Thank goodness it was only Rachel! And as others have said, delightful encounter. You've captured the small town charm rather well -- people would be helpful and react in much the same way, I think. Being an ex-pat American, your small town touches make me just a bit homesick, which says a lot about your writing ability.
Great chapter -- glad no immediate danger was in the forefront, but we all know some shadows may rear their ugly heads in the near future...
Looking forward to where you take us next!
