The Inn of Destiny Read online

  Indigo River Publishing

  My sincere thanks to my beautiful wife, Susan Anne

  for her help with my book.

  1

  The Inn

  Jackie French was a young wife with natural red hair and beautiful blue eyes who lived with her husband, Jerry, in the affluent town of Princeton, New Jersey. Jackie and Jerry had two children: Lisa, who had just turned six, and David, who was eight. Jerry was an aspiring young financial executive working on Wall Street desperately trying to move higher into a six-figure income. The couple strove to live the good life, which they had done with astounding success. Like most couples, the challenge was to keep their relationship alive and fresh despite the pressure caused by modern life.

  One fall morning Jackie said to Jerry, “We should do something different. We need to begin looking for an interesting weekend getaway for the two of us.”

  Jerry was engrossed in the morning paper and grunted some sort of affirmative signal, as he usually did at this time of day.

  “Why aren’t you more enthusiastic? Why must I always be the one to look for fun things to do?”

  If the truth were known, Jackie really liked the role of arranger and enjoyed sitting down at the family computer to search the internet for some new adventure.

  Lisa looked up and asked, “What will I do if you and Daddy go away for the weekend?”

  David piped up, “We can go to Grammy and Pop Pop’s.”

  Jackie was relieved at David’s suggestion since she had talked with her mother about the children staying with them if they could get away for a weekend.

  Midmorning, Jackie sat down at the computer and began looking at nearby areas for adventure. She came across the web page for the Inn of Destiny in the Pocono Mountains in nearby Pennsylvania. The web page was cleverly designed and portrayed the inn as a place where couples could have a unique and relaxing time away from their Monday-through-Friday routine.

  Jackie picked up the phone and called the 800 number listed on the web page. She found that the only time that was available was the second weekend in February. Jackie asked the woman on the phone, “Can you hold that weekend for me until I talk it over with my husband?”

  “I’m sorry. We had a very busy season, and I can’t hold a room for you,” the woman replied. “If you want to ensure accommodations, you’ll have to let me know.”

  Without a second thought, Jackie said, “We’ll take it. Do you need my credit card number?”

  “Yes, please give me your number, and I will send you confirmation in the mail tomorrow.”

  After Jerry came home that evening, Jackie asked, “How would you like to go to the Poconos?”

  Jerry nodded and said, “It’s been a long time since I can remember going there. My father took me hunting in the mountains as a teenager.”

  “Well, take a look at what I found on the internet this morning, dear,” responded Jackie. “I think this place is just what we’re looking for.”

  Jerry began looking over the brightly colored pages Jackie had printed that morning before calling the inn. He laid them aside and said, “Why don’t you give them a call sometime.”

  Jackie gave him that look he had seen so many times before that indicated she was up to something. “I called this morning, and they had only one weekend available this winter.”

  “I guess it must be a popular place. Oh well, if we can’t go there this year, we can try again next year,” Jerry said.

  “We won’t have to wait. I made a reservation for the second weekend in February.”

  Jerry seemed a little annoyed as he blurted out, “How do you know I don’t have a conflict that weekend?”

  “I looked at your calendar while I was on the phone with the lady at the inn,” answered Jackie.

  Jerry knew they needed this time alone together and decided to end his protest. He returned to reading his paper to catch up on the day’s events.

  The next morning, Jackie saw her neighbor and best friend Mary retrieving the morning paper from the lawn, where the delivery person had tossed it just minutes before. “Mary, what time will you be over for coffee?”

  “I’ll be right over,” Mary answered.

  It was their custom to have coffee together most mornings, and it wasn’t long before Mary bounded into the kitchen through the back door. After some meaningless chatter about shopping and other trivial errands, their discussion turned to their lives in affluent Princeton. Mary’s husband, John, was a contractor trying to build his net worth from the demand for new homes in nearby Bucks County, Pennsylvania. John was constantly looking for small- to midsize parcels of land that he could purchase and develop in order to move him closer and closer to the financial independence he sought.

  Their conversation quickly turned to one of their favorite topics, which was how their husbands’ quests for financial independence were affecting their love lives. Jackie and Mary were both in their early thirties and approaching the time when most women experience their greatest need for sexual fulfillment.

  “Does Jerry have the same drive as when you met him?” Mary asked.

  “No,” answered Jackie. “He generally comes home from Wall Street, opens his briefcase, and works until midnight. During the week, he has very little desire for much physical activity and is focused on his busy schedule at the office. On the weekend, his interest shifts to either the kids, his golf game, or sports on TV. How is John in the romance department?”

  Mary responded, “I often kid John that I feel like we’re living in New England during the late 1700s and he’s trying to become the perfect minuteman. He does seem to have an ample sex drive, but he seldom tries to get my temperature past lukewarm.”

  Jackie walked over to the desk in the kitchen and took out the material about the inn she’d printed from the internet. “Look at this, Mary. I took the bull by the horns to see if I can put a little zip into our sex life, even if it only lasts the weekend.”

  Mary read the material from the inn’s web page and agreed that it was worth a shot. “Did you call them?” she asked.

  “Not only did I call,” answered Jackie, “but I reserved a weekend in February.”

  “What did Jerry say?”

  “At first he seemed a little put out that I made the reservations without consulting him, but he seems to be looking forward to it now.”

  The early fall gave way to Thanksgiving and then to the Christmas season. It wasn’t long before Jackie and Jerry would leave for their weekend in the Poconos. The second Friday in February finally arrived, and Jerry got ready to leave for the train. He reminded Jackie, “I’ll be home early so that we can get on the road by three thirty.”

  “Fine,” responded Jackie. “I’ll take the kids to Mom when they get home from school.”

  Jackie then turned to getting Lisa and David ready for the school bus and cleaning up after breakfast. The day seemed to drag, as both Jackie and Jerry were looking forward to their weekend at the inn. Jerry had a meeting at lunch, which helped his day move along, and Jackie went with Mary to the department store. Jackie got home about two o’clock and finished packing for their trip. The kids arrived home a little after three, and she drove them to her mother’s. Jackie wanted to be back by the time Jerry got home from the train station.

  Jerry arrived from New York just before Jackie returned. They loaded the car and headed to Pennsylvania. Jerry decided to take the turnpike so they would arrive in the Poconos before dark. The clean snow on the mountains made their view look just like the travel brochures. As they passed mile after mile of split-rail fences, they couldn’t help but admire the cows wandering in the fie
lds. The gentle animals grazed on the grass hour after hour, just as if that was all the Creator ever intended for them to do. Some stroked their long tongues over the salt licks scattered in the fields. Jackie observed the breath of the cattle in the winter air and realized how cold it was in the mountains. As they passed farm after farm Jackie said, “How different the lifestyle is up here. I wonder if any of these people ever spend a weekend in New York.”

  Jackie noticed signs that depicted the type of corn that had been planted in the fields the past summer. She said, “Look at the ad for the candy factory. Let’s see if we can find it tomorrow.” As they drove higher into the mountains, they saw everything from tree farms to antique stores advertised on billboards. Every so often, they saw abandoned cars and trucks stacked in the fields. Next to these rusting carcasses of the twentieth century were bales of straw waiting to be picked up by farm trucks. It was about five o’clock when Jackie spotted a sign for the Inn of Destiny. “Oh, look, we’re almost there.”

  As they passed through one more small town, they could see that time had not forgotten the area. The old rural town had been completed with its own strip mall. Jerry recalled the variety of wildlife that called these Pennsylvania state forests home. The deer population was extensive, and there were some bear and a few elk. The more patient visitor might even catch a glimpse of a small fox or a gray wolf.

  As they climbed higher into the mountains, the number of farms lessened and the terrain became more rugged. They had rounded a bend in the road, when Jerry caught sight of a large log cabin in the distance. “Look, Jackie. I think that’s the inn. It looks like the picture on the brochure you printed out.”

  A short way down the road was a sign announcing they had arrived. The log cabin was about two and a half stories high and stretched for hundreds of feet. The inn was constructed of the local timber that covered the mountains in this part of Pennsylvania. It was evident the inn had occupied this spot for decades.

  Jerry saw the parking lot to the side and pulled in. “It doesn’t look like there are many spaces available,” he commented. There were a few spaces at the far end of the lot, so Jerry decided to drop their luggage off at the entrance and then find a parking space. The parking area was covered with snow and outlined with long pine logs. There was a break in the log barrier at the path that led to the main entrance.

  As Jerry took Jackie’s hand and led the way up the stairs to the front porch, Jackie remarked, “Look at how smooth the railing is. I wonder how many couples it took to wear it so smooth.”

  “More than you could count,” was Jerry’s response. “Look at this place. This door must be eight feet high and is made of two-inch-thick planks. The door latch looks like the ones we saw on the log cabins in Valley Forge Park.”

  The door latch was made of wood and leather and would indeed have been at home on the front door of Daniel Boone’s homestead. Jerry lifted the latch and opened the massive door for Jackie.

  The first thing she noticed was the fireplace with a roaring blaze that was framed by a mantel that contained beer steins from various places in the world. Above the log mantel was a large eight-point buck’s head. The fireplace itself was made of fieldstone and was large enough to burn four-foot logs. Jackie moved closer to the blanket of heat that radiated from the fire. “This feels great. A warm fire always puts me in a romantic mood.”

  “Keep that mood alive for later. I’ll see what I can do with it,” Jerry responded. He was fully aware that Jackie had a strong romantic side that fed into her strong sex drive. It seemed that, as she crossed the thirty-year mark, her sexual desire had increased.

  The couple turned from the welcoming fire to the large open area that housed the registration desk and lobby. The desk was typical and made from pine planks. It had a brass footrail along the front. There was a spittoon to one side, and at either end of the counter were cast-iron brackets used to scrape the mud from visitors’ boots. When Jerry noticed that the counter was made using wooden pegs rather than nails, he commented, “I’ll bet this place doesn’t have a single nail in it.” He was probably correct.

  Everywhere one looked, the building seemed to be made using hand-fashioned joints and pegs. The floor appeared to be made of logs cut in half and secured with large wooden pegs. Remembering the crane used to lift the heavy roof of their house into place when it was built, Jackie looked at Jerry and asked, “How do you think they were able to hold the huge logs in place when they built the inn?”

  Jerry walked to the registration counter. The clerk smiled warmly and said, “Welcome to the inn. We hope you will have a memorable weekend with us.” He asked them to sign the registration book, which was held together by leather thongs. The pen was an old quill type complete with a brass ink well.

  “Do you want me to use this pen?” asked Jerry.

  “Yes, please,” responded the clerk.

  Behind the counter was a back bar that contained a fax machine, and the clerk entered their registration into a computer. A series of wooden boxes on the wall behind the counter held the hand-cut room keys.

  “This place seems to be a blend of the past and the present,” Jackie remarked.

  She was right: the inn did combine both. Little did they realize some special guests would experience yet another dimension at the Inn of Destiny. What was about to unfold would forever change the destinies of Jackie and Jerry French and their close friends. It would also begin a path for Jackie to stimulate her sensual side and desire for a more active sex life.

  After Jerry completed registering, the printer prepared a listing that contained their names, date, and room assignment. It also listed some upcoming events for the evening and next day. This was another example of current technology in a vintage setting that their ancestors would not have recognized. The clerk reached into the fourth pigeonhole and took out the key to room D. As he handed it to Jerry, the expression on his face seemed to suggest this was more than simply giving them access to their room. Jackie noticed the clerk’s expression but didn’t comment. The clerk explained, “Take the right hall to the second door on the left. That will be room D.”

  As the couple made their way down the hall, they saw that there were twenty-six guest rooms. Each was identified by a letter from A to Z. When they found the door with a plaque that had the letter D carved on it, Jerry inserted the old key into the lock, opened the door, and was surprised when Jackie passed by him and bounded into the room.

  The rustic room was lit by a single chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The walls were made of logs, and there was a fire burning in the fireplace. The rooms also had heaters, but the warm glow produced by the fire seemed so much more inviting. “They seem to be creating the perfect atmosphere for their guests,” Jackie noted. “The web page was right. I think we’re going to have a memorable weekend.”

  There was a four-poster bed made of‍—what else? —pine. It had a soft mattress with a large quilt at the foot of the bed. The curtains were made of heavy fabric to help keep out the frigid winds that blasted the inn during the long winter nights.

  Jerry quickly changed his clothing and said, “I’ll check out the bar while you change. Meet me there and we’ll have a drink before dinner.”

  “Fine,” replied Jackie. “I’ll be down in about an hour. I want to relax in the whirlpool tub for a while before getting dressed.”

  Jerry proceeded to the bar, and Jackie got undressed as the tub filled with warm water.

  As usual, Jackie’s hour contained more than sixty minutes, but the time passed quickly, and Jerry greeted her as she walked into the bar. She wore a western-style shirt with a short denim skirt and completed her outfit with western boots. Jackie sat down at the bar and ordered a martini. Jerry asked for another bourbon.

  When they finished their drinks, Jackie said, “I’m hungry. I never took time for lunch. There was just too much to get ready for our trip.” They left the ba
r and entered the dining room, where they were seated near the large fireplace. It was made of the same fieldstone used in the other fireplaces. This one was used for cooking and had two large cast-iron pots hanging over the fire. The enticing aroma coming from these pots was the homemade soups that were part of the evening fare. Jackie turned to Jerry and commented, “This place keeps getting better and better. Do you think Mary and John would like to join us up here sometime? Maybe we could come together next winter.”

  After having a delicious meal, they decided to return to the bar, where a small combo was playing dance music. It was about nine thirty. Jackie remarked, “This small group does produce a great sound.” They danced for two hours and had several drinks. Jackie made sure Jerry didn’t overdo it. She had very definite plans for the remainder of the evening. While they were dancing, Jackie made sure Jerry was aware that she was not wearing a bra. In fact, she hadn’t unpacked any of her underwear.

  Just before the combo began to play their last song of the evening, Jackie walked over to the bar and sat on one of the stools. She discreetly parted her legs and, with her short skirt, gave Jerry a quick view of things to come. She was careful not to give every man in the room this same treat, but given her growing passion, she would not have minded if a select few men had caught her show.

  At that point, Jerry was embarrassed to stand up. Jackie took one look at him and said, “I guess you liked my warm-up routine. I think we should go to our room.” As they walked down the hall to their room, Jackie’s anticipation of the romantic evening she had planned made her think of her first experiences with sex, the year she spent in Paris, and when she met Jerry.

  2

  Jackie’s Passion Released

  From the time Jackie had stopped playing with dolls, her thoughts turned to her developing female body. Her breasts began to develop in the sixth grade, and she would stand in front of her mirror and examine herself. As she progressed from a training bra to an A cup, her breasts had a sexy uplift as if they were reaching for the sky. From the time she was aware of her development, Jackie wanted the boys to notice her. Unlike some girls, Jackie wanted the boys to look at her bust and was disappointed if they only made eye contact with her.