Chapter 5

Ashton joined the resort’s manager in the backroom office. “What’s up, Craig.” The man was pacing and running his hands through his hair.

“Beatrice is in the hospital. She fell and broke her hip and will be out for at least six weeks, if not longer.”

Ashton frowned. He liked the motherly woman who’d been employed by the hotel for going on ten years, longer than he’d even owned the resort. “How is she doing?”

The manager smiled wryly. “Fussing about leaving us in the lurch. Doesn’t want me to replace her. I think she’s afraid she’ll lose her job. I hate to do it, but I’ll have to inform corporate, and then we need to find a replacement, at least until she can return. I told her it would be temporary, but she got upset, said she can still work off her laptop once she’s home.”

Ashton shook his head. “She needs to worry about getting well,” he said, “not what goes on here.”

“That’s what I said, but you know her. She’s pretty determined, says her husband can