Natalie rang the bell, keeping one eye on the moth.
She waited and then knocked.
Just as Natalie was about to give up, a petite woman with a meticulously coiffed silver bun peered out from the window next to the door. She knitted her brows together before sharing a big toothy grin and opening the door.
The woman pushed her glasses up on her nose. “Well, hello there. I thought I heard something. What can I do for you?”
“Hi. My name is Natalie. I own some property up on the mountain. I hadn’t planned to arrive so late, and with it getting dark already, I was hoping I could rent a room for the night. Maybe a couple of nights, depending on…”Why am I telling her all of this?“I saw on the internet that you rent rooms.”
“Oh?” Her lips pulled tight, almost disappearing.
“It was my husband’s getaway,” Natalie added. “I haven’t been there in years.”
The woman looked confused.
Had she not heard her? Natalie spoke slower and a little louder. “My late husband. He passed away a couple of years ago. He used to come up here all the time.”
“I’m so sorry, dear.” She pressed her wrinkled hand to her heart. “So young. I just lost my husband four years ago. Still miss him every day.”
“I’m sorry for your loss too.” Natalie regretted being in this situation. When had she become so careless with the details? “Do you have any vacancy?”
“Oh, that.” She let out a heavy sigh. “My granddaughter lived with me for a while. Wanted to turn this old house into a bed-and-breakfast until she realized that was a lot of work, and she’d have to clean the house and cook breakfast. Kids these days. They don’t have the work ethic we did in my time.”
“You’re not the only one saying that these days. I’m sorry to have bothered you. Do you know of anywhere nearby that I might be able to rent a room?”
The old woman sighed. “No. There’s no hotel for miles, and honestly, the closest ones aren’t too nice. You’d probably have to go clear back to Roanoke to find something decent.”
“I’m not that particular, as long as it’s safe.” Roanoke was a much longer ride than she wanted to make on roads she’d never driven. “I’m sorry to have disturbed your evening. Thank you.” Natalie turned to leave.
“Where is this place you’re going?” She stepped halfway out of the doorway, propping her hip on the doorjamb. “If you don’t mind me askin’.”
“My cabin?” She stopped and turned. “On No Business Mountain.”
The woman stepped onto her porch, letting the screen door close behind her. “There’s not much up on that mountain but trees and the old fire tower.”
“My husband used to hunt there. The cabin was in his family since before he was born.”
She eyed Natalie as if she didn’t believe her, then raised an arthritic finger. “Are you Jeremy Maynard’s widow?”
Natalie took a step back. “Yes. How did you know?”
“I know everything and everyone in this town. Jeremy’s passing hit this town hard. So young. I’m so sorry for your loss, dear.”
“Thank you.”
“We had dinner at the church in his honor. His momma passed on years ago, his dad… well, he was just a mess. Not a good bone in that man’s body, but Jeremy was a good boy. I’m truly sorry for your loss.”
It struck Natalie as odd for this woman to say such personal things about Jeremy, not knowing her from Adam’s house cat. “I’m thinking of moving into the cabin. Sort of a fresh start.”
“Aren’t you adventurous?”
“I’m not sure. I guess I’ll know tomorrow when I go see it. I’ll be honest, I don’t remember too many details about the place.”
“It’s too late for you to go up the mountain to the cabin tonight. There’s a road but no streetlights.” She shook her head. “It’s not paved either.”
“It was a last-minute decision. I’ll call and see if I can get a reservation in Roanoke. Maybe I’ll grab a bite to eat before I go.”
“That’s a long ride. How far did you drive?”
