"This can't be right," Rachel said, her head glancing back and forth at the thick forest so close to the road. "Does this look like the approach to a bed and breakfast?"
"I don't know!" Allen responded, clearly in distress. "I've just been following the map. It's right ahead, we'll know in a minute."
No sooner had Allen's words left his lips that they crested a rise in the road and the landscape opened up ahead of them. They took in the sight of a deeply carved crescent mountain valley, on the edge of which was perched a sprawling estate, with gardens, sculpted landscaping, and a magnificent drive leading to the manor.
"Aha!" Allen said. "There is Half-Moon Valley! It's shaped just like a half moon! And that building is the bed and breakfast. It's... Quite a bit larger than the pictures on the website, but that's hardly a problem!"
Rachel looked worried. There was something wrong here, but she couldn't put her finger on what, exactly.
Allen continued on, following the paved drive past the elaborate gardens. They slowed, curious about all the plant life they could see from the car. They spotted a small plaza, with a few chairs and a table, maybe a spot for guests to relax. On one of those chairs, leaned back and folded flat, was a woman. A nude woman. As they passed, their mouths open in shock, her head turned to watch as their car idled past. She blinked at them, as if she couldn't quite believe what she saw. The same was true for Rachel and Allen.
Allen and Rachel could clearly see the woman they'd just interrupted mouth the word "shit" before turning and running back towards the estate.
"The guests certainly seem comfortable here," Allen murmured.
"At least until we bother them!" Rachel countered. "Come on, let's head inside, it's getting late."
The two pulled up and parked their small rental car in front of the entrance, a massive two-story overhang held up by dark oak pillars. As they got out, there were no signs of other people here, and no service staff. Rachel was beginning to worry even more that they'd arrived at the wrong place. But what else could this grand estate be way out here other than the Half-Moon Valley Bed and Breakfast?
As the two began removing their luggage from their car, the woman they had startled before approached from the garden they had passed on their way up to the front door. This time, she was wearing a flower-print silken robe, barely covering her full breasts, falling just to the middle of her thighs. This close, Allen appreciated for the first time this woman's curvy physique, and although she was could have been his mother's age, she was still striking, especially in this state of dress. But as exposed as she was, she was still confident, powerful. She might have been wearing a suit of armor instead of a sheer robe, the authority she exuded.
"Welcome to Half-Moon Valley," the woman began, holding her arms close around her body. "Although, I imagine it's not the one you're looking for.
"See, I told you!" Rachel said to Allen pointedly.
The older woman sighed. "This isn't the first time this has happened, I'm afraid. I presume you're looking for Half-Moon Valley Bed and Breakfast?"
Allen nodded. "That's right. This is where my phone's map told us to go!"
"Your phone is right, in a sense," she answered. "This is the real Half-Moon Valley. But not the bed and breakfast. You're about an hour's drive away from there."
She looked up at the sky, sun nearing the edge of the horizon above green-covered mountains. "I suppose you should probably come inside. If we send you back out into the woods now, you'll probably never find it."
The woman walked across slate stone pavers towards the impressive pair of entry doors, and just before reaching them, turned around to address them. "I'm Theresa, by the way. My husband and I built this estate. Please, come in." She opened the doors, swinging without a sound, revealing the house within.
Passing through the pair of sturdy oaken doors inset with frosted, etched glass, Rachel and Allen were treated to a view of a spacious and well-appointed living area. The enormous room stretched from the front entryway sixty feet to the back wall, which was nearly entirely floor to ceiling windows. To their right, a large kitchen and dining area with cabinets, fixtures, and counters matching the oak door and glass entry. Natural light from the fading sun drenched the room in a warm glow. It was the nicest house the two had ever been in. They wondered just who these people were.
"Robert!" Theresa called out. "We have visitors!"
A man's voice replied from some unseen room off of the main living area. "Visitors? Did someone get lost again."
Theresa laughed. "Yes. Again. Maybe put on a shirt or something."
She padded into the grand hall, her feet silent on shining wood floors. Theresa directed the couple to leave their luggage here, and their shoes if they preferred.
"As you've probably noticed, we aren't real big on clothes out here," Theresa explained.
Allen and Rachel nodded. They set their luggage next to a large closet, and kicked off their shoes. Allen made a show of starting to remove his shirt while only Rachel was looking, giving her a little wink. But he stopped as soon as he saw another man enter the room from a hallway leading to parts unknown.
"My husband, Robert," Theresa said, reaching out an arm as he approached, looping an arm around his waist as he placed an arm around her shoulders.
The man smiled and waved at the newcomers. Robert was a little taller than average, clearly in excellent physical condition, but twenty years or more older than either Allen or Rachel. Faint lines creased his face, and here and there gray showed in his stubble and his dark hair, but he looked ready to run a marathon. Or chop down a tree.
The two made quite the couple. Their mutual affection was clear from the easy way they embraced, confident, standing nearly nude, in front of this strange couple in their home whom they'd never met and certainly never expected.
Rachel had a sudden feeling of intrusion. She felt slightly ashamed, like she'd seen something she shouldn't have the privilege to see. Of course, she already had, with the sight of Theresa naked. But there was a difference between a nude body, and standing, uninvited, in the home of a pair of lovers.
"I..." Rachel began, uncertainly. "We should go. I'm sorry we interrupted your... Come on Allen." Rachel turned to leave.
Allen, reaching out his hand to greet Robert, was confused and conflicted, and clearly had not picked up Rachel's embarrassment. "Go? We just got here!" Allen complained.
"Please, stay," Robert began, his voice baritone and clear. It was the voice of a man used to being heard. "I'm not sure where you are headed, but it's probably too late to get there tonight. We don't get visitors often, and you've probably guessed we have plenty of room."
Rachel hesitated. She still felt guilty intruding on these people, and more than a little intimidated. But she admitted to being very curious about them, and this place was probably nicer than any bed and breakfast.
"We don't want to intrude," said Rachel.
