Herbalists' Cache Got caught, both hands on the smoking gun

He launched into a little summary of his life. Mae hadn't expected it, but she wasn't about to complain. The creek was a birthright of sorts for her family, it seemed, and her father's retreat from what sounded like tragedy after tragedy. Injury, corruption, missing children, a bear attack — and more had happened since, Mae knew that. Did it ever end?

She had more questions, but suddenly she wasn't sure she wanted the answers. She could guess at them anyway.

Mae fell silent, turning her gaze back to the path ahead. Asking her father questions was a depressing game. She wasn't sure she had anything better to share, though.