Chapter 4 #2
The woman who was holding the plate of cookies spoke up then.
“If you don’t mind me saying,” she said as she glanced at her sister, who gave her a small nod of encouragement.
“Before my husband passed away a couple of years ago, we ran a ranch just outside of town. It has several guest cabins just a short walk from the main house. Several times over the years, we took in guests when my sister couldn’t accommodate them here.
Our great-nephew runs a place now. They are very nice little cabins similar to a cottage.
They even have their own little kitchenettes.
My great nephew, Gage, would probably be happy to have you join him and his partner for dinner in the main house, too.
It was something we often did when we had guests staying in the cabins. ”
SSA Walker looked skeptical. “I’m not sure about one of my special agents staying in an unknown location.”
I was about to tell him that it was okay, that I was perfectly fine with it, when the owner of the inn spoke up again.
“I totally understand,” she said. “But it might ease your worry to know that my great-nephew’s partner is a detective at the police station you’ll be working at.
Detective Nakamura, I’m sure, would be able to provide transportation to and from work since he has to go in anyway. ”
SSA Walker looked at each of us, still looking skeptical. “Is anybody willing to stay out at a ranch instead of here in town?”
Before anybody else could speak up, I raised my hand. I was comfortable being alone, had been for years. It definitely wouldn’t bother me one bit. I preferred isolation from other people. “I’ll do it,” I said. My team leader side-eyed me for a long moment.
“All right,” he reluctantly agreed. “As long as you’re sure about it.”
“I am,” I insisted.
“Is there no other hotel in town?” SSA Walker asked, trying one more time to keep me in town.
“There used to be,” the innkeeper said. “But it was pretty rundown. The owner never took care of it over the years. It just kept getting worse until it finally shut down completely a few years ago. I believe there is talk of renovating it and opening a new hotel, but so far, nothing has been done. Our small town here just doesn’t get enough visitors to warrant that kind of investment.
One of the other people in Selene has been talking about opening their own bed-and-breakfast, but they haven’t gotten around to it just yet.
I’m afraid your only options are here or at the ranch.
There just aren’t enough beds here. I’m so sorry,” she said as she turned to me.
I shook my head, trying to reassure the woman.
She was so kind and was sincerely upset by the turn of events.
I didn’t want her to feel any worse than she already was.
“It’s okay, ma’am,” I tried to soothe her with a polite smile.
I was sure it came out less soothing and more relieved, though.
I really didn’t want to stay that close to these people I didn’t know well.
Even though we were coworkers, I just didn’t know them.
Of course, that was my fault. I’d already been with the team for several months, but I hadn’t allowed myself time to get to know anybody on a personal level.
“I really am good with staying in the cabin, or cottage. It doesn’t matter to me. ”
With another sigh, our team leader picked up the four keys that were lying on the desktop and began handing them out. “Alright, everybody, go claim a room. Parker, you can take your bag back out to the van and wait for us. We won’t be long.”
I nodded my head and started to turn to head back out the door when one of the sisters called out.
“Just a minute before you go! If you’d like to, take a cookie, they’re fresh out of the oven.
” She extended the plate towards me. I hesitated for just a moment, but the smell that was still wafting through the lobby had my stomach growling.
I gave her a small smile of thanks and reached out with my free hand to grab one of the large cookies.
“Thank you,” I said gratefully. “These look delicious.”
When the others began to crowd around, reaching for their own snack, I stepped back, pulling my luggage with me to make room for everybody else.
“I’ll be waiting in the van,” I called out softly, then turned around and headed back towards the door.
I knew that the turn of events was my fault since I had practically begged to join the team at the last minute.
The accommodations were what they were, especially since the original team was only supposed to be the four of them.
I stepped out into the sunlight and walked back to the van that I had arrived in.
After stowing my luggage in the back of the van, I climbed in and finally bit into the still warm chocolate chip cookie that was nearly as big as my hand.
Warm sweetness flowed over my tongue along with the rich chocolate that she had used.
The woman was a talented baker. I was already in love.
The woman could open a shop and get rich by selling nothing but cookies.