River Road (River's End Series, #4) (32 page)
Read River Road (River's End Series, #4) Online
Authors: Leanne Davis
Brianna swung her legs down, leaning over to grab the thick straps of her bag. She hurled her car door open and stepped out, tugging the bag higher on her shoulder and not even glancing at her mom with the slightest regret. Hailey swore under breath as she followed her children. Jacob rapidly traversed the steps and jumped from foot-to-foot, anxiously waiting for Hailey to come up with the key. Brianna merely turned her body away and stared out towards the distant brown mountains. With a huge sigh, Hailey thought,
So far, this wasn’t a good idea.
Hailey hoped a few weeks together this summer might let her rebuild what she lost with her daughter… and maybe enhance what her son felt towards her. He was wary, confused, and very unsure about her and his father. The uncertainty she witnessed cut deeply into Hailey’s heart. She knew she caused that. But her son, Jacob, didn’t lash out at her. He just became quiet. Sometimes, his silence made Hailey feel guiltier than all of Brianna’s most vicious tongue lashings.
Hailey ground her teeth and left her daughter moping on the stoop as she entered the cabin. It was a three-bedroom cabin, and she spent a hefty chunk of her retirement savings to book it for the entire month of July. And now, here they were! All staying together. The vacation coincided with her ex-husband’s trip to Palm Springs with his girlfriend. He planned to get married and honeymoon for the entire month of July too. The kids weren’t invited. It was just the two of them. A rash union, yes, but at least he had the decency to warn Hailey about it so she could start early on the damage control. Judging by her daughter’s rigid back and the way she stomped through the living room before slamming the door to a bedroom, however, seemed she wasn’t doing too well.
Hailey glared at the closed door. Swallowing her sigh, she realized there was little doubt that her ex-husband’s hasty actions would be blamed on her. The month of July loomed long and dark before her despite the bright sunlight that shone through the windows, highlighting the roughhewn wooden floors, leather furniture, river-rock fireplace and rustic décor.
Her son was running happily through the entire cabin, yelling down from the second story that overlooked the living room-kitchen-dining room. At least she made one person happy. Hailey couldn’t remember the last time she made anyone else, including herself, happy. It was much too long to even bother about.
****
Joey grinned at the new family who slipped into a comfortable sedan. The daughter was too well-endowed and hot for her own good. She came in there to browse, but her gaze immediately landed on him, like a hungry leopard on an antelope. He managed to distract her with the river rafting brochure, only to get blind-sided by her mom. It was hard to restrain his laughter, when he saw how pissed the woman was. She was ready to call the police and have him arrested. He almost held up his hands in surrender. He’d have overlooked the mom at first. Sure, the daughter was some serious eye-candy, and maybe worth the risk of getting arrested. But her mom was funny as hell.
Hailey Starr
read the computer when he checked the most recent registrations. The entire system was connected. They’d come a long way at the resort since the days of Jocelyn having to sign in all the people in her cursive handwriting on the ledger.
Hailey had attitude and nothing about him impressed her. That wasn’t the case usually. Joey had one of those likable faces and he took advantage of it for most of his life. He used his striking good looks for years and got all the girls he ever wanted. Especially when he was in the Army. But now he wasn’t trying to date anymore girls. Besides, his big brother, Jack, would have fired his ass if he tried to flirt with any of the resort guests, let alone, one of their freaking teenage daughters! And Jack had the final say around there. Technically, however, he, Shane and Ian all had equal shares in the place, but they understood one thing—Jack was the figurehead.
Joey had been living at home now for over two years. He swiftly assumed the management of the resort, and later added miscellaneous other attractions like river rafting. Meanwhile, Jack oversaw the working horse ranch and Shane, his next oldest brother, handled any tasks the others asked him to do. Marcy was married to Ben, Joey’s nephew and both were only five years younger than Joey, who was twenty-six. He also ran the front counter and oftentimes, the gift shop. Ben primarily worked with his father and Jocelyn, who was once solely in charge of guest check-ins, but now served primarily in the café. She did everything, from hostessing to waitressing to filling takeout orders and keeping food and supplies well-stocked.
It was an elaborate set-up that had only been recently enhanced over the last two years. Jack’s long lost sister appeared at that time. She ran a consulting company that specialized in streamlining procedures and maximizing profits for companies. After an elaborate analysis of their enterprise, she examined both the Rydell River Ranch and the Rydell River Resort. Her recommendations included a risky expansion that included turning the house that used to be their family home into a gift shop and hotel reception along with a café since there was a full restaurant-quality kitchen downstairs. The upper floor was converted into four guest rooms with their own private baths, and people loved to stay there. Now, however, no Rydells lived there. Joey only worked in the home he was raised in. It seemed odd at first and made him resentful, despite his vote for the changes. His three older brothers concurred. But it was still a bitter pill for him to see his beautiful family home featured on the front page of the brochures that now advertised the Rydell River Resort. There were ten small cabins on the north end of their thousand acres, and a newer tract of five larger, multi-room cabins designed for bigger families and larger groups. The amenities were also upgraded and now included a pool that was central to all of the lodgings, surrounded by a pristine lawn and a garden full of potted flowers, and comfortable patio furniture.
Yes, the Rydells had risen pretty high in the world. Their ranch had become a very popular, sought-after destination spot. They also created a wealth of opportunities that included a large variety jobs for both themselves and the town’s people. It was a lucrative source of income and everyone wanted to keep the ranch alive and well. They could finally start expanding it in ways that Jack had only dreamed of. Joey had no idea that Jack even dreamed, but his staunch, strict brother really did, as it turned out. His wish was to turn part of their land into a rehab facility for horses. Jack
loved
horses. He breathed and lived for horses. Joey? Not so much. He liked the horses and enjoyed riding, and the barns weren’t so bad to muck, but he had no desire to spend all day with the noble creatures. He preferred being around people and the resort brought in all kinds of people.
None of his older brothers were as good with people as Joey. He liked all the work involved in management, which included anything from overseeing minor repairs and answering complaints, to dealing with miscellaneous problems of the guests or staff, to ordering inventory, running the raft trips, and cleaning the pool. He managed it all and picked up the slack whenever necessary. The ceaseless variety of tasks suited Joey to a tee, and he was profoundly glad the family voted to expand their small legacy far beyond the horse ranch. He wasn’t sure he would have stayed if that had been his life’s work all along. But after serving in the Army, Joey was more than certain the ranch was where he wanted to be. He was glad he joined the armed forces, too; he needed that experience. It made him grow up, and quickly. He’d been spoiled and his life seemed almost too easy until he joined up. Instantly, the security he counted on for his entire life was ripped away from him.
The Army turned Joey into a man and when he eventually decided to come home, he was good and ready. In many ways, Joey believed all twenty-year-old men should enlist. It made him figure out that life wasn’t easy and drifting around wasn’t cool. Real life is about acting responsibly when necessary and getting shit done, even if you don’t feel like it or want to.
Marcy walked in, trailing her hand over the glass counter. “What was that about?”
Joey grinned. “The mom thought I was flirting with that little jail bait.”
“Were you?” Her raised eyebrows told him she thought that’s exactly what he’d be doing.
“I wasn’t. Come on, Marcy, she’s fifteen.”
Marcy shrugged. “I’ve seen you with teenagers before.”
“You have not seen me with fifteen-year-olds,” he snapped sharply before grinding his teeth. He was more than tired of all the playboy innuendoes and snarky remarks about his previous behavior and his past.
She shrugged. “Mind if I hit it early? I wanna start dinner before Ben gets home.”
Joey sighed. Marcy was always bugging out early with the usual excuse of doing so and so for Ben. Ben was his best friend and Joey knew that Marcy didn’t actually do very much for Ben. Not that Ben told him, but he concluded it after several telling conversations. Now, however, he didn’t feel like arguing with her. “See you tomorrow.”
“Yup.” She wasn’t even listening as she ducked out, and almost raced through the door. He entered the foyer, staring after her.
“You shouldn’t let her get away with that shit.”
Joey sighed as he turned towards Jocelyn who was tucked back into a nook that led to the reception cage. She was busily scrawling her loopy handwriting on the blackboard. “How do I stop her?”
“You’re the fucking, boss, Joe, act like it.”
He shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest. Jocelyn’s looming height irked him. He always had to look up to her. She had a good two inches on him. “What have I told you about that mouth of yours? Guests are strolling all about here. You can’t talk that way around here.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Well, we just established
you
aren’t going to stop me. Besides a few dirty words won’t keep me from doing my job.
I
always do it.
She
never does.” The sneer was not unnoticed by Joey as Jocelyn glared at the fast retreating figure of Mrs. Marcy Rydell.
“She’s Ben’s wife,” Joey said finally. Jocelyn’s entire body straightened with rigid disdain. “I can’t fire her. You know that. We already talked about this.”
Much too often
, but Joey didn’t add that. The problem with employing childhood friends, relatives and girlfriends means you’re stuck with them. Even if they suck. Jocelyn was smack dab in the middle of Joey and Ben age-wise. She had been working there in some capacity or another since she was fifteen, when she first started riding horses for Jack. She also hung out with all of them often enough to be considered another dude—almost. “I just tolerate her and try to minimize her damage. Usually, she’s fine with guests if they just talk to her for a few minutes. Then they think she’s nice enough. You know how we value you, Joss, but you also know that Ben is married to Marcy.”
Jocelyn tossed the chalk in her hand and it pinged against the little blackboard. “He’s a fucking idiot too. Who gets married at age nineteen?”
“Ben and Jack Rydell. That’s who.”
“To her? How can he not see it?”
Joey shrugged. “She’s not that bad.”
“She is! She is that bad. You’re an imbecile too for not seeing it.” Jocelyn spun on her heel and stomped through the empty café before slamming the door that swung into the kitchen.
Joey rubbed his head. What was her problem? And why was he allowing his employees to leave early, without finishing their work, and screwing up his schedule while others were calling him names? At least, he knew he could count on Jocelyn to finish up to perfection. She was solid as the rock cliffs above the ranch when it came to her work ethic.
Joey started to head into his office. It occupied what was once the family living room. Suddenly, he ran smack into a body with big, soft boobs. He jumped back in shock, having no idea anyone else had come in. Then he sighed, dropping his head down, as the white teeth shone from the red, slick lips of one Brianna Starr. She happily greeted him.
Women… Girls… God, it used to be only men around here back in the day. He wished desperately right then, for simpler times when they merely had to punch each other to get their points across.
“What can I do for you, Brianna?”
She wasn’t quite as small as her mother and wearing thick wedges on her feet to raise her height. Her shorts were turned upwards, and her thighs cascaded forever, showing smooth, tanned skin. He swallowed, careful to keep his gaze focused directly over her head. Her little top and bra kept bouncing up and down.
She licked her lips. He could see it from the corners of his eyes before he laser-focused them in on the door. When fingernails scraped over his bare arm from the outside of his elbow towards his wrist, he jumped back and she grabbed his hand. “Lots. I have lots of things I was hoping you could do for me… Joey.”
No. What was it about adolescent girls and him? He unceremoniously shoved her away, shaking his head and preparing to admonish her when a voice rang out. “Get your hands off her!”
Her mother, of course. Joey tilted his head and gave up in total defeat. They won. The women freaking won. Sighing, he turned towards the next one who would probably call him names, and if he were lucky, that would be the least of it.
The Sister Series is about the emotional scars and battles that are often hidden in people.
Rape. Drugs. Abuse. Violence. Pain. Betrayal.
And how they can be overcome.
Love. Joy. Family. Forgiveness. Faith. Hope. Redemption.
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