The Elusive Peacock

She had no idea what was waiting for her. A force fueled by anger and violence.

Kathryn moved to a charming, country setting in rural Virginia to heal and restart her life after the untimely death of her husband. Their life amid the pounding demands of past careers in Washington, DC, took its toll, and now all she wants is to enjoy peace and solitude.

From the start, she takes delight in trying to locate an elusive peacock, said to roam the meandering dirt roads of her little crossroads village. That, and neighborly invites for dinner and cups of tea.

But peace and a simple, quaint pastime is not all that she finds.

First come the warnings. Then the bizarre objects left in her driveway and on her porch-like bullets and dead birds. Then the threats start. But why?

Career-wise, Kathryn was a political campaign consultant for progressive candidates. She also championed progressive causes, like pressing to have Confederate statues that celebrate traitors to America removed from public venues. A past that has marked her in the eyes of secret forces that are slowly, quietly taking over her small town.

These forces are pressuring to have the local police fi red, to be replaced by a private militia-a secretive group associated with a national movement that promotes male dominance, restrictive and exclusive causes, and is pressing for an ultra-conservative-and violent-takeover of America.

By voicing her opinion at a town hall meeting, Kathryn now triggers a campaign of threat and violence against her personally, labelled as "that outspoken, mouthy woman". Attempts to terrorize her escalate quickly when she begins to organize local women to stand up to the pressures of a clandestine group that operates under cover of darkness.

Soon, the question arises: Which of these nice-seeming, country neighbors has been keeping her close to carefully watch her? Which ones are for her, and which are against her?

And just when she thinks the group she is organizing is gaining momentum, terror is violently unleashed against her in the dead of night.

How will Kathryn survive the force coming against her? Or is her own peace and safety as out of reach as the village's elusive peacock?