A tiny bathroom off the kitchen sported a bathtub with feet, a modern commode and a sink with porcelain handles. Even the bathroom had hardwood floors and stained pine walls. She turned back to the kitchen and flipped the light switch. Good, the electricity was on. She turned on the faucet and a stream of discolored water splashed into the sink. Gradually the water became clear and she twisted the knob until the water flow stopped.
A back door opened off the kitchen and she descended the rock slab steps to the yard. A propane tank perched on concrete blocks looked out of place in the antiquated setting. She lifted the lid and studied the gauge. As near as she could figure, it was more than half full - all she would need. Beside the tank was a pile of split wood about three feet high and six feet long. She wouldn't need that.
After unloading the car, she made a list of all the supplies needed. Pulling the cell phone from her purse, she tried calling Mr. O'Hara. After the third attempt failed, she decided to call from the store. She had charged the phone last night, so that couldn't be the problem. Maybe the cabin sat in a dead zone. Giving up for the moment, she carefully locked the door and headed for the tiny town. A small country store that doubled as a restaurant was one of a few buildings. A bell on the door jingled as she entered, and a middle-aged woman smiled a greeting from behind the counter.
"Hello, can I help you with something?"
"I need a few supplies." She glanced around the little store. More than likely some of the things on her list would have to be purchased elsewhere. "Do you have a broom or dust mop?"
"I have a couple of brooms and dust pans. Over here." The lady led her to a corner where two brooms hung on the wall. "You must be the young lady who is renting the Foreman place."
Megan frowned. "Foreman place?"
"Yeah. The couple that moved to California a while back."
"Oh."
"Beautiful, isn't it? The house, I mean."
"You've been in the house?"
"Of course. Sylvia & Joe Foreman were friends of mine. I was sorry to see them go, but with the baby coming on and Joe's parents offering him a good job out there in California, they didn't have much choice."
"I see." Information was obviously a free commodity in this area.
"You're not married?"
"No."
"No children, I guess."
"No."
"You came from California, didn't you? Did you know the Foreman's?"