Cooper and his daughter Finch live in a cabin owned by an Army buddy. After Afghanistan, Cooper tried to return home to a normal life. Great wife whose parents had no time for Cooper. Hated the very air he breathed.
Newborn daughter arrives. As does a random act no one saw coming. His in laws come for their infant granddaughter. Cooper hands her over and immediately starts planning how to get her back. The legal obstacles are great. Too great to be left to chance, so Cooper takes things into his own hands and heads for the backwoods with his daughter in tow.
After a few years, this old mountain man shows up. Calls himself Scotland. Arrives unannounced. Never heard him coming. Suspicious is Cooper. Guy lives in a neighboring cabin. Been keeping an eye of this little family through his high power spotting scope. Strange indeed. But Finch seems taken with him despite his rough exterior.
Once a year, Cooper's buddy drive a truck in with supplies. Cooper grows and hunts his own food, but other necessities have to be purchased and Cooper wants to stay hidden, thus the delivery. This year, no delivery. Not good. Scotland is also concerned for the owner as well as Cooper and Finch. Manages to scrape together some things they need. Cooper even takes the risk of venturing into town for supplies.
The winter is setting in. Snow arrives. As does a visitor. A woman. Drove up like she knew the route. She should. She's the owner's sister. She knew of the annual supply runs. Knowing her brother couldn't make it, she filled up a car and headed for the cabin . . . and gets snowed in (of course). But it is her nosey nature that stimulates Cooper and Finch to check out the rumor of a missing high school girl.
I had no clue what I was getting myself in for. But after a single chapter, I was hooked. Call this a modern day Jeremiah Johnson story (without the Crow Indians). Man (and daughter) testing themselves in the wilderness. What could be better. A quiet tale primarily about 3 people (Cooper, Finch, Scotland) and how a new insertion can bring out more from most people than they knew they had and what they were willing to give up.
A splendid tale. Can't say enough. Highly recommended.
Available October 26, 2021
ECD
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