by Ward, Penny
“Mom got in early and booked me into the only hotel in town. It is a really small hotel with six rooms and I can’t imagine that it’s going to very glamorous. I’ve just driven for two days and now I have to sleep in a crappy hotel with what is likely to be a very uncomfortable bed. And there’s another problem with the booking.”
“What’s that?”
“Mom said that because of the shortage of rooms, she booked me into the accommodation to share a room with Jackson, Timothy’s son. There is really not a lot of accommodation out here.”
“Have you met Jackson before?”
“No, he didn’t come out to the engagement party. I have no idea who he is. Mom started telling me about him but I didn’t really listen. I think he is about thirty years old and he is also from New York. Mom said he is flying out for the wedding. But the nearest airport is still 50 miles away.”
“Awkward…” she laughs, “The first time you meet a man and you have to share a room.”
“I told Mom that I didn’t want to share but she said that everything is booked full and we would have to share to fit everyone in the town. This ranch already has twenty of Timothy’s family staying in it and all the accommodation is also full. So hopefully, Jackson doesn’t snore!”
As I state those words our thoughts are interrupted by the noise of a loud helicopter whirling overhead.
The helicopter comes closer to where we are standing on the driveway and the dust starts to whirl around the ranch. The helicopter approach is noisy, brash and distracting.
The chopper hovers around for a while and then lands on a nearby paddock, creating a cloud of dust over Joanne and I.
“Who is that?” Joanne’s mouth drops to the ground as the pilot of the chopper exits.
A tall silhouette exits the chopper beneath the slowing blades, and the echoing noise of the helicopter dominants my own heartbeat. A man walks smoothly out of the cloud of dust towards us, his swagger evidence of his confidence.
“Arrogant prick,” I comment as I look at my newly cleaned car covered in dust, “He could have landed further away and not have frightened the horses. And look what he’s done to my hair!”
The man that walks toward the ranch out of the cloud of dust is as impressive as I have ever seen. Despite walking through the cloud of dust, he looks perfectly clean and immaculate.
Even his white shirt is dust-free.
“Yummy,” Joanne states, still with her mouth on the ground, “I think this wedding just got a whole lot more interesting.”
“Arrogant prick,” I state again, “I hate people like that. He could have had some thoughts about us and landed further away. Imagine flying in like that and creating so much dust and noise!”
“But so handsome…” Joanne whispers as he comes closer.
“And doesn’t he know it,” I snap back.
“Hello girls,” the deep, seductive voice greets us as he passes by.
Timothy comes down the steps of the homestead to meet the approaching man.
They embrace in a solid hug and Timothy looks to us with his arm resting on the tall man’s shoulder.
“Ladies, I’d like you to meet my son, Jackson Steele.”
Damn.
Chapter 2
After an uncomfortable introduction to my newest family member, Timothy leads us into the homestead to see my mother. Joanne and I walk behind Timothy and his son, and Joanne’s eyes do not leave Jackson’s butt the whole time.
I slap her gently on the wrist to tell her to stop staring at his nice tight body but she smiles at me, and makes grabbing motions with her hands. I have to admit, despite being disgusted by his arrogance, Jackson does have a very tight butt.
The homestead is a large single story home with a porch wrapping all the way around the house. The whole estate has a calm and relaxed feel to it. I could imagine Mom sitting on the front porch, watching the sunset into the mountains with a glass of white wine in her hands.
This seems to be the place where Mom was always destined to arrive in her life.
“Mom!”
Mom grasps me in big hug and we hold each other tightly for a long time. When we pull away from each other, Joanne is there to hand out tissues.
“Women,” I hear Jackson scoff to his father as we wipe away our tears, “Always crying over nothing.”
I glare at him.
How dare he?
Who does he think he is?
Just by his look I can tell he thinks he is so important and above everyone else. I hate that in people.
Just because you flew in on a helicopter does not make you more important than other people.
Even looking at Jackson makes my teeth grind. I despise that level of arrogance.
“It’s so good to see you, Rachel. Thank you so much for coming,” Mom wipes my tears, “But you look tired. It must have been a very long drive for you. Let me get you an extra strong cup of coffee.”
Mom always has a way of saying things as they are. If I look tired, Mom will tell me the truth.
“It was a long drive. It took me two days to drive from New York,” I say as we walk into the kitchen, “I didn’t have the luxury of flying a helicopter in.”
Jackson hears my sarcastic comment and stares back at me. I want to poke my tongue out at him and tell him he is a loser. I want to say that I have no respect for this type of rich boy.
But I freeze under his glare.
His eyes are so piercing.
“The kitchen is in here,” Mom calls, pulling me away from Jackson’s glare.
“That’s Jackson,” she says as she closes the door behind us, “He is Timothy’s only son and they haven’t seen each other in over a year. He’s flown in from New York today. It looked like he couldn’t make it because of the business he runs, but he was able to move things around at the last minute to fit a few days in out here. Timothy is very proud of his successful son and was over the moon to hear he could make it.”
“Who in New York can afford to fly a helicopter?”
“Only the richest,” Mom smiles.
“How rich?” I question.
At that moment the door to the kitchen opens again, and Timothy and Jackson enter. They both stand well over six feet tall, and they look rough, tough and attractive standing next to each other. They have similar eyes and strong jaws, but Jackson is clean and manicured while Timothy has spent many more days working under the hot sun.
“I don’t think I formally introduced myself,” Jackson holds out his hand to me, “I’m Jackson Steele. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I leave his large hand hanging in the air for a few moments, before I sigh, “I’m Rachel.”
Jackson’s hand wraps around mine, enveloping it. His nails are perfect but his palms are rough, warm and strong.
My heart skips a beat and he can sense it. His smug glare is all knowing.
“Rachel is a very pretty name.”
My body temperature starts to go up.
Why?
This arrogant man does not impress me…
Does he?
No, of course he doesn’t.
I don’t like his sort. I don’t like the men who think that just because they have made some money, they are really important. I don’t like his type at all.
Do I?
Well, maybe I am a little impressed.
Just a little bit.
“I am sorry I covered your car in dust out there,” he says, “But I had to land the chopper somewhere. In New York, I have plenty of places to land but here in the country, there are no designated landing zones. I had to land the chopper in the flattest area possible and that just happened to be next to your car.”
I shrug my shoulders.
I am not usually lost for words but I don’t know what to say.
“Did you have a long drive?” he asks in his smooth, silky voice.
There is an uncomfortable silence in the room as everyone waits for me to respond to the question.
But I don’t respond.
Instead, I stand in the kitchen looking like a mute fool.
I don’t know why but I am speechless.
“Normal people drive cars,” I blurt out with a bitchy overtone.
It catches everyone off-guard.
“Right, well,” Timothy interrupts with a wide smile, “Now that you two have been formally introduced, let’s go and have a drink to relax and catch up. It’s been a long trip and you deserve to have a beer with your father. I would love to hear about how that business of yours is progressing.”
Timothy slaps his hand proudly on Jackson’s shoulder and walks back out of the room. I look back to Mom and she is staring at me with an expressive stare.
“What?” I say responding to Mom’s bemused expression.
“Nothing,” Mom smiles, “But to answer the question before we were interrupted… he is unbelievably rich.”
Chapter 3
After a numerous cups of tea at the homestead catching up with my mother and her family, I drive into the town of Cider Springs to find the small hotel that was booked for me over the weekend. I would be staying at the homestead but most of Timothy’s family is staying there and I wouldn’t have felt comfortable.
But as it turns out, I have to share with one of the family members anyway.
When I enter the town, I drive past a couple of the locals and they stare at my car. I guess they would know every car in town, so I wave my hello. They nod slowly in return.
As the there are only three streets in the town, I find the hotel quickly. It is behind the local store and next to the only bar.
The hotel is small with only six rooms and it looks like it hasn’t been updated for thirty years. The red brick hotel seems like it could have been the inspiration for many horror films. The sign out the front flickers there is NO VACANCY and I’m sure that hasn’t been used in a while.
The town of Cider Springs is pleasant. Picket fences line the streets, the town’s people walk slowly and there is a vibe of quietness around here.
Horse ranches and cattle farms surround the town and those are the industries that drive this place. Most of the locals work on a ranch or on one of the farms.
I park my car and slowly enter the hotel front door. I guess I could live in the quiet country again one day. I would like to think I would retire to the countryside, after I have built my career in the city.
As I enter the hotel, I hear a familiar voice. Standing at the front desk are the broad shoulders of Jackson Steele.
“I don’t think you understand,” Jackson’s tone is impatient, “I will pay you whatever it takes to get another room. Money is not a problem for me. Name your price and I will pull out my platinum credit card.”
“No Mister, you don’t understand,” the lady behind the counter is firm, “We are all booked up. I don’t know what happens where you’re from, but I’ve made these bookings months ago and I am going to honor them. If you wanted your own room, you should have fixed that up before now. No amount of money is going to change that. In the country, we honor the commitments we make. That is the right thing to do.”
“I don’t care about any of that. I have a lot of money and I can make you very rich. I’ll pay you whatever you want. You could earn more in one night, than you could earn in the entire year. Tell me how much you make in a year, and I’ll charge it to my card.”
She shakes her head, “You don’t understand, Mister. Your big city money doesn’t matter out here. In the country, we look after each other and honor our commitments. I don’t care how much money you have to flash around, this is what has been booked and this is what will happen. I don’t want your money.”
Jackson groans, clearly frustrated.
“What’s wrong?” I ask sheepishly as I enter the room.
Jackson turns to look at me, “We have to share a room.”
He is blunt and upset. He must think this is my fault.
I shrug my shoulders to the lady, “I’m sorry about him. He’s a city boy.”
The lady behind the counter laughs but Jackson clearly does not appreciate the dig.
“This isn’t very good service,” he says.
“Again, I apologize. I’m the person that has to share a room with him,” I roll my eyes.
The lady behind the counter provides a consoling smile.
“Here you go dear,” she hands across an oversized key for room number six.
“Thank you very much,” I smile.
I walk out of the room and Jackson angrily follows.
Chapter 4
The musky smell hits me as I walk down the narrow hallway. I think someone could hide a dead body down here and no one would find it for months.
“This end of the hotel hasn’t seen much action over the last few years,” I say over my shoulder.
He doesn’t respond.
He’s still probably pouting.
I place the oversized key into the key-slot and heave heavily against the door, trying to pry it open, but it doesn’t budge.
Damn.
I slam my body against it but again the door doesn’t open. I try again but nothing happens. The door is jammed shut.
I look up to Jackson’s strong frame and smile at him.
He doesn’t return the smile.
Instead he sighs, and guides me to step away from the door…
Slam!
The door swings open.
Impressive.
“Ladies before gentlemen,” Jackson waves me into the room with a patronizing tone.
He follows me into the room but both of us stop as the soon as we enter.
Oh, no.
This is not good.
There are only two rooms in the place – a bedroom with an undersized double bed in the middle, and a small bathroom off to the side.
“Where’s the other bed?” he says, “There were supposed to be two beds. One for me and one for you.”
“I don’t think there is another bed. I think this double bed is it. This room is so small you couldn’t even fit another bed in here,” I reply.
In the main room, there is a double bed small enough to pass as a single, a sink with a kettle next to it and a television. There isn’t even a couch in the room.
“We are not sharing a bed,” he says angrily, “That is not what is going to happen tonight.”
He is so bad-tempered and firm.
Prick.
He could at least pretend to like me. It’s only a bed. I’m sure he has spent a lot of nights next to women he doesn’t know.
Maybe I’m not good looking enough to spend the night next too.
“You’re reputation won’t be ruined out here,” I remark, referring to the fact that I am not a model.
“I’m going back to reception. This is not good enough,” he storms back out the door, “I’m going to sort this out with that woman. Her country ways might be all high and mighty but I am going to change her mind.”
I watch him leave and then place my bag on the bed. Out of all the people I had to share the room with, why him?
“This is not good enough,” I try to mimic his voice, “My money can buy everything but I can’t buy charisma.”
I smile to myself as I take out my clothes.
I sigh again and go into the bathroom to freshen up. But after I finish freshening up, Jackson is standing in the bedroom with his bag.
“Well?” I ask, “Did you get another room? Or is your precious money worthless out here?”
Jackson glares at me. He didn’t appreciate that comedic remark.
“The lady has gone and reception is closed. I called the number but there was no answer. What sort of hotel closes its reception this early? That is extremely poor service. I can’t believe this hotel is still open. No business should be run like that.”
“I don’t think you’re the target market of this hotel.”
“It doesn’t matter. I should get what I want. That’s the way things work. I don’t take no for an
answer.”
“So what happens now?”
“I am worth more than a billion dollars - I am not sharing a bed with some girl I don’t know.”
“Would it help if you paid me?” I quip.
His eyes light up.
“No!” I reply firmly, “You and I are now brother and sister.”
“Not by blood,” his demeanor changes.
“No,” I reply again firmly, leaving no room for argument.
There is an awkward silence between us.
“And who cares how much you are worth?” I continue, “That doesn’t give you any right to treat that receptionist so rudely. The way you treated her was unacceptable. You should be nice to people and treat them with kindness. You never know, if you were nice to her she might have helped you out. I bet that she has never had a ruder customer.”
“I wasn’t being rude,” he responds, “I merely wanted decent service. Sometimes that means you have to be firm. You have to be prepared to push the boundaries to get what you want. That’s how you succeed in life.”
“Whatever,” I brush his comment off.
“Right,” he says with a tone that makes me pause.
“What?” I ask.
“You are one of those types of girls.”
“What type of girls?”
“You never say yes to anything new.”
“That is a stupid comment. I have never heard anything as stupid. Not only are you an arrogant prick, but you think you can judge me as well? You are so rude,” I slam my bag on the floor, “How could you conclude that anyway?”
“I can see it in your eyes. You like your safety and you’re afraid of experimenting in your life. Your life is full of stability. You hate being presented with new opportunities and you always say no to any changes in your life. I think you would have your whole life planned out in front of you and when something doesn’t go to plan, you don’t know how to handle it. Your life is plain.”
