn was set further up the hill and back off the road. The only time he would have been able to see the store from up here was during the winter, once all the leaves fell. That didn't stop him from trying.

The driver, who had watched the loading process instead of helping, took a long drag from his Lucky Strike and smiled an oily smile. Forrest had never met this man before, none of them had. But they had been doing business with his boss for several years now, and so Forrest was willing to put up with him. "My boss appreciates you willing to allow us to pick up this load early," he began, reaching into his jacket.

Arthur grabbed the man by his expensive suit, slamming him into the side of his truck. Peter didn't hesitate. His gun was out and pointed at the second man before he realized what had happened.

"Whoa, whoa!" the first man exclaimed, he bounced off the truck and hit the dirt at Forrest's feet. His cigarette landed a few feet away, a thin trail of smoke rose as it continued to burn. "I was just reaching for your money! What the fuck is wrong with you hillbillies!"

Forrest slammed his heel down on the cigarette, grinding it into the dirt just inches from the man's face.

Arthur grabbed the man once more by the suit jacket and hauled him to his feet. He reached inside the man's jacket and came out with a gun. He held the gun up in front of the man's face before he handed it to Forrest.

Forrest opened the revolver and dumped the bullets on the ground at his feet. He leaned into the man's space. "You planning on paying us with this?" he held up the empty gun between two fingers. It was a tiny gun, the size a lady would carry in her purse. Forrest snorted, shaking his head. He would never understand these city boys. "Your boss and I have a long tradition of doing business. Good business. He been a long time customer and I always reward loyalty with good prices. I can't imagine you would be doing this on his orders. Which means you might be betraying my friend. You betraying my friend?" Forrest growled out the words, letting the man see how serious he was. For just a moment Forrest allowed the rage he normally kept locked down tight peek out through his eyes.

"I-" the man stammered, turning away from Forrest. "I have an envelope in my other pocket."

Forrest nodded to Arthur, who came out with a thick brown envelope and the man's pack of cigarettes. He handed the envelop to Forrest and made a show of lighting a cigarette for himself. Forrest took a moment to count out the bills owed to him before he gave it back to Arthur.

Arthur put it back in the man's pocket and clapped him on the back. "There see," he said encouragingly. "No harm, no foul." He straightened the man's jacket, and dusted off the back. Arthur leaned in close to the man, blowing smoke straight into the man's face. "If you ever act like you are going to pull a gun on my brother again I won't wait to see if there's an envelope."

Forrest's smile was aggressive. "I assure you, your boss would understand the oversight."

The driver nodded and he and the second man fled, spinning tires as they took off down the road, crates rattling as they went.

"Well that went well," Peter said cheerfully, pulling the barn door closed he padlocked it.

Forrest snorted and set off back toward the store, his brothers trailing behind him.

"You suppose she's still there?" Arthur asked, trying to sound casual.

"I doubt it, she was pretty nervous," Peter said.

"Why do you suppose she came back then?"

Forrest shrugged. "Return the jacket I expect."

Peter snorted, "Floyd could have brought it."

Arthur kicked at a rock. "Maybe she's lonely. Must be tough traveling the country by herself."

Peter froze, "you don't suppose them Chicago boys will give her trouble on the road do you?"

Forrest thought for a moment. "Naw, who would risk stirring up the sheriff with a truckload of contraband just to hassle some girl."

Arthur shook his head. "You must be blind, Forrest. She is not some girl. I've never seen a girl as pretty as her."

Forrest grunted and climbed the steps. "My night to watch the store," he told them unnecessarily. "I got a delivery in the morning, I could use one of you with me."

The brothers nodded and followed Forrest into the store.

<><><><><>

"So you're waiting for a train?" It was one of the boarders with whom Miss Rose was unfamiliar. He was a middle aged man who looked as though he had never worked outside a day in his life.

Miss Rose took a delicate sip of her soup. "I am," she turned back to her dinner. She had felt her weakness today and she was determined to focus on remaining solitary. The only reason Rose had come down to dinner was because it would be even more of note for her to miss. No lady traveling alone would skip a dinner that was already paid for, it just wasn't done. But that didn't mean she needed to share her whole life story. Many young women traveling alone would be expected to be shy.

"Why exactly has the train not come?" the boarder asked.

Mrs. Hudson seemed to take Miss Rose's silence for discomfort and came to her aid. "When I went to try to pick up the mail the post master said they received a call that most trains in the state have been stopped because of trouble out west. He didn't say anything else."

The boarder nodded and took a noisy slurp from his soup bowl.

Miss Rose focused on her own meal and did not engage anyone at the table. Assuming the persona of a shy young woman, she hunched her shoulders slightly and kept her eyes firmly glued to the table.

"So Miss Rose," Mrs. Hudson said after a few moments. "You had lunch up the Garrett's the last two days, what was that like?"

"I expect just as it is to eat lunch anywhere. Is it so odd?" Miss Rose bit back her annoyance. She was generally curious about what she had perceived to be fear of Peter who had shown himself to be nothing but thoughtful and kind.

"Well, I myself aint't never set foot in Moonshine Hollow, most ladies of this town would agree I have no doubt. What on earth led you to that place?"

"The station master dropped me off for lunch."

Mrs. Hudson's eyes widened. "Floyd?" She seemed extremely perturbed, and Miss Rose was suddenly worried Floyd would catch the sharp end of Mrs. Hudson's tongue.

"He said that Miss Lilly was a great cook," Rose quickly added.

Harry nodded sagely, as though that made sense.

One of the other boarders, a visiting school teacher named Anna Ceary, leaned forward in her seat. "What was it like? Were they terrifying?"

"Who?" Miss Rose asked, genuinely confused.

"Who?" Anna squeaked. "The Garrett's. I seen them around town and everyone is terrified of them. I don't blame them. Not one bit. The oldest brother in particular, I even seen the sheriff looking at him with fear in his eyes. The sheriff said those Garrett boys the worst thing to happen to Harken."

Miss Rose fought her anger on Forrest's behalf. Yes, he was intimidating but none of the men had shown her any reason for this fear. She wanted to argue but bit her tongue as she reassumed her role. She reminded herself that a polite young lady wouldn't argue such a thing in public and returned her full attention to her soup.

The first boarder leaned forward. "I'm sorry Mrs. Hudson, but what exactly is Moonshine Hollow. I have never heard of that."

Mrs. Hudson blushed profusely. "It's just something the locals say...up the hill a piece is Harken Hollow but most call it Moonshine Hollow."