The food tasted like ash in Ruth’s mouth. She took small measured bites, watching as Patton moved his food around the plate without eating.
“Do you know the history of this place?” Samuel asked, taking another swig. “This hotel was mine from the start. My daddy was going to buy it, but he couldn’t afford it. Then, when it was on the market, I made plans to purchase it, but you city-slickers outbid me. I’ve lived here my whole life and you swoop in here and think everything just belongs to you because you have the money for it. Well, I had to earn my money.” His words had started to slur, becoming longer and more drawn out.
Ruth refused to respond to his delusional ramble as Samuel listed off the ways the Rileys had taken his birthright from him. How they’d come in as if they’d been decked out in jewels and glitter, looking down on the West family who’d been long-time Galena folk, who deserved what they were owed. By the time Samuel finished his food, Ruth had a good idea why Samuel and most likely his father couldn’t afford to buy the hotel. He’d nearly finished the bourbon.
“This is good,” Samuel told her. “You’re gonna be a good worker for the hotel. A good server.”
Ruth knew her smile was icy, but as soon as Samuel belched, she knew she’d never let a drunk like Samuel West be her undoing. For Patton’s sake, she’d endure his ridiculous accusations, she’d listen to his nonsensical talk, but she would survive this. She could do it all with dignity and stay strong until her family came home.
Matthew and David would be coming for them. She would hold on until they did. Then, when she had the backup she needed, the Riley family would take care of Samuel West.
31
When Matthew finally saw the welcome sign to Galena, he sagged in relief. They were nearly home. David seemed heartened too when he saw the sign, and from there to the foot of the mountain road leading up to the hotel, he didn’t lean on Matthew’s arm for support. Matthew was distraught to see that the power outages had affected Galena just as they had Madison. Dead cars lined the streets. Matthew hadn’t seen anyone for miles.
“That’s a sight for sore eyes,” David said as he looked up at the mountain road. Matthew held out his arm, and David took it, leaning his weight into Matthew without complaint. They both wanted to reach home as fast as possible. Now that they were so close, they both had problems stopping and resting. As they walked, Matthew mentally greeted the trees and switchbacks as if they were old friends. When the pines finally parted to show the small hotel nestled in a meadow against the cascade of jagged peaks behind it, a grin broke across his face. Relief filled him and he wanted to fall to his knees or maybe lift his arms up in the air and holler in victory. We made it. He couldn’t believe it. After all they’d endured, they were finally home. David gripped his shoulder in joy and gave him a little shake as if he had to express his happiness.
“We did it,” Matthew said. “We actually did it.”
“I’m just as shocked as you are. I can’t wait to see your mother. I can’t wait to sit in an actual chair,” David said as he began to take a couple of steps closer to the hotel. “Use a real bathroom. Wash my face and hands.”
Matthew grabbed David’s shoulder to stop him. He hadn’t realized at first, being overwhelmed with reaching home and having survived the trek, but the two front picture windows had been boarded up with a mix of cardboard, plywood, and plastic sheeting. A wave of uneasiness flowed through him. Normally, he’d be more than happy to run into the hotel, but he realized that he’d become more observant on this trip as well as more cautious. “Look,” he said, pointing to the windows. “How did the windows get broken?”
“A storm, maybe?” David said with a frown. He furrowed his brow in concern. “A wild animal?”
Matthew shook his head. “Dad, look at the siding. There are two big indents in the siding that looks like someone took a sledgehammer to it. I don’t know of any wild animal that would barge into the side of the hotel and leave marks like those. We’d see more marks on the outside than just two.” He glanced up and studied the surrounding foliage. “And the trees aren’t missing any branches. I don’t see storm damage to anything around here that could’ve caused the windows to break like that.”
David turned to Matthew, alarm plain on his face. “Something must be wrong. We have to get Patton and Ruth.” He began to rush towards the front door, but Matthew grabbed his arm. David gasped in pain.
“God, I’m so sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to hurt your arm. We need to take a moment and think. We can’t simply rush into the hotel. Remember Jade? There could be a lot of dangerous people in there. We can’t fight them off if there are. We need to gather our thoughts. Maybe we can see something through the plastic.”
“If our family is in danger we need to help them now, Matthew!”
“If our family is in danger, we can’t barge in and announce our return, Dad. We need to think this through. Strategize. It could be two against who knows how many. We could ruin everything and possibly put Mom and Patton in even more danger if we go in guns blazing.”
David studied him for a moment as if he’d never seen Matthew before. He nodded slowly in agreement. “You’re right. I can’t believe you’d say something
