Unexpected Inheritance

9

One evening, after a long day at the practice, Miranda stopped by the general store to pick up a few things. The familiar warmth of the small town shop greeted her, and she spotted Rosalind behind the counter, sorting through some items. She made her way over to chat, glad to have a moment of downtime.

"Hey, Roz. How's everything going?" Miranda asked, leaning casually against the counter.

"Busy, as always," Rosalind replied with a smile, but there was a tiredness in her eyes. "You know how it is."

Just as they continued their conversation, the door to the store opened, and two men stepped inside. Neither of them caught Miranda or Rosalind's attention right away. They seemed like any other customers, perhaps a bit out of place, but nothing that seemed too unusual. They walked toward the counter, and one of them greeted Rosalind with a simple, "Hey, we're just looking for directions."

They continued to chat, discussing the latest happenings in town. Ben had taken the day for himself, something about needing to recharge. He was out in the woods, indulging in one of his favorite hobbies, and she didn't mind giving him that time.

The two men approached the counter, one of them casually leaning against it, while the other shuffled through a small notepad, pretending to look for something.

"Excuse me," the man closest to the counter said, his voice rough. "We're a bit lost. Can you give us directions to the highway?"

Rosalind smiled and nodded. "Of course. You just go down the road, take a left by the church, and keep going straight. You can't miss it."

But just as Rosalind was about to continue explaining, there was a shift in the air. The first man, who had been leaning against the counter, suddenly straightened, and without warning, the second man produced a gun. 

"Everyone stay calm," the man with the gun commanded, his voice cold and sharp. "This is a robbery. Just do as we say, and no one will get hurt."

Miranda's heart raced as she froze, her hand instinctively gripping the counter. Rosalind, who had seen more than her share of strange situations living in a small town, didn't panic but kept her voice steady. "What do you want?" she asked, her eyes darting briefly to Miranda, who was still trying to process the situation.

The man who wasn't holding the gun motioned toward the back of the store. "We'll take the cash from the register. You'll both stay here, and keep quiet. We'll be gone before you know it."

The tension in the room thickened, and Miranda, though terrified, kept her movements slow and deliberate. She wasn't sure what to do, but she knew one thing: they needed to stay calm. Her mind flashed to Ben, who wasn't around to help her, and she tried to force herself to think clearly.

Rosalind's eyes flicked to the back of the store, where the safe was kept. Without missing a beat, she turned her attention back to the man holding the weapon and said, "You take the money. Just don't hurt anyone, alright? We'll do what you want."

Miranda nodded in agreement, her hands shaking as she fumbled for her phone in her pocket. She had to stay cool. Ben would be furious if she made a rash move, but she needed to find a way to get help.

Before she could make any move toward the door or try to discreetly call for assistance, the man's attention shifted. "We said don't make any sudden movements," the man warned, narrowing his eyes at Miranda. "Just stay put."

Miranda and Rosalind sat there, frozen, watching the two men as they slowly moved around the store. Every slight movement they made felt like it stretched into eternity. Miranda's mind raced, thinking of all the scenarios, but none of them seemed to give her the strength to act. The men were focused on the counter, their eyes darting between them, a constant reminder of the danger they were in.