Arnold Mills is located in east-central Cumberland. Its borders include Reservoir Road and Arnold Mills Reservoir to the north, Route 295 to the south, Abbott Run Valley Road to the west and the Massachusetts state line to the east. Aside from the historic village dating to the 18th century that's located on and around Sneech Pond Road, Arnold Mills remained largely uninhabited until the mid-1950s to 1970s when larger farms were developed into neighborhood plats. But even the developments that break Arnold Mills into little communities, each with its own flavor, have not disturbed either the serenity or the homeyness of the area where everyone seems to know everyone else by name. She turns her car down Howard Road, a narrow country lane that crosses Howard Pond.
Houses peek out from between tall pine trees.
A little bridge crosses over a waterfall. Lapierre pauses again to point to the spot where she used to play on a tree swing. Abbott Run Valley Road, also known as Lanesville Road, is minutes from highly trafficked Diamond Hill Road, but it seems to stand in another era. On one side of the road is Brieswood Farm, where Shetland ponies prance around a show ring, their manes blowing in a gentle spring breeze. Down the road and across the street is Daze End herb farm, a cozy haven for weekend teas.