Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
“I didn’t ask,” Amka said. “They’re here for the derby. Obvious enough.”
“The blond one’s kind of cute.” Daisy craned her neck to get a better look.
Amka turned her head. She hadn’t really noticed when she’d taken their water to them. One of them wore mirrored sunglasses on the back of his head like he thought it was still 1997. But the blond one wasn’t bad-looking. “They ordered burgers and a pitcher of beer.”
“Gotcha.” Gracefully turning, Daisy went to fill the pitcher.
Amka glanced into the kitchen. The grill was popping, and the smell of seared beef filled the air. Rudolph was at the flattop, flipping patties with the same efficiency he’d used since she was a kid. “You doing okay?” she called.
“Always.” His always gruff voice held a warmth in it. Rudolph had been with Sam’s Tavern longer than any of the names above the liquor license. He didn’t want to own the place, never had. Just wanted to cook, then go home to his land where he could hunt elk and pretend to ignore his doctor’s advice. “Start pushing the Cobb salad, would you?” He flipped two more patties with perfect formation.
Amka nodded and immediately regretted the action. The headache morphed into a sharp ache behind her eyes. She needed Advil. Or bourbon. Or both.
“You shouldn’t even be here,” Rudolph said, echoing Daisy without knowing it.
“I know,” Amka replied. “But I’m here anyway.” She winked at him.
He flushed, muttering as he turned back to the burgers. “Don’t flirt with me, young lady. I’m what they call a confirmed bachelor, and no woman is gonna change that. Ever.”
“I’d never want to change you.” She grinned. He was massive—a broad-chested, mountain-shaped man, still hauling around more than three hundred pounds, a lot of it muscle. His black hair had gone gray at the temples, but his eyes were sharp and bright, usually twinkling. She’d been trying to put him on a diet for two years, and he still snuck in fried bread and moose sausage every morning like she couldn’t smell it.
But he never called in sick, and he never let her down.
“How about a salad tonight?” Amka asked.
“Sure. I’d love one with my burger.”
She didn’t bother arguing considering her head wanted to explode like the storage building had earlier. “Let me know when the burgers are up.”
“I think you need to go sit down and make sure you’re okay,” he muttered, not looking up from the grill.
She stepped out from the kitchen and crossed the room, checking that everyone had what they needed, spotting a few empty pint glasses on one table, a napkin on the floor, but nothing out of control. She tucked her hair back and made a mental note to grab a fresh pitcher for the table against the far wall.
The front door creaked open.
Widow Flossy stepped inside wearing her bright purple coat and a pale pink knit hat pulled low over her short gray curls. She stood just over five feet tall, even wearing new black boots she’d purchased for the spring. Her gloves stayed in one hand, pinched tight together as she scanned the bar. “I came to help.” She walked toward the counter, pushing her gloves into her pockets. “Heard you got blown up yesterday.”
“There was a small fire.” Amka poured a mug of coffee for the elderly woman. “Besides a headache and a few bruises, I’m fine.”
Flossy pulled out a stool and sat, wobbling before steadying. “You sure?”
“I am, and I figured you’d be busy at your place.”
Flossy ran the only bed-and-breakfast in town. The place was old, solid, and booked out most of tourist season. She took a sip of the coffee. “We’re family, Amka.” She leaned in, her gaze softening. “I owe you. Besides, the McGregor girls are covering the desk tonight. Loud, but they can fold towels.”
From the kitchen, the sound of the spatula hitting the grill picked up. Rudolph was moving fast, but steady.
“Would you like anything to eat? The Cobb is the special, but I’m sure Rudy will make you one of those cheese crepes you like,” Amka said. Flossy loved the fancier dishes.
Flossy cupped both hands around the mug. “I already ate, but thank you. I heard Christian pulled you out of the fire.”
An inappropriate heat flushed through Amka. “He came through the flames to get me.”
Flossy smiled, showing perfect dentures. “It’s always the quiet ones. You can count on them.”
To be heroic, sure. But not to be stable.
Jarod walked over from the dartboard, beer in hand. “What are we talking about?”
Flossy didn’t look at him. “I was wondering why Amka is working so hard while being injured and you’re over there playing pool?” She sniffed.
Amka bit back a wince.
Jarod looked at her, then shook his head and walked around the bar to the till. “Hey, I just lost twenty bucks to Rocco playing darts.” He opened the drawer and pulled a bill from the stack.