River's Song - The Inn at Shining Waters Series (13 page)

"I'm glad Clark is there to manage all of it." Anna sighed. She didn't even want to think of what would be going on there or if she'd be coming home to a mess of cables and wires and poles everywhere. Suddenly she wondered if the modern conveniences were really worth the effort. However, if those things made it more comfortable for Lauren to come visit—then it didn't matter if a few lines and wires cut into the landscape. Just being able to pick up the phone and call her daughter— now, wouldn't that be worth everything?

When Anna noticed Hazel pulling a familiar-looking black notebook from the bag she'd brought down to the beach, Anna shook her finger at her. "You said all work and no play," she reminded her.

Hazel just laughed as she opened up Daddy's old notebook of stories. "This is part work and part play. Besides that, it's just plain good reading."

Anna smoothed out the blanket she'd brought for them to sit on, wishing she'd had a good book to bring along with her. But she'd long since finished the one she'd picked up at a bus stop on the way to Florence a couple weeks ago. Maybe she'd find something to read in town while doing errands later. For now—and for a change—she would do nothing.

They'd already walked up and down the beach, admiring the white frothy surf, spotting fishing boats not far off, collecting a few shells and even a couple of sand dollars. They'd even removed their shoes and waded in the cold water. Anna had gone out far enough to get the bottoms of her rolled-up pant legs soggy.

As she unrolled her still-damp pant legs, she thought perhaps she really was due for a nice little rest. Lying back on the warm woolly blanket, she closed her eyes, letting sun soak into her as the sound of the waves lulled her into a delightful stupor.

"Nothing quite like the ocean to revive your senses," Hazel said as Anna sat up and rubbed her eyes.

A slight breeze was blowing now, and the sun had moved down the sky a bit. It looked to be around two perhaps. Anna checked her watch to see it was close to three already." Goodness, I've been asleep for quite a while."

"It's this restorative sea air." Hazel took in a deep breath." Good for what ails you."

"But I'll bet you're getting hungry." Since they hadn't had time to pack any food, they had planned to get lunch in town.

"I know you still want to do your errands," Hazel said as she stiffly pushed herself to her feet. "Perhaps we can find something quick along the way to munch on."

Anna agreed and they packed up their things and, after stopping for hot dogs at the Heceta Beach camp store, were soon on their way back into town. As Hazel drove, Anna told her about how she planned to move forward on getting the rooms in the house ready for the inn. "I've decided to call it The Inn at Shining Waters,"Anna told her, trying the name out loud to see how it felt and sounded.

"The Inn at Shining Waters," Hazel repeated it slowly." That's lovely, Anna. I know a name like that would get my attention."

"Do you think I'm being foolish?"Anna asked suddenly." I mean . . . to start spending money—when my finances are already so limited—to develop the place into an inn?"

"I think you're being brave and entrepreneurial. Like I've told you before, you did a marvelous job getting the little cabin ready for me. And every time I turn around you've done some other clever improvement to the place. Like the rocking chairs out on the porch—so delightful. I think you have a gift for hospitality, Anna. And it is wise to use the gifts we have. I do not think you're foolish."

Anna felt a wave of relief. "That's why I wanted to do errands in town," she confessed. "I have a list of things I'd like to purchase for the inn. And I couldn't wait to get started on it." Now she rattled off some of the things she hoped to find or order." I realize we don't have much time before the stores begin to close, but I'll make the most of it. Then I'll arrange for Henry to make a delivery."

"And we can probably bring some of the larger things home in the back of the pickup," Hazel said eagerly. "That is, if you find what you need today."

Anna pointed to a furniture store. "Let's try that first." She pulled out her list, skimming over it as Hazel parked.

"And look—there's a secondhand furniture store just two doors down," Hazel told her.

"Let's go there first,"Anna said eagerly.

After some looking around, Anna managed to discover a number of treasures, including a pair of dark red, overstuffed club chairs. "I know the color is a little strong, but I think they'll be perfect downstairs by the woodstove," she told Hazel. She also found a pair of matching twin-sized bed frames in a honey-colored maple, some bedside tables, a large dresser, several mismatched lamps, and an old Oriental rug. "I realize these things are rather old-fashioned," she told Hazel after she'd paid the man, "but I think they'll be perfect for my inn."

"I have no doubt about that."

As the salesman and another employee loaded her purchases into the back of the pickup, Anna and Hazel went over to the new furniture store. "Look at the prices,"Anna whispered to Hazel. "So much more than what I paid for the used pieces."

Hazel nodded. "I'll say. And not any better quality if you ask me."

Anna had to agree. All the modern furniture had a flimsy look and feel to it, as if it wouldn't last more than a few years. However, she knew that Lauren loved this new look and if money were no object, Anna would have done the whole house in this contemporary style if that would ensure that Lauren would fall in love with the place and feel at home on the river. But money was an object. Truth be told, Anna was slightly relieved because she actually liked the substantial feel of the used pieces she'd chosen and she couldn't wait to see how they all looked when she put them together in her inn.

The only reason Anna found herself in the new furniture store was because she was determined to purchase new mattresses. The idea of sleeping on used mattresses, unless she knew who'd used them, was not appealing.

"I wonder," she asked the salesman, "if you would consider giving me a discount if I were to buy four new mattresses?"

"Four?" He looked surprised. "What are you doing? Running a boarding house?"

She smiled and told him about the inn she was opening. "I'll need one full-sized mattress and three twins."

"I'm sure we can work something out to make everyone happy." Then he introduced himself as Carl Edwards, the owner. And before long, he was showing her his selection of mattresses, explaining why some were better than others. She made her choices and paid for them, and he promised to see they got delivered next week. She felt slightly giddy at the amount of money she was spending, but continued to tell herself it was an investment in her future.

At the dry goods store, Anna picked out what seemed to be sensible linens. She suspected that Babette would suggest something more elegant if she were here, but for now, these durable white sheets and towels would have to suffice. Until she replaced her mother's old wringer washer—and she had no idea when that would happen—strong durable linens would be the only way to go. Plus white would not fade when it was line-dried in the sun—it would simply smell fresh and clean. She also got a few new blankets and pillows. For the tops of the beds, she planned to use some of the lovely patchwork quilts her mother had made over the years, quilts that had rarely seen the light of day, but would now proudly add color and charm to each room.

Next they went to the hardware store where Anna gave the owner, George, who happened to be an old schoolmate, a list of things she wanted delivered up the river.

"Would you like this to go on your account?" George asked.

"I don't have an account," she told him.

He nodded. "Oh, sure you do, Anna, it's the same one your folks had for as long as this store's been here. Ain't never been closed."

"Oh." She felt worried now. "Do I owe anything on it?"

She smiled. "Well, that's good to know. Just the same, I'll just pay cash for this order."

"Nope. Not a cent."

"No problem with that." He glanced over her list, asking for some clarification on a couple of items then promised to give Henry a call to arrange for the delivery. "You have a good day," he told her. "It's nice to have you back. Now don't be a stranger, you hear?"

She thanked him, assuring him that she had lots of fixing up to do on the place and would probably become one of his regular customers. Naturally, he seemed pleased by this.

Finally, they stopped at the grocery store, where she gave Mr. Greeley her rather large order, picked up a few items to tide them over until it was delivered, and paid her bill in full. Feeling emboldened by her success, she told Mr. Greeley her plans to turn the old store into an inn.

He rubbed his chin and smiled. "An inn, you say?"

"That's right. I'm starting out small, just a few rooms, but I plan to grow it over time."

"And here I was getting all worked up that you were out there turning your place back into a store again. I thought for sure I was going to lose some business."

She laughed as she tucked the receipt in her purse. "No. I have no desire to run a store. But I would like to see how I can manage running an inn."

He nodded. "That's not a bad idea. If I hear of anyone looking for a room on the river, I'll be sure to send 'em your way."

She and Hazel each carried a grocery bag out to the pickup." Goodness,"Anna said when she saw the fully loaded blue truck. "I hope Clark won't mind that we put his vehicle to such use."

"I'd appreciate that."

Hazel laughed as she placed her bag on the seat between them. "I'm sure he'll appreciate your industry, Anna. He puts this truck to good use himself."

"I hope everything's going well at home." Anna felt worried again. What if everything was torn up now? What if they'd trampled her garden, or placed power poles where they'd obstruct the view? Or ran helter-skelter? What if her lovely property had suddenly turned into an unattractive, unappealing place to live? Then who would want to visit there or pay to stay in a room? She could just see it in her mind's eye—a picture of chaos and destruction where peace and tranquillity once reigned.

She glanced back at the pickup bed, filled with all she'd purchased. What a fool she'd been to spend her money like that. She'd heard the saying "counting your chickens before they hatch"And now she realized that was exactly what she'd done. How foolish. As Hazel drove the truck down the highway, Anna felt like her dreams of a sweet little river inn were going up in a puff of electrical smoke and telephone wires. Oh, why had she allowed modernization to come?

"I can tell you're quite worried about something, dear." Hazel glanced over at her as she stopped to turn off the highway.

"Is it that obvious?"

"I noticed you clutching your purse handle as if holding on for dear life." Hazel turned onto the side road now. "Either my driving is worse than I imagined or you are fretting over something. Which is it, dear? I can slow down if you like, although we're almost to the back road where I'll have to go slow anyway."

"No, no . . . your driving is just fine, Hazel." Now Anna confessed the horrible picture she'd just imagined, with dozens of power poles and lines and wires and piles of dirt and destruction. "Sort of like the scene of a bloody battlefield after everyone's been slaughtered," she said sadly.

"Oh, my. I don't think it will be as bad as all that."

Now, probably to distract Anna's overactive imagination, Hazel offered to tell her another one of Anna's grandmother's stories. "You might relate to this one just now," she began. "I'm sure you've heard it before, but it's good practice for me to tell it. It helps me to translate what your father wrote down."

"I sure hope not."

"Which story is it?"Anna asked with vague interest.

"It's about the cave monster."

"The
cave monster?"A
nna frowned. "I don't remember a story like that."

Hazel chuckled. "Perhaps they felt it was too scary for your young ears."

"Well, my ears aren't young now," she declared. "I'd like to hear it."

"Good." Hazel cleared her throat, looking straight ahead as she held onto the steering wheel with both hands, turning onto the graveled road. "Long, long ago in the cave by the beach there lived a fearsome cave monster. He was big and hairy with long sharp teeth and claws. Every living thing within miles feared this cave monster, and naturally, the horrible cave monster only came out at night."

"Naturally." Anna smiled at how Hazel always put her own little touches on these stories. Perhaps that was what Grandma had done too. Maybe everyone did that in their own way.

"But when the monster came out at night, he always killed and destroyed and devoured anything in his path, wiping out seals and sea lions and beaver and otters—he'd tear them to pieces then eat them whole, flesh and hair and bone, nothing left. No living creature was safe when the cave monster roamed at night."

"No wonder Grandma didn't tell me this story. I probably would've had terrible nightmares."

"So one day the chief of the sea lions decided he'd had enough of the cave monster. He wanted to get rid of him once and for all. But he wasn't sure how to do it. So the chief of the sea lions went to see Old Otter, because everyone knew Old Otter was very wise. The chief of the sea lions asked Old Otter how they could get rid of the cave monster."

"And?"Anna waited.

"Old Otter told the sea lion chief to gather up all the seaweed in the sea and to have his sea lions braid it together to make a long, long rope. Then he said to tie this rope to the biggest spear they had and to throw it at the sun. Then, when it hit the sun, they were to all pull together to haul down the sun and hide it so that daytime looked like night."

"Was the chief sea lion able to do this?"

"Yes. He did as Old Otter said and pulled down the sun and hid it. Naturally, the cave monster thought it was nighttime, so he emerged from his cave and was about to start slaughtering everything he could find—but just then the sea lions released their hold on the sun and it shot back into the sky so it was light and bright and daytime again."

"And?"Anna was actually curious now.

"And the brightness of the sun caused the cave monster to go completely blind and as he tried to stumble back to his cave, the sea lion chief picked up the spear he'd used on the sun and killed the cave monster so that he could never wreak havoc among them again."

Anna clapped her hands. "Good! Because that cave monster sounded like a really nasty fellow."

Hazel nodded. "Isn't it interesting how the fear of darkness translates across all cultures? It doesn't matter what part of the earth one is from, that thing that goes bump in the night scares everyone."