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"Hi. Welcome to Hairy's Cryptid Cafe. Can I get you something to drink?" I asked as I served my first table during lunch. Waiting tables was never my favorite job, but I realized that it gave me a chance to meet more people and get a closer look at the pictures and articles covering the walls.
I smiled when Laurie walked in alone. "Hi, Laurie. Are you meeting someone, or is it just you today?" I asked.
"It's just me unless you have time for a break," she said.
"I can probably arrange that." I took her order and asked Rita to take over my tables so I could sit and talk with Laurie. She was the only female I'd met in Wilkins’ Gap that gave off good possible BFF vibes.
"Did you have fun at the SAR potluck?" she asked when I sat down with my glass of sweet tea.
"I did. I have zero skills that would be helpful to the group, but it was nice to meet more people."
"What's going on with you and Chance Munroe? He seemed pretty intense around you last night?"
I wondered if I was allowed to tell her about the stipulation in my Uncle's will. Jim hadn't said anything about keeping it secret, and I thought maybe Laurie could help me decide how to handle it. I took another drink of tea and explained.
"So, your uncle wants you to spend a week in the woods with Chance Munroe and he left you this place? He must have really liked you," she joked.
“What do you mean?”
"I'm not sure you noticed, but Chance is as close as Wilkins’ Gap comes to a hunky eligible bachelor. He has muscles in places I didn't know were places and those dimples just make his face light up. Of course, that only happens when he’s laughing."
"Guess I don't bring out his good humor," I said. "Would you spend a week in the wilderness with him?"
"I'd pay for the privilege, and so would a lot of the other single women in this county."
"You think he's just rude to me because of whatever happened between his dad and Uncle Harry?"
"Could be."
"He's supposed to teach me about wilderness survival and cryptid hunting during our week together."
"Chance is the best hunter in town, maybe in the state. He leads big game hunts all over the country. You should check out his website. Most people would pay big bucks to go on one of his hunting trips."
"So, you think I should go?"
"Do you think you can survive? You said you weren't much of an outdoors person."
"That's true, and I have been cold since I got here. I have to decide by the end of next week to meet the requirements of Harry's will."
"Let me know what you decide. I've got to get back to the store. I'll call you," she said as she picked up her check and headed for the register, and I headed to the kitchen.