Page 32 of Mountain Boss

The now familiar guilt pushes me back a step away from the window.

I’m her boss,I tell myself.

She doesn’t want to look incompetent at her new job,I try to reason.

She hates me and doesn’t want to show weakness to the enemy,I accept.

Chapter 27

Courtney

Face washedand toilet flusher fixed, I bundle my shirt in the hand towel I dried my face with and hold it at my side.

Looking around the bathroom, I try to see if anything else is out of place.

The powder room is larger than the one I have in the Laundry Cabin, but it’s still just a toilet and a sink. So, apparently, I will be sharing the public showers with our guests.

As I’m wondering how many women come to Black Mountain Lodge, my eyes stop on the window.

Theopenwindow.

I tip my head back and clamp my teeth down on the urge to scream.

But I can’t scream now because the flipping window is open, and if someone was outside, they’d hear me.

I set down my bundle and reach up to close the window.

The other reason I can’t scream now is because if I did, there’s a strong possibility it would turn into a sob.

Pulling the window down, I go up onto my toes to look out the glass.

No one is out there. Just trees. And an empty path.

I stare at the path. Was it empty the whole time? Or did someone witness my meltdown?

I drop my weight back onto my heels.

What’s done is done.

Plus, if Mr. Black heard me, he’d probably have come back into the cabin and scolded me.

Gathering the shirt and towel again, I wonder if that’s actually true.

He felt different today. Not exactlydifferent nicelike he was in those first few moments we met. But nicer. And he lingered like he wanted to say more.

But what he did say…

Lunch.

He didn’t sound hesitant exactly about telling me, but there was something there.

Maybe he felt bad about not telling me yesterday?

I think about how hungry I was most of the day and kind of hope he does feel bad.

Yesterday sucked.

At least this morning, after I peeled myself off that damn board, I made two packets of cinnamon raisin oatmeal and added a big spoonful of peanut butter. It was good. And it meant I didn’t start my day hungry.

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