Page 5 of A Cowboy Christmas

“I can help,” I offer, but she shakes her head.

“You heard me.” Joy nudges me along to the back of the restaurant.

“Thanks.” I’m dying to get off my feet, and although Joy said after a while I’d get used to being on them so much, I’m not sure I’ll have that chance. I know I’m on thin ice with George.

I knock on the door to the small office he has in the back. “Sit.” He motions to the only other chair, and I drop down onto it. George pulls off his glasses, tossing them on his desk before glaring at me. “This isn’t working.”

“Okay.” I can’t argue with him. I know I’m a mess, but I did manage not to break anything else today. But I’m thinking that doesn’t count for much.

“Why’d Booker run off like that?”

“I don’t know,” I say honestly. “He barely touched his coffee. Then he was out of here. ” I keep the job offer from Booker a secret.

“Damn it.” George lets out a huff.

“I really am sorry there isn’t more to tell you.”

“I’ll just have to try and get a meeting with him.” He runs a hand down his face, and I think he’s talking more to himself than me.

“So I’m fired?”

"At this rate, everyone will lose their job."

He shoves some of the papers on his desk in frustration, and a few swirl to the floor. When I reach down and pick them up, my eyes run over the documents.

“You want some help with this?” I ask, although I have no reason to be nice to George.

I’ve promised myself I won't be a jerk just because other people are. My grandma always told me to kill them with kindness and never sink to their level. People will eventually bury themselves.

“What?” He glances over to me, seeing the papers in my hand. “Give me those.”

“Sorry, I'm only trying to help. I mean, not to be rude, but this is kind of old school.” I place the papers on the desk and shrug. “If it’s money issues, maybe I could take a peek?” George’s eyes narrow. “I’m not my father, and unlike him I actually have some education under my belt.” What he’s doing at the diner is pretty basic stuff.

“Not like there’s anything to steal.” George scoffs a humorless laugh.

“So?” I ask, and even I’m wondering what I’m doing. I’m not going to sit around here without a reason when I can go home and check on Grandpa and start searching for a new job. Grandpa can be by himself, I just don't like leaving him alone for too long.

“Fine.” George stands. “It’s all yours.” He waves a hand over his desk.

“Really?”

He shrugs again. It might be nice to maybe prove myself. “I just need to call my grandpa and let him know I’ll be late.” When I stand up, I remember the pain in my hip and flinch.

"All right, how about I make some dinner you can take home for him?"

“That would be really sweet of you.”

“Don’t get used to it,” George grumbles before leaving me alone in his office.

I’m not fired. I’ll take my small win and for now breathe a sigh of relief. These moments never seem to last.

Chapter Four

Booker

Mary Beth Carpenter is a busybody around town, and I do my best to avoid her when possible. She’s the one that organizes the town’s annual tour of homes where people dress up their home or business for Christmas and then everyone comes and looks at how nice it is. I never understood the appeal of something like that, but Mary Beth and all her church friends make a big deal about it being the event of the season.

She was the one that signed me up for it without me really agreeing to it and then said all the money from the sale of the tickets went to charity. I would have much rather donated straight to the charity, but she said if I had my barn on the tour, it would encourage other people to participate. Reluctantly, I agreed. Which is probably why she’s chasing me down in the parking lot of the diner.

---