Big Iron

Chapter 2

Chapter 2With his most professional smile in place, Gabriel checked the guest’s signature on the register. “Thank you, sir. We’re very pleased to have you stay in our hotel. I trust you’ll find everything to your satisfaction. If you need anything, please come to reception and let me know.” He raised a hand to catch the attention of their bellboy, Jed.

“Yes, Mr Gabe?”

Handing the room key to the fresh-faced youngster, Gabriel pointed to a thick valise. “Take Mr Jackson to room fourteen please, Jed.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the guest followed Jed up the stairway, Gabriel allowed his stance to relax a little. He’d been there since seven that morning, just as he always was six days a week. At least he got Sundays off, or he’d never get a chance to rest.

A rumble from his stomach caused Gabriel to glance at the ornate copper grandfather clock sitting in the foyer near the foot of the staircase. He sighed softly. Late afternoon already, and he hadn’t eaten since a hastily snatched breakfast. Sometimes no one came to relieve him, as his father regularly forgot to roster cover in the mornings, and if everyone was busy, no one else had a chance.

Gabriel stretched and rolled his neck, trying to ignore the hunger pangs. Although he finished on the desk around five o’clock, his day didn’t end there. Six to eight in the evening was the restaurant’s busiest time, and it was Gabriel’s job to pitch in as a waiter until nine o’clock.

Thanks to the generosity of the staff, and especially the chef, he’d be given an unofficial half hour break to enjoy a meal and a short rest between reception work and becoming a waiter. The hotel boasted a real chef, rather than just a good cook like most other small town hotels: Monsieur Pierre, all the way from Paris, France. Gabriel smiled. Having helped in the kitchen a few times, he’d become good friends with the fiery chef, who was always happy to make Gabriel something before he started his shift waiting tables.

Pierre was assisted by another Frenchman, one he’d brought with him, as well as two c******n. Thanks to them, everyone sang the praises of the Copper Mine Hotel’s food. Gabriel liked to think his presence at the desk contributed to the hotel’s reputation for excellent customer service. Not that anyone credited him with it. As the owner of the Copper Mine Hotel, Gabriel’s father basked in the glory, although he repeatedly told Gabriel he still had a lot to learn about the business before he would be ready to take it over.

A snort escaped Gabriel as he thought of his father. By the time he was twelve years old, his father had him working as a bellboy. At fourteen, he’d been “allowed” to wait tables in the restaurant, and at the grand old age of seventeen, he’d been promoted to the dizzy heights of hotel reception with the oft-repeated admonishment, “You’re the human face of the hotel, Gabriel. Don’t let me down.”

Remembering his father’s words, Gabriel smiled wryly. That’d been almost six years ago now, and the only thing he’d progressed to was adding the waiting sessions to the reception duties. He still knew nothing about the hotel’s rostering, its accounts, or even ordering supplies. Talking to his father about it was useless. His father ruled with an iron fist, and Gabriel had learned the hard way not to argue. If his father lost his temper, he was fast with his hands or his belt. At twenty-three, Gabriel was still in his father’s thrall, and he yearned for the freedom to be his own man.

A mix of sadness and frustration escaped as a heavy sigh. When people first met Gabriel they often envied the fact his father was a rich hotelier with shares in one of the bigger copper mines, but they soon changed their minds when they saw how much he worked and the way his father treated him. Gabriel wished he could find something he loved, a passion like Pierre had for cooking. He hated the hotel. To him it was a prison, a cage from which he could see no escape. But if he walked out now he would have no job, and his savings were on the small side. Not that they could be anything else when he wasn’t paid a regular wage. And although Gabriel was due to inherit from his grandfather’s estate when he reached twenty-five, that happy event wouldn’t come to pass for almost three years.

The hotel door swung open, jerking Gabriel from his maudlin reverie.

“Hi, Mr Gabe.” A freckle-faced, red-headed boy stood in the doorway. Glancing left and right, and seeing no one else was around, he grinned widely, displaying the prominent gap in his front teeth. “Newsflash! A stranger rode in from the south side of town today. Word around town is that he’s an outlaw. If you want to learn more, be sure and get tomorrow’s edition of the Agua Fria Gazette.”

Gabriel laughed at the boy and his dramatic entry. “I’ll be sure to do that, Charlie. You tell your big brother I expect to read all the juicy details when I do.”

Charlie giggled. “Ben said he’d interview him. He’s tall, mysterious, and carries a big gun.” Charlie stood on tiptoe, his arm reaching high to emphasise the man’s height.

“Uh-huh,” Gabriel said. “Big and tall. He’s sure to have the town buzzing, then.”

“Yep. See you later, Gabriel.” Charlie dashed out, almost bowling over an auburn-haired young woman in the process.

“Slow down, Charlie,” she shouted after him. “Boys! Afternoon, Gabriel.”

“Afternoon, Becca. What can I do for you?”

“It’s more what can I do for you.” Becca held up a covered basket. “Ma sent me over in case your pa forgot to let you have lunch again.” She set the basket down on the desk, and uncovered it.

Gabriel leaned over and sniffed appreciatively. “Homemade pie.” Gabriel made sure to speak in a reverent tone, as befitted food from Becca and Charlie’s mother.

“Pie, some nice fresh bread, and a couple of apples. Ma said what you don’t finish today will keep till tomorrow. You know, your pa takes too much advantage of you. Your ma should say something, stand up for you.”

Gabriel smiled affectionately. Becca said nearly the same thing every time, but the knowledge that she and her family cared so much for him always gave Gabriel a warm feeling, filling the hole left by his aloof family.

“Because Mother’s not like your ma, Becca. She’s fragile, and can’t deal with problems or decisions, just does whatever Father tells her. Anyway, she’s gone out East to visit an elderly aunt. I think there’s a wedding or some society soiree she was looking forward to.”

Becca scowled. “Anyway, let’s not talk about your pa when there’s new gossip to discuss. I guess Charlie beat me to it, telling you about the stranger?” Becca’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Well, I heard he’s an outlaw.”

Deciding not to confirm he’d already heard the news from Charlie, Gabriel just rolled his eyes. “Town gossip. I swear, it’s the fastest form of communication.”

Becca laughed, jutted out a hip suggestively, and patted it. “And I hear he has a big iron.” She winked saucily.

Gabriel guffawed. Becca’s slightly bawdy sense of humour was always guaranteed to cheer him up. “What we likely have is some poor drifter come into town, yet people are seeing gunslingers and outlaws instead. He’s probably of no interest in real life, but I bet Ben will still manage to do a great article for the paper. He’s a good writer.”

Becca twirled around and dropped a curtsey. “Maybe he’s royalty travelling incognito. Anyway, no matter who he is, I think this stranger’s going to cause a big stir in town.”

Gabriel c****d his head. “One of your mystical feelings?” His question held no trace of mockery. Becca was very intuitive, and often her feelings panned out.

“It may be,” she said teasingly. On her way out, Becca looked over her shoulder at him and blew a kiss.

Shaking his head but used to Becca’s teasing manner, Gabriel cut off a piece of pie, luxuriated in the taste of the juicy meat, and thought over the gossip. An outlaw, loose and running. Hah! As if. People sure loved to gossip. The stranger would likely be some poor cowpoke down on his luck, just like the last few men to come through town. Nothing exciting about that whatsoever. His mind made up over the stranger, Gabriel tucked into the delicious lunch and thought no more about it.