The Garden of Eden

A broad‑shouldered stranger steps off a rattling train at the remote Lukin Junction, his attire a curious mix of tweed, a Panama hat, and a cane topped with amber. Though his clothes try to hide his imposing frame, his somber face and the faint glint of amusement in his eyes draw the wary townsfolk’s attention. The landscape beyond the settlement is a stark, snow‑capped mountain range that looms like a silent promise of something hidden.

Ben Connor, the newcomer, is escorted by a rotund, good‑natured driver toward a modest hotel, his curiosity piqued by the rugged peaks that dominate the horizon. As the buckboard rattles down the gulch, whispers of a secluded community tucked away in the cliffs begin to surface, hinting at secrets the town guards jealously. The stage is set for a tale of intrigue, where a lone traveler’s search for shelter may uncover mysteries far deeper than the mountain’s shadows.