Anderson owns it. Only thing is it’s out on the county line. You got a car?”
Phoebe almost answered yes, until she remembered the car she had was a rental she didn’t own, and a dead man occupied the trunk. Her shoulders slumped, along with her hopes. “No.”
Judy tapped the end of her pen to her chin. “Hmm. There’s always the chance one of the other waitresses could give you a ride if your shifts match.” She wrote a number on her order pad and ripped off a page. “Here’s her phone number. It’s worth giving her a call. Audrey always needs waitresses and the tips are good. A lot better than here.” She winked. “I’d work there myself, but I’m getting too old for the late nights.”
Phoebe folded the paper and slipped it into her jeans pocket. She’d give this Audrey person a call when she found a phone she could use for free.
Judy had turned and walked a few steps when she spun back around. “In case you don’t have a phone, you can use the one on the counter.” She walked away, pointing at the phone as she passed it on her way to the kitchen with Phoebe’s order.
The waitress’s smile was so warm and friendly Phoebe’s throat thickened and her eyes stung.
So far, the people she’d met in Hellfire had bent over backward to help her. Would they be as open and friendly if they knew what was in the trunk of the rental car?
Phoebe pushed back her shoulders and stood. She’d just have to make sure they didn’t find out. And if she could get a job at the Ugly Stick Saloon, she might not have to get in touch with her father to have him or her mother send her wallet with her identification. She could request it from the DMV and avoid letting her family know where she was until she was good and ready to reveal her location. Hopefully, after she proved she could live on her own, without her father’s money or connections.
With her newfound freedom and independence stiffening her backbone, she marched to the counter, lifted the phone and entered the phone number for Audrey Anderson.
After only one ring, a female voice answered. “This is Audrey.”
Never having interviewed for a job, much less over the phone, Phoebe’s brain froze, and she struggled to come up with an introduction. Finally, she said, “Hi, I’m Phoebe.”
Audrey chuckled, the sound warm and friendly. “Well, Phoebe, what can I do for you?”
She glanced around the diner, her gaze meeting Judy’s.
The waitress smiled again and nodded.
Those gestures gave Phoebe the courage to forge on. “I’m new in town, and I was wondering if you needed any help at the…” what was the name of the place?
“At the Ugly Stick?” Audrey assisted. “As a matter of fact, I’m short two waitresses tonight. I’m filling in for one of them, but I could use another. Talk about great timing. Do you own a pair of denim cut-offs?”
Frayed cut-offs had been one of the items Peg had insisted she select. Phoebe answered, “Yes.”
“Can you be here in an hour?”
Audrey didn’t waste time. “I could, if I could get a ride from Hellfire.”
“No problem. My husband is headed this way about then, he can give you a lift, and I can bring you back to town after we close.”
“That would be wonderful.” Phoebe hugged the phone to her ear, tears welling in her eyes. “Thank you so much.”
“No,” Audrey said. “Thank you! We’ll be swamped tonight with the tri-county rodeo going on. This will be a big help to me.”
Phoebe provided the address of her garage apartment. Audrey stated her husband, Jackson, had business in Hellfire anyway, and would be there in forty-five minutes. After she hung up, Phoebe returned to her table where Judy had set a glass of water.
Minutes later, the waitress brought her food.
The golden toasted grilled cheese sandwich looked better than any of the high-dollar chef-prepared dinners she’d eaten in the past. So hungry she could barely see straight, she wolfed down the sandwich and the potato
Phoebe almost answered yes, until she remembered the car she had was a rental she didn’t own, and a dead man occupied the trunk. Her shoulders slumped, along with her hopes. “No.”
Judy tapped the end of her pen to her chin. “Hmm. There’s always the chance one of the other waitresses could give you a ride if your shifts match.” She wrote a number on her order pad and ripped off a page. “Here’s her phone number. It’s worth giving her a call. Audrey always needs waitresses and the tips are good. A lot better than here.” She winked. “I’d work there myself, but I’m getting too old for the late nights.”
Phoebe folded the paper and slipped it into her jeans pocket. She’d give this Audrey person a call when she found a phone she could use for free.
Judy had turned and walked a few steps when she spun back around. “In case you don’t have a phone, you can use the one on the counter.” She walked away, pointing at the phone as she passed it on her way to the kitchen with Phoebe’s order.
The waitress’s smile was so warm and friendly Phoebe’s throat thickened and her eyes stung.
So far, the people she’d met in Hellfire had bent over backward to help her. Would they be as open and friendly if they knew what was in the trunk of the rental car?
Phoebe pushed back her shoulders and stood. She’d just have to make sure they didn’t find out. And if she could get a job at the Ugly Stick Saloon, she might not have to get in touch with her father to have him or her mother send her wallet with her identification. She could request it from the DMV and avoid letting her family know where she was until she was good and ready to reveal her location. Hopefully, after she proved she could live on her own, without her father’s money or connections.
With her newfound freedom and independence stiffening her backbone, she marched to the counter, lifted the phone and entered the phone number for Audrey Anderson.
After only one ring, a female voice answered. “This is Audrey.”
Never having interviewed for a job, much less over the phone, Phoebe’s brain froze, and she struggled to come up with an introduction. Finally, she said, “Hi, I’m Phoebe.”
Audrey chuckled, the sound warm and friendly. “Well, Phoebe, what can I do for you?”
She glanced around the diner, her gaze meeting Judy’s.
The waitress smiled again and nodded.
Those gestures gave Phoebe the courage to forge on. “I’m new in town, and I was wondering if you needed any help at the…” what was the name of the place?
“At the Ugly Stick?” Audrey assisted. “As a matter of fact, I’m short two waitresses tonight. I’m filling in for one of them, but I could use another. Talk about great timing. Do you own a pair of denim cut-offs?”
Frayed cut-offs had been one of the items Peg had insisted she select. Phoebe answered, “Yes.”
“Can you be here in an hour?”
Audrey didn’t waste time. “I could, if I could get a ride from Hellfire.”
“No problem. My husband is headed this way about then, he can give you a lift, and I can bring you back to town after we close.”
“That would be wonderful.” Phoebe hugged the phone to her ear, tears welling in her eyes. “Thank you so much.”
“No,” Audrey said. “Thank you! We’ll be swamped tonight with the tri-county rodeo going on. This will be a big help to me.”
Phoebe provided the address of her garage apartment. Audrey stated her husband, Jackson, had business in Hellfire anyway, and would be there in forty-five minutes. After she hung up, Phoebe returned to her table where Judy had set a glass of water.
Minutes later, the waitress brought her food.
The golden toasted grilled cheese sandwich looked better than any of the high-dollar chef-prepared dinners she’d eaten in the past. So hungry she could barely see straight, she wolfed down the sandwich and the potato
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