Christopher and Fleur had been planning their getaway for some time now. Their busy lives and jobs had at last relented and given them a whole week off. Their plan was no plan, a drive out of the city, find a nice Inn or Bed and Breakfast, put away their phones, de-stress, and just enjoy the simple things for a few days.
Fleur looked stunning, her dark long hair tied in a ponytail under a baseball cap, sun glasses hiding her alluring bedroom eyes, tight jeans, running shoes, a tight t shirt and one of Christopher's flannel shirts. It gave her that "I'm on vacation" look.
They were on their way to a large Flea Market they had read about in a local paper, when stopping for gas.
On the road, Chris started a good natured verbal sparring match. A favourite pastime of the couple when times like this allowed it.
"Oh yes, the flea market, I bet you, ten big ones ,we see a Norman Bates type guy selling badly stuffed squirrels within five minutes of walking in there!"
"That's way too easy," she laughed.
"OK," Chris thought for a moment, "We see at least three guys selling cheap white tube socks by the time we leave!"
"You're on, if you had said two, I wouldn't take that bet," she smiled.
They spotted the sign for the Flea Market. Chris slowed and turned down the road and into the parking lot.
He parked the car. The couple walked through the main gates and began to look around. They made their way by the usual stands you would expect to see selling cheap tools, second hand clothing, cheap white tube socks and badly stuffed squirrels! Chris nudged Fleur to look at the socks and squirrels and smiled.
Fleur pointed to a large hanger with a sign "ANTIQUES" and grabbed Chris's hand. They walked into the massive building.
Fleur grinned "Look at this stuff," squeezing Chris's hand, "See, I knew we would find some cool stuff."
They wandered up and down the aisles looking with interest at the items on sale. They spotted one nice piece after another, but the price tags were shocking!
There were table displays of jewellery set up near the back that caught the couple's eye. They wandered over to tables of pocket watches, old lockets and cameos that attracted Fleur's attention and she pulled Chris along with her.
She scanned the table and saw nothing of particular interest at first, then suddenly she saw it and pointed it out to Chris.
A slender silver pocket watch with an engraved cover showing a wooded scene, and an elegant braided chain and right next to it a matching woman's locket.
"That's different," she whispered to Chris.
"A silver anniversary gift," the soft voice of the Merchant behind the table said "Turn of the century, in excellent condition, a fine piece, sold as a set only"
The Merchant stepped back to give the couple time to talk.
With a gleam in her eye, she said to Chris, "We have to get those, if the price is right."
Chris smiled and said, "See what you can do."
Fleur was a born haggler and was very good at it. She looked at the merchant, "Ok how much for the set?"
The Merchant offered a price, Fleur offered half of what he is asking. The Merchant surprisingly agreed.
Puzzled Fleur asked, "Does the watch work?"
"All my watches work," he said quietly, "Well, we have a deal then?"
Chris got out his wallet and paid the odd looking man. He fastened the chain to his belt and slipped the watch into the watch pocket of his Levis.
"Looks good," Fleur smiled. She opened the locket. It was empty.
The quiet voice of the Merchant addressed the couple again, "For a small fee I can take your picture for the locket, it will only take a few minutes"
They both agreed and posed for the miniature picture to be taken.
Satisfied, their shopping was done for the day, they walked back to the car. Fleur admired the small photograph of the both of them placed inside the locket.
"A lovely memento of a "getaway weekend" together." She thought.
At the car, Chris helped clasp the locket on Fleur's lithe neck and the couple shared a romantic kiss. He unlocked the car and handed Fleur his wallet, a custom of the couple when he drove. She put it her purse and hopped in the car.
Sometime later, with a light rain falling and nearly dark the couple were lost.
"Hey baby, turn on the GPS. I have no idea where we are," Chris instructed Fleur. She turned on the unit. The screen lit up but a message said, "Cannot link to satellite".
"Great," Chris sighed, "Well, this road has to go somewhere, so keep your eyes open." The rain started to grow harder.
Chris spotted a sign "THE PINE CREST INN" with an arrow pointing to a gravel side road. They took the turning onto the road and a short time later, they saw another sign "PINE CREST INN ¾ MILES". The road was bumpy so Chris carefully crept down the narrow road. The fog began to thicken, the further they drove. They were soon in a thick fog bank.
Chris could barely see a foot in front of the car. An eye on the odometer told Chris, they had gone about a ½ mile and the fog was getting even thicker by the second.
"Rain and fog? How great is this?" Fleur said a little uneasy. As her words trailed off, the car spluttered and died.
Chris tries to start it... Nothing!
Chris reached for his cell phone but there was no signal. He checked Fleur's phone but it was also saying the same.
"Must be the mountains," Chris finally said, "Looks like we have to walk to that inn, it's not far"
"Ok pop the trunk so we can get our bags" Fleur said, not looking forward to the walk in the fog and rain.
"That's not going to happen, this car is electronic key, and the battery is dead!" Chris cursed as he tried unsuccessfully to do so.
Fleur grabbed her little coat off the back seat, "Looks like we will have to share this as a head cover and make a run for it. It does look cold and spooky out there" She shivered at the thought as she looked at the driving rain and thick fog.
"You ready babes?" Chris exited the car and went round to the passenger side to open the door for Fleur. They fixed the coat over their heads, slammed the door shut and ran, following the directions to the inn.
The rain soon soaked them to the skin. Their clothes were dripping and their jeans felt like cardboard on their legs. Both looked like drowned rats!
And then, they saw the welcoming sight of the Inn. Welcome yellow lights from the windows guided them in the fog. This spurred them on and they ran to the door, laughing at each other's bedraggled look, thankful they could get out of this sudden change in weather.
The Inn was made out of a sandstone brick and the door of dark oak with black iron door handle and hinges. They entered and both felt the warmth of an open fire and then saw that the Inn was themed from the 1920's.
"Bye Bye Blackbird" by Gene Austin was blaring out from a big old radio.
"This is quaint," Fleur remarked as they made their way to the bar to speak to the Inn Keeper.
Fleur smiled at him and his strange looking clothes. He smiled back. "You city folk, don't know how to dress for our weather out here," He teased. "What would you two like to drink?
Chris grinned and asked for the House Ale for them both and a shot of whiskey to warm them up. They were both dripping rainwater on the wooden floor and the Inn Keeper shouted for his wife.
"Can you get these two city folk some fresh clothes to wear and some good old Irish stew to warm them up"
"Oh, you Poor Dears, I'll get you something right away" She sympathised.
"Actually, I was wondering if we could have a room for the night" Chris interjected, warmed by the friendly reception.
"You can have room 17 on the second floor, " The Innkeeper checked his book. " I'll take you right up so you can change, the Wife will bring the dry clothes up for you with the stew."
"Damn," Fleur muttered, " I forgot my bag. We'll have to leave you something for collateral until, I can fetch it in the morning to pay you. Our car broke down, everything is in that"
The Innkeeper looked a little concerned. "And what were you thinking of leaving for collateral?"
Fleur looked thoughtful and didn't want to cause the Innkeeper to distrust them. He already thought they were strange city folk.
She looked at Chris. "What about the locket and pocket watch? It's the only thing of value we have on us"
Chris nodded in agreement and they handed them to the Innkeeper who suddenly looked delighted.
"I might not mind if you don't return to claim them back," he smiled.