“Baby, I know, but this is ridiculous,” Mom said. “Who are these people and why are they descending on this house? Did a memo go out? A signal to all the weirdos? What?”

“I don’t know, but that old man was confused,” I said. “And he got pretty jacked up out there. I don’t think he’ll come back.”

“About that,” Mom said. “What the hell happened to him?”

“He looked like somebody two-pieced him a few times over,” Mo said, shaking her head. “You sure you didn’t touch him, love?”

“I would never hit an old man,” I said. “Unless he really deserved it.”

Mo and I laughed, but Mom sat quiet.

“I just don’t know,” she said. “I think we should leave.”

I started to protest but Mo patted my hand and jumped in before I could say anything.

“We’ll sleep on it,” she said. “We don’t wanna make a decision we’ll regret, one way or the other. Sleep on it. Then we’ll talk in the morning. Deal?”

Mom huffed but nodded reluctantly. Mo gave me a nudge and went to lock up for the night.

I slept at the foot of their bed for a second night. I dreamed of the gate, of the strange man in the woods. My restless mind conjured images of sentient plants surrounding me as I stood in shadowy woods. The man swung his machete, barely missing my head.

I awoke with a start, gasping for breath, my heart thudding. Mom and Mo slept soundly, but I was done sleeping for the night.

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 9

“How about we go into town for a while?” Mo asked the next morning. “Get some food, look around.”

Mom was less upset than she’d been the night before but I still sensed that she was on edge.

“Y’all wanna go right now?” I asked. I’d spent my sleepless night thinking about what was behind that gate. I wanted to get back out there.

“Yeah,” said Mo. “Come on. If we’re gonna stay the summer we need to see what else this place has to offer, because mouse turds and dust bunnies is not gonna do it for your mama.”

“Damn right it’s not,” said Mom, smiling. “I need food. I’m starving.”

I got dressed and followed Mom and Mo out to the car. I glanced back at the house and the grounds beyond. Whatever was behind the gate would have to wait a little longer.

We drove into town and Mom parked the car on a side street. We walked over to the main road that ran through the center of Rhinebeck. Shops and restaurants lined Market Street on both sides. People walked together, sipping iced drinks and holding hands.

“This is so . . .” Mo searched for the right words to describe it.

“Quaint?” Mom offered.

Mo’s eyebrow shot up. “I was gonna say white but I guess quaint works too.”