River's End (River's End Series, #1)(48)

He nodded. “I know.”

“Oh. Okay then, I’ll just go.”

“Go to the trailer to eat some boxed noodles? Sit. You can stay for dinner.”

She shook her head. “Thank you. But no. That’s not a good idea. Not for any of us. Especially Joey. He doesn’t need me here. It’s bad enough I have the trailer. Do you need the trailer, Jack? For anyone else?”

“It’s for temporary workers. We don’t need it though; we have other ones. We will, however, be hiring a decent ranch hand, now that shit-face is gone.”

“Shit-face being my brother?”

“Yeah. Exactly him.”

She stepped back and turned. “Okay, then I’ll be ready at three-thirty.”

“Someone will be there. Get some rest, Erin; you look like shit.”

She turned in surprise at his comment. She shouldn’t laugh. And should have been offended. But she wasn’t. Instead, she appreciated seeing the smile that lifted one side of Jack’s mouth before she spun around and hid inside her trailer.

****

Shane got the job of driving her to work and didn’t look too thrilled about it. He growled at her when she said good morning and didn’t speak the rest of the way to town. She felt bad; but also thought he could be a smidgeon more graceful about her situation. It wasn’t like she was disturbing Shane’s industrious life. Of all the brothers, he worked the least. He was usually off in his murky shop, rebuilding a machine of one kind or another.

When they pulled into the coffee stand, Shane noticed the sign, Bikini Babes Barista, but he merely raised his eyebrows, and gratefully for her, didn’t comment. She jumped out of the truck and waved him off, then waited for the manager to show up. After he opened the stand, he would have to provide her with a uniform to wear. She explained that everything she owned burned up in a fire when asked why she lacked a swimming suit. The manager was a guy in his fifties with a protruding belly and a bald head. He looked her over, just as he did when she turned in her application. She knew then, after assessing how much extra in tips her body could bring in, as well as repeat customers that this stand was her best option for a job.

Luckily, she’d done it before. It didn’t take much for her to learn the drinks. She’d just take home the menu and memorize the prices. She’d have to fake it through today and hope no one noticed that she couldn’t read one drink from another.

She also had to figure out a way to get there each day. She couldn’t rely on one of the Rydell brothers to cart her there and back to the ranch each day. It was ridiculous.

The job worked out. She faked her way through all the awkward moments, and flirted to increase her tips. She needed any money she could get. If that came from sticking her chest out a little further or wiggling her ass a little wider, so be it. She had to do something to fix her life.

A week into her strange new career, she came out of her trailer to find Jack parked in the driveway. He waved her over. Despite their proximity, she rarely saw Jack, or Joey either, for that matter. She stuck to her trailer, or the beach, and now work. Shane drove her there and back, but said nothing to her; and that was the extent of her life. She knew, however, Shane didn’t approve of her, and now, neither did Ian. Strangely, it seemed now purely because of Jack that her presence was tolerated.

She ran over to Jack and he looked up when she walked around the hood of the nineties model truck. He was sitting half in, half out as he gunned the engine, listening to it.

Then he got out and threw her the keys. “This should get you around.”

Her mouth opened. “You’re giving me a truck? But why? Where did it come from?”

“It was parked out beyond Shane’s shop for a few years. I don’t remember where we got it. Anyway, Shane spent a few hours to get it running again.”

She didn’t know what to say. Thank you, yet again? It wasn’t enough. It was never enough. Jack looked at her face, then laughed, “Shane was tired of driving you; that’s all.”

She nodded and looked away as tears felt close to falling. Everyone was tired of her. She was even tired of her. Yet here she was, desperate to receive their continued charity and pity.

“How are you fixed for food?”

She looked back at Jack. He was leaning his arm along the top of the open truck door. His eyes were fixed on her face. “Fine. I got paid yesterday. I can shop for groceries today.”

His gaze ran over her. “Do you have enough to eat?”

“Sure.”

“Have you shopped since I was last in there?”

She shrugged, and avoided his eyes.

He nodded. “Just as I thought. Joey’s had a week to get over it. We all have. Just come to dinner from now on. It’s stupid you’re out there all alone with nothing to eat and nothing to do.”

She shook her head no, feeling adamant on this one issue. She would not be more of a burden than she already had to be. “I have been thinking though, Jack. I could do work around here. Or in the house, you know, to offset some of what I owe you.”

He shook his head. “Lynnie does the house, and makes most of the meals. She counts on the job, so I can’t dismiss her.”

“Perhaps I could help in the barn.”

His eyebrows rose. “The barn? Like with the horses? You don’t even know how to touch them.”