Page 38 of Redemption

I shook my head vehemently. “I would never make a move. Jesus, could you imagine?”

“I dunno. She’s been single a while, she might be desperate enough,” Max laughed.

I paused. “I thought she was with that Leo guy?”

Max counted out some dollar bills to one side in a little stack. “Leo? Mr. Rodeo?” He waved his hand dismissively. “He’s like a brother to the girls. They’re not a thing.”

Interesting…wait, no that wasn’t interesting. I meant what I said to Max, I would never do that to Kat. To put her in that position would be overstepping beyond belief.

“That’s yours,” Max gestured to the little stack of bills.

“Mine?”

“Yeah, tips for tonight and a little extra to keep you going until your next paycheck is due.”

I didn’t know what to say. “Max, you don’t have to do that.”

“Well, you earned those tips and everyone needs helpsometimes. Just take it and don’t make things awkward.”

I hesitated a moment then took the money. “I won’t forget this, thank you.”

“So how do you think you’re gonna avoid Kat when you’re going to work with her?” he asked, closing the register, disappearing into the back to store the money in the safe.

I rubbed the back of my neck and sighed. “I have no idea.”

Max appeared again and headed towards the door, flicking the bar lights off. “I guess it’s a good thing you’ve got a new friend to vent to when the working day is done then.”

“I guess it is,” I smirked at him then unbolted the doors. We locked up and said goodbye. I watched as Max disappeared around the side of the bar to the staircase that must lead to the apartment above. I looked up at the sky, the moon and stars bright, shining on me all the way home.

As I got up to the ranch, I glanced up at the windows facing out front and could have sworn I saw Kat’s outline in one of them. I shook my head and trudged around to the cabin, to home.

I opened the door and breathed a big sigh of relief. First shift done. Second shift tomorrow and then a free day, Sunday, before starting ranch work on Monday. I trudged my tired old ass into the bedroom, stopping dead when I saw that mutt laying on the bed, not intimidated by me one bit.

We sized each other up, the dog tilting its head from side to side as it watched me. I ducked my head back out and saw it had eaten the food I’d put out. I glanced back and its tail wagged a little, not much but I saw it.

I sighed. “Well scoot over then, there’sroom for both of us,” I grumbled at my new dog, and we settled down for a good night’s sleep.

*

I was up before the sun fully rose on Monday morning, dressed in my jeans, new black t-shirt from the local thrift store and boots. I’d gone over the weekend with the money I’d earned Friday night and grabbed myself a few basic clothing items to tide me over. I’d bought new boxers from an actual store and couldn’t believe how much they cost.

I hadn’t actually spoken to Kat to find out what time she wanted me to start but I assumed it would be early. I hung around on the porch of the main house until it was six and then I knocked on the front door. I waited a beat as silence followed and then the door opened and August popped her head out.

“Oh, hello Jack,” she smiled softly.

“Morning August,” I said, smiling back.

“I think Kat’s just getting out of the shower, then she’ll need coffee before she’s any use.”

I chuckled. “Good to know.”

August peered behind her before she whispered, “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

I thought about it and was about to decline but when I realized I was probably gonna need it just as much as Kat would.

“Sure, that’s very kind of you,” I replied.

“I’ll bring it out to you, Daisy’s in the kitchen,” she hissed. I nodded, agreeing it was best if I stayed out of Daisy’s sight. I sat back down on the porch and a moment later the front door eased open again and a mug of coffee was pushed through the gap. I laughed tomyself at the difference between Sober August and Tipsy August.

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