by JoAnn Durgin
The sun had risen higher in the sky and the townspeople called out greetings to one another while tourists leisurely strolled up and down the streets. The tantalizing aromas from a small candy store lured the girls inside where Caroline indulged in a sample and then bought a small brick of maple fudge. “Made from pure Vermont maple,” the owner told her as he rang up the sale. “Doesn’t get much better, or richer, than that.”
“This place is just too cute for words,” Kat observed as a young couple jogged by pushing a stroller with boy and girl twins. A small white dog was on a leash attached to the man’s hand.
“I think we’ve landed in the middle of an honest-to-goodness Norman Rockwell town,” Paulina said as they walked past a square with an old, restored Town Hall. A park with a white gazebo sat adjacent to the building and the post office came next.
“Stockbridge, Massachusetts. That’s Rockwell’s hometown,” Kat said.
“I know that.” Paulina shook her head. “You know what I mean. Lots of New England towns are quaint, but this place is—”
“Special,” Caroline said under her breath. Reaching the intersection of Elm and Evergreen Streets, she paused on the sidewalk when she spied Landon’s Bed & Breakfast. Paulina and Kat stopped beside her.
“What a great house,” Paulina said and Kat echoed her sentiment. By far, it was the grandest home in sight. Several much smaller houses lined both sides of the street. Older homes for the most part but obviously well-loved and maintained. Pretty cottages with different architectural styles, and a number of them featured a white picket fence.
“I hope there’s room at the inn tonight. Come on, girls! Let’s check it out.” Darting across the street, Kat led the way and motioned for them to follow. Caroline lagged behind, drinking in the rich details of the Queen Anne style Victorian home.
A covered porch ran the length of the house, supported by white columns, some wrapped with trailing ivy. The landscaping in the front and side yard was lush and lovely with neatly trimmed bushes—including rose bushes with bright, colorful blooms—and large, towering shade trees. The wraparound porch turned at a ninety-degree angle running congruently with the intersecting streets.
White lattice work graced the overhang at the juncture, lending the corner of the house a gazebo-like effect all its own with turrets rising above it on the second and third floors. Another covered balcony jutted out from a second floor bedroom at the front of the house, and a lovely stained glass design—a pink tulip and green leaves from the looks of it—adorned the windows of the third floor. Two red brick chimneys rose above the roof with pointed gold finials on the peaks of each section of the rooftop.
Caroline stopped outside the front door to admire the potted petunias, marigolds, and other hardy flowers gracing small white tables on the covered porch. White wicker chairs sat in small groupings to encourage cozy conversations, no doubt. A hanging pot of lush, poppy-colored geraniums spilling over its sides swayed in the breeze and wind chimes added to the serenity of the scene.
How wonderful it would be to sink into the plump cushions of one of the chairs and sip a tall, frosty glass of lemonade or iced tea. Read a book. Take a nap. Ponder life’s direction. Nothing sounded better in this place where time truly seemed to stand still. If only that could become reality for a day or two.
“This place reminds me of a neighbor’s house back home in Georgia. Old and rambling but full of character. Keep moving. That hot shower sounds better by the second.” Kat walked around her and gave Caroline a firm but gentle push from behind.
“I hope they have a vacancy.” Caroline smiled as she spied a two-person swing covered with a floral cushion suspended from the corner of the porch.
“Yeah. I’d hate to hear there’s no room at the inn.” Pulling open the front door, Paulina stood aside and gestured for them to enter first. “After you.”
A hand-painted Welcome One and All sign to one side of the door with Est. 1856 beneath it greeted the girls. The large front room was equally warm and cozy as they stepped inside.
A shiver ran through Caroline as she removed her sunglasses and paused for her eyes to adjust to the lighting inside. Ceiling fans rotated above them and candles burned, releasing a light, citrusy scent. Loveseats, sofas, and overstuffed armchairs covered in a pretty, multicolored floral pattern were positioned in a pleasing arrangement, and the coffee table and end tables were constructed from sturdy pine. From what she could tell at first glance, all the pieces boasted high quality craftsmanship. Delicate brass as well as glass decorative accents and fixtures complemented the highly-polished hardwood floors. A large, brightly-colored woven rug covered the middle of the room. An inviting bookcase overflowing with books lined one entire wall.
This place was nothing like the cold, impersonal marble-tiled front foyer in her Boston home that boasted one-of-a-kind, priceless works of fine art. Money could buy things of exquisite taste and design but couldn’t touch this room for pure appeal and charm. Here, she could have run and played like a normal child instead of being forced to wear fancy dresses and enduring reprimands by stern-faced staff admonishing her not to sit on that chair or touch that sculpture. Heaven forbid she’d ever slide down the banister or roller skate on those shiny, smooth floors. The one time she and Bryce dared to rollerblade in the front marble foyer resulted in her being grounded for a week—not the punishment her mother intended since it meant she missed functions she’d never wanted to attend in the first place.
A plump, pleasant-faced woman with beautiful white hair hurried around the corner, nearly running into Kat. “Oh!” Visibly startled, the woman moved one hand to her chest, breathing heavily. “Sorry. I didn’t hear you come in.” Recovering her composure, she wiped her hands across a flour-covered apron worn over a cotton dress. “Welcome, girls. I’m Beverly Landon.”
Caroline smiled and stepped forward. “You have such a beautiful place here, Mrs. Landon.”
“Why, thank you, dear. How kind of you to say. Randy and I bought it from my parents more than twenty years ago, so we’ve been here a long time. It’s a lot of upkeep, but we love it.” Judging from the well-etched lines surrounding her eyes and mouth, smiling was the most natural thing in the world for this woman.
“We stopped at Mahoney’s Market,” Caroline said. “Clara recommended your B&B and suggested we stop here to see if you have a vacancy.”
Beverly’s brows drew together over her dark-eyed gaze. “Dear Clara. I should call her and find out how her sweet little granddaughter is doing today.”
“If you’re referring to Lacey, she woke up with the croup.”
Caroline ignored the stares from her friends and Beverly didn’t appear surprised to hear this news from a stranger. “Well, now, I’m sorry to hear that. It’s a shame, but they were afraid that was going to happen. Seems like that poor child has suffered from one thing after another from the time she was born. Okay, now, girls. As it happens, your timing is great. We have one room available since we had a last-minute cancellation not even an hour ago. The room is spacious and has two double beds, if that’s satisfactory. Otherwise, we’re full up.” With a weary smile, Beverly glanced at each of them, her gaze finally resting on Caroline.
Kat winked at Caroline. “Trust me, we’ve shared primitive conditions the last few days. I’m sure we can put up with each other. Not a problem.”
“Wonderful. Then let’s get you signed in.” Beverly walked behind a desk in a corner alcove and pulled out a heavy-looking book.
“I’m sure it’s a very busy time for you with all the wedding festivities. Clara told us your daughter’s getting married,” she added when Beverly glanced up from the book. “If we can get the key, we’ll find our room, and let you get back to whatever you need to do.”
“Oh, it’s no bother.” Beverly waved her hand. “Everything’s under control for the wedding. We’re pretty simple around here, and I have lots of help. The good Lord must have known you’d be coming and needed a place to stay. Let m
e have you sign the guest register, and then I’ll take you up to your room.”
Again, Caroline sensed Kat and Paulina’s eyes on her, most likely at the kindly woman’s mention of the Lord. If it were possible, Jesus would indeed most likely take up residence in this marvelous place.
Mrs. Landon shook her head when Caroline withdrew her money pouch from her backpack. “Payment’s not necessary until you check out. We can settle up then.” People must be very trusting in this town. From what she’d seen, that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
Beverly studied the book and then flipped a page. “The same room was also booked for tomorrow night. Would you like to go ahead and reserve it?”
When Caroline glanced at Paulina and Kat with an arched brow, they both nodded. “That sounds great. Thanks. It’ll give us time to rest and regroup.”
“Great.” Mrs. Landon turned the book around. “Please come sign your names and home addresses in our guest register, if you don’t mind. That way we’ll have a record of your stay and you might just get a Christmas card from me.”
Caroline signed the book first. “We were housemates at Wellesley College and graduated a few months ago. This trip is kind of our last hurrah, I guess you could say. We’ve been hiking and camping in the Great White Mountains Forest the last couple of days, and we’re more or less going where the wind takes us.”
Why she felt the need to say all that, she had no idea. Perhaps the mountain air was somehow affecting her mind and loosening her tongue. Still, Beverly had the kind of warm, friendly manner that made her want to confide in her, something she rarely did. Must have started with meeting Clara at Mahoney’s. These women encouraged her to share her thoughts. Normally not accustomed to such openness with strangers, Caroline rather liked it. She almost laughed at the expressions on Paulina and Kat’s faces as they both stared at her. They probably wondered if she’d sipped suspect creek water up in the mountains.
Smoothing a strand of white hair away from her forehead, Beverly didn’t hide her astonishment. “You mean to tell me you’ve been hiking on your own and staying in the mountains overnight?” She shook her head. “My, my. Well, far be it from me to put in my two cents, but I’m not sure that’s something I’d ever allow my daughter to do. You girls certainly are independent.”
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Landon. For one thing, we’ve practically been disinherited.” Paulina barely contained her grin. “If you ask me, we were safer camping in the mountains than being around the wolves in sheep’s clothing in the city.”
“She’s teasing.” Kat gave Paulina a nudge. “Speaking for myself, my parents think I’m out of my mind and questioned why they paid good money for my education only to jeopardize my entire future with this one hiking trip.”
“We hired a local guide to help us set up camp each night and he was invaluable,” Caroline said, wanting this kind woman to understand they weren’t completely without sense.
The expression on Mrs. Landon’s face was an interesting combination of what looked like faint disapproval mixed with wistfulness. “I see. Ah, to be so young and carefree.” Rotating the ledger on the counter, the older woman glanced at what they’d written. “Let’s see. We have Caroline from Boston, Katherine from Atlanta, and Paulina from New York.” She glanced at each of them in turn as she read their names, her warm smile in place. “Welcome to Evergreen. I’m glad you’ve found our little paradise.”
The bed and breakfast owner’s smile grew even brighter and her eyes lit as her gaze moved behind Caroline. “Why, Seth Barnes, you sweet boy! Aren’t you a welcome sight? About time you came back to see us. You come here and give me a hug this instant.” Quicker than Caroline would have thought possible, Mrs. Landon moved around the desk with her arms wide open.
Caroline turned back toward the doorway and met the very blue eyes of Hiker Guy.
Chapter 3
~~♥~~
Caroline watched as Seth embraced Mrs. Landon and kissed her cheek. “Hi, Bev. You’re looking well. Good to be back.”
“I’m so happy you could join us this weekend.” She patted his cheek and then gave him an affectionate tweak.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Nodding to the three girls in turn, Seth’s gaze lingered on Caroline. “Nice to see you again.”
Caroline smiled but couldn’t seem to find her voice. With her disheveled hair and somewhat rumpled clothing, she wasn’t exactly the fashion model type although her two friends always looked like they stepped from the pages of a glossy fashion magazine. So did Seth. He was one of the most naturally handsome guys she’d ever seen in his shorts and plain red T-shirt. She’d had enough of preppy, pretty boys. Ditto the ones in tailored Italian designer suits.
“Oh, you’ve met?” Mrs. Landon asked.
“In a manner of speaking. On the road into town.” A smile crossed Seth’s face, and the small dimple to the left of his mouth winked at her. Stepping forward, he offered his hand. “Hi, I’m Seth. And you are?” He shook Kat’s hand first, followed by Paulina, and then turned to Caroline. “Nice to meet you. . .”
“Caroline.” Why give him her last name? Sometimes anonymity was a good thing. Kept it impersonal. Casual. A little mysterious.
Something flickered in Seth’s eyes and flittered over his features as he briefly held her hand. “It’s nice to officially meet you.” Their eyes locked and held, and an indefinable sensation coursed through Caroline. In an odd moment of déjà vu, she sensed she’d seen this man somewhere before. But where? Something in the depths of Seth’s eyes spoke to her, pulled on her emotions. Could it be he felt the same connection?
You’re losing it, girl.
“You, too.” Caroline released his large, warm hand.
“Seth, honey, your room is ready.” Mrs. Landon pulled a key from a desk drawer and handed it to him. “Go on up. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Great. Thanks much.” With a brief nod in their direction, Seth started up the wide front staircase, and a few of the steps creaked in protest. “Remind me to look at these stairs,” he called over one shoulder without stopping. “And you need some touch-ups on the front of the house. I’ll take a closer look in a few minutes.”
“Such a good boy he is.” Grabbing a set of keys from a hook on the wall behind her, Mrs. Landon started for the wide, carpeted staircase.
Following behind the middle-aged woman, Caroline noticed how heavily she leaned on the beautifully carved, intricate banister for support. A colorful, handmade quilt adorned the wall at the top of the stairs. “What a beautiful quilt. Did Francie make this one?”
“Why yes, she did. Are you familiar with her work?”
“I saw one of her quilts at Mahoney’s earlier. It was gorgeous.” Caroline winked but otherwise ignored the raised brows of her two friends.
“They’re one-of-a-kind all right. A real treasure to own one of these quilts let me tell you. My mom bought this one for me when my Liesel was born. This particular quilt was on our bed for years, but when Randy and I took over the B&B, I figured I might as well let others enjoy its beauty and craftsmanship.”
Mrs. Landon led them down the hallway. Several antique pieces lined both sides of the wide hallway. Fresh flowers in beautiful vases sat on every table. Turning and heading back toward the front of the large, rambling house, she went all the way down to the end.
“This is your room, girls.” Standing aside, Mrs. Landon waited for them to enter the room with Caroline bringing up the rear. The afternoon sunlight filtered into the room and a gentle breeze wafted through the tall, open windows, ruffling white eyelet curtains. Two light wood poster beds with pretty yellow, white and cornflower blue quilts stood in the middle of the room. A small table sat between the beds and a matching desk graced the far corner. Light and airy. Welcoming.
“This is absolute perfection!” Hopping up and down, Kat tugged off first one boot and then the other before plopping on one of the two double beds. Flat on her back, she wriggled like a child
. “A feather bed, no less. I love it!” Rolling over on her stomach, propping herself on her elbows, Kat laughed. “Mrs. Landon, I want to live here. You’re going to have to forcibly kick me out.”
Mrs. Landon beamed her appreciation of the remark as Kat reclined in total, blissful abandon. “You even managed to get the one room that has its own private bath.”
“Good thing since we’ll probably monopolize it for a while, anyway,” Paulina said, laughing.
“There’s also a small balcony that looks out over Elm Street. I highly recommend sitting out there in the late evening or early morning. Very peaceful. Well,” Mrs. Landon said, “I’d better get back downstairs before my strawberry rhubarb pies burn. Oh, there’s also an intercom on the wall.” She pointed to the small brown box mounted on the wall by the door. “Feel free to let me know if you need anything, but please give me a little time to get back upstairs. Normally, my daughter, Liesel, is here to help, but she’s a little preoccupied these days.”
Caroline spoke up. “We understand, Mrs. Landon. If we need anything, we’ll run downstairs ourselves.” Knowing Kat and Paulina’s penchant for room service, they might not think twice about asking for whatever they wanted, even from this woman. She’d try to thwart that behavior as best she could.
“You can usually find me in the kitchen. Breakfast is served in two shifts, at seven and eight o’clock in the morning, and it’s included with the cost of the room. I hope you can join us.”
With a grateful smile, Caroline closed the door behind Mrs. Landon.
“Isn’t this place a slice of heaven pie?” After stripping off her thick socks, Kat took a running dive onto the bed, giggling again with abandon like a little girl.
“Betty Crocker sure seems nice.” Paulina sauntered over to the desk with its complimentary fruit basket. Choosing a ripe pear, she bit into it with a wide grin. “Juicy and delicious.”
“Mrs. Landon sure fits the picture of domesticity, doesn’t she?” Caroline dropped her backpack to the floor and rotated her shoulder, thankful to be relieved of the load for a couple of nights.