Superstars: Irish Courage

Irish Courage - Chapter 2

Alice was lost, her truck was running on fumes and she was hungry. She’d been travelling down the same road for god knows how long and it was late evening, she didn’t want to sleep in her truck because the bench didn’t look like the most comfortable thing in the world but if it was all that was on offer for the night she wasn’t complaining.

She had managed to get the dusty radio in her old beaten truck to work and the soft melody of Dolly Parton’s ‘My Tennessee Mountain Home’ drifted around the cab and then out of the open window that supplied her with a subtle breeze against the humid temperature. Her mobile phone was off and tucked away in her gym bag that was in the passenger seat next to her so she had no disruptions and no pestering messages every minute by her parents; she was in her own little world out in the middle of nowhere.

She wondered however if there was a town around somewhere because she had been on the same road for a while and she’d only seen fields for as far as the eye could see. The last sign she’d passed was the one she’d read as she turned off of Route Forty to just go wherever her truck took her.

The sun had just started setting over the horizon when Alice spotted a sign; she squinted against the afternoon light and lowered her Ray Bans on her nose to get a better look.

Welcome to Melody Hills

Alice chuckled slightly at the name and wondered what the town had to offer no matter how large or little it was. She drove past the sign towards the town of Melody Hills as she hummed and moved about to the tune of the music, letting her mind wander as she stared out at the luscious green fields in front of her.

The town found Alice before she found it as the fields thinned and fell away, she was suddenly surrounded by collections of small building. She didn’t take any notice of that yet though as she noticed smoke starting to rise from the bonnet of her truck, she panicked and pulled over quickly then jumped out.

She ran around to the front of her truck and lifted the bonnet quickly while securing it with the rod that held it up, she jumped back from the amount of smoke then coughed as it rose quickly and assaulted her senses. She waved her hand frantically in front of her face in the hopes that it would clear some of the smoke away and when it did she stepped forward and examined the insides of her truck, she knew nothing about cars and didn’t know where she could even get it repaired.

Alice sighed and let the bonnet of her truck slam down as she walked back around the side of her truck and kicked the tire in frustration, she took a minute to look around her and noticed the slow walks of people along the pavement and glances her way. People sat outside cafes and stood outside of bars, they laughed with one another and didn’t even seem to notice her. She took her Ray Bans off of her face and threw them through the window of her truck as she climbed up and leaned through the window of the door then pulled out her gym bag that held most of her belongings.

She jumped back down onto the ground and kept a tight hold on her bag as she tried to think about what to do for her next move. She had no idea where anything was in town but what hurt could a little walk around the town do?

After about of an hour of wandering around Alice had managed to find a garage and a mechanic by the name of Fergus, he had offered to take a look at her car when she asked him a few questions and she thanked him then handed over the keys of her truck to him. He was very kind and told her that he would pick up her truck on his brake then take a look at it when he had an opening.

Alice had also managed to find a bed and breakfast that was situated in the middle of Melody Hills and at the centre of where most of the activity was. It was a large enough building with old mud red brickwork that gave the outside a rustic vibe while purple flowers flowed along the length of the building on deep green vines, rose bushes sat in beds along the front of the white wooden porch at the front of the bed and breakfast as a crisp green lawn made its way down towards the road. The bed and breakfast was situated around the town square that was filled with people and a small market which held every different kind of stall you could think of.

She walked up the path of the bed and breakfast, taking a moment to admire the beautiful flowers then climbed the stark white steps of the porch and knocked on the door. She stood back on her heels and admired the beautiful scenery around her, Melody Hills was a beautiful place by far the most beautiful she had seen yet and it gave her an idea that she should maybe stay awhile and see what the town has to make it even better than what she had seen so far.

The turning of a lock brought Alice’s attention back to the door she had just knocked at as the door handle was pulled down and the door was pulled open. A woman who looked to be in her late forties stood with one hand on her hip and the other resting on the door as she looked down at Alice who was much shorter than her. The woman was dressed in a pair of wranglers with a denim shirt that’s sleeves were rolled up to her elbows; her hair was tied back in a low ponytail while a Stetson sat atop her head.

“Yes?” She asked cheerily.

“Hi, I was wondering if there was maybe a room available for the next few days. My trucks broken down and I was just passing through and need somewhere to stay.” Alice said.

“Well you’ve come to the right place sweetpea, come inside and I’ll set you up with a room that will keep you nice and comfy during you’re stay.” She said and stood aside to let Alice through.

“Thank you, I’m Alice.” Alice said with a smile and held out her hand.

“Annette, it’s nice to meet you Alice.” She said and shook Alice’s hand.

Annette led Alice inside and closed the door behind her. The inside of the bed and breakfast was even more beautiful than the outside with dark wood panelling and rustic coloured wallpaper and rugs, it gave the feeling of warmth and a home from home.

Alice walked up the dark wood staircase the led upstairs after Annette and Alice looked at everything as she passed. There were different pictures of different things whether it be an animal or a small photo of a piece of scenery but it added to the whole feel of the bed and breakfast perfectly.

The two women reached the top of the stairs and walked down a similar looking hallway in a comfortable silence until Annette stopped outside of a door that was at the very end of the hall. Annette pulled out a key that was in her pocket and unlocked the door, she walked inside and left the door open for Alice to follow.

“Breakfast is at seven so you’re going have to be up bright and early, you’ll have to get your own dinner but if you ask nicely I might break a rule or two and make you something. If you need anything you’ll find me around this big old place somewhere or around town, I never go far. The bathrooms just down the hall and I hope you enjoy your stay.” Annette said kindly then walked out leaving Alice to herself.