The Garrett's was a bouncy ten minute ride up a picturesque road straight into the hills. The trees were massive and formed a living tunnel that wound around tight turns climbing the hill at an ever steady pace. The truck slid around through the mud on the turns and she found herself gripping the seat of the truck, though the station master did not seem concerned.

He chatted idly about the weather and the town as though he sensed her discomfort. She was grateful for the effort, but she was out of practice at making small talk and rode the whole way in silence.

They crossed a small covered bridge, and nestled in the trees next to the creek was The Garrett's. It was a large, square, two story building that was ten to twenty years in want of a coat of paint. The weathered boards were bowed and covered in places in forest moss, giving the place a wild look, as though it were a part of the forest itself. There was an old gas pump out front that was manned by a slim black man smoking a cigarette while he sat in a chair in the sun. He kept his eyes on the truck as they parked in front of the worn porch. There were six or seven other cars parked out front and several more around the side. The drive wound around behind the building and climbed the hill where it disappeared into the trees.

"Thank you for the ride."

He frowned again. "Are you sure you want to stay here ma'am? You could come home with me, my misses would enjoy the company and I'm sure there would be enough food to share."

She took in the state of his truck and his thread bare clothing and knew the latter was not true. Besides she could not risk spending any more time with this man and having him remember her too well. As the station master he would no doubt be the first asked about strangers coming to town by train.

"Thank you for the offer but this place looks delightful," she lied through her teeth, smiling all the while. The place looked horrid. As though to prove the point, a man came stumbling out the front door and had to steady himself with the wall before he was able to make the walk to his car.

Steeling herself, she hopped out of the truck, dragging her carpet bag behind her. The bag swung out of the truck and banged into the back of her legs, sending her stumbling forward a few steps.

"I'll be heading back to the station in about an hour. I'll stop in to check on you." The station master said, for the first time using a tone that brooked no argument.

"I would appreciate a ride back to the station," she smiled through the window at him and climbed the uneven steps. There were soda and beer signs hanging on the outside of the building and a hand painted sign on the screen door read Open. She pulled the door open and stepped inside the dimly lit room.

She jumped as the door slammed behind her, and everyone in the room turned to look her way. To say she didn't belong here was as obvious to say a cat didn't belong on the moon. There were no other women sitting at the tables and she started to regret her decision to come in here. It had looked run down from the outside, but the inside was even worse.

There was a dirty counter lining one wall with an old cash box sitting in the corner, though there was no one behind it. A cooler rattled from the corner nearly drowning out the scratchy sound of the radio. Stools lined the counter and every one of them was taken. There were mismatched tables and chairs spread out chaotically throughout the room, each covered in stains and crumbs. The floor beneath her heels was sticky, and she resisted the urge to hug her bag to her chest.

The only thing that kept her from turning on her heel and taking her chances with the mud was the smell. There was a swinging door in the corner behind the counter which must have led to a kitchen and the heavenly scent of fried chicken and fresh corn bread wafted through into the room.

The men had all stopped eating and were still watching her. Every one of them had a small mason jar in front of them, filled with clear liquid. She hoped the owners were unaffiliated. If they were affiliated in any way this would prove to be her greatest mistake yet. Lifting her chin, she strode into the room as though she frequented such places every day of her life.

A good looking young man was balancing his chair on two legs at the table nearest the kitchen. He was laughing at something another man said when he noticed her. He let the legs hit the floor with a loud click and leapt to his feet with a dramatic flourish.

"Welcome to Garrett's Ma'am," a crooked smile flashed across his face, lighting his green eyes in a pleasant way. He shook dark hair out of his eyes. "I am Arthur Garrett: proprietor. Is there anything I can help you with?"

She glanced over her shoulder towards the door. "The train-" her voice was breathy and she forced herself to take a moment for composure. She would not come in here and appear the victim. She squared her shoulders and continued in a more confident voice. "I was told I could wait here for the train."

Arthur's smile was radiant and there was no doubt it had all the local girls swooning. She would have called him pretty if not for the slim, corded muscles showing beneath the rolled up sleeves of his faded cotton shirt. "You surely may. Let me get you a table here." He reached to take her bag, but she immediately swung it back out of his reach.

"I have it, thank you," anger lit her eyes for a moment but if Arthur noticed he didn't acknowledge it. Instead he moved seamlessly to an open table and swiped at it ineffectually with a stained rag.

She froze for a moment uncertain if she should follow. Arthur pulled out the chain and presented it to her as though it were a throne for a Queen.

A second, taller man who looked strikingly similar to Arthur stepped forward. "It may not look like much ma'am," he amended, "but Miss Lilly makes the best fried chicken and corn bread this side 'a the Appalachians."

"This here's my brother Peter, he and my brother Forrest work for me."

Peter snorted and flashed a dimpled smile. She glanced uncertainly from one brother to the other before her eyes met those of another man. He sat at the end of the counter watching their exchange. She would have bet every cent she had that this was the remaining brother, Forrest. The three brothers looked very similar and stood out from everyone else she had seen so far in town. Seeming not to notice her attention Forrest looked to the room beyond.

She shifted uncomfortably under the attention of the rest of the room and made her decision. She returned Arthur's charming smile with a superior one that left the poor country boy stammering over his next words. The transformation was so sudden Arthur was not the only one left staring.

Her smile softened her features taking away the hard edge of suspicion and allowed the eye to notice her flawless skin and how her dress made her blue eyes shine. Her pin curls brushed her shoulders when she turned her head. Despite her discomfort with it, she knew how to get the attention of men.

Taking pity on Arthur she turned back to Peter. "Miss Lilly's fried chicken and cornbread sounds delightful." She said taking a seat. She tucked her carpet bag between the table leg and her own. She looked down as she smoothed the dress beneath her giving the boys a chance to compose themselves.

Arthur, who seemed more accustomed to girl's attentions, recovered first. "Of course Ma'am. Com'in right up." He clapped his brother on the shoulder. "Pete here will let Miss Lilly know. If you need anything else, you ask for me." He gave her a wink and another crooked smile. Her mother would have said the devil was in Arthur's smirk. She liked it.

"I'll do that." She couldn't help but be charmed by Arthur. His cheerful mood was infectious and she wondered at the station master's concerns for her safety.

"And how shall I address you Ma'am?"

Arthur didn't see it but Forrest, sitting across the room, saw her smile falter and for a moment there was a flash of fear in her eyes. She quickly covered it with a practiced demur smile. "Well you already have a Miss Lilly, I'm afraid I must concede to being Miss Rose."

She said it in such a way that most would assume she was making a joke. Just another girl flirting with Arthur as most girls who came to the store did and so her comment went largely overlooked. Everyone laughed and when Peter went to the kitchen to place her order the room resumed its hustle and bustle.

When the brother's left her she looked down at her hands, folded in her lap and tightened them into fists, trying to stop their shaking. Her breath let out in a shaky rasp as she fought to maintain her composure.

Her name was Miss Rose.

She was going to eat a delicious meal for lunch.

She would catch the train later that afternoon.

She was still safe.

When she was certain of her control she looked back up to the room and noticed Forrest was still watching her. While the other brothers were friendly and open, this man looked as dangerous as the station master warned. He was more physically imposing than his brothers. He wore a battered bowler tipped low on his forehead which he used it to shield his eyes from the room, making it difficult to tell where he was looking.

This was a mistake, she should have taken her chances and stayed at the train station. She wrung her hands beneath the table and pressed her leg even tighter against her bag, counting the seconds until she could leave.

A waif thin black woman came out of the swinging kitchen door a few minutes later, balancing two large plates of food. She delivered the first to a man at the counter with a smile and she turned to Miss Rose. She dropped the plate in front of her with a clatter. "I get you anything else?"

Miss Rose was taken aback. She had never been spoken to so rudely in a restaurant let alone by a black. "Uh, no Ma'am," she stammered. "Th-Thank you, thank you very much. This smells wonderful." Miss Rose stared hard at the table in front of her, not wanting to further anger the aggravated woman staring at her.

Miss Lilly narrowed her eyes. "What a lady look like you do'in in a place like this?"

Miss Rose kept her eyes on her plate. "The station master said I could get some lunch here while I wait for the train."

"Floyd?" Miss Lilly snapped. "Floyd said you get lunch here?" she snorted. "I don't believe that for a second." She stared hard at Miss Rose.

Miss Rose picked up her fork, trying not to let the other woman see how much she intimidated her. "Well not really, he recommended the café in town, but said you were a better cook." She peaked out of the corner of her eye and saw this pleased Miss Lilly even though the older woman tried not to show it.

"Well now that I do believe," Miss Lilly allowed. "You need something to drink? A jar?"

Miss Rose's eyes widened. "No thank you Ma'am. Just a cola please."

Miss Lilly sniffed and walked away. She dropped off the cola with the same brisk efficiency and returned to her kitchen.