by Angel Moore
The next ten minutes passed in a flurry of memories and a few tears on his part. “You just know that if you can think of anything I’ll be glad to help.”
Mr. Thornhill left her, and she went in search of Nathan. She’d seen him leave the desk. The lunch crowd trickled in. She’d need to leave within the hour to collect the children.
Mr. Eaton, the guest Nathan had checked in on Friday, stopped her as she made her way to the restaurant. “Miss Green, I’d like to extend my stay. I’m not sure how long I’ll be in town.”
“We’re happy to have you with us. Let me just make a note in the registration book.” Charlotte returned to the desk and handled his request. “Is there anything else I can do for you today?”
“Can you give me directions to the land office?”
“Certainly.” Charlotte gave the directions. “Will you be moving to Gran Colina, Mr. Eaton?”
“Um, no—” He cleared his throat. “I’m in Gran Colina on business for my employer.”
She would have inquired further, but one of the maids had a question about a torn curtain in the room she was cleaning. Mr. Eaton slipped away while she dealt with the maid.
An hour had passed before Charlotte realized it was gone.
Nathan descended the stairs and joined her at the registration desk. He carried his ever-present notebook. “We need to talk about the inventory. I’ve done an assessment on my own, but there are details we need to discuss together before the new furnishings arrive.”
“Yes, of course. I just need to go get the children from Mrs. Gillis.”
The front door was flung open with a force that banged it into the wall and bounced it back again. Michael ran through the lobby and into the residence. That door slammed as Mrs. Gillis and Sarah came through the front entrance. Sarah was crying, and Mrs. Gillis looked as if she might join the child with sympathetic tears at any moment.
The preacher’s wife held Sarah’s hand. “I’m sorry, Charlotte. I tried to see they had a pleasant outing, but Michael is in such a state.”
Sarah flung herself at Charlotte and wrapped her arms around Charlotte’s legs. “Michael is mean, Charlotte. He won’t stop saying mean things to me.”
Mrs. Gillis shook her head. “I didn’t know what to do except bring them home to you.”
“Thank you.” Charlotte rubbed her hand across Sarah’s back to soothe her. “I’m sorry they were so much trouble.”
“They’re children in pain. It’s been a tough blow to them. They’ll settle down.” Mrs. Gillis was kindness itself, but Charlotte knew the children had upset her.
Nathan stood at the desk watching the scene before him. The disapproval on his face did nothing to help the situation.
“I’ll take care of them. Thank you again, Mrs. Gillis.” Charlotte reached to lift Sarah into her arms, and Michael opened the door to the residence.
“I’m hungry!” He stomped his foot on the floorboards and glared at his little sister. “Sarah ate the biggest piece of pie. She’s such a baby.”
“I am not!” Sarah wailed. “You’re mean!”
“Children, you will be quiet.” Charlotte’s words did nothing to stem the flow of their tantrums.
“I won’t be quiet. I’m hungry.” Michael put his hands on his hips and dared Charlotte to reproach him again.
“I want Momma.” Sarah’s sniffles turned to sobs.
Nathan took a step toward her. “You need to get them into your parlor.” He nodded toward the few guests in the lobby. “They are upsetting people.”
Charlotte swallowed the anger that threatened to spew out of her at him. She kept her voice low, but it resonated with the protectiveness she felt for her siblings. “The children are the ones who are upset. If the guests cannot make allowances for young children at a time like this, they can check out.”
“That is just the kind of attitude that will make me sell this hotel.” Thomas Freeman’s voice came from behind her. The banker had picked the worst possible moment to come to the hotel.
“Mr. Freeman, I assure you that I have everything under control.” Nathan’s words surprised her more than Mr. Freeman’s sudden appearance. “I’ve just asked Charlotte to take the children into their parlor. They’ve had a trying morning and are understandably upset.” He waved a hand behind his back so Mr. Freeman wouldn’t see it.
Charlotte obeyed his gesture and ushered the little ones into their parlor. She peeked into the lobby as Nathan dealt with the banker before closing the door and turning her attention to Michael and Sarah.
She knew Mr. Freeman wasn’t making idle threats when he spoke of selling the hotel.
Lord, help me with Michael and Sarah. There must be some way for me to comfort them and provide for them at the same time. Give me wisdom.
Sarah whimpered against Charlotte’s shoulder. “Hush, little one. Michael loves you. Let’s go find him.” She went into her brother’s room and found him facedown across the bed. His shoulders shook with the power of his weeping.
She sat on the side of the bed with Sarah still in her arms and tried to soothe both children. Today was their day for weeping. Charlotte had known it would come. She’d expected it before now.
Lord, I know it’s too much to ask for joy to come in the morning, but could You please give us a measure of peace to get through today?
One week after her parents’ deaths and Charlotte knew the world would never be the same. She prayed for strength and wisdom. She’d have to show Mr. Freeman he was wrong about her. And she’d have to start now.
Chapter Six
Nathan shook his head. “Mr. Freeman, this has not been the way of things since you brought me to Green’s Grand Hotel. The children are having a moment of sadness over their recent loss, but Charlotte—Miss Green—is in agreement with me that the hotel must be separate from every aspect of their personal lives.”
“I’m a banker, Mr. Taylor. I don’t hold with children putting my investments at risk.” Mr. Freeman held his fancy hat in one hand and curled the brim in his tightened fist. “Seeing this display puts in mind the notion that Miss Green is nothing more than a child herself. Though why her parents spoiled her so is beyond me. She should be married with her own family at her age.” He frowned. “You must make certain this does not happen again.” He looked over his shoulder at the guests who’d gone about their business as soon as Charlotte had taken the children out of the room. “The people who provide the funds to pay the obligations of the hotel must not be disturbed. On any account.”
Charlotte came out of her parlor and stood beside Nathan at the desk. The tenseness in her posture let him know she was here at great effort. “Mr. Freeman, I apologize for the outburst of my siblings. They are settled in their rooms and will not be in the lobby again until they have recovered from their emotions.”
“Miss Green, I am not willing to stand by and see the hotel’s success fade under your inexperience.” He turned to Nathan. “If you cannot take control of this situation immediately, I will call Turner Hotels and sell the property to them.”
“You can’t do that.” Charlotte gripped the edge of the registration desk.
“I can, and I will.” He looked at them both. “You have six weeks to show me progress and a plan that I can trust, or the hotel will be sold.” His mouth was set in a firm frown. “Good day to you.” He turned on his heel and left them.
Charlotte held on to the desk as if to keep from falling. The muscle in her jaw flinched, and Nathan knew the banker had crossed a line that she would defend until she won.
Without taking her eyes off the closed front door, Charlotte drew a deep breath. “I will not lose this hotel.” She turned to Nathan. “Give me half an hour to find someone to sit with the children until the school term begins next month. Then you and I will go over the plans you’ve been yammering about for the last few days. With God’s help,
we’ll make them work.” She went into the restaurant and left him standing there.
Nathan had to smile. Mr. Freeman thought he’d won the battle, but Nathan sensed he’d only stirred up the fight in Charlotte. A fight Nathan had seen before when they were young. A resolve he expected would help her keep her hotel. For the present. And the future.
True to her word, Charlotte came to the desk thirty minutes later with a notebook of her own. He didn’t realize she’d returned from her errand to find someone to look after the children.
“I’m ready.” She opened to the first blank page and held her pencil at the ready. “Where do we start?”
“Well, let me see.” He opened his notebook and tried to take in the change in her in such a short time. She’d pulled her hair back into a neat, though stark, bun, unlike the loose bun she usually wore. Gone were the curling tendrils that brushed her neck. The watch pinned onto the shoulder of her dress added to the seriousness of her demeanor. He preferred the softer look, but this Charlotte would probably get a lot more work done. It would be easier for him to stay focused anyway.
He hadn’t realized what a distraction she was until this moment. That would never do. If he was going to establish himself in the hotel business, he must keep his eye on the prize. The pretty, young owner of a hotel on the brink of being owned by the bank was not the prize. Keeping the hotel afloat and growing was.
Pretty, young owner? Yes. Pretty. Charlotte was pretty. He admitted it.
Nathan took a deep breath in an effort to clear his mind and immerse himself in work, or he’d be in big trouble. Mr. Freeman hadn’t made an idle threat. He had six weeks to put Green’s Grand Hotel on the right path or he’d be out of work with no prospects.
For the next hour he shared his ideas and listened to Charlotte’s responses. As they finished the discussion about redecorating the lobby, Sarah cracked the door of the residence and asked to see Charlotte.
“What is it, dear?”
“Miss Libbie says I need to take a nap.” The little girl’s eyes were puffy from her crying spurt earlier on.
Charlotte smiled at her young sister. “Then you will do as Miss Libbie says.”
“Must I?”
“You must. She’ll be your teacher in the new term. It’s best you begin to respect her authority now.”
Libbie Henderson appeared behind Sarah in the open doorway. “Come along, Sarah. I’ll read you a story.” Libbie held out her hand, and Sarah took it.
“Hello, Libbie.” Nathan greeted Libbie. “I haven’t seen you since my return to Gran Colina.”
“Hello, Nathan. I’ve been away for a few days and only just returned. It was my last opportunity to visit with my grandmother before the term begins in a few weeks. Welcome back. I hope you’re settling in nicely.”
Sarah tugged on Libbie’s hand. “I want you to read me a story now.” She yawned. “But not poetry. When Momma read it, the words sounded like she was singing. I think it might make me sad.”
Charlotte kissed Sarah on the top of her head. “I’ll be home soon after your nap.”
The door closed, and Charlotte dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief she’d pulled from a pocket in her skirt.
“Would you like to take a break?” They needed to keep working, but he didn’t want to be insensitive to her grief.
“No. We must take advantage of the time we have with Libbie here. Mrs. Atkins suggested her. I should have thought of it earlier.” She looked down at her notes from the last hour. “Only I know it’s important to use care in how I spend money. More so than ever before.”
“I agree, but I think having Libbie here to help with the children while we get things sorted out is an investment in the future of the hotel.” He closed his notebook. “But let’s at least have something to drink and a piece of pie. I imagine Mrs. Atkins could do with a rest after the busy lunch crowd we had today. Let’s ask her to sit at the desk. It’s a quiet time of day. You and I can work at a table in the restaurant.”
She nodded. “Okay, but only for an hour. Mrs. Atkins will need time to finish the supper preparations.”
The rest of the afternoon passed in a flurry of note taking and inspecting the rooms that would need to be done over. Charlotte wore a brave face when she agreed to the changes he suggested for room eight.
“Your father was very specific with the furnishings he chose. I think you’ll be pleased.” Nathan caught a breath of the scent of Charlotte’s hair as she walked past him on the way to her parlor. The sweetness of it had assailed him all afternoon.
“We could ask at the mercantile and see if the Busbys order from the same company. Perhaps you could show me the choices. It may help me to pick out fabric for the draperies if I can see the style of things.”
“That’s a good idea.” He watched her disappear into her rooms and sent Mrs. Atkins back to the kitchen. He’d love a walk on the busy sidewalk to clear his head, but there wasn’t a moment to spare. He and Charlotte had covered a lot of territory this afternoon. He needed to put his notes into some sort of order so they could begin the work of implementing everything.
He was deep in thought when a gentleman not much older than him approached the desk. He looked familiar, but Nathan couldn’t remember his name.
“Mr. Taylor, I’m Alfred Murray.” The man spoke in a slow, deliberate pace.
Recognition dawned on him. “Yes, Mr. Murray. You were here the other day to speak to Miss Green.”
“Yes. I’ve come to see if she’s available now.” The man’s words were rife with tension.
“Is anything the matter, Mr. Murray?”
He shook his head. Too fast. “No. Nothing is the matter.”
“Miss Green has had a busy day with the hotel and her siblings. Would you consider coming at a later time?” Nathan didn’t know what the man wanted, but he didn’t need Charlotte to be upset or distracted by anyone or anything. This man looked like he was bringing trouble—even if he didn’t intend it.
“I really want to speak to her as soon as possible.” Mr. Murray pulled at the sleeve of his jacket. “I’ve already waited a few days. Do you think she might be able to spare a moment?”
Nathan pondered the request while he observed Alfred Murray. His hair was thick with the look of some sort of oil. The marks of the comb he’d used had left a pattern in the slick style. It was late afternoon, but he was freshly shaved. These things weren’t what Nathan would notice about a man except that he was so perfectly turned out. Mr. Murray wasn’t dropping by to check on Charlotte. He was here to come calling on the owner of the hotel.
“If you’ll take a seat there by the window, I’ll see if I can find her.”
Mr. Murray positioned himself on the settee across the lobby, and Nathan tapped on the parlor door behind the desk. He kept one hand on the handle to keep whoever answered from flinging the door wide.
Sarah tugged the door ajar and looked up at him through the narrow opening. “We’re busy.”
He almost laughed, but she was so serious that he didn’t want to upset her. He bent down to be on her level. “I need to ask Charlotte something. Can I come inside for just a minute?”
“No. Every time you talk to her she comes home sad. Me and Michael won’t let you make her sad anymore. We talked about it.” Sarah’s calm reserve was noble.
“I’m sorry she’s sad, but I think there are a lot of reasons for that. I’m not trying to do anything that would make her sad.”
“You don’t have to try. You just do it. Like when Michael makes me cry. He says he doesn’t mean it, but he does it all the time.” She leaned closer. “And he told me you shouldn’t be at our hotel. He says he’s the man now that Pa is gone, and he should be running the hotel. He says we don’t need you here.”
All this information from a little girl who’d avoided him from the moment he arrived.
“I’m here to help Charlotte. And you and Michael.” He stood up tall. “And I need to speak to Charlotte, so be a good girl and let her know I’m here.”
She shook her head. Blond curls swung around her shoulders. “Michael won’t like it.” She closed the door with a click.
Nathan laughed. Sarah had done to him what he was doing to Mr. Murray. They were both trying to protect Charlotte.
He knocked again. This time with enough force for Charlotte to hear.
From the other side of the door he heard Michael speak. “Go away. Charlotte is making us dinner.”
Nathan considered letting Mr. Murray try his best to get past the two protectors. But only for a moment. Mr. Murray was the second person to call on Charlotte in the last few days. If Charlotte accepted the attention of one of the men who came, she might marry and turn over the management of the hotel to her new husband. Not even Thomas Freeman and all the money in his bank could make Charlotte keep Nathan on as manager in that event. He could find himself without a job or income.
But it wasn’t only for his sake that Nathan wanted to protect Charlotte. These men had known her for a long time. If they’d truly been interested in her as a wife, why would they have waited until now to share their intentions?
No. Charlotte might not realize it, but Nathan had every expectation that many of the gentleman callers would be motivated by her new financial holdings. They would be unaware that her inheritance was encumbered by a substantial loan from the bank.
Michael and Sarah might choose to protect her from him, but he’d protect her—and her hotel—from suitors who might want more than a wife.
Nathan knocked again. And again.
The door finally opened, and Charlotte stood there wiping her hands on a dish towel. “What is it? The children were frightened by your knocking.”
“I doubt that.” He looked around her to where they stood with guilty faces. “They were trying to protect you from me.”
Charlotte turned. “Is that so?”
Sarah whimpered into the handkerchief doll she held up to hide her face.
