Page 19 of Spiritwarrior

Hastily looking down at her plate when she caught Jody glowering at her for staring at Isaac, she dipped her fries into the ketchup and turned her mind back to what Silas was saying.

“We’d be happy to help out any way we can. My sister used to work at the diner before she got married. I’ll have her stop by and give you some pointers about drawing the customers back. Jody and Jacob are at a loose end once we get this current job done. If you get busy and need some help, they can swing by and pitch in.”

Sophie leaned back in her chair. “Thank you, but I can’t accept your help. I’ll be lucky to keep the lights on until my parents get here.”

“My brothers don’t expect any money.”

Sophie stared at Silas suspiciously. Why would a stranger help her out? The lawyer had warned her about some of Marty’s accomplices attempting to befriend her.

“Kentuckians might be known for their bourbon, but we couldn’t hold our heads up if we didn’t show you some southern hospitality,” Silas told her, his reassuring voice soothing her fear that she wouldn’t be able to keep the restaurant afloat. “Don’t worry; just think of us as your new Kentucky family.”

“Thank you, but I couldn’t impose on your kindness.” Sophie couldn’t resist a lingering look toward Isaac. The last thing she thought about when she stared at the gorgeous males sitting around the table was family. “I appreciate the hospitality you’ve shown me.”

Silas nodded. “Just keep my offer in mind. If you need anything, just reach out to me. One of the boys or I can be here in a few minutes. When I check out, I’ll leave our numbers and Ginny’s. She’d be a big help until your parents get here.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said with a smile.

Silas looked toward his brothers. “If you’re done, we better get back to work.”

When the men stood up, Sophie did, too, to go behind the counter to the cash register.

Silas approached the register as the men stood behind him. Taking out his wallet, he waited for her to give him the total. Sophie did, which was half as much as she should have charged for the food.

“Ma’am, you need to check your register. That doesn’t seem like you charged me enough.”

Sophie smiled at him. “I gave you the family discount.”

Chapter Eight

“You’re so fucked,” Isaac joked as they reached the parking lot.

“I am not.”

“Seemed that way to me, too,” Matthew agreed, taking Isaac’s side. “There was only one man at the table she had eyes for, and it was not you.”

Jody glared at his brothers. “She noticed me.”

Jacob gave him a pitying glance. “Yeah, when you asked for the ketchup.”

“You too, Jacob?”

“Sorry, bro, but it was hard to miss.”

Jody wanted to grind his teeth but was too conscious about how much money Silas had spent fixing them. “She’ll warm up to me.”

Moses gave him a consoling pat on his shoulder. “You know I’m in your corner, but unless there is a freak snowstorm where we get ten inches of snow, and her electric goes out, she isn’t going to be warming up anytime soon.”

“Don’t worry, Jody.” Isaac gave him a mock serious look. “I’ll throw her back your way if she hits on me.”

Jody narrowed his eyes on his other brother. “I’m confident in my game. How about you, Isaac? You might have the prettier face, but we both know who the ladies come to when they want a touchdown.”

Silas gave Isaac and him dark looks. “I wouldn’t be bragging about who scored the most touchdowns. I’ve warned both of you that just because you know you have soul mates, that doesn’t mean you’ll end up with them. Dad never got his.”

All of his brothers turned serious.

Grief filled Jody’s heart. There wasn’t a day that went by that he didn’t miss his father. Freddy was the type of father other children wished they had. He had his own way of looking at things, which was why he had homeschooled them, disciplined them with love, and never let them forget how much he loved them.

“We need to get back to work and get as much done as possible today,” Silas said, taking out his truck keys. “Jody, you might as well come with us. You can try again tomorrow.”

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