Read Online A Soldier's Journey by PATRICIA POTTER - Free Book Online

“What time tonight?” she asked.
    â€œAround six,” Eve said. “Oh, I asked Nate to come as well, since you’ve already met him. If it’s okay, he’ll pick you up. Josh will be working his magic with steaks, and we’re a bit hard to find.”
    â€œIt’s fine,” Andy said and with a goodbye hung up. She stood there for a moment. It wasn’t fine at all. Nate was being thrown at her, and she resented it. He probably did, too. He had been helpful last night, but the last thing she wanted, or needed, was a matchmaker hovering around. Damn.
    * * *
    N ATE AND J OSH spent Saturday-morning meeting with the newly hired manager for the Covenant Falls Inn. The daughter of one of his mother’s friends, Susan Hall, had been a hotel manager in Las Vegas—not for one of the huge luxury hotels, but a small boutique hotel.
    She was recently divorced and had been looking for a job far away from the ex-husband when her mother had heard about the opening for a manager. Susan was hired after the first interview.
    â€œIt may not be permanent,” Nate had warned. “We’re all out on a limb here.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter. Right now, it’s a godsend.”
    â€œYou can hire the rest of the staff,” Nate said. “Let us know what you need and recommended salaries.”
    â€œWe’ll start off slow until we know about the market,” she said. “I can fill several positions. We’ll need a night manager. I’ll take care of the day desk.”
    â€œWe’ll need a cook,” Nate said.
    â€œA chef ,” Josh said with a wry smile.
    â€œA cook ,” Nate insisted.
    Susan laughed. “Maybe we could get Maude.”
    â€œHell, no,” Nate said. “The town would drive us out on a rail. But we have other great cooks in town. We start out using home talent. Mrs. Byars, for instance, could provide brownies for each room, and Ethel Jones is a great cook. She’s widowed and could use money. We could hire a young person to help her while getting training.”
    â€œI like it,” Josh said. “The whole idea is to bring jobs to the town.”
    â€œI’ll talk to Mrs. Jones,” Nate said. “I have better diplomatic skills than Josh.”
    â€œI resent that,” Josh said. “Eve says I’m one hundred percent improved.”
    Nate rolled his eyes. “One hundred percent of zero is still zero.”
    Susan laughed. “I think I’m going to like this job.” She looked down at the dog sitting next to Josh. “I take it the inn will be animal friendly.”
    â€œYep,” Josh said.
    â€œTake a hard look throughout the property, Susan,” Nate said. “See if there’s anything we missed or that we need. We used every wholesale and going-out-of-business company in the country. Call me or Josh anytime with a problem. I’ll take the easy ones, and he, as president of this budding firm, will take the hard ones.”
    â€œWhen do we open?”
    â€œWe have an informal opening in seven weeks. We’ve invited a number of travel agents and tourist information people. We have about eight couples who have accepted. I would like to open to the public shortly after that. As soon as you think we’re ready, we’ll put out news releases saying we’re open.”
    â€œI have contacts with travel magazines and websites,” Susan said. “I’ll get in touch.” She hesitated, then said, “You don’t have the sign yet.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYou might want to think about the name. Something chic and catchy.”
    â€œThe Covenant Falls Inn isn’t chic and catchy?” Nate asked.
    â€œTruthfully?” Susan answered.
    â€œWe’ll think about it,” Josh said. “We haven’t confirmed the design yet with the sign company.” Josh stood, ending the meeting. “We’re really happy to have