Dear Reader:

Dear Reader:

In the shadows of Twin Mountain, New Hampshire there is another smaller, less known mountain, Lone Mountain. It is here; nestled in a crevice at the base of Lone Mountain you will find a quaint little New England town called Hickup Falls.
Up until last year, Hickup Falls had a population of 2,529, that is, if you counted the cats and dogs. Their mainstay, the Forest Product Industry. Most of the residents of Hickup Falls either worked for the Hickory Logging Company or the Hickory Sawmill located just outside of Hickup Falls. Both companies were started by old man Tom Hickory and are still run by the Hickory Family. Since their inception they have helped keep the people and the town of Hickup Falls alive.
Along Main Street you will find the Sheriff’s Department, which consists of the Sheriff and six Deputies, including one female, Mandy Blake. The Town Hall doubles as the General Hall for all towns' functions from weekend dances to wedding receptions. The Hickup Falls School (grades K-12), the Hickup Falls Library, though small by city standards, carries up-to-date information and publications. Then there are the stores, the Shop and Go Grocery Store, Lee’s Department Store, which resembles a small version of JC Penny. There’s also, Jesse’s gas station, Gilllian’s Diner, Gabbie’s Bar & Grill, a local bar where everyone gathers at the end of the day to unwind. The Paramount Theater, the only film theater and finally the Hickup Falls Fire and Rescue Station.
It’s the kind of town someone seeking a friendly atmosphere can feel at home. Hickup Falls is a place without the fast pace and frenzy you find in large cities, and people still don’t lock their doors. Everyone in Hickup Falls knows and respects one another. Even the children of Hickup Falls react to adults with respect and obedience. In short, Hickup Falls is like one large family, with it’s own family problems. The worst crime is an occasional domestic squabble, or a barroom brawl when someone has one drink too many. Some of the children complain that it’s boring in Hickup Falls, but the adults enjoy the quiet, unassuming lifestyle they lead.
That was Hickup Falls up until one evening about a year ago when a handsome stranger drove into town. It was a very stormy night, temperatures were at an all time low and the winds were gusting up to 25 miles per hour. New England was experiencing an unusually cold spring storm.
It was the end of Mandy’s shift and she was finishing a report before leaving. Although it was June, they were experiencing a rather cold storm, so she wasn’t in any hurry to step out into it. Suddenly, the door flew open and a gust of cold wind and rain followed the handsome stranger through the door. He was the most handsome man Mandy had ever set eyes on. He literally took her breath away. This stranger would change the lives of everyone in Hickup Falls, especially Mandy’s, forever.