She got in the car, then glanced at the box buckled up in the seat beside her. Her destination was Dallas, and Niles’s ashes were riding shotgun.

* * *

Danner Amos was eating breakfast when his cell phone rang. He started to let it go to voicemail, then noticed it was the number to his rental properties and got up from the table to answer.

“Dan Amos speaking,” he said, then heard a woman’s voice.

“Mr. Amos, I understand you have rental properties.”

“Yes, I do. What did you have in mind?” he asked.

“Do you have any furnished properties?”

“A couple, but both are only one-bedroom, one-bath properties.”

“Perfect. Would it be possible to see them today?”

“Sure. I can give you both addresses and meet you there.”

“I’m on foot. I’ve been backpacking across country, and with colder weather already an issue up north, I decided to stop for a while…maybe winter here. What are they renting for?”

He named the price, then added, “Where are you now? I could easily just come pick you up to show you the places.”

“I would appreciate that,” she said. “I’m actually sitting on a bench in front of Crown supermarket. You can’t miss me. I’ll be the only redheaded female with a backpack.”

Dan chuckled. “Give me about fifteen minutes. I’ll be the dark-haired guy driving a truck that says Amos Rental Properties.”

“See you then,” she said.

Dan went back into the kitchen to finish breakfast.

“We may have another renter soon,” he said.

Alice looked up. “Really? Do we know them?”

“Not unless we know a redheaded woman backpacking cross-country,” he said, and took his last bite of toast and jelly, then chewed and swallowed.

“How many empty houses do you have?” Alice asked.

“I only have two of what she’s looking for. One-bedroom furnished.”

“Oh…that makes sense… Backpackers wouldn’t be traveling with furniture,” she said, and laughed. “Do you want more coffee, honey?”

“No. I’d better grab those keys and get moving. I’m picking her up in front of the Crown. See you later,” he said, and kissed her goodbye.

It didn’t take him long to get to the Crown, and the woman was right where she said she’d be. He stopped in front of the bench and got out.

“I’m Dan,” he said. “You can put your backpack in the truck bed if you want, and we can lock it in the truck when we’re seeing the properties.”

“I’m Cathy Terry. Thank you for the ride,” she said, and took off her backpack and dropped it in as she passed, then got in the truck.

“One of these properties is closer to shopping than the other, so since you’re afoot, it might be more convenient for you. I’ll show it to you first, and then the other one.”

She nodded without comment, sitting quietly as they drove. There were two blocks off Main when Dan turned to the left.

“It’s the small blue house with the white shutters,” he said.