Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27217 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27217 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
There’s an apartment on the third floor instead of the two master suites that were there. I imagine that’s where the bulk of their wrestling takes place. As winter rolls in, they're taking a break from the renovations. Especially with this storm being one of the worst, and first, to hit our small county.
“Okay.” I smirk, looking at Heather and Hudson in the middle of a tussle. “Unhand my brother.”
“I’ll unhand him as soon as he takes it back,” Heather grunts as she squeezes her arm tighter around Hudson’s neck.
My brother is red in the face but laughing, so there’s no actual threat. He lets her do this to him and that’s none of my business. Still, he chuckles as he grabs onto her arms to loosen her grip as he says, “I won’t take anything back. Die Hard is a Christmas movie, and it’s going in our movie lineup.”
“Do you hear this?” Heather laughs and jerks him around a bit. Hudson laughs before I see the glimmer of mischief on his face. I see that familiar expression when my brothers are horsing around.
In the blink of an eye, he stands up to his full height and picks up Heather with him. He grabs her around the waist, spinning her around until she’s standing in front of him with her arms pinned to her side.
“I thought you guys would be on the road by now,” I tell them, looking at my watch. “Snow’s coming.”
“I know, Harper.” Hudson rolls his eyes. He lets Heather go before bending down behind the large reception desk and dragging a large suitcase out. “We’re leaving now. I just wanted to see you before we left. Heather, go start the truck, baby girl.”
“Yes, Daddy,” she says with a smile and a quick kiss. She takes the keys, hugging me on her way out. I make my way to the desk, where Hudson has a list on a clipboard sitting in front of a computer.
“I locked down all the cabins, and the Rutherfords are checked out of Cabin 6, but if they’re still there by three, call and let them know you’re charging their credit card for the extra night. It's on file already so you don't have to actually swipe it.”
“Are the rates set?”
“Yeah, $150 for the weekend.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Really? That’s it?”
“Well, seeing as the amenities won’t be available this weekend due to the blizzard, the base rate should be fine if they’re staying through the storm. The lake house cabin goes for triple that, but I don’t want anyone out there in case the snow gets too high. Last thing we need is someone walking into the lake. If there’s an emergency, Hayden and Jimi are around, but I think they’re helping plow the streets all night.”
“Relax. I’m only going to be here until six. I’ll answer your ancient landline phones if they ring and make sure the Rutherfords are all cleared out before I go. The snow’s supposed to be the heaviest around midnight. I have plenty of time.”
Hudson looks at me and then around the room. After a deep breath, he taps the desk. “Thank you, Harper. You don’t have to do this—”
I cut him off. “Shut up, River. Just go take my sister away for the weekend or week. I can run this place with my eyes closed. Take two weeks. I can use the time to get some real-world business experience to bring back to my classes.”
“I’ll think about giving you some more time around here if that’s what you want to do.”
“You think I don’t like being here, River?”
“It’s not that, Harper. Everyone in our family is running their own business. I want you to be happy doing whatever you want. Don’t settle for something just because it’s in the family. I love having the extra pair of hands around here, so I don’t mind giving you extra hours. But … I don’t want this to be your Plan B. If you enjoy volunteering, then you should work for a charity organization. If you love baking cookies, then work at a bakery or something. Just keep your mind open to whatever your Plan A is. Okay?”
“I will, River. Thank you. Now, get out of here before the snow starts.”
“I’m putting that last box of coats and blankets in your Jeep,” he says as he leaves me at the ranch.
I sit behind the desk for a few hours when I notice the motion sensors going off for the gate leading to Cabin 6. I push a few buttons on the computer monitor that takes me to the security cameras to see the Rutherfords leaving the property.
Seconds later, an email comes across the screen that reads Cabin 6 Checkout Video in the subject line. The email has a video attached that shows the Rutherfords leaving the cabin. Once the guests confirm they’re leaving, the video captures the last minutes in the cabin as the security passcodes reset and the doors lock behind them. Heather’s really helping my brother step into technology running this place.