AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He pointed toward a path, a playful smile gracing his lips. "I think there might be some bathroom-like things out there. That’s what I’ve gathered so far.”
“We’re working on the plumbing.” The old woman from earlier at the window said with a shrug as she walked up. “I’m Mrs. Tully, the unofficial grandma of this place. I can knit you a sweater, hand you a hard candy, or tell you a story about how your generation is ruining everything. Whatever you like.”
“Very convincing grandma résumé,” Ben commented with a smile. “We’re looking for the bathrooms. Can you help us out?”
“Down that path there.” Mrs. Tully’s arthritic crooked finger pointed toward the woods. “Bailey put beautiful baskets together for you all for the showers too. Moe installed some water heaters recently and they are working great. Get freshened up and then Arnoldo wants to sit down with you over breakfast to try to get to the bottom of who might want to harm you. He’s a retired detective.”
“Okay,” Paisley replied, struggling to take it all in.
“The kids made you a flower crown and...” she trailed off as a bird fluttered by her. She seemed distracted by its beauty for a long beat and Paisley spoke again.
“That’s all so kind,” Paisley said, her voice still shaky.
Mrs. Tully sighed loudly. “Kind doesn’t mean much when you’ve had to run through hell. We’re good people, but we’re not your people. This isn’t your home. I understand that must be tough, but you’re in good hands.” She pointed again toward the showers. “The bathrooms are all yours.”
“Thank you,” Ben replied with a smile.
“An outdoor shower?” Paisley asked in hushed voice as they made their way down the path. “Do you think they have curtains at least?”
“Not sure. I won’t peek if you won’t.” Ben winked.
“I have a hard time believing that.”
“I’m a perfect gentleman. I won’t see you naked until you want me to.”
“Well I’m not going to want you to,” Paisley shrieked, slapping his shoulder. “You can wait your turn.”
“At seeing you naked?” Ben laughed. “Is there a line? I don’t doubt there would be. You’re a beautiful actress.”
“You’re insufferable. I meant you could wait your turn for the shower after me. Don’t be so presumptuous about me. You think because you’ve seen me in a movie you know me?”
“I’ve never seen you in a movie. I had no idea who you were before Carmen introduced us on the runway at the airport. Sorry if that’s a blow to your ego.”
“Bullshit,” Paisley huffed. “You’re trying to work me up.”
“I thought we agreed, there was a line I have to wait in for that.”
“You’re being crass.”
“I’m being funny. I’m joking. Because this entire situation is bullshit and if we can’t laugh, you’ll probably cry. Especially when you see that.”
Ben pointed at the three shower heads and small wood stalls that surrounded them. There were large basins of water perched above and some kind of solar heating system propped nearby.
“At least there’s some privacy,” Paisley croaked out. “You won’t be able to peek.”
“A gentleman,” he reminded her. “You’ll never have to worry about anything like that with me. You’ve been through enough. I’ll never make you wonder about me.”
She eyed him closely as she moved toward the showers and the baskets that were beautifully laid out with soft towels and some handmade soaps.
“People here are trying,” Ben offered in a gentle voice. “They seem genuinely kind.”
“If you’re waiting for me to complain about the accommodations, I won’t. I know I live a charmed life and I look woefully unprepared to be here, but I’m not dumb. Someone, or maybe a bunch of people out there, wants me dead. An outdoor shower and a lumpy bed aren’t enough to break me.” She pulled open the wood door, the hinges squeaking, and reached for the basket.
“What about a snake?” Ben asked, cocking his brow up playfully. “Because you’re about to take a shower with one.”
The slithering black serpent fell from the small shelf in the shower stall it had been perched on. The basket flew from her hands, contents spilling everywhere and a shriek she couldn’t stifle pierced the quiet air around them.
Dammit. She’d talked such a big game and now, with one coiled reptile, she was ready to run and never look back. The problem was, there was nowhere safe to go.
