Free A New Beginning by Amelia C. Adams Page A

a second voice.
    “It’s true that she might need a little convincing, but that’s my specialty,” said the first.
    It was them again—she didn’t know why she bothered to be surprised. But this was the closest they’d ever come to hinting at a threat, and her heart rate sped up. She didn’t glance over her shoulder or give any other sign that she’d heard them. Perhaps if she ignored them—no, that was hardly a plan. Their footsteps began to come faster, closing the gap.
    She was about to break into a run to try to reach the cabin before they caught up to her when the most welcome sound entered her ears. A wagon and horses clip-clopped along the road—surely these men wouldn’t attempt anything in front of witnesses. She kept walking, her pace nearly more of a trot. The wagon went just slowly enough that she reached her front stoop before it was out of sight. She didn’t know if guardian angels drove wagons, but she wouldn’t be surprised.
    After she closed the door behind her, she bolted it, put a chair under the knob, and scooped up her baby, holding her close. She didn’t lay Rose down in her cradle that night, but instead, slept in the rocking chair with her child asleep on her chest, needing the warmth and the comfort. Agatha didn’t question her at all. That was just as well. She couldn’t tell her mother what had happened.
    * * *
    “And six dozen linen napkins,” Caroline said, and Adam added them to the list.
    “I believe you’re trying to spend my entire inheritance within the first three weeks,” he said good-naturedly.
    “This was entirely your idea, you know. You could be living a life of utter luxury, smoking cigars and reading novels in your parlor.”
    “Where would be the fun in that?” Adam glanced over the sheet of paper in front of him, hoping that they would now have everything to run the hotel properly. He disliked the idea of asking Olivia Markham for help, but truth be told, it was needed. He would much rather ask her to choose the goods for him than to trust that the shopkeeper would know what he would like. “I’ll send this telegram off right away, and with luck, we’ll have our goods soon. Now, you said we can open right away?”
    Caroline reached out and arranged a flower in the vase that stood in the center of the table, making it stand straight when it wanted to droop. “I don’t recall saying ‘right away.’ But yes, if we made do with the napkins we already have, and if the guests didn’t mind the lack of proper drapes, I imagine we could open in three days’ time.”
    Adam’s mind began to spin. Could it really be possible? “Do you think we should?”
    Caroline shrugged. “It’s your choice. However, if it were my hotel, I’d hate to see it standing unused just for lack of some drapes.”
    Adam grinned. “I say let’s do it. I’ll arrange for the groceries to be delivered.”
    Caroline bobbed her head once. “And I’ll make sure the girls are trained in how to wait tables.” She paused. “This is rather exciting, don’t you think?”
    Adam rose from his desk, wrapped his arms around his aunt’s waist, and twirled her around three times. “It’s more than exciting! It’s incredible!”
    “Gracious,” she said when he set her back down. Her cheeks were flushed, but her smile was wide. “All right, then. Let’s get to work and make this incredible thing happen.”
    Adam whistled as he walked up the street to send his telegram. Three days hence, he really would be a businessman.
    * * *
    Mr. Brody had certainly appeared to be in a good mood when he left the hotel that afternoon. Elizabeth had been glancing out through the kitchen window when he left, and that glance had become something more of a stare. She brought herself back to reality and finished polishing the spoon she held just as Miss Hampton came into the kitchen.
    “Would you like to take your break now, Miss Caldwell? It seems like a good time for it,” Miss Hampton