Note: This story contains scenes of a mature nature including sex and domestic abuse. I have done my best to isolate and mark explicit scenes for readers that would prefer to skip those chapters. Published Each Friday Prologue Merriam-Webster roadhouse. / (ˈrəʊdˌhaʊs) / noun: an inn or tavern usually outside city limits providing liquor and usually meals, dancing, and often gambling Wikipedia Entry A roadhouse (Australia and the United States) or stopping house (Canada) is a small mixed-use premises typically built on or near a major road in a sparsely populated area or an isolated desert region that services the passing travellers, providing food, drinks, accommodation, fuel, and parking spaces to the guests and their vehicles. The premises generally consist of just a single dwelling, permanently occupied by a nuclear family, usually between two and five family members. James' Journal Entry I am not Patrick Swayze nor Sam Elliott. I suppose I now must add Jake Gyllenhaal. A long time ago I would have had to say I'm not Cornel Wilde nor Richard Widmark. This isn't a movie. Some days it's barely a life. What it is though is a new town with the same story... and the same stupid. Mel's Journal Entry Maybe Isla's right and I should call Grandpa. But damn it, I can do this. I've turned around other bars. Just because he is here shouldn't change the fundamentals of a business. Of course, he's a rat bastard so it does change things. I don't want to call in any favors; if someone is going to help, I want to hire them... no charity or debts. It's for me, not grandpa.... On the other hand, being stubborn hasn't gotten me anywhere. Ugh. I'll text Isla tonight.