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Driving through the town to my location, the prettiness of the wooden buildings, structured yet unique and welcoming, drew my attention. It was a small place, sure, but it seemed to have all the amenities: a row of different stores on the main strip, a few restaurants, and bars. I saw directions on old-town signs for the library and town hall. It had everything a person would need if they could handle living off-grid in the middle of a forest. And for some aching reason, that appealed to me. But I was exhausted and surviving on too many cups of coffee, so who knew?
Finally, I pulled up outside The Pinewood Inn.
It was small and quaint, painted light forest green and cream with white wooden fascias and soft pink roses in the window boxes. Rustic and romantic. Not what I needed, but if there was a comfy bed and a shower in there, I’d be happy.
I grabbed my bag and my purse and entered the place. A bell gently tinkled to alert my arrival.
“Well, hello there, my dear,” an elderly woman greeted me, gracefully appearing at the doorway set back from an antique table and chair that acted as the reception. Her dark brown skin had slight wrinkles by her eyes, and her black hair was dusted with gray. She sashayed effortlessly toward me and took my hand in hers. “You must be Savannah.”
“I am,” I replied, assuming Grace had called ahead.
“My name is Lilly. Welcome to Moonlight Creek. I hope you enjoy staying here. Although Grace called and said your visit could be under better circumstances.”
“Yeah. I broke down on the edge of town, so Grace has my truck in the shop.”
“She’ll see you right.” Lilly patted her hand before releasing it. “There are a few things here to see and do while you wait.” She glided away, walking behind the reception area where a row of keys dangled from the hooks. Taking one set of them, she handed the keys over. “I’ve put you up in one of our larger rooms on the top floor. The views of the town are beautiful from there. There’s a shower, too. Bigger bed.”
“That sounds wonderful.” I lifted her purse to rummage for my wallet, but Lilly waved her away.
“I’ll open a tab for you. You can settle it upon your departure.”
The beauty of small towns.“Thank you.”
“Same goes if you have breakfast or dinner here. I serve breakfast from seven until ten, and dinner from six until nine. You’re in room twelve, no elevator, but the stairs aren’t tricky.”
“I’ll be going out with Grace tonight, so I’ll grab something there,” I replied. “But I’ll take breakfast in the morning. Eggs, sunny side up, on toasted rye will be perfect if you’ve got it?”
“I do. And I always appreciate a heads up. I’ll prepare it for when you come down first thing. Just leave me a note if you’d like it served later. Dial three from the phone in your room to reach me. If you have a cell phone, it won’t work from here. You’ll have to go to the outskirts of the town to get a signal. But we all have landlines, so feel free to use the one on reception. I only charge for long-distance.”
No mobile phone. No contact with the outside. That stung. But then who would I call?
“Got it.”
“Oh,” Lilly raised her finger, “and don’t stray into the woods alone at night. Not that you would, but wild animals are more prevalent around here when there are fewer people around. They dare to edge closer toward town.”
“No woods at night.” I nodded. “All good.”
“Then that’s all. I’ll let you go up to your room now. You look half-dead on your feet.”
“Thanks, Lilly. For everything.”
“No trouble at all. I’ll see you at breakfast.”
The woman disappeared, sweeping away as elegantly as she arrived, and I headed toward the carpeted staircase, glad I’d wiped my feet on the way in.
The room was beautiful. No floral overkill like I’d expected. Pastels decorated the walls of the room, edged with distressed white wooden panels and bronzed picture frames filled with paintings of the town.
The bed looked too pretty and too delicate for me to flop onto without cleaning up first, so I kicked off my shoes and headed straight for the shower.
Grateful for the power behind it, I used the sweet fragranced liquid soap and hair products supplied, doing what I could to untangle my hair.
The soft towels gave me the comfort I hadn’t realized I’d needed, and I rummaged to find a dryer, enabling me to take the dampness from my locks. That was all I could manage, the fatigue seeping deep into my bones.
I set an alarm on my burner phone and climbed into the bed, too tired to put on my pajamas as the events of the last week caught up with me. Always on the road, driving through the night when I could, the constant worry in my heart over Will, the threat on my heels.
Hot tears caressed my cheeks, but I was too tired to care. I pulled the sheets around me, eager for the desolate black hole of sleep, and a moment’s respite from myself and the clusterfuck hanging with a threatening grimace over my weary head.
And deep into a slumber I fell.
