by Tim Myers
As he turned to latch it back, Jackson drove away to their cottage, kicking up the crushed seashell drive as he sped off.
The rain didn’t look like it was going to ease up any time soon, so Alex decided it was time to make a dash for it. He got to Dutch’s cottage, and then had to knock on the door three times before the man let him in. “Sorry, I was in the bathroom.”
“Feeling any better?”
“Not yet, but I bet I will be soon.”
As Alex put the tray down on the dresser, he said, “It’s really storming out there. Do you ever lose power here?”
“All of the time,” Dutch said. “There are candles in the kitchen, and don’t forget about the fireplace in the main entry. It will keep you warm.”
“I never thought about having a fire on the Outer Banks.”
“Trust me, it gets plenty cold here in the winter,” he said. “We even get snow sometimes. That’s a sight to see, let me tell you.”
“I don’t suppose you have a generator,” Alex said.
“Never saw the need for the expense,” Dutch said. “The power’s not the main problem we’ve got, anyway.”
“What could be worse than losing your electricity?” Alex asked. He couldn’t imagine stumbling around in the dark so close to the ocean.
“If the storm’s bad enough, it could wash out the road. Then we’re stuck here until someone comes along and plows us out. That is if they remember us at all.”
Great. Harry had neglected to mention any of that when he’d first proposed the lighthouse swap, and Alex was beginning to wonder just who had gotten the best part of that particular deal. “Let me know if you need anything,” Alex said as headed back for the door.
“I’ll be fine here,” Dutch said. “I just need a good meal, and a solid night’s sleep. No need to worry about me.”
Alex nodded, and then wrapped himself in one of the jackets as he made his way back to the main quarters. At least he and Elise wouldn’t have to brave the storm. There were two rooms in the central building, and they’d each taken one the day they’d arrived.
As Alex struggled through the growing wind and rain, he hoped his guests would be all right. It was the innkeeper in him, no matter where he was, that made him think of his customers first.
As Alex got back, he was soaking wet, despite the protective gear he’d worn.
He found the Morrisons standing on the porch, looking out at the weather with great distaste. “Is it going to let up soon?” Elizabeth asked.
“It doesn’t look like it,” Alex said. “We’ve got raincoats for everyone, and if we lose power, there are candles in all of the cottages.”
Elizabeth turned to John. “You said you wanted to rough it. It appears you’re about to get your wish.”
“Greg wanted to come here, too,” John said.
“You’re both daft fools,” Elizabeth said, then grabbed a rain-jacket and headed out into the storm. The two men watched her go, and it appeared they’d forgotten all about me for a moment. John said, “Your sister is more than a little crazy.”
“Not as crazy as yours,” Greg answered.
Both men laughed, and Alex said, “I don’t get it.”
John smiled ruefully at Alex. “It’s an old family joke. Elizabeth is the oldest, and she’s always been a little odd.”
“And more than a little mean,” Greg added.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself. Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” The men grabbed jackets, and then took off into the night. At least the lights in front of each cottage were still lit, so they could find their way.
Alex was surprised to see that Brown was still at his table, his head again buried in the paper. How had he found that much to read? It was nearing seven, and Alex was ready to close the dining room for the night. He ran a hand through his wet hair and approached the last diner. When Alex glanced at Brown’s plate, he saw that the stew was gone, but the bread hadn’t been touched.
“Something wrong with that?” Alex asked as he pointed to the bread.
“I’m sure some people like it, but it’s not to my taste,” Brown said.
Alex shrugged. He wasn’t about to confess that he’d made it himself. “We’re closing, so feel free to make your way back to your cottage.”
Brown looked surprised by the announcement. “Has everyone who’s staying here eaten already tonight?”
“There’s just one other couple, but they ate out, so we’re wrapping up for the night.”
Brown looked outside as the wind blew the rain against the panes as though they were in a car wash. “They might not make it back in this mess.”
“No worries. They’re already here,” Alex said.
Brown nodded, then left the dining room without another word, leaving his newspaper behind.
Alex gathered up the dirty dishes, and then headed into the kitchen.
“That’s it,” he said as he cleaned the bowls into the trashcan.
“Our Mr. Brown finally left?”
“Not without a nudge from me,” Alex answered. “It’s getting nasty out there, and Dutch thinks we might lose power. He suggested we grab candles and light a fire in the fireplace.”
“What a wonderful idea,” Elise said. “Barbara left me instructions to use the driftwood on the porch. She said sometimes they put off the most lovely colors when they’ve soaked in minerals.”
“Then let’s go ahead and light the fire now.” He looked around the kitchen. “These dishes can wait until tomorrow.”
She threw a dishrag at him playfully. “You know I’ll never be able to get to sleep if we just leave them. Come on, it will be fun. I’ll wash, and you can dry.”
“I hate to admit it, but that’s the best offer I’ve had all day.”
After the dishes were done and the kitchen was cleaned up, Alex looked around. “Hey, where’s that stew you were saving me?”
“It’s gone,” Elise admitted. “You wouldn’t believe how those Morrisons can eat! They had two servings each. I did save you some banana pudding, though.”
Alex thought about it, and then realized that he wasn’t really all that hungry. “It’s not worth making another dirty dish.”
Elise touched his face lightly. “You poor deprived man.”
He took her in his arms and kissed her. “I’m not that deprived. Are you ready for that fire?”
“It sounds lovely,” she answered. They often had a fire at Hatteras West, and it was one of Alex’s favorite things about being with Elise. It felt as though they could really talk, sitting there staring at the dancing flames. He just hoped that she cherished it as much as he did.
Alex lit the fire already laid up in the fireplace, but it took a few minutes to really catch. “We’re getting some back draft from the storm,” he said.
“It’s going to be bad, isn’t it?”
“Don’t worry,” Alex said as retrieved some candles and put them firmly in their holders. “We’ll be fine.”
At that moment, the lights flickered once, twice, and then went out completely.
It appeared that the storm was finally making its presence felt.
In the light of the flickering fire, Alex and Elise lit a handful of candles. Placed on the mantle, they gave off a soft glow with the mirror that stood above.
“That’s really nice,” Alex said as he settled in on the couch.
Elise sat beside him and snuggled up close. “It’s cozy. How wonderful to be safe and dry.”
Alex nodded. “There’s just one thing missing.”
She leaned forward and turned to look at him. “What’s that?”
“Banana pudding, and two spoons.”
She laughed as she stood up suddenly. “I can fix that.” Elise grabbed one of the candles, leaving the heavy candelabra on the mantle. “Don’t you go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”
She was as good as her word, and soon returned with a decent sized bowl and two spoons. “I saved this for
us.”
“I knew there was a reason I loved you,” Alex said, marveling yet again how good it felt to be able to say it out loud.
“There’s surely more reason than banana pudding,” she answered with a smile.
“I can think of a couple of thousand,” Alex replied. “Would you like to hear the list?”
“No, I trust you,” she said. Before handing him a spoon, she gave him a quick kiss and said, “By the way, I love you, too.”
“Because?” Alex asked.
She tweaked his cheek. “No fishing for compliments tonight. Just accept that it’s true.”
“I do,” Alex said, and then grabbed a spoon. “Let’s eat.”
Elise laughed. “I can always count on you to have dessert. A friend of mine used to say that if you can bake a cake, you can find a man.”
“Banana pudding works, too,” Alex said.
They chatted, enjoyed the fire and the pudding, and as the wood started to die down, Alex asked, “Should I put another log on the fire?”
“It’s been a big day,” Elise said as she yawned, “And we have to get up early to make breakfast. Would you mind if we call it a night?”
“I’m beat, too,” Alex said. “Thanks again for coming here with me, Elise. I know that it’s been a lot of work, but it’s been fun.”
She kissed him, long and lingering, and then said, “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Good night, Alex.”
“Night,” he answered. She took her candle down the hall to her bedroom, and Alex used the iron poker to knock the remnants of the fire down. She was right in calling it a night. Tomorrow was another big day for them. Someday he hoped to take her on a real vacation where people waited on them, and not a busman’s holiday where they had to work, too. Not that Elise would ever complain about it, but Alex reveled in giving her the best experiences he could. She was so much a part of his life that he didn’t know what he’d do without her.
As the storm continued to rage outside, he hoped that he never had to find out if he could manage on his own again.
Chapter 4
The next morning, Alex awoke to a gray haze outside his window. It appeared that the sun was trying to break free of the clouds, but it wasn’t having a lot of luck. At least the rain had stopped sometime in the night. Alex flicked the light-switch off and on a few times, and then realized that the power hadn’t yet been restored to the inn.
He quickly dressed and made his way out into the lobby of the main quarters and then into the kitchen. Elise was already up, putting a pan of biscuits into the oven. “Good morning, Alex. I’m thrilled they cook with gas here,” she said. “I might have to mix everything by hand, but at least we’ll eat. Did you sleep well?”
“I did. There’s something about the salt air that just knocks me out.”
“I know exactly what you mean. I’ll miss it when we go back to Hatteras West.”
“We’ve got nearly a week left,” Alex said. “I’m hoping we can take a few more walks on the beach before we go.”
“I just wish we could light the lighthouse lantern again,” Elise said. The lighthouse had been decommissioned for years, but Harry had gotten permission to light the old-fashioned kerosene lantern that hung free inside the lens on special occasions. Alex had misunderstood somehow, and he’d lit it the first two nights they’d been there. Their nearest neighbor, an old man with beady eyes and a stooped back, had come to the inn and declared that if Alex lit the lantern again before it was due in four weeks, he’d call the state police and have him thrown in jail. Alex didn’t doubt the man would do just that, but he found himself wishing that he could see that beacon lit just once more before they left Cape Kidd behind.
“We should light up Hatteras West when we get home,” Alex said. “Now, that’s a light.”
“I do miss it,” Elise said. They’d made a pilgrimage to the original lighthouse a few hours down the coast, and Alex had marveled at how close his ancestor had come to replicating it. Still, the one on the Outer Banks looked out of place, and the black-and-white-striped lighthouse on the coast made him homesick in a way that he never would have imagined was possible.
“Can I give you a hand with breakfast?” Alex asked.
“No, I’ve got it covered. Why don’t you take a walk and see if the storm caused any damage to the cottages?”
“That’s a good idea,” he said. Alex stepped out on the porch, and was surprised by the temperature drop from the night before. The storm had not just brought rain; it had lowered the temperature by a good fifteen degrees. Alex ducked back into his room for a sweater and cap, and then walked out again.
The first thing he saw was the road leading into the inn.
Or the lack of it.
Sand had been washed across it, leaving ridges and valleys that no car could traverse. They were a good mile from the main road, and it would be a long hike through the terrain. For all intents and purposes, they were isolated. If the main road had taken a hit as bad as they had, it might be days before they were dug out of their sandy trap.
At least the cottages looked as though they’d stood up to the storm. Alex wasn’t sure what the proper etiquette should be for knocking on the individual doors, so he satisfied himself with looking around outside the buildings to see if he could spot anything wayward that might have happened during the night. The curtains were pulled shut in all three of the Morrison bungalows, as well as the small space Dutch occupied. Alex wondered if the handyman was feeling any better. Better let him sleep in, he thought.
The curtains to the Benning cottage were open, and as Alex walked by, the front door opened. It was Michelle Benning, smiling brightly. “Good morning, Alex. It’s lovely out, isn’t it?”
He took a deep breath, then agreed. “If the weather holds, I’ll be happier, but I have to admit that I love it here. It’s going to be a little sad leaving it.”
“That’s right, your inn is in the mountains. What’s it like there?”
“Believe it or not, it has a lighthouse, too,” Alex said.
Michelle clearly didn’t believe him, something Alex was used to. She asked with a puzzled expression on her face, “Why would there be a lighthouse in the mountains?”
“One of my ancestors was a hopeless romantic trying to appease his new bride’s homesickness,” Alex said.
Michelle took the explanation at face value. “That I understand. A man in love can be a powerful force.”
“Where’s Mr. Benning this morning?” Alex asked. He thought it was a natural segue, though after her curious expression, he wasn’t quite sure he had that right.
“He’s still sleep,” she said. “I love mornings, but I’m afraid Jackson is more of a night owl. Care to take a stroll with me?”
Alex knew that he had time before breakfast, and Michelle Benning was pleasant company. “Sure, that sounds great.”
They started toward the beach when something appeared to catch Michelle’s eye. “Is that door open?”
Alex looked where she was pointing and saw that the Brown cottage door was indeed ajar. Had he missed that before, or had it just happened since he’d passed by? It was hard to say, either way.
“He must have just forgotten to close it,” Alex said as he neared the door. He knocked on the doorframe and said, “Hello, Mr. Brown, is everything okay?”
There was no reply.
Alex knocked again, and when there was still no response, he pushed the door open.
Behind him, he heard Michelle Benning gasp as he took in the scene.
At first it appeared that Mr. Brown was fast asleep, face down on his bed, though he was still in his clothes from the night before. But then Alex saw the blood on the back of his head, and the cast iron lighthouse on the floor beside him, the base sporting a spattering of blood and a small clump of hair.
Alex raced inside to the man to check for a pulse, but the second his fingers hit Brown’s neck, he knew there was no use. The man’s skin was cold to the touch, and ther
e was no pulse that Alex could find.
He turned to tell Michelle that they were too late, but she was already gone.
Alex pulled the door shut, and then locked it with the master key Harry had given him to all of the cottages. He knew enough from past experience that the police would want the crime scene isolated, and there was nothing anyone could do for Brown anymore. As he turned from the door, Michelle was dragging her husband toward the cottage he’d just locked up.
As Jackson rubbed his eyes, he asked, “What’s this nonsense Michelle is saying about finding a body?”
“It’s not nonsense,” Alex said. “It appears that one of our guests is dead.”
Jackson shook his head, as though he didn’t believe it. “Are you certain about that? You’re not a doctor too, are you?”
“Someone hit him with an iron lighthouse,” Alex explained. “The body’s cold. There’s nothing we can do.” Alex pulled his cell phone out—something he’d been reluctant to buy, but had quickly become attached to—and dialed 911. When he held the phone to his ear, he got nothing, not even a buzzing sound.
His telephone was dead.
“Try your phone,” Alex said. “I can’t get through on mine.”
Jackson pulled his cell from his pocket, checked it, and then said, “I can’t pick a signal up either. It must have been the storm.”
“Maybe the land line will work,” Alex said as he hurried back to the main quarters. Once he got there, he picked up the telephone, but as he’d feared, it was dead as well.
“So, we’re trapped here,” Jackson said.
Michelle swatted him lightly as she replied, “Don’t be so negative, Jackson.”
“I’m afraid he’s right,” Alex said. “The road is closed, and we don’t have any way to call out. It looks like we’re stuck until we’re rescued.”
“This is horrible,” Michelle said. “What are we going to do?”
“There’s nothing we can do,” Jackson said. He must have smelled the biscuits Elise had been baking. “Is that food baking?”
