she was more prepared to fight than he was. After wasting precious seconds trying to come up with a better parting line than hers, Caleb turned and followed Janet through the souvenir shop. Regrouping at this point might be weak, but it was the only choice he had.
“Follow me.” Janet jingled a key ring. “I’m bringing a contract because I know you’re going to love this place.” She turned and pointed at a white SUV. “We’re headed to the base of the reserve—can’t beat the commute out to the old weather station.”
Caleb slid behind the wheel of his truck and eased out onto the main street behind Janet while he cataloged the changes in Sweetwater. As long as he’d been a Callaway, they’d made infrequent trips to the town and the reserve. Nothing changed quickly here. Businesses came and went but the small town seemed timeless, especially compared to the tourist explosions that had taken place in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
And as he drove out of town, he wondered how anyone lived there happily. Where were the restaurants? How did they entertain themselves? During the day, Otter Lake could offer fishing and all kinds of water activities. Hikers would enjoy the reserve, but what about everyone else?
Caleb tried to figure out how he’d fill in that blank. He worked. He went to parties to build relationships and find more work, and ate out and... What else did he do with his time?
“It’s a good thing you like to work. Getting this lodge built and open is going to be a full-time obsession, no doubt,” Caleb muttered as Janet turned off the two-lane highway in front of him. They’d passed the small apartment complex where some of the reserve’s rangers lived, as well as the road that led up to the campground and ranger station. This was new territory for Caleb.
The old pines lining the road cast a dark shade even in midmorning and it was the kind of forest that faded into darkness and seemed secretive. In less than twenty minutes, the neat civilization of Sweetwater was gone and it was easy to imagine life before the reserve and development.
“Virgin Callaway territory. Who knew it still existed in this corner of Tennessee?” Caleb rolled to a stop right behind Janet’s SUV and watched her climb the steps to a large wraparound porch. Native stone and wood made up the facade of the two-story house. It could have been built decades ago. At first glance, the house made him think of pioneers and wagons and hard living. What did that say about the interior and modern conveniences?
It couldn’t be any more different than his modern Nashville town house, which had a view of the city.
“Now, don’t go jumping to any conclusions. It’s the view from the back deck you gotta see.” Janet motioned at him to hurry up and moved to unlock the door. While he waited, Caleb surveyed the exterior. Everything was in good shape. Tearing it down to start over would have been a bad idea. He admired the craftsmanship.
The quiet hush around them would take some getting used to. In Nashville, traffic noise was a constant backdrop, whether he was working or playing or sitting on the balcony at home. He told himself he liked the energy of the city. This place had none of the noise or traffic. Everything was still.
“Come on in, hon.” Janet’s heels tapped ahead of him on the hardwood floor. The stone and wood carried on inside to a great room that opened wide off a short foyer. “You shoulda seen the furniture we carried out of here. Plaids. All of it covered in some sort of plaid.” Her nose wrinkled. Janet didn’t care for plaid. Judging from the replacements she’d chosen, she preferred light fabrics, furniture built for comfort and a minimal style. He liked it. Shadowy sunlight filtered in through large glass doors filling one wall.
“Want to explore the kitchen?” Janet pointed at the right side of the open room, where modern appliances gleamed. “All brand-new.”
He hadn’t expected that or the brief flash of the picture of a family seated around the large island.
Caleb shook his head. Who was he imagining gathered around for a nice dinner? Not his family. Formal dining at the Callaway home required multiple courses and professional staff.
Learning to cook for himself had never been a priority, either. Those appliances should still be good as new when he moved out.
Janet pointed up the stairs. “Five bedrooms. Hardwoods. The Heathcotes lived here before selling. Had four kids, but they all moved away. Not enough work here to keep them. When her husband died, Mary sold this place and moved down to an assisted-living facility in Knoxville. Hated to see them go, but you understand if you think about it hard. Still, when you go, I’m going to hunt up the right couple or family for this place. You can tell the Heathcotes loved it while they were here.” She brushed her shoulders. “Prettiest bathroom I’ve built yet, if I do say so myself. Got one of them rain showerheads. Separate bathtub with jets.” She motioned over her shoulder that he should follow her, so Caleb obediently trailed Janet through three bathrooms and five bedrooms. This house was nothing like what he’d describe as his perfect home, but when he stepped into the master bedroom, a space all done in smooth lines and calm colors, he could appreciate how Janet had taken the house’s history and turned it into a modern, comfortable space.
“I’ll take it.” Caleb held his hand out to take the small stack of paper Janet immediately shoved in his direction. It was more house than he’d need, especially since they’d be running extra crews to get the lodge built quickly. He’d never be home.
But when he was home, this was where he’d want to spend his time.
“I was saving the best for last,” Janet said over the hands she’d clasped together under her chin. “In case I needed to justify the price tag, but...”
Caleb studied the agreement he’d scrawled his name on in an uncustomary rookie mistake. He should have negotiated. “Rent’s higher than I expected.” But the place was worth it, so he offered her the signed contract back.
Janet smiled broadly. “Sure, but you didn’t expect this, either.” She moved over to the French doors along the side of the bedroom.
Caleb expected a small balcony, something too small for practical use. That was his experience in the Nashville rental market.
Instead, he followed her out to a wide space that ran across the full length of the back of the house.
“Two stories. Bottom level is a kind of wraparound porch,” Janet said. “And for good reason. Soak in this view.”
Caleb eased into one of the chairs Janet had picked out and contemplated the deep, dark forest standing guard around the small clearing. Through a small break in the trees, he could see water. “Is that Otter Lake?”
Janet nodded. “In summer, when the trees fill in with leaves, that’ll disappear. Whoever buys this house could do a little more clearing, with permission of the head ranger at the reserve, of course, and open that up.” She sighed. “Gonna make a fortune when I sell this.” Then she turned to look at him over her shoulder. “Of course, my buyer better get on well with Ash Kingfisher. This isn’t technically a piece of reserve land, but it’s surrounded on all sides.” She smiled slowly.
“Well, I wouldn’t say I’m on the best terms with any of the Kingfishers, but Ash does owe me his job and this lodge.” Caleb stood slowly. There was also the fact that Callaways actually owned all the reserve lands. He should be able to do anything he wanted here. “We might be able to negotiate something.”
“If you were buying the place.” Janet smiled sweetly. “Not renting it.” Then she tilted her head to the side.
