Now that the windows were boarded up, it left the lobby’s lounge looking much darker, but at least it wasn’t freezing cold from the mountain air anymore. Ruth double-checked their work with a critical eye as she took a sip of lukewarm coffee. Grounds swirled in her cup. She hadn’t yet mastered the drip method, but it was better than nothing. The tight knot of anxiety in her stomach had loosened when she couldn’t spot any other problems in their construction. She hoped that whatever—or, more ominously, whoever—had shattered the glass wouldn’t come calling again.
“We did a good job, Patton,” Ruth said. “You could become a construction worker at this rate.”
“You don’t pay me enough, Grandma.” Patton chuckled and gave Ruth a big hug.
The sound of the front door rattling startled them both. Wild hope bloomed inside of Ruth. Could it be David? Kathleen? Patton looked up at her with the same hope reflected in his eyes. She hurried over to unlock the door and let their visitor in.
The door rattled harder as if with frustration, and then a sudden bang filled the air—as if the person had kicked the front of the door. Ruth hesitated with her hand on the lock just before the doorframe splintered and the lock broke in her hands. She stepped back to avoid getting hit, and the door swung open to reveal the mechanic they’d met yesterday. He gave Ruth a lopsided grin. “Well, fancy meeting you here,” he drawled and stepped through the doorway.
“Samuel?” Ruth asked and knew she sounded incredulous. “What do you think you’re doing? You just ruined my front door!” Tears filled her eyes. Her hopes had been dashed and now something else was broken in the hotel. What else could go wrong? Patton grabbed her hand and yanked her back as Samuel pushed past her and into the hotel.
“My front door, you mean.” Samuel’s lopsided grin became a full-blown smile. “Didn’t think I’d have the guts to come up here, did you? You thought you city-slickers could just take what’s my birthright? Not anymore. This place is mine.”
“You need to leave,” Ruth said, pointing her finger into his chest and trying to hide her trembling. She wasn’t going to be talked to like that. Who did Samuel think he was? He couldn’t just force his way into someone’s home and pretend to claim it as his own. “You’ll be paying for my new door, by the way. Now, get off my property.”
“This isn’t your property,” Samuel snarled. “This hotel was promised to me since I was a boy.”
“I don’t see your name on the deed,” Ruth said, tilting her chin up and pushing Patton up against her hip. He tugged frantically on her hand and had his widened eyes fixated on Samuel. Ruth felt anger begin to boil inside her and her voice rose as she continued to speak, “My family purchased this place fair and square. It’s our home. You’re trespassing on private property, and I advise you to leave now.”
“What are you gonna do? Call the cops?” He laughed as if it was the funniest joke he’d ever told. “Even if you could get a hold of them, they wouldn’t do anything. They’ve been friends of mine for years. They know my father promised me this hotel. The hotel that you stole from us. I’m only coming to claim what’s rightfully mine.”
Ruth’s lips pursed together tightly, and she wished Patton had his hammer. Her hands itched to grab something that would show she’d push back against this arrogant bully. Samuel’s breath stank as if he hadn’t brushed in a while. That, paired with the pungent scent of booze, told Ruth that Samuel West was nothing but a mean drunk. Patton squeezed her hand so tightly it hurt and she glanced down at him. His eyes darted from hers to the double-barrel shotgun loosely hanging in one of Samuel’s hands. The polished handle was near Samuel’s hip, but the barrel hung down towards the ground and almost dragged. It swung side to side as Samuel staggered closer. In her anger, Ruth hadn’t noticed it. Now, a cold rush of dread filled her.
“Hey now,” Samuel said, his own eyes following their line of sight down to the gun, “no need to be inhospitable. I’m a friendly guy. Just taking back what’s mine is all. You’re allowed to stay. It is a hotel, after all. I’m sure we could find a room for you, that is, if you can afford it.”
“You’re not staying here,” Ruth said, enraged at this man’s audacity. She couldn’t believe the absolute nerve of the man, saying he had a right to come in here and claim this place, thinking he could stick his flagpole on the rug-covered floors and that would suddenly erase their mortgage paperwork and ownership deeds.
Samuel swung the shotgun up and out, aiming it straight at Ruth. She backed up and wrenched Patton behind her with a hand on his shoulder that was hard enough to bruise. The double barrels seemed to stare at her like two eyes and her dread became pure terror.
“Like I said, I’m a friendly guy,” Samuel repeated, “and I don’t mind having visitors. I especially don’t mind housing people who don’t have anywhere to stay—even thieves like yourselves. You can earn your keep by working for me at my hotel. Just as long as you remember who the boss is.” He smiled that crooked grin at Ruth again.
Ruth’s cheeks blazed hot with anger. A million things filled her mind, but she couldn’t pick one to say. Her throat clicked as she swallowed.
Samuel’s pointer finger tapped against the trigger, turning Ruth’s resolve to water. Beside her, Patton shivered in fear.
“Do you have an issue with that?” Samuel asked. “If you do, we can talk about it right now. You, me, and…” he trailed off and tapped his finger against the trigger one more
