He Chose Her, Then Lost Me Forever
"He built a home on that mountain land."
By noon, the flat highway ended, giving way to steep, winding gravel roads that climbed high into the dense forests of the Green Mountains. The trees here were thick and wild, towering over the narrow road, blocking out most of the midday sun.
A small, rusty metal sign appeared on the right shoulder, reading: WELCOME TO PINE RIDGE – POPULATION 420.
Julian slowed the station wagon down, turning onto a bumpy dirt road marked Ridge Road.
The road wound upward for two miles, passing quiet, abandoned wooden barns and thick patches of wild blackberry bushes. Finally, the trees cleared, opening into a broad, sunny clearing atop the hill.