Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Keifer
Kiefer had wanted to tell her she’d looked stunning in that dress and that’s why he’d kissed her.
Why he’d been staring at her so, wondering why she was so miserable.
After she’d left, the memory of his lack of control and acting on impulse that brought on the kiss his heart and body would never forget, he wondered.
Back on the road, feeling as good as every other day, he didn’t sleep.
One giant-sized coffee, one too many baked goods from a local hole-in-the-wall bakery, and he was off.
“Elk Danner here I come. Isaac Jennings, you’d better have a good explanation for me.
Wyatt, I just need to make sure you're alright.”
Time rolled by as he made fast work of getting to town. The entire time, thoughts of the mysterious woman at the hotel kept circling in his brain. The kiss, the kiss she’d enjoyed and participated in as much as he had, would stay with him forever.
Her beauty far surpassed any he’d ever encountered in a woman, as she was definitely his type. He liked women with curls; he’d always admired women with curly hair, his late wife having a mass of curly hair that both Daniel and Ellie were privy to receiving.
The deeper he got into North Carolina, the more remote things became. By nature, a city dweller and lover, he found no pleasure in the quiet, solitude of nature around him. The sights–deer and birds, squirrels, and other creatures by the roadside did nothing to amuse or delight.
One thing stayed constant in his mind: finding and dealing with Wyatt and his family and seeing what lay next on the horizon for his future. The warmth of that kiss stayed with him, the possibility of love warming the recesses of his heart.
Once he’d thought love was dead for him, with the passing of his wife at such a young age. Parenthood and the need to provide and do it well prevented him from ever having the time to truly grieve or think about life in the future.
Now, a long time since his wife's passing, he could think about it, ponder it, and smile knowing he still had it in him to shock and surprise a gorgeous woman. Shocking her so much she’d tossed her fancy shoes off and behind her into the abyss of a roadside parking lot never to be thought of again.
The back roads were no match for his SUV as he took every turn with ease and precision; the dotting of makeshift businesses and shops did nothing to excite him.
A creature of habit, he loved the ice cream he got from the store on 5th and the mingling noises from a city that never slept, which made it easy for him to be himself, insomnia and all.
Elk Danner itself left a lot to be desired, his city-stomping mind wondering where all the fun is and what they do on a Saturday night to amuse themselves. Agenda clear, he shoved those feelings to the background in favor of finding the one place he needed to be, the bookstore.
The Whispering Pines Book Shop left a lot to be desired. Part sorcery wanna be, with the slightest hint of dusty old mingled with the enchantment of a backdrop no city could compete with. He frowned.
“Closed, of course it’s closed.” The sign on the bookstore reading closed isn’t at all what he’d imagined finding out a Tuesday morning bright and early.
Looking around at the few other shops nearby, he could tell this wasn’t the morning for the town.
“The bakery is open, the convenience store and the hair salon. There is life in this tiny town after all, so where are you, Mr. Isaac Jennings? More importantly, where is Wyatt?”
On a hunch, he walked to the dusty old windows and pressed his face to the glass, seeing nothing but darkness and dusty old books.
Shaking his head, he dusted his hands off.
“Not the kind of shop I’d expect a father to Wyatt might have; must be a front for something else.
Hence why it's closed at this hour of day.”
A quick look around, he wrinkled his nose, sipping his soda before throwing the car in gear. “Not to my liking. How do you entertain yourself around here? What do the kids do when they are not in school?”
He knew the answer to that, and mentally tossed the crazy question to the trash can, smiling. “Kids love this kind of stuff; it's the perfect place for a kid, lots of outdoors and nature. Perfect for having fun adventures; my granddaughter would love a place like this.”
He licked the sugar from his fingers as he ate the last of his snack, frowning. “Yes, but the real question is, where’s Wyatt?”
Under normal circumstances, he could see a child, any child, Wyatt or otherwise, thriving in a place like this. Gardening beneath the canopy of pines. Walking from one shop to another, the scent of freshly baked bread calling their name.
It was a perfect hamlet town cast in the hollows of the North Carolina mountains.
Not to his liking necessarily, but a place where a kid could be a kid.
He knew what he’d likely find, as he’d seen it one too many times in his career with Child Welfare.
Often what he hoped for was never the case, and in most situations so far from the truth it's both humbling and frightening.
Throwing the SUV in gear, he had to get down to business. “Now that I’m here, let's get this party started. The sooner I find Wyatt, the better. The sooner I know I figure this out, I will know if I can let this case rest or need to extend my retirement another month or more.”
Something in his gut told him he wasn’t going to find what he thought he was in this sweet little mountain town. His gut never steered him wrong, and now would be no different; he was certain of it.
Rolling away, he did a circle, accessing the town and its people as they went back to their morning rituals.
Most seemed like the hard-working, keep-to-themselves but cautiously-friendly type.
The young man at the grocery store helped a family with their cart, waving as he passed; in return, he waved and smiled. “Might come in handy later.”
The city was in his bones, the beat of cautiousness that made one not too friendly, but friendly enough. He, due to upbringing and career, was the type of person anyone, even those who looked safe before proceeding, kept his eyes on the prize, finding Wyatt and ensuring his well-being.
He’d seen it before, perfectly neat as a pin house, looking like a front to something darker, their clean, happy facade a cardboard exterior to what really lay beneath. In his heart, Kiefer always operated from the heart of hoping, today someone would be different than he’d expected.
A bed and breakfast popped up in between two tall pines, its neat, woodland habitat begging for a night stay.
“Guess this will do. Probably good, hopefully no roaches.” She cringed inside, recalling the last hotel before this trip where he’d spent hours trying to negotiate his money back after discovering a bad case of bugs he’d never forget.
The heavily slanted eaves, welcoming blue shutters, and warmth of flowers sprouting from the sidewalk were a nice change of pace as he walked inside. “I’d like a room, please, if you have one.”
The old woman, eyes sparkling with something likened to a knowing he’d never get, grinned. “Of course. For just yourself or you and…”
“Just myself, no wife, no kids.” He laughed. “Kids are grown, wife is gone, long since past.”
She patted his hand, pulling the cookie tray in front of him a bit closer.
“Help yourself; I make the best oatmeal cookies in the county. Good with the apples when they are ripe, almost there, another week I think. Although Molly on the other side of town claims hers are ready. I think they might be a tiny bit sour just yet, if you ask me; hard as nails, one week extra is needed. But don’t tell her or pesky Francis will think her cookies are the best.”
Something in his heart swelled, remembering the grandmother he’d once had, and he liked her instantly and grabbed a cookie.
The temptation of cinnamon mingled with vanilla and just the right hint of sweetness and raisins surprised him.
He signed on the papers she placed before him. “Oh, these are good.”
She showed him to a room, the corner front-facing the road, its pink flowered wallpaper a reminder of grandma. “There you go. If you need anything, you know where to find me. Breakfast is served bright and early at seven o’clock. I’ll make sure to have plenty of coffee.”
She paused at the door, something at the tip of her tongue. He imagined she didn’t have many people who came to stay anymore, with the outlying hotels that provided more amenities.
She smiled, her fragile hand patting his again. “We have quite a few single ladies in town if you're of the mind to find someone. Not sure where you're headed or your plans here in Elk Banner. Perhaps you might decide to stay.”
Kiefer opened his mouth to say something, then thought better of it. “Just looking around, but I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.”
“Perfect. Oh, and before I forget, we have a sauna out back and a hot tub if you are of the mind to use them. Can’t say I’m a fan, but some of my guests love them. Beautiful with the canopy of trees.”
She was gone, closing the door on that before Kiefer had a chance to absorb what she said.
Curiosity piqued, he shelved that for a later time, his agenda clear.
After settling in, the bed felt cozy, the room ample; he knew this was different.
“No rock music for you tonight, buddy; you’ll just have to save it for the trip out of town. ”
Kiefer spent some time admiring the areas, finding a quiet peacefulness he’d not felt in a long time. The house was softly lit, each room as he walked through filled with flowers and sweet treats for guests he could imagine at one time she had.
When he found his hostess at the same spot he’d left her, she beamed up at him, her short stature likened to that of his deceased grandmother. “Off to find something to do? I’m Helen, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, Helen. I’m Kiefer. And yes, I need some gas for my car, and maybe a map; not a big town, is it?”
“No, but big enough. There’s so much to do around here, hiking if you’ve got good feet for it. I don’t, but my granddaughter loves it. Kayaking if you like the water, and fishing and hunting if you're into that sort of thing.”
Kiefer smiled despite his best efforts to remain distant. “Sounds wonderful. Thank you for the ideas.”
“You're welcome. The gas station is just on the right in town, not far from here.
Tell Walter I said hello; he and I go way back to high school.
Fine gentleman he is; God rest his wife's soul; she passed a few years ago. She made the most beautiful quilts; I have one in the honeymoon suite, lovely purple and pale blue.”
“Good to know, thanks.”
Before he got submerged, he had things to do. Kiefer needed to get familiar and start networking so he could get information. First on the agenda before he left, he smiled, an idea coming to him. “I’m looking for a bookstore.”
A moment’s worry crossed her face, then it was gone just as quickly as it appeared. “Oh yes, indeed. We have a lovely bookstore, but…” Her hands nervously ran through her white-grey hair. “But it's closed just now. Avid reader?”
He had all the answers he needed. “Yes and no. Thanks. I’ll just head to the gas station. I suppose I will see you later.”
“Most certainly. I make the best pot roast in town too. Having it for dinner, since you're the only guest if you're of the mind to eat, I’ll have some ready for you when you're hungry.”
Touched by her kindness, Kiefer smiled and walked out the door.
“Thank you. I just might take you up on that.” A few steps down the path, reaching his car, he frowned.
“Looks like you and I are to be best friends, Helen. I bet you’ve got more information on every person in this town than the mayor. ”
The drive over, simple and easy, was gifted with a sighting he’d never catch in the city.
“Elk. Wow, check that out.” He paused his car in the empty roadway to admire the animal disappearing in the trees.
“Who would have thought you fool, you're in Elk Danner.” He laughed at his own folly before continuing on his way.
A quick stop at the gas station; Walter wasn’t in residence, but someone he imagined was his son stood at the register. “Help you with something?”
“Just looking around, then I’ll be getting some gas.”
A nod, nothing more than a nod, and a smile. “Sounds good. Make yourself at home.”
Kiefer did just that, followed the path through tiny aisles that held an assortment of items. Taking stock of the locals was the best way to assess what he’d be dealing with if he couldn’t immediately meet up with Isaac Jennings and locate Wyatt.
He heard the door slam behind him, the sound of a woman talking to the man behind the counter, before silence. She seemed stressed, annoyed even, though he thought no more about it and circled back to grab what he wanted before heading back to the register.
He felt her, though he didn’t see her right away, walking up to the man behind the counter. “That be all?”
“Gas, I need twenty-five on pump two, please. I saw a massive Elk in the woods on my way to the gas station. I guess you see them a lot in this town?”
“You could say that.” The man handed him his things and a receipt, a warm smile that saw past him to someone standing behind him. A quick glance backwards, his heart nearly stopped beating for a second.
“Oh, hey.”
Murder in her eyes, the woman he’d been traveling alongside from Wilmington was standing behind him. She said nothing, but he saw the anger, felt it.
Keifer opened his eyes to say something sorry for recklessly kissing her without permission or at least knowing her name, but nothing came out.
She pointed a finger at him. “We meet again, and your charm is legendary, I’ve gotta tell you.
First you kiss me like some wild caveman at that stupid hotel after blasting your rock concert music, and now you cut me off in line.
You’ve got the respect and manners of a barbarian.
Apparently you forgot what your mother taught you. ”
Stunned, Kiefer stepped around her, choosing to avoid her rather than proceed by saying anything to her. As he pumped his gas, wondering how someone so beautiful could be so wickedly foul on the inside, he pushed memories of that kiss back where they belonged.
“Don’t even think about it; she’s obviously an awful person and not someone you should entertain, as friend or otherwise,” he said under his breath.