Goldilocks by Patria L. Dunn

Paul, and I’m the new mine inspector for Golden Wonder. Now I don’t know how your parents would feel about you doing any actual mining, but I’ve got plenty of jobs that need doing around the mine, and my men are already shorthanded. I was wondering if you’d…”
    “I’d love a job! Name’s Caleb,” he stuck out his hand, shaking Paul’s enthusiastically. “My father used to work the mine before it closed, but now he’s over in the city at a desk job he hates. He says the mine’s just gonna close again anyways, but…”
    “It’s not closing,” Paul assured Caleb, stopping his rambling before he could get started good. “Tell you what, after I find this guy Jennings, why don’t you come on over and I’ll get you all the paperwork to fill out. You’ll need your parents to sign since you’re under eighteen, but I’ll be sure to put in there that you won’t be in the tunnels, if that makes a difference,” Paul offered, immediately noticing the boy’s change of expression.
    “You say Jennings,” Caleb’s tone was hushed, his brown eyes widening as he looked over his shoulder down the empty aisle.
    “Yeah, I need to find him and…”
    “No one’s g oes up to Eagles Point,” Caleb shook his head, his brow knitted in confusion. “Why do you need to see him anyway?”
    “Do you know him then?” Paul ignored the question, pulling his wallet from his back pocket.
    “Well…not exactly. I mean I’ve lived here all my life, so I’ve heard the rumors. He used to work with my dad before…” Caleb trailed off, guilt flooding his features as Sam walked past with another crate of oranges.
    “Look,” Paul pulled twenty dollars free from the bills stuffed in his wallet and held it up for Caleb to take. “I just need directions; don’t want to go getting you in trouble or anything,” he shrugged, trying for a smile.
    It didn’t ease the boy completely, but he snatched the money and shoved it in his pocket with another glance over his shoulder.
    “Drive east, and j ust follow the eagles,” Caleb, pointed up at the store’s ceiling. “Once you see them from the road, look for a turn on your left. It’s so overgrown now you might miss it, but there’s a tree that got struck by lightning a while back, plum tore the bark off that sucker. If you pass that, then you’ve gone too far,” Caleb shook his head as Paul gave his shoulder an easy punch.
    “Thanks and I’ll see you in a few hours then,” he nodded at Caleb, tucking his wallet back into his pocket.
    “Wait,” Caleb grabbed his shoulder, releasing immediately when Sam walked past again, this time, his arms empty. “I wouldn’t go there if I were you,” he whispered, his cheeks flushing red as his eyes lowered. “It’s not like I believe it or anything, but rumor has it that there’s a crazy old mountain man up there that eats people. He lives in the trees and can you see you coming from at least a mile away. Some say that it’s Jennings up there. He went crazy or something,” Caleb shrugged, his eyes locking with Sam as he stopped at the top of the aisle to stare at the two of them now.
    “I’ll see you later,” Paul winked, ignoring the disapproving looking from Sam as he passed, heading towards the door.
    He could feel eyes on his back as he crossed the graveled parking lot and climbed into ‘Big Red’, starting the old Jeep like a pro this time. He hoped he hadn’t gotten the boy into trouble, but he was grasping at straws here, and he hadn’t even put in a full day’s work yet. If Jennings knew something about the tunnel collapses, then Paul was going to find out.
    **********
    East was a very general direction to drive in, but half way between Hinsdale and Lake City, just as Caleb said, Paul spotted a lone bald eagle high above the trees, its wing span larger than any he’d ever seen on those type birds. It soared gracefully, its head turned downward ever so slightly when Paul slowed the noisy Jeep to an almost