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A LOUD CHUGGING noise woke Gunner and he popped out of the chair in the motel office, where he’d fallen asleep after Lydia had gone off to explore room 3. He peered out the window. What the heck was his grandfather doing here?
He stepped outside and waited for the old 1970 Ford to pull into a parking spot. “I thought you were helping Logan feed the cattle this morning,” he said when the driver-side door opened.
“Too hot.” His grandfather took the pack of Marlboro from his shirt pocket and lit up. “Thanks for the birthday smokes.”
Gunner had left a happy-birthday note on the kitchen table along with the cigarettes and the snake, which he’d wrapped in newspaper. “You weren’t supposed to open your gifts until supper.”
“You wasted your money on that stupid snake. Should have bought another pack of cigarettes.”
“The snake was cheaper.”
His grandfather’s mouth twitched.
“Since it’s your birthday, you should go fishing at the lake.”
“I might later.” He tilted his head toward the office. “I wasn’t sure you’d show up today.”
“I got your message loud and clear. I’m at Lydia’s beck ’n’ call until this place sparkles and shines.”
His grandfather fussed with his belt, then smoothed a hand over his head. Gunner couldn’t remember the last time the old man had taken a comb to his hair, but this morning he’d slicked it down with enough Brylcreem to suffocate a beehive. “Is that a new shirt you’re wearing?”
“No.” His grandfather’s gaze slid sideways.
The creases from the package were still visible. And was that Hai Karate cologne he smelled?
“Did Amelia come with Lydia?”
Before Gunner answered the question, the self-appointed matriarch of Stampede drove her white 1958 Thunderbird convertible into the parking lot. For an instant he envisioned Lydia behind the wheel of the sexy piece of machinery, her blond hair flying in the wind.
His grandfather dropped his cigarette on the ground and stomped it out with his boot heel—a boot that had been spit-shined and polished. Well, well, well. That explained the Brylcreem and the cologne. Why his grandfather wanted to impress Amelia Rinehart was a mystery when all they ever did was spar with each other.
Amelia parked next to Emmett’s pickup and Gunner rushed over to open the door and help her out of the front seat. “’Morning, Ms. Amelia.”
“Hello, Gunner.” She peeked around his shoulder. “Emmett.”
“Amelia.”
Gunner shut the door, his gaze shifting between the older couple. “Happy birthday,” Amelia said.
“I don’t much care for birthdays anymore.”
She smiled. “Who does at our age?”
His grandfather’s gaze rolled over Amelia like a teenage boy and Gunner looked away, embarrassed by his grandfather’s gawking.
“Where’s Lydia?” Amelia asked.
“Inspecting room 3,” Gunner said.
His grandfather elbowed him in the ribs. “You should be showing her around in case she has questions.”
“Why would she have any questions? Everything in the rooms has to go.”
Oh, man. The old lady was going to pick a fight with his grandfather.
“Vintage is all the rage,” she said. “But those brown bedspreads weren’t brown when they were first put on the beds.”
“Nothing wrong with covers that hide dirt,” Emmett said.
“Dirt and the infestation of every imaginable bug.”
The door to room 6 opened and Hector and Maybelle waltzed outside—Maybelle still buttoning her blouse. The couple froze when they noticed their audience.
Gunner waved. “Safe travels!”
“Who’s that?” Amelia asked.
“Hector Montoya. He works at the Los Lobos Ranch.” The spread butted up to the Hardell ranch and they raised cattle and alpaca—not wolves like the name implied. “Maybelle’s the ranch maid.”
“For Pete’s sake,” Amelia said, “Why don’t they get married instead of sneaking around?” The couple disappeared behind the motel.
“Marriage isn’t for everyone,” Emmett grumbled.
Gunner agreed. His grandfather still grieved the passing of his wife. Emmett might be a grumpy old man, but he showed his love for others in unique ways—like buying the Moonlight Motel for Sara after she’d been diagnosed with cancer. Gunner’s grandmother had dreamed of running the motel and Gunner figured his grandfather had hoped the place would lift her spirits and encourage her to fight the disease, but Emmett’s plan hadn’t worked out like he’d intended.
“What are you charging for a room these days, Gunner?” Amelia asked.
“It varies,” he said.
“You don’t have a set rate?”
“I charge whatever the person can afford to pay me.”
Amelia’s gaze swung to Emmett. “No wonder you’ve never been able to pay back—”
“I’m done jawing about this place.” Emmett walked over to the truck. “Gunner.”
“Yes, sir?”
“You stick to the plan, you hear?”
“I will.”
“Hold up.” Amelia thrust out her arm, preventing Emmett from closing the truck door.
Gunner held his breath, worried his grandfather would say something he couldn’t take back, which was how he ended most arguments.
“What’s this about a plan? You’re not interfering with—”
“I told Gunner to keep an eye on your niece to make sure she doesn’t ruin the place.”
“What utter nonsense. Lydia doesn’t need a babysitter.” Amelia looked at Gunner. “No offense, young man, but my niece has a degree in interior design. In fact, she has her own design company. She’s more than capable of handling a motel makeover.”
“Just the same,” Emmett said, “Gunner’s keeping an eye on things so the place doesn’t get turned into a pink palace.”
“A pink palace would be better—” Amelia spread her arms wide “—than a motel that looks like it belongs in an Alfred Hitchcock movie.”
“Keep the place rustic. This is cowboy country and there aren’t any fancy-pants oilmen living around these parts anymore.”
Amelia’s eyes flashed with anger. “You never did approve of Robert and he had nothing but nice things to say about you.”
Why had his grandfather brought up Amelia’s deceased husband? Gunner had better intervene before the conversation went too far south. “Time-out, folks.”
They ignored him, their eyes locked in a death stare. The door to room 3 opened and Lydia stepped into view. “There’s the designer,” Gunner said, hoping her presence would calm the bickering duo.
“What’s going on?” Lydia’s worried gaze took in the scene. “I thought you had choir practice after church, Aunt Amelia.”
“We ended early,” Amelia said.
Gunner scowled at his grandfather, warning him to keep his mouth shut.
Lydia tugged on Gunner’s shirtsleeve. “What did I miss?”
“They were discussing the renovations,” Gunner said.
“I took enough notes to begin designing,” Lydia said.
“How long will it take to get the job done?” Gunner asked.
“Once I line up the contractors, only a few weeks.”
“There’s your contractor.” Emmett pointed to Gunner.
“Besides rodeoing, you work in the trades, too?” Lydia asked.
“My grandson doesn’t work at much of anything, but he’s agreed to sit out a few rodeos and help you.” Emmett returned Gunner’s evil-eyed glare.
“It’s best to hire professionals—”
“I’ve snaked my share of pipes,” Gunner interrupted Lydia. “And it doesn’t take much talent to roll paint on a wall.”
“Gunner’s in charge of the place,” Emmett said, climbing into his truck. “He’s got the final say on how things get done.”
Amelia scoffed. “Being mayor has gone to your head.”
“I know what’s best for this town.”
“If we don’t do something drastic to turn things around, Stampede will only be home to you and a handful of ghosts.”
His grandfather closed the door and leaned his head out the open window. “I’d rather this place become a ghost town than have a bunch of strangers and hooligans roaming the streets.”
“There’s only one street and your grandsons were the last bunch of ruffians to run wild around here. There’s been no vandalism since—” Amelia nodded to Gunner “—he spray-painted images of bare-breasted women on the back of the Woolworth building.”
Lydia smiled. “Maybe Gunner would like to paint a mural on the wall outside the motel office.”
Gunner dragged a hand over his face. He’d never live down that bad decision. The two geriatrics continued bickering like kids fighting in a sandbox and he worried one of them might suffer a stroke.
“You don’t know when to leave well enough alone, Amelia.” Emmett turned the key in the ignition. When the engine backfired, the two women jumped inside their skin.
Amelia shook her fist in Emmett’s face. “You used to be fun. Now you’re just a grumpy old man.”
When had his grandfather ever been fun?
Emmett put the truck in Reverse and Amelia stomped back to her car. She started to back out of her spot but slammed on the brakes when Emmett cut her off. She laid on the horn. Emmett waved her to go first. She waved back at him. After two false starts and stops, Amelia headed for the highway, Emmett’s pickup inches from her bumper. Then she slammed on her brakes at the entrance and Emmett swerved in order to miss hitting her car.
He stuck his head out the window and shouted, “It’s Sunday! What are you waiting for? Monday?”
Amelia turned left onto the highway and headed toward town. Emmett turned right and headed away from town. After the vehicles disappeared from sight, Gunner said, “What the hell just happened?”
“I have no idea.”
He opened his mouth to ask about the plans Lydia had drawn on her computer when Hector and Maybelle rode into view on Red. Hector stopped the horse in front of Gunner and held out a twenty-dollar bill, then turned Red east and rode off.
“Gunner?”
“What?”
“I appreciate the offer, but I won’t be needing your help with the renovations.”
“I know.”
“So you’ll stay out of the way and let me do my job?”
Lydia looked so hopeful that he almost caved in. “Sorry. You’re stuck with me.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
“When do we start?” he asked.
“As soon as I come up with a design my aunt likes.” She walked to her car and retrieved her cell phone from her purse. “Give me your number.”
He recited the digits and she entered them into her phone. “Are all of the rooms set up the same as number 3?”
“Yep.”
“I’ll be in touch shortly.” She got into her car and drove off.
