You might spot her in a cheap motel a mile off the highway. Or sitting alone in a diner at three in the morning, nursing a cup of coffee that’s gone cold. By sunrise, she’ll be gone.

Samantha Rayne drifts from place to place with no obvious destination. Nobody seems to know exactly what she’s looking for. She doesn’t talk much about her past, and most people learn quickly not to ask. The scars across her knuckles suggest she’s had more than her share of bad days.

Every now and then, Samantha resurfaces in Illinois. Rumor has it there’s a farm there owned by a man she calls Uncle Ray. She’ll stay for a few weeks, help with the animals, fix a fence or two, and disappear again before anyone gets used to having her around.

It’s as if the backroads of America keep calling her name.

Known Facts

• Has no permanent address.
• Feels more comfortable around animals than most people.
• Frequently underestimated because of her appearance.
• Can survive in remote wilderness with limited supplies.
• Has extensive experience traveling alone.
• Regularly returns to Illinois for reasons she refuses to discuss.

Rumors

“I saw that girl pick a fight with two guys twice her size. Broke the first guy’s nose and opened up the second one’s face with a broken bottle. They had it coming, though.”

“Samantha Rayne rolled into town on an old motorcycle one morning. Helped deliver a foal, cleaned the stables, and disappeared the next day. So did my bottle of rum.”

“She came out of the woods behind the diner looking half feral. Ordered a stack of pancakes and three cups of coffee. Left a tip of nine dollars and fifteen cents. I got the feeling that was all the money she had.”

“Somebody told me she shot a man in Idaho. Self-defense, they said. But stories tend to grow longer every time they’re told.”

Samantha, In Her Own Words

“People always ask where I’m headed. Nobody ever asks where I came from.”

Notable Stories