The Star-Gazers

Ben Hayle has spent his life patrolling the thickets of Thoreby Wood, his dark face as steady as the sunrise over the countryside. Each morning he tends the traps, nails the occasional pest to the barn wall, and releases his faithful setters and retriever to chase the scent of game. At his cottage, his daughter Judith watches him with a mix of admiration and restless curiosity, their banter echoing the rhythm of the forest. The routine feels safe, yet the woods whisper of old grudges and unseen dangers.

When the name Caleb Kent surfaces, a chill runs through both father and daughter, suggesting a past that refuses to stay buried. Judith’s nerves tighten as she senses a return that could upset fragile peace of the village and the delicate balance of the wood. Ben’s steady hand on his double‑barrelled gun hints at a looming confrontation, while loyal dogs linger at his heels, ready for whatever the day may bring. Listeners are invited into a world where duty, family ties, and the haunting memory of old foes intertwine beneath leafy canopy.