A New Meaning to the Night

Chapter Six: Witches in Paradise

The girls set out mid-morning the following day to find jobs, both happy to have been able to sleep in a little bit after four early days before they began their long day. "Meet at that little diner we saw when we drove into town for lunch?" Cori asked, holding a folder full of resumes under her arm, already crossing the street away from Sam. 

 "Sounds like a plan, I'll see you at noon." With a wave, they headed in opposite directions. Their house was in the middle of the small town and there were businesses on either side, within walking distance. They'd decided to start close to home before applying further away. Kids were wandering around Lucky, looking for something to kill their time now that school was out, and Sam was greeted with wide smiles by nearly everyone she passed. It was a friendly place, and she thought it was definitely somewhere she could be content with while she went to school and got her degree. The first place she wandered into was the small bed & breakfast that sat across from Lucky Park.

The old woman inside smiled warmly at her, blue eyes crinkling in the corners. "Welcome to Ann's Bed and Breakfast where your comfort is our priority. Are you looking to rent a room?" 

 "Thank you, but I've actually come in to speak with the owner or manager." 

Her smile's warmth didn't lessen, "I'm the owner, Ann Huckaby. What can I do for you?"

Returning the warmth, Sam smoothly handed Ann a resume. "My name is Samantha Burton, and I've just moved into a house down the street. I was hoping to talk to you about any employment opportunity you might have. I've just recently graduated high school and moved to your town with my friend to attend the nearby university. I know I don't have any experience, but I can promise you I'm a hard worker and would be willing to take any position you might need to fill. If now isn't a great time to talk, I could come back later."

Ann didn't bother to look down at Sam's resume, but her smile widened even more. "David, get out here, will you? We have a young lady who would like to help us out!" she called in an alarmingly loud voice for such a tiny little woman. "Come on around the desk, dear. We can find my husband and have a chat."

Surprised, Sam followed Ann around the desk and into the dark oak doorway behind it that led to a small sitting room that she had no doubt Ann kept perfectly tidy and organized. It would be fantastic luck to get a job in the first place she'd bothered to walk into, although she suspected she wouldn't get many hours here. "Thank you." 

 David trailed into the room about a minute after them from a door in the back right corner. He was perhaps about 5'9" himself and his smile was just as warm and friendly as his wife's. "Pretty young lady looking to come to help us, old folks, with our little bed and breakfast, hm?" he inquired with a friendly wink.

Sam nodded and reached her hand out to take his. "Yes sir, my name is Samantha Burton. My friend and I just moved into a house down the street. I'm open to anything that you might need help with around here."

"It isn't as easy as it used to be, cleaning all these rooms by myself, or running the front counter," Ann informed Sam. "I'm sure we could use some help around here, especially right now during the summer when we find ourselves busy, isn't that right, dear?"

David nodded in agreement with his wife. "Have you ever worked in this kind of place before?" 

 "She's never had a job before, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to clean a room or stand behind a desk, does it Samantha?" Ann asked with a good-natured laugh.

"Please call me Sam, and I know I could help you out."

"You're willing to give up your weekends to help out?"

"Absolutely, that wouldn't be a problem."

"I like her David."

David laughed, "My Ann is a quick judge of character. If she likes you, then that's enough for me. You're hired."