Eureka

5

We pull into a downtown area of the adorable town that is built into the hillsides. The buildings have a lot of old charm and character. There are small shops along the main street and it all looks picturesque but still has this sort of laid back charm. 

It actually looks like something out of a hippie inspired Hallmark movie. I bet they even have a gazebo somewhere. On the outside, I look calm and collected, but on the inside I'm giddy with excitement. I wonder if I yell out "I hate Christmas" if I'll have some rugged small town hunk or happy-go-lucky busy body come and try to change my mind.

It's honestly worth a shot. Hallmark movie soulmate, I'm here, baby! I bet he'll like guns and knives as much as I do, country boys usually do. I hope he's good at washing blood out of clothes. I'm awful at it. 

I'd marry him on the spot if he does.

I'm pulled out of my musings by Landon hitting the brakes a little too hard to let a family cross the road in a mad dash to catch their child. Ugh, kids. Landon curses under his breath and continues weaving his way through the streets. He shoots me an apologetic look. 

We soon pull into a garage. He gets out of the car and I follow quickly, not liking being stuck in a cop car for longer than necessary, though it is tempting to start messing with his dash laptop and radio.

I study the garage for a moment taking note of the motorcycles lining down the side of the building. Landon walks ahead to find an employee to speak with. Soon a squirrely looking older man in a blue jumpsuit emerges from behind one of the cars in the garage. He has a long scraggly salt and peppered beard and long hair pulled back in a messy low ponytail. He has warm, kind eyes. He's tall and pretty fit for his age, and you can tell by watching him move that he is probably much stronger than he looks. He walks up to me with a big toothy grin on his face. "What can I do for ya today, girlie?" He asks in a gravelly voice. Very fitting for his aesthetic. I smile at him and go to open my mouth to respond but am cut off by Officer Wolf.

"Uncle Smokey! There you are!" Landon's voice booms out from behind me, making me jump.

Cheese and crackers, he's loud.

Landon chuckles at my reaction and brushes by me to talk with the older man. "She's got a green Ford stranded on the south side of the Pig trail, about 15 or 20 minutes from here. Can you get one of your guys to tow her in?"

Smokey frowns at him and nods. He hollers out to a buff looking young man, probably no older than 20 or 21, and he tells him to take the tow truck and bring Kermit in. I let out a small sigh of relief. Hopefully she can get fixed up quickly. I hate being dependent on others, and I doubt this tiny town has a taxi service trolling around to pick up riders. I hate feeling stranded.

"Needin' a place to stay, girly?" Smokey says as he turns his attention back to me as he strokes his long beard thoughtfully. I send him my best charming smile.

"Sure do. Know of anywhere around here that rents out by the week?" I ask as I walk aimlessly around the garage touching some of the tools left out on the workstation. I look up at him as he thinks it over for a moment.

He turns to Landon. "Are you and Millie still in that old bed and breakfast?" Landon frowns slightly before nodding.

"Millie is going to officially open up for tenants after she gets her website up, but I suppose she'd be happy to have some feedback before going official," Landon says while scratching the stubble on his jaw thoughtfully. Smokey wanders over to a small mini fridge off to the side of one of the workstations and pulls out a couple bottles of water.