The wilderness surrounding Lone Pine is filled with things its newest settlers do not understand. Among the trees lives a man who has already made his choice about where he belongs.
His name is Brucey.
Known around the mining settlement as the “Wildman,” he has chosen the forest rather than the town. He is skilled at foraging and survival and enjoys the freedom that comes with living as an outcast. More importantly, he is fascinated by the Ridgewalkers and almost looks upon them as role models.
A Pupil of the Forest
Ophie’s first proper meeting with Brucey happens several weeks after arriving at the homestead.
While gathering tinder and berries near the river, Ophie watches a young deer suddenly disappear beneath the water after a flash of dark fur. Confused by what happened, Ophie notices vague footprints before something else emerges from the nearby plants.
At first, the figure hardly looks like an ordinary man.
Plants are woven into his clothes, helping him disappear into the surrounding forest. His gray beard even carries a tinge of green algae. He quickly explains that he means no harm.
The miners may call him the “Lunatic” or “Wildman,” but he introduces himself simply as Brucey.
When Ophie comments on his hunting and foraging skills, he does not claim to have mastered the wilderness. Instead, he describes himself as “still a pupil of the forest even after so many seasons.”
Knowing When the Forest Goes Quiet
That knowledge becomes important almost immediately.
Ophie assumes the creature that took the deer may have been a bear. The Wildman explains that black bears and grizzlies do not hunt in the way Ophie describes. There are more than bears in these woods, he says, with all sorts of things eating and being eaten.
Then the birds suddenly stop singing.
Brucey immediately crouches and pulls Ophie down with him. The two remain still as something rustles through the underbrush nearby. Only after it moves away do the birds begin singing again.
His advice to Ophie is simple: when the forest gets quiet, so should you.
For someone new to Lone Pine, it is a useful lesson. For the Wildman, it appears to be a way of life.
An Unusual Neighbor
Ophie and Naomi gradually become more familiar with the strange man living beyond town.
When Cecil is banished from Lone Pine, the siblings encounter Brucey on their road home. He appears suddenly from the darkness and warns them to keep close watch that night.
But Cecil is not what concerns him most.
He asks whether they heard the Ridgewalker wails by the river. Naomi responds by giving him a hunting knife for protection. The gesture surprises Ophie and amuses the Wildman, who wonders whether they are crazy to arm him or simply the only good people he has encountered there.
Then, as naturally as he appeared, he leaps back into the dark forest.
A Fascination With the Ridgewalkers
The Wildman does more than talk about the mysterious creatures.
Near his cave, he leaves marbles and a spoon behind. Later, he discovers that the objects are gone. In their place are a piece of quartz and two pinecones. He smiles and leaves brass buttons in return.
Eventually, his fascination brings him closer than ever to the beings he has admired.
Outside his cave, he lays out buttons and shiny objects leading toward the entrance. He catches and roasts a hare, then waits. Soon, grunts and shuffling approach.
An enormous shadow appears against the cave wall.
Rather than greeting it as a monster, Brucey looks upon the visitor with awe and calls it “neighbor.” He offers raw meat and even hands over his bloodstone knife when the creature shows interest in it.
The Freedom of Being an Outcast
The character description at the end of Ridgewalkers makes his choice clear: the Wildman prefers the forest to the town and enjoys the freedom of living as an outcast.
That choice makes him an unusual presence in the story.
The settlers of Lone Pine are trying to build homes, work the mine, and establish their place in the Washington Territories. The Wildman has gone another way. His home is among the trees, his lessons come from the forest, and his greatest fascination lies with creatures most people do not even believe exist.
In the strange wilderness of Ridgewalkers, perhaps that makes Brucey feel right at home.
To explore more, visit the Official Author Website for insights into Ophie and Naomi’s journey, Lone Pine, and the mysteries hidden in the wilderness. Discover the complete story in Ridgewalkers: A Tale of Siblings, Suspense, and Sasquatch by Dashel Winchester.
Brucey’s connection to the forest is only one of the many mysteries waiting in Lone Pine. Discover his journey, the secrets of the Ridgewalkers, and the unforgettable world of Ridgewalkers: A Tale of Siblings, Suspense, and Sasquatch by Dashel Winchester.
