The Beast of Fox Hill

Five

As I concluded Booker was harmless, being the polite woman I am, I invited him in for some coffee and snacks. He gratefully agreed and I guided him into the next room which was the small kitchen area. 

I motioned for him to take a seat which he did while I went about getting a bag of store bought sugar cookies and I make him a cup of coffee. Coffee in hand, I set the cup down in front of him before taking a seat across from him. 

"So you can fix my door?" I asked, eyeing him curiously. 

"Yeah no problem," Booker said with a genuine smile. 

"I am supposed to be getting a door today outside the town. Is there any day after today you could come back and install it?" I asked, returning his smile with my own warm one. I was grateful for his help, even if he was kind of weird and a complete stranger. 

"Anytime actually, I work at night so I am available all day," he said flashing me his pearly white teeth. 

"So you're saying if I get a door today you can come back tomorrow and install it?" I asked, my excitement showing through. He gave me a nod and kept his smile on his face. 

"Absolutely. Is there any time that works better for you?" he asked as he took his coffee mug and brought it to his lips. 

"How about three?" I asked playing with my own mug. 

"Sounds good to me," he said before pulling his cell phone out. His face visibly dropped upon viewing his screen. 

"I'm so sorry to rush out on you but I have to go, I'm late to something," he said, standing quickly.

"Oh, no problem," I said with a gentle smile as I escorted him to the broken door. I opened the door and stepped aside for him to walk out. 

"Thank you for the coffee and cookies. I will see you tomorrow, Jasper," he said with a smile before he rushed off. 

I shook my head as I watched his figure disappear and I stepped back into the house and closed the door as best I could. I made my way back into the kitchen and cleaned up from the visit from Booker. 

He seemed like a genuine guy and I sure hoped that was all he was. I didn't have trust issues or anything, but I knew better than to completely trust someone you just met. 

Once everything was cleaned I slipped my leather boots on before I opened the front door, allowing an autumnal gust of wind to breeze by me. I walked out of the house, once again closing the door as best as I could. I hoped it wouldn't blow open as it apparently did when Booker was passing. 

I walked across the crunchy autumn leaves, dirt and gravel that made up my driveway. I knew I would need some extra room for the door and I opened the back doors to put the back seat down, extending my trunk space. 

 After putting the seat down and closing up the doors, I hopped in my car, closing the door beside me. I put my seat belt on before turning the key and starting the car. 

The drive to the nearest home improvement store was about an hour away. Thankfully I could make it home by dusk and if I hurried I would have plenty of time before the sun was completely tucked away. 

The drive was quite boring and there is not much to look at until you get about forty five minutes or so away from Creekville. The final fifteen minutes of the drive were larger towns and areas that were much more populated. 

Arriving at the home improvement store, I climbed out of my car and locked it behind me. I walked across the hard parking lot and into the store, hoping they'd have a door that would suit my trailer. I was never one to ask for help in stores so I wandered around until I found the doors.