When tragedy strikes, sometimes you have to take refuge in the strangest of places. Alan Webster found that refuge during a thunderstorm. He stumbled upon a cabin while seeking shelter. He didn’t know it then, but that cabin would offer refuge for him more than once. A tragic event in his life in the recent past made it difficult for him to make any decisions. The cabin beckoned him to return.

Mariella Keller owned the cabin, and she saw the stranger on the porch. Although she didn’t approach him, it was curious to see anyone around, because the cabin was well hidden from everyone. The path to the cabin was elusive, so she was amazed that he was there. As Alan and Mariella become acquainted, he refers to the calming effect that it has had on him. He can’t wait to spend more time out in the woods for the peace it offers. Mariella understands Alan’s description of the cabin providing magical healing properties, as she often felt that way herself.

Doug Channing, a recluse living deep in the woods, becomes a central issue of concern for both Alan and Mariella. As Mariella begins to secure the cabin against an intruder, more trouble arises. The cabin was broken into, items taken, and windows smashed. The more security she installed, the worse the damage. As Doug becomes a larger threat, Mariella becomes deathly ill. Not that Doug cared about her health. His abduction of her was only to teach Mariella a lesson, not to care for her sickness.

With their lives forever changed by the events at the cabin, Mariella and Alan’s friendship only strengthens. Follow along as Doug Channing causes havoc in their lives, changing them both.