Page 15 of Dodge

Tambre spoke up in a soft alto. “I have a salon a few streets over. Hair, nails, facials, waxing—all the things for ladies to treat themselves a little.”

I admitted I liked Tambre’s serene appearance. Something about her was calming and relaxing. She had long, shining dark hair with beautiful silver accents and a glowing skin tone. I didn’t know if it was natural or intended, but the effect was stunning. I thought there might have been some Native American blood in her.

Betsey started speaking again, and my easing attitude burred up.

“Our main place is the River’s Edge Bar, ’bout ten miles or so down the road.”

I put a tight smile on my face and prepared for claws to come out. “Checking out the competition?”

Betsey burst into laughter. “Competition? Lord have mercy, no. From what I’ve heard, you’re puttin’ in a swanky upscale restaurant. Our bar is just that—a bar with a little bit of bar food. I sling a little booze and a lot of beer. Nothin’ like what’s happenin’ here. I can’t wait to see what you do with it.”

Tambre’s eyes were on the half-finished walls. “Are you doing all this yourself?” Her voice was quieter, but something about it made you want to listen.

I pushed my headband back from where it had slipped over my forehead. “Yes, I am. The renovation budget is tight, so I have to put in some sweat equity.” My shoulders came up in a matter-of-fact shrug. “The more I can do myself, the more I have for investing in the place.”

Molly bobbed her head. “Makes perfect sense to me, but damn, that’s a lot of work for one person. You got anyone to help you?”

It hit me then, and I had to swallow. “No, I’m working alone.”

It was true. I was alone. My mom had a massive amount of disdain for my chosen field, and neither she nor anyone in my family made any offer to help me. I didn’t have the money to hire a big crew, just a few handymen to come in for the jobs I couldn’t do myself. Currently, my tiny apartment had a card table, folding chair, and an air mattress because I didn’t want to spend money on a bed.

“Pssssht!” Betsey flicked her nails at me. “That just ain’t right. You need some extra hands in here, bad.” She turned to Tambre. “How full is the garage and the campground? Think we can send a couple prospects down a couple times a week for the heavy stuff?”

“Weatherman is pretty busy ever since his mama got sick. Might could get Forge or Printer.”

Betsey frowned. “Printer isn’t very reliable. Brick’s not sure he’s gonna make it to patchin’. I ain’t sendin’ someone down to help unless they’re gonna do it. Rafter might help if he’s not on the river.”

Weatherman? Forge? Printer? What kind of people name their kids from TV ads?

Betsey turned back to me. “Have you thought about investors?”

My mouth tightened. So that was it. Local bigwigs coming in to offer money and eventually take over. Nope. Not happening. “Thank you for thinking of me, but I’m not interested in taking on investors. I don’t really want your hired help either.”

If my icy tone had any effect on the woman, it didn’t show. She smiled brightly and nodded. “I get that. There’s somethin’ real satisfyin’ ’bout doin’ stuff for yourself. We’ve all been there, but I’ll tell you straight up, ain’t no strings attached to my offer. My first job was working in a restaurant. An old diner owned by Moses Williams, God rest his soul. My daddy took my pay every week, and I had to squirrel away a little at a time, hopin’ one day I could leave this town and find better. I didn’t leave, but I did find better. So much better. I look at that as my obligation to pass on my blessings to people who need them the most.” She looked around at the bare diner walls. “I think you qualify, Fauna.”

My belly quivered with an unexpected warmth. My own mother flatly refused to have anything to do with me or my dreams of building my restaurant, but here was a stranger, offering to help me with no expectations. Yeah, I was skeptical, but the question popped in my brain: Did kind people like this really exist?

My mind flashed to a gorgeous male ass and beautiful back tattoo. Dodge had been kind during a moment when he could have taken advantage of me. The night I got so stinking drunk might have gone very differently if he hadn’t been there. I still wondered from time to time where he was and what might have happened should we have stayed in contact.

The buzz of the cell phone in my back pocket interrupted my thoughts. “I’m sorry, but I need to take this.”

Betsey winked at me. “No problem, darlin’. Let me know if you change your mind, but whatever you decide, come on down to the bar and I’ll buy you a beer. Or two.”

They walked out just as I turned away and answered the phone. “What’s up, Macie?”

“You can call me your fairy godmother,” his excited voice replied. “Or just fairy. Or just godmother. I don’t care. I found the motherlode! You know the O’Charley’s my friend Burgess has been serving at for so long? Girl, I knew there was something fishy going on. They just announced they’ve gone belly up, sold the place lock, stock, and barrel. The new owner is gutting everything and making it into a lamp and shade store of all things. The tables, chairs, and booths are getting ripped out and tossed in the trash this weekend. I’ve already filled up my trunk for you with dishes and kitchen stuff, and I’ll get another load tomorrow. Wanna go dumpster diving with me?”

My heart started beating like crazy at the possibility of saving a small fortune. “Is that legal?”

“I don’t see why not. They’re throwing it all out, and I doubt they care who comes and hauls it off.”

As long as the furnishings were in good shape, that would be such an advantage. O’Charley’s was a lot bigger than this place, so I could pick through and get the best stuff. That would save me thousands in start-up costs. I’d need a U-Haul truck, one of the big ones, and probably some boxes, packing blankets, and…

Shit, I was going to need bodies too. There was no way I could lift and move that much stuff by myself.

An idea formed in my head. “What’s the best time frame?”

“The Lamp King has people coming on Monday morning, so everything has to be out by Thursday, but those big dumpster things won’t be in place until Saturday afternoon. You’ll have all day Friday, as no one will be on the premises but me and whoever else wants to rummage through the stuff.”

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