“Maybe so, but I don’t like the idea of working for my father,” Gary said. “Now, if you’ll both excuse me, I’m going to explore. This town seems pretty interesting to me.”
Susanna shook her head as Gary went whistling down the street. “You may regret that,” she murmured. “My brother is new to a life that includes working.”
“I had a feeling your folks came from money.” Owen grimaced. “I hope that wasn’t too forward of me.”
“Not at all.” Susanna looked at him. “I much prefer being straightforward about things. So in that vein, I offer a warning about Gary. He’s never worked a day in his life. He’s used to people doing things for him, and responsibility isn’t something he’s had to face. If you hire him, you’ll have your work cut out for you.”
“Is he of good character?”
She paused and considered that for a moment. “I’ve never known him to steal or cheat. He has lied on occasion, but usually about things so immaterial as to make you question why he’d bother to lie. He’s lazy, but that may not be entirely his fault. He’s been taught to be so. I think he’ll have to be taught to find value in work and to see that some things in life need a more serious evaluation.”
“You are very honest.”
“Why be otherwise? You’ll find out soon enough for yourself. By being honest, at least you’ll know you can trust me.”
“And that’s important to you?” he asked, smiling.
She paused and turned to him. “I’m not entirely sure why, but yes. It is important to me. My parents are rather odd and my brother entirely spoiled, but from me, I want you to know honesty and appreciation.” She smiled. “I could have landed on the bottom of the pile this morning, but you made certain I didn’t. I’m very appreciative of that.”
He chuckled. “It was a rather quick decision on my part, but I’m glad I could accommodate you.”
They continued toward the hotel, and Owen picked up the conversation again. “Why have you all come to San Marcial?”
“Reformation.” She shrugged. “At least for Mother and Father. My goodness, I’m surprised to be admitting as much.”
“Why?”
“It’s all so personal and troublesome. I’ve never been the type to share such intimate details with strangers.” She looked at him, surprised at the level of comfort she felt. “Suffice it to say my father hasn’t been one who made good choices in life, and his brother is trying to teach him to do better. Uncle Harrison built this hotel and asked Father to run it for him after a financial setback caused my folks to lose most of their money.” She further surprised herself and Owen by reaching out to take his arm. “I’d appreciate it if you said nothing about that aspect. My parents are prideful—much too prideful—but I wouldn’t shame them on purpose. They are mortified to be in this position.”
“I assure you I’ll keep your secret.”
She smiled and let go of his arm. “Thank you.” She glanced at the hotel’s double doors. “Well, this is it. My home for the time being.”
“Do you intend to stick around?” he asked.
Susanna shrugged. “I’m really not sure. I came to help, but otherwise . . . I just don’t know.”
Owen Turner met her gaze. “Well, I for one hope you stay awhile.”
The next morning Susanna was pleased to find her father at the hotel on time and ready to work. He stood behind the front desk looking over a sheet of paper.
“What’s this?” Susanna asked.
“We had two telegrams on Friday asking for rooms tonight. We may be very nearly full by nightfall.” He frowned and glanced up at Susanna. “I’m not sure it’s right to have you living here at the hotel to manage things at night. Some resident might try to take advantage of you.”
Susanna looked around the small lobby. “Well, I don’t know how else to make it work, since you and Mother refuse to live here. Someone must be here at all times for the guests. Hotels require full-time management, as you are coming to see. The first week of business was enough to prove that, but with you refusing to live here, you don’t get the full picture.”
“I didn’t refuse. That was all her doing. I rather liked the quaint little rooms.” Her father pushed back his shoulders. “The place has given me all sorts of ideas for improvements to make more money. Money for myself.”
“You should probably focus on what Uncle Harrison wants you to do and not give so much time and energy to other plans.”
“Well, there are always ways to better yourself, if you’re looking for it. I might even get into real estate here. I heard some men talking at church yesterday about how this town has grown and is continuing to do so. If I could get my hands on some land and build a house, I could turn around and sell it for twice what I paid. The Santa Fe intends to expand their shops and offices, and that will mean more people who need houses.”
“Yes, I’m sure that’s true. But, Father, you have a job to do, and Uncle Harrison expects you to be faithful to it. You can hardly run his hotel and build houses. Besides, what do you know about building houses?”
“Well, I’d hire it out. There’s bound to be builders in the area.” He smiled and then held up the new hotel ledger. “This is for the guests to sign. I couldn’t find one for the people last week. Now we’ll be official. I just need to locate a pen for them to use.”
Susanna nodded, but apprehension filled her stomach. Why couldn’t her father be content just to take what was given him and rest in that for a time? All her life she had watched him scheme and dream, always certain that the next chance for riches was just around the corner.
Grandfather Ragsdale had been a man of fortune and good luck. Whatever he touched turned to gold and silver, bless his heart, and Susanna’s father was convinced he had the same ability. But he didn’t. He wasn’t even as gifted as Uncle Harrison in reasoning out a good deal over a more dangerous risk.
How she wished her father could step outside of himself for a moment and understand what he had done to his family and what he was continuing to do. They had had a good life in Topeka. Potwin was a neighborhood of beautiful homes and wealthy people. It was the only place Mother wanted to live, and while they hadn’t been able to buy something truly grand in the heart of the district, Father had found them a home on the edge. It had been a lovely two-story with a large porch and beautifully groomed grounds.
And around the corner and down a block had been Mark’s childhood home. It wasn’t attached to the Potwin addresses but was still a very nice house with an equally lovely porch. Susanna had spent many an hour on that porch, plotting and planning with Mark. She had never cared about the address of his house or the social standing of his family. His father was a tradesman—a shoemaker—and Mark had a desire to own a store in which he could sell his father’s shoes. That dream had come true, and before they knew it, the shoes were being requested all over the country. Word-of-mouth sales had turned the little store into a very successful endeavor.
But now it was gone. Susanna and her father-in-law had lost their heart for it after Mark passed. Together they sold the store to another, who took the workmen her father-in-law had trained and continued to sell Jenkins handmade shoes. The money she’d made from the sale, along with Mark’s life insurance, was enough to keep her comfortably for the rest of her life. As long as she was smart with the money. She couldn’t make risky choices like her father had and expect it to last, so she had sought her father-in-law and uncle’s counsel and was content to live on a budget. With an occasional splurge, such as buying the little adobe house.