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“We’ll swing back through and grab something to eat after the tour,” Judge said and led the way into the kitchen.
Dezi spooned baked beans into a large metal tray and handed it to Cassie, Drake’s fiancée. She carried it through the swinging door into the dining room.
“Are you going through the dining room?” Dezi asked Judge.
“We are,” he responded.
“Then here, carry these.” She handed Judge a huge bowl of potato salad and placed a bowl of coleslaw in Brian’s hands. “Cassie will show you where to put it.” She spun to tackle her next project, leaving Judge and Brian to do as they were directed.
Judge grinned and pushed through the swinging door into the dining room that had quickly filled. A long buffet had been arranged down the middle with everything on it for a good old-fashioned barbeque.
Cassie turned from the beans she’d positioned on the table, spotted them and ordered, “Follow me.” She led them into the huge lobby that had been converted into an extended dining room with portable tables and chairs and another long buffet loaded with the same offerings as the ones in the main dining room. She pointed to the iced areas where the bowls were to go and stood back while Judge and Brian set their bowls down.
“Thank you,” she said with a smile. She touched Brian’s arm. “Glad you got to join us for the fun. Be sure to get a hamburger, and don’t forget to get some of the watermelon they have out on the front porch.” She dashed back into the kitchen with an empty tray.
The hired waitstaff moved through the room, offering iced tea water and coffee. Some cleared tables as guests finished eating.
Judge smiled as a toddler darted away from her mother, giggling. She ran in front of one of the waitstaff, carrying a heavily laden platter full of empty cups and dirty dishes.
The woman carrying the platter came to a sudden stop. The platter tilted and the cups and plates slid off the end.
Brian bent and grabbed the toddler up in his arms as the entire tray crashed to the ground.
If Brian hadn’t caught the child when he had, she’d have been hit by the tray and all the items cascading to the floor.
The little girl buried her face against Brian’s neck and cried.
“Shh,” Brian said. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”
The people all around who’d witnessed the save clapped and cheered. “Good job!” someone yelled.
The toddler’s frazzled mother picked her way over the broken glasses and dishes to get to her child and held out her arms.
The little girl shook her head and nuzzled Brian’s neck, making him laugh.
Judge’s heart swelled. There was hope for the kid.
Brian handed over the child and helped Judge pick up the broken glasses and plates.
When the mess had been cleared, Judge led Brian out of the lobby and down a hallway, explaining how they’d had to tear out walls that abutted the mountain to determine whether the supporting beams had been damaged in the explosion. He explained how they’d found hidden rooms that had been used during prohibition.
When they came back into the lobby, Judge and Brian waded through the throngs of people admiring the stonework on the fireplace. They were halfway across the room when Brian came to a dead stop.
Judge turned to see the teen’s eyes widen, his gaze on the floor above that overlooked the lobby.
Judge followed the direction of his gaze, and his heart stopped. A movement on the other side of the railing caught his attention.
“What is it?” he asked Brian.
“They’re here,” he whispered. Then he took off, darting between people, making his way to the sweeping staircase that led to the second floor.
Judge had a hard time keeping up with the kid. He was faster, more agile, leaping over chairs and sidestepping people standing in the way.
By the time Judge reached the staircase, Brian was nearly at the top.
“Brian, wait,” he called out and took the steps two at a time, his hand reaching for the gun he’d worn tucked into a shoulder holster beneath his jacket. As he neared the top of the stairs, the teen came into view.
Brian stood between Judge and the man he’d raced up the steps to confront.
