Darrowwood Part Seven

7.

     They had no trouble getting there. The travel arrangements were more than satisfactory, and every single person was nice to them. The flight was smooth, the bus was on time, and the hotel room for Mr. and Mrs. Daniels had already been booked and paid for.
     The girls and Mr. Daniels left Mrs. Daniels with Jack and Sarah so that Mr. Daniels could ride with the girls in the guest car that Darrowwood had so generously sent for them. They did not see the chauffeur's face, but he bowed low. His scarlet livery touched the ground scented with pine needles. Mr. Daniels helped the chauffeur heft the luggage into the truck.
      Soon they started up the winding roads towards Darrowwood. Soon they had arrived.
     “Nice place,” Mr. Daniels said.  He dumped both girls’ duffle bags at the foot of one of the twin beds.  The double windows in their spacious dormitory were thrown open to the beginnings of an aromatic pine forest not ten feet away.

Monica plopped down on a swivel chair and wheeling to face the green wall. “That’s a fire hazard,” she said flatly. It was the first time she had spoken since getting off the airplane.

     “You’ll be fine,” Mr. Daniels replied.  “The wife and I will be in town with the kiddos if you need us.  I was thinking of heading down to check out the hardware store, and she said she was going to look at the shops."
     "Town's miles away," Monica said.
      "You girls will be fine. You're smart and resourceful." He looked wistfully at the hard music case in the closet. He sighed and said, "I'm confident you'll be able to handle any problems that crop up." 
      "Yeah?" Jenny said breathily, turned away from the  forest.
He smiled at her. "Yes. And you know where to find me if I'm wrong. See you later.  Have fun, girls.”

      “Thanks, Dad.  I love you.”  Jenny hugged her father.  With one last wave, he disappeared into the corridor.

       “So, which bed’s mine?” Monica asked.

      “I like this one,” Jenny said, leaping over the bags to do a faceplant on the bed nearest the door.  She mumbled something into the pillow.

      “Cute,” said Monica.  “I think I’ll go find some phone service around here.  I’m not getting any bars.”

      As she got up to leave the room, she found her way blocked by a small, dark-haired girl she had not seen enter.

Read Part 8