Chapter 5 "The Victorian Palace"

Adam walked through the doors of the town's hotel. He was rather surprised to see the immaculate decorations adorning the hotel lobby. The furniture was obviously expensive, made of velvet and other fine materials, and he guessed mahogany wood. The walls were adorned with paintings, not exactly the kind of hotel he expected for such a small town. He felt embarrassed walking into the hotel in his state; however, all he cared about at the moment was getting a room with a warm bed and a hot bath.

As he approached the reception desk he was disappointed to find that it was unattended.  He dropped his carpet bag with a weary sigh and then reached for the bell on the counter.  He gave it three quick rings and leaned against the counter to wait for the clerk to arrive.  With his unshaven face cupped in his hand, he closed his tired eyes. He had almost fallen asleep when he heard the unmistakable sound of man clearing his throat.

The desk clerk looked at him with disgust, his tone demonstrated his distaste for the obviously vagrant customer, "May I help you...sir?"

Adam eyed the man, not pleased with the clerk's tone. "Yes," he began, but was interrupted by an uncontrollable sneezing fit. When the sneezing subsided, he continued, "I'd like a room for my two brothers and me." 

The clerk opened his book, scanning it for rooms. "We have a suite available sir."

Adam shook his head. "I was hoping for something a little more...modest," he said, coughing when he finished the sentence.

The clerk raised his eyebrows in disapproval, "We have room 39...it has a full size bed with a cot in the corner...."

Adam bit the inside of his cheek in frustration. The clerk was quickly getting on his last nerve. "How much for two nights?"

The clerk looked down his nose at him, "For three of you..." he looked at a book as if checking the price. "For three of you it will be $3 a night."

Adam sighed; it was more then he expected, and he thought he had been generous with his first estimate. "All right. We'll take it."

The clerk smiled condescendingly, "That will be up front, sir. And you will also be having three baths prepared?"

Adam's eyes narrowed; speaking tersely he said, "Yes. We'll have three of them prepared."

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his money, "You always ask people to pay up front?"

The clerk smirked, "No, sir, only our special guests."

Adam had a sudden urge to reach across the counter and plant a right cross on the clerk's chin.  With his fists balled in anger, he said slowly and distinctly, "How much for the baths?"

The clerk smiled, "$1 apiece."

Adam unfolded the money and handed the clerk the nine dollars for the room and the baths. The clerk took it gladly, recounting the money as he did so.

He grabbed a book from behind the counter and set it front of Adam.  With great care, the clerk opened the registry to the page marked with a red ribbon.  He pointed to a blank line on the page and held a pen to Adam. "Sign your name here. If you can't write just make an X."

His face flushed with anger, Adam took the pen and clearly and distinctly signed his name with a flourish.  The clerk, took careful note of his "guest's" signature, skeptical of the untidy man's credentials.  His disbelief that the man before him was anything but a no-good tramp was not disguised as he read his name aloud, "Thank you...Mr...Cartwright." 

Adam held out his hand for the key but was forced to wait as the clerk took the book and put it in its place with exaggerated care. Finally, done with the task he turned around and lifted a key from its hook. He dangled the key in front of Adam as he spoke, "Room 39 is on the third floor. Take a left at the top of the stairs and walk all the way to the end of the hall. And enjoy your stay here at the 'Victorian Palace.'"

Adam took the key in a huff and headed off to find their room. He climbed the three flights of stair with great effort; four days of riding on a swaybacked, animal with an unsteady gait had made him incredibly saddle sore.  Once he reached the third floor he turned left, as instructed, and made his way down the hall in search of room 39. With his reserves nearly spent he was nearly overcome with relief when he found the room in a secluded corner.

He opened the door and shook his head in disappointment; the room was much smaller then he expected. There indeed was a full size bed, but the room was barely big enough to hold it. The cot the clerk had spoken of was crammed in the corner next to the bed. Against the inner wall, next to the door was also a small wardrobe, as well as a stand with a washbasin. The room would be cramped enough for one man, let alone three large men, who at the moment could hardly stand each other. Adam grimaced at the thought of having to spend the night with his brothers in the cramped quarters.  'Oh well,' he thought, 'at least it was better then spending the night on the trail.'

He closed the door behind him and dropped the carpetbag next to the bed.  With a frown he pulled out what little money he had left and recounted it.  Much to his disappointment the count came to the same dismal amount he expected, frustrated he dropped the money on the stand. 

Adam rubbed at the ache that now pounded across his forehead.  He surveyed the shabby room once again, his frown turned to a wry smile as he spread his arms out and said aloud, "And then return and sleep within mine inn, for with long travel I am stiff and weary."*

He laughed softly to himself as he lowered his own "stiff and weary" body to the bed.  He removed his boots and gently massaged his tired feet.  He lay back as the softness of the mattress called to him.  He had only intended to lie down for a few minutes, however, as soon as his head hit the mattress, he fell into a deep slumber.

 


Hoss was the first to enter the small hotel room. He stopped suddenly and held up his hand to prevent Joe from entering.  "Aww, Joe would you look at that... Adam's already asleep." He whispered.


Joe rolled his eyes, "That's probably why he wanted to get the room, so he could get the bed."

Hoss waved him off. "Aww come on, Joe, Adam ain't like that, and you know it. He probably just fell asleep waitin' for us. I'm sure he was plum tuckered out."

They both entered the room the rest of the way, carrying their carpetbags with them. Joe set his on the end of the bed.  He opened it and rummaged through to pull out a somewhat clean, and very wrinkled shirt and trousers.  "I guess these 'll have to do..."

Hoss did the same, "Yeah, we can't walk around town in these clothes!" He indicted with his hands the filthy clothes they both wore. Hoss scratched his head in thought, "You reckon Adam got us baths?"

Joe nodded yes, "You think older brother would forget something like that!" he said with a smirk.

"I reckon not." Hoss answered with a smile. "Where do you reckon we find one of them baths?"

Joe shrugged, "I don't know... why don't you wake Adam and ask him."

Hoss waved him off, "Nah, he needs his sleep; he's been so dagburned crabby the last few days he needs all the sleep he can get. We can just ask the clerk downstairs."

Joe threw his clothes over his shoulder, "All right with me as long as I get cleaned up."

He grabbed the money Adam had set on the small table. Some of it was his too, he thought with a shrug, besides Hoss and he had to eat. Stuffing the money into his pocket, he made his way to the door. Before they both exited the room, Hoss picked up a blanket from the end of the bed gently pulled it over Adam as the room was rather cold. Together the two brothers walked out of the room, leaving Adam soundly asleep on the bed.