by Tegan Maher
I considered her offer; I knew less about construction than I did about keeping a fire going. I knew I could learn both skills, but even if I became a master carpenter, it was still too large an undertaking for me to do by myself. I smiled and held out my hand. “Deal.”
We shook on it and decided to get her belongings from the apartment as soon as the sheriff cleared it. “I have a great couch and a big smart TV that I got on Black Friday,” she said. “and I have a gorgeous farm table a friend gave to me when she moved, but it’s in storage. I didn’t have enough room for it in the apartment. That outta help make this place look like a home.”
Glancing around at the sparse furnishings, I couldn’t argue with her there. “My furniture should be coming any day, but I don’t have a ton. And it’s not like we have a shortage of rooms to furnish between here and the lodge. Eventually, anyway.”
“It’s decided then,” she said, some of the worry disappearing from her face.
“Do you know if any of the businesses in town are hiring? The faster I can bring in cash, the better.”
Dee bit her lip as she thought. “Not really. Like I said, jobs are hard to come by around here. The diner isn’t busy enough for me to need a third waitress. If you were a short-order cook, we may be in business, though.”
I shook my head. That would be a disaster.
“I know the newspaper is fully staffed and has been for twenty years,” she went on, “so short of somebody dying, you’re out of luck there. The convenience store is usually looking for someone, but you wouldn’t make enough money there to do you any good.” She paused, casting me an appraising look. “How do you feel about bartending? I think The Dead End is hiring. But it seems like he’s always hiring.”
“What’s The Dead End?” I asked.
“It’s the local bar. He’s always looking for bartenders”
I raised my eyebrows. Not a good sign that he was always on the hunt for somebody willing to work there. “Oh. Why does he have a hard time keeping employees?”
“Because he always hires friends or family, and they usually end up slacking off because they think they can. He’s a nice guy and everything. Just has some family who act like they’re part owner in his business.”
Relief washed through me. At least it wasn’t because he sucked as a boss, so that sounded promising. Fast cash and a good way to get to know the locals. And in the short term, a bar might be the perfect place to dig around and find out who might have killed Fiona. Everybody talked to their bartenders and hairdressers. “Well, that’ll be my first stop this morning, then.”
Chapter 10
THE DEAD END WASN’T too hard to find, but I doubted anything in Mercy was. It was on the main strip and took up two spaces between a western store and a tech repair place, and all the buildings on the block had the requisite false fronts with a few parking spots up front and a bigger shared lot in the rear.
There were even hitching posts outside several of them and I wondered if they were there for looks or function. I’d seen several horse trailers and pickups with saddles thrown in the backs, and considering Mercy was just sort of plunked down in the middle of nowhere, I didn’t think it was outside the realm of possibility that somebody would ride a horse to town.
I wasn’t sure quite what to expect of the bar, but from the classic rock drifting out the front doors, I was pretty sure there’d be pool tables, darts, and probably nametags on a few of the stools.
Taking a deep breath, I smoothed my t-shirt and checked my reflection in the one-way window glass, then pulled the door open.
A heavyset balding man stood behind the bar wiping glasses and shooting the breeze with a grizzled man with rheumy but friendly eyes and a bulbous nose. I’d lay even money he was one of the guys with a permanent stool.
“Hi,” I said, smiling as I approached the bar. “Are you the owner?”
“The one and only.” He set down his glass and rag and stuck his hand out to me over the bar. “The name’s Don. What can I do for you?”
“My name’s Toni.” I accepted his hand and shook. “Rumor has it, you might be looking to hire a bartender and I was hoping I could apply.”
He raised a brow. “Does the person behind this rumor have a name?”
“She does,” I replied, tilting my head and smiling. “Dee. She works over at Fiona’s café.”
Don’s face grew serious. “Yeah. I know Dee. Good kid. Too bad her aunt was mean as a wolverine on crack.” He turned and walked back around the bar. “Do you know anything about tending a bar?”
I nodded, climbing up on one of the stools right in front of him. There were some trophy animal heads hanging in the game room over the pool tables, and a few more above the bar. I was going to take some time to get used to all the animals staring at me, since it seemed to be the norm in Mercy. Pictures of cowboys and some worn lariats decorated the remaining walls.
This place was small and had a western feel to it, but maybe that was just because I was an outsider. I’m sure that to everybody else, it was just a regular bar. Judging from the lack of patrons, I figured working there would be a cakewalk compared to the hustle and bustle of the Florida scene. “I’ve tended a few bars, but mostly I’ve cocktailed.”
Don laughed. “Well,” he said, gesturing around the bar, “as you can see, business isn’t booming enough for me to need a cocktail waitress. But if you do have some bartending experience, I could certainly use that.” He picked up his rag and began polishing glasses again. “You probably don’t even need that much drink-making experience. We mostly just serve simple stuff—beer, rum and coke, etcetera. But every now and then, some city dweller will pass through and order one of those frou-frou drinks. Mind you, it’s rare, but it does happen.”
I nodded. “I think I could handle that.” I fished in my purse and pulled out a pen to fill out whatever paperwork he required.
Don waved it away. “You don’t need that. I don’t have people fill out applications, and I pay under the table, at least until I’m sure you’re gonna stick around.” He shrugged. “It’s easier that way all around. You just show up tomorrow night at five and the job’s yours.”
“Okay, then,” I said, grinning. “I’ll see you at five tomorrow!” That was the easiest job interview I’d ever been on. I turned and hopped off my stool and was almost to the door when Don’s voice stopped me.
“And, Toni?”
I turned back around.
“Give Dee my best. That poor girl doesn’t deserve the crap she’s been put through.”
I smiled and nodded. “I will. Thanks, Don.”
A broad smile covered my face. That was one task accomplished. Now off to get some supplies and head back to the lodge.
Chapter 11
DEE WAS OUT BACK CHOPPING wood when I returned, and Bear was lying in the shade of some nearby trees. Dee set down her ax when she saw me coming and wiped her head with the back of her hand. “So how’d it go?” she said a little breathlessly.
I nodded my head and smiled. “Really well. I didn’t have to fill out an application or anything.” I shrugged. “And the interview was pretty conversational and easy. I’ve never applied for a job that was so laid back.”
Dee laughed. “Small towns tend to be that way. Everybody knows everybody else, and they don’t have all that cynicism the big city people tend to have. The only drawback is that everybody knows everybody else’s business, too. There really are no secrets in a small town.”
I chuckled as I tucked my hair behind my ears. “I kind of figured that out when the dispatcher shared Fiona’s story with me, including uncorroborated rumors.”
Dee rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Yeah. Linda’s the worst. But she knows all the town secrets because everybody calls her for everything. I just wish she wouldn’t share so much of what she knows with anybody that’ll listen.”
“She mentioned there were some rumors that Fiona was having an affair,” I said. “Do you know if your aunt was seeing
anyone? That could help us figure out who killed her, or at least give us a place to start.”
Dee shook her head. “You saw how awful she was. Do you think any guy in his right mind would get involved with that?”
I chewed on my lip and shook my head. I honestly couldn’t imagine how bad a marriage would have to be to drive someone to cheat on his spouse with the likes of Fiona. Still, they said there was somebody for everybody, and I’d met married couples where at least one person was as miserable as Fiona. I said as much, and she considered it.
“I guess it’s possible,” she said, “But there’s one other thing you have to factor in. The other thing about small towns that really sucks is that sometimes when people run out of true or almost-true things to talk about, they start making crap up. And if you get on the wrong person’s bad side, they’ll make stuff up just to try to ruin your life.”
That was one of the upsides about Orlando—the other side of the anonymity coin. There were so many people that you could just disappear. I mean, other than close friends and family, no one really bothered with you or got into your business all that much. Sure, there were people out there who loved to make other people’s lives miserable, but in a big city, you could avoid them. I didn’t imagine that was too easy to do in a small town like this.
I sighed. “So are you hungry?”
Dee nodded her head. “I think I’m done here for today.”
She’d filled about one-third of the woodshed and had a small pile left to put in.
“You know, I didn’t bring you here to work you to death.”
Dee picked a sliver out of her hand. “I know. But it’s the least I can do to repay you for all you’ve done for me.” She shrugged. “Besides, it helps keep my mind busy, and Gabe hasn’t cleared the café yet. Might as well find some way to make myself useful. And it’s good exercise.”
I walked with her back to the cabin. “Well, you don’t have to, but if you insist, just know that I do appreciate it. I need to learn how to do it, too.”
Dee gave me a sideways glance and laughed. “I like to stay warm just as much as you do. And until we get you trained up on being a proper country girl, it looks like that’s one of the things that’ll fall to me. Oh, and we now have hot water.”
My gaze shot to her. “Are you serious? If so, you’re my new favorite person. I was dreading taking a cold shower but was about ready to take the plunge. What was wrong with it?”
She waved me off. “It was just turned off. They probably did it to reduce the risk of the place blowing up since nobody lived here.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, I sent a thank you to the universe. That was one big chunk of money I could now put toward renovation rather than survival.
I put my arm around her shoulders as we walked. “Wanna go tour the lodge after we eat lunch? I didn’t do much when I got here other than step through the front door.”
“Sounds good. I’ve been dying to see it, and we may even be able to knock out some of the small stuff if you want to. I’m sure there’s something we can do just to light the fire and make it feel a little less daunting.”
I smiled, again picturing the hot mess in my mind. “That would be nice. Right now, any sliver of progress will be a good thing, because I’m having a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Chapter 12
WE’D UNPACKED ALL THE groceries and supplies from the SUV and were just finishing up lunch when somebody knocked at the door. My body immediately tensed as I went to answer it, afraid it was the sheriff again.
A small moving van was parked next to my SUV, and the driver was standing on my stoop with a clipboard and pen at the ready.
“Antonia?” he asked. “Antonia Owens?”
“Toni,” I corrected automatically.
He indicated the truck. “We have some of your stuff ready for drop off. Do you want it here or up at that hotel? We stopped there first, but nobody was there. Lucky for you, I saw the second road.”
“Here’s fine, thanks.” I glanced around the small room, hoping it would all fit. If not, then I’d store some of it at the lodge.
I held the door open as they hauled my couch into the small living room. Dee and I quickly shuffled some boxes around to make room. They were starting to haunt me because I never felt settled in a new house until I had everything unpacked and in its place. I’d start on that once we got back from the lodge if we had time.
Next came my bed. It was in pieces, but here nonetheless. Happiness bubbled through me at the sight of it. I’d never appreciated it so much as I did right that minute; it didn’t have any springs that liked to dig into various body parts in the middle of the night like the one I’d been enduring for the last couple of nights. That old bed was going away today.
They brought in a coffee table, two end tables, a dresser, my microwave, and a few stray boxes I hadn’t been able to fit into my car.
Dee looked around. “I don’t think we could have planned this any better if we’d tried. You have all the furniture I don’t and vice versa, and we don’t even have any duplicates. Well, except we have two couches, but something tells me we’re gonna need the extra one.” She arched a brow and cast a glance at Bear.
“Truck’s empty,” the young kid called.
I reached in my purse to pull out a tip for the two men, but the older man waved me off. “Steve took care of it.”
“Oh,” I said as I pulled out a couple bills anyway. I forced a smile; it wasn’t their fault just hearing my ex-husband’s name set my teeth on edge. “Then today’s a good day. Have lunch or a beer on me,” I said as, handing him two tens. I followed the man to the door and closed it behind him.
Dee smiled, her eyes lit up with curiosity. “So who’s Steve?”
I sighed. “My ex-husband.”
The smile drained from her face. “Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
I opened the flap on the nearest box and started digging. “It’s not a big deal. Things just don’t always work out the way you hope they will.”
“So what happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”
I shrugged and kept digging. “Nothing really. We just grew apart. Our careers took up way too much time, and before I knew it, I was living with someone I didn’t know anymore. Or maybe it was me that changed. He was one of those people who always felt the need to order for me, and make decisions for me. In the beginning, I thought it was chivalrous, but it became stifling.”
I thought of the straw that broke the camel’s back. “We’d been saving up for a new car for me because mine was shot. I’d had my eye on one of the new Mustangs, and busted my butt taking on extra projects to get it. He went out and got me that”—I motioned toward where my car was parked outside—“one day while I was at work. He said it was more sensible than a sports car.”
It sounded petty when I said it out loud, but it wasn’t about the car so much as it was about him not respecting my wishes or valuing my input, or even caring what I wanted. I’d had no voice in anything we did.
“Well, I’m sorry just the same,” she said.
I smiled. “That chapter of my life is closed. I’m starting a new one in this small town, at the lodge, with people like you. I refuse to look back and dwell on the what ifs, the could haves, or the should haves. I choose to focus on looking forward to what’s going to be.”
A grin spread across Dee’s face as she nodded. “I like that. And I, for one, think you picked the right place.”
I smiled, happy that I’d already met somebody I liked. “And as for what may best, do you want to help me take that nightmare of a bed apart and haul it up to the lodge since we’re going anyway? Then maybe tonight I can sleep in my bed.”
Dee giggled. “If we can get Bear out of it. Apparently, it’s siesta time.” She smirked. “Maybe you should keep that rickety old bed for him. I think he’s going to take over yours if you don’t.”
I glanced in my bedroom. Sure enough, there was Bear, spread a
cross the entire thing, his head on my pillow. I used to be the only one allowed to crash on that pillow, but it looked like I was going to be making an exception ... even if he was a coward.
Chapter 13
I TOOK A DEEP BREATH as I shoved the key into the front door lock of the lodge and jiggled it until I felt the tumblers give. I’d researched house-buying laws the night before, and short of a lawsuit that would require money I didn’t have, I was stuck with the place. Hopefully, the damage upstairs would be minimal, or at least easy to fix with elbow grease rather than costly materials.
“Ready?” I asked Dee, who was bouncing on her toes, eager to get her first look at the place.
“Ready,” she said. “Just remember—there’s very little that can’t be fixed if you know how to do it. And between me and Scout, I figure we pretty much have it covered. And I’m sure you’ll catch on. Shoot, you probably have some skills yourself that you don’t realize you have yet.”
I snorted as I pushed the door open. “Don’t count on it. And it’s great that you two are offering to help, but I don’t have money to pay Scout, and I doubt he’d be willing to take on a major renovation for free. For that matter, I wouldn’t ask him to do it even if he was. And it’s not fair to ask you to work for nothing, either. I wouldn’t feel right charging you more than a few hundred bucks for rent, and you’d have that worked off in two days.”
While I was talking, she was meandering around the great room. “That’s something we can work on when the time comes. For now, let’s make a list of what needs to be done to get this place livable, and a second one to address aesthetics. I don’t think it’s going to be as bad as you thought,” she said, furrowing her brow at the dark spots on the ceiling.
