Pagan Ties. An Extract

'Just room sir?'
'Just room. I am hoping to dine with a friend on a regular basis'
'A close friend in the village sir?'
'Is it company policy to question a clients preferences?'
' No sir, sorry sir. It's just...the girl blushed
The man smiled. Ah, Of course.
 'Well, it might be some time before I find who I am looking for, so, for tonight at least I'll eat here. The menu looks appetising'
'I-made-the-pie' she blurted out
'AREL!'
A large woman, the owner he assumed, or at least the owners wife, stood in the far doorway wiping her hands on a towel
'Chef needs help in the kitchen...she inclined her head behind her...I'll book in Mr..?'
'Gallwood. Tall Gallwood'
'Mr Gallwood' she turned to him, manovering her bulk behind the minimal desk '
'And how long will you be staying with us sir?'
'About a month'
She wrote this information in a large book. Either they didn't know how to use a computer, or hadnt heard of them out here in the sticks.
'Machines don't work properly out here.' she said by way of explaining. Tall thought she had faced this question before, or, had read his mind.
The woman finished, then opened a locked drawer below the counter. It's lock squealed, setting his teeth on edge, having the same effect on him seconds later as she locked it
'Here is your key Mr Gallwood. Room 112 at the top of the landing, left at the end then all the way along. Would you like your bags carried up for you sir?'
Tall, who had an idea who would be carrying those bags, declined the kind offer.
'If you need anything, just let me know' she smiled
'I will. Thanks' he turned to go when something occured to him.
'You don't happen to know where Annie Wytch lives, do you?'
'Sorry. I dont. Someone in the village might know though. I live in the Town'
He gave the thumbs up 'Thanks anyway'
'You are welcome'

Tall pulled his case up the short flight of stairs, glad of the landings between them. It was when he got to the top he groaned. The upper floors was like the Tardis, bigger on the inside than on the outside. The rooms must stretch right back into the woodland. Strange. It seemed to be more Pub than a bed and breakfast on the outside, then, when you get into the building itself it goes on for miles and miles. Must be additions through the years he thought, Looks that way.

The room itself was what he expected. Simple and functional, as well as comfortable and clean. He threw his case up on the bed; a tradition of his, then, checking the padlock on the case zips he left the room and went back downstairs, room key in pocket. He noticed Arel was back on front desk and gave her the thumbs up gesture he had used earlier. Arel blushed again.

'Looking forward to that pie Arel'

Her face darkened so much he was afraid she would bleed from her eyes.
She mumbled something almost inaudable as he made his way through the open door.

'AREL!'

Christ! What was wrong with that woman?

 Tall quickened his pace, eager to get away. If it was his own money he was spending for the room he would have checked out of that room within a day, quietly, so as not to get the girl in trouble. But because he wasn't, and his employer was insistent to the point of paying extra on top of his expenses he was keeping to his original booking. Though it wasn't just the job he was staying for, not really. He was looking forward to seeing Annie again. He knew she had left her work and had put her flat up for sale not long after her grandmother had passed away, the few times he had visited the old place there had been nobody home, and it was still on the market. So he had accepted his employers offer to come here and get to know her again, with the bill being footed by someone else. It was perfect.
It was meant to be

Now, the only problem was finding out where she actually lived.