Settle down.
Parched after sitting in the sun sketching all that time, she reached into her little cooler and got a bottle of ice-cold water, and slugged it back.
She’d drive back to town and call where she knew the signal was usually strong.
Bringing up the GPS on her phone, she typed in the address to the cabin, even though she was fairly confident she could find it on her own. So far, this town didn’t seem too challenging to get around in.
She went back the way she came without looking at the GPS. Proud of herself for learning a couple new streets already, she turned and stopped to get a to-go order of barbecue from the Trout & Snout to take home for dinner.
Natalie hadn’t expected to run into anyone she knew, but lo and behold, not only did the waitress, Amanda, remember her, but Orene happened to be sitting in the same booth they’d shared on Natalie’s first night in Chestnut Ridge.
Amanda wrote down her order, then pointed over her shoulder. “Why don’t you say hello to Miss Orene while you wait. I’ll get this turned in to the kitchen.”
“Thank you, Amanda. I will.” Natalie walked over to where Orene concentrated on peppering a big order of something fried.
“Orene. How are you?”
Startled, she stopped shaking, and her head popped up. “Oh! Great. I’m good. You met Paul today. How are you?” She patted the seat and scooted over. “Come. Sit down with me. Can I order you something?”
“No. Amanda just put my order in, but thank you.” She sat down next to Orene. “And I did meet Paul this morning. He’s very sweet.”
“Bwah!” Orene barked. “He can be a cranky old man some days. I guess you caught him on a good one.” She picked up her fork. “So it went well?”
“No problem at all. It was quick and easy. Thank you for connecting me with Jesse. I think I’ll enjoy adding these trips to my days.”
“What about dinner? Want some of my trout?”
“No. I’m fine. I ordered the barbecue.”
“Today’s dessert special is apple dumplings. Might as well order two. They freeze, and I promise you will want another one tomorrow. They are that good. He doesn’t make them often enough if you ask me.”
“I’ll be sure to add that to the order.”
Orene raised her hand in the air. “Need to add two apple dumplings to Natalie’s order,” she yelled out.
Amanda called back, “Got it, Miss Orene. I was alreadyahead of you on that one!” And it wasn’t even a minute later that Amanda came out with a bag and waved over to their table.
“There’s my food,” Natalie said. “I’m going to let you finish your dinner. Thank you again. I’ll check in on you later this week.”
“Please do. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll fix tea.”
“Great.”
She paid the tab—it was a wonder they could stay in business with prices that low, but she was grateful because it was easy on her budget.
She dialed Randy’s phone to tell him about her last conversation with Marc.
The phone rang. Three. Four. Five times before it went to voice mail.
She pursed her lips into a pout. She should’ve called before she’d gone into the Trout & Snout. A message would have to do now.
She headed back to the cabin.
Under a hot sun all day, the dirt road kicked the dust into the air like clouds behind her. She slowed, but there was no escaping it.
A family of deer were grazing near the bridge.
She stopped the truck, hoping to not scare them off, but they all froze.
