Chapter 5
LAWSON
After the night I ran into Ethan coming out of the washroom, I was too embarrassed to come back here, so I was washing my hair in the woods where I found that nice little hideaway.
I would just buy gallon jugs of water at the grocery store.
It was awkward at first, but then worked out fine.
It was just that the facilities left much to be desired. But it was totally temporary.
It was loud with the ruckus of the crickets and frogs, but it was also soothing.
On my days off, I went to the local library and mapped my route to Texas.
After searching for jobs, I noticed someone was looking for a cook on a ranch.
That really appealed to me and I thought it would be a good idea to be self-sufficient and out of the public eye on someone’s large spread.
Maybe eventually, my pursuers would give up.
But the thought of leaving Outlaws…okay leaving Ethan and Brax…okay…leaving Ethan…hurt in a way I couldn’t quite figure out. Distance didn’t help because he was always there, bartending.
At least I was getting more sleep, I thought, yawning as I walked through the back door, ready to get the coffee started. I poured in the grounds for several pots and got it brewing. Then went into the dining area to start filling the salt and pepper shakers.
“Morning,” I heard a deep, smoky voice. I spun to find Ethan looking like a mess, sawdust on his clothes and in his hair. He looked peaked as if he wasn’t sleeping well. I’d seen it in my mirror enough to know what it looked like.
“Good morning. You’re a mess,” I said. Without thinking, I brushed at his clothes and hair, then froze. What the hell did I think I was doing? I stepped back, slipping my hands into my apron pockets.
“I’ve been working on a project for Brax. I’m going home and getting cleaned up. I’ll be back in about an hour.”
“All right,” I said as he left.
I went about my normal routine when the phone rang. I went over and said, “Outlaws.”
“Lawson, it’s Brax. I’m running late. River had a meeting this morning and the trips have colds. I should be able to be there later this afternoon. Martha’s car broke down, so she’s out, too. How are you on the basic fare?”
“I can make eggs, bacon and toast, but other than that, I’m useless.”
“That’s perfect. My patrons are used to my changing the menu. But, my biscuit recipe is in the small box by the stove. If you could whip up some of those, that would be good, too.”
“All right. I think I can handle it until you get in.”
“Thank you for covering.”
“You bet.” I hung up and got to work. I heated up the griddle and the stove, made the biscuits and had those baking, then I did the rest of what was needed. I opened the doors just before six o’clock.
Immediately someone pushed inside and the minute he cleared the door, I saw the gun. I gasped and he grabbed me by the arm. He smelled like smoke and cheap liquor, his breath hot and sour.
“Don’t scream or it’ll be over for you. Where’s the cash?”
“In the register,” I whispered, pointing to the bar. He hurt my arm he was holding me so tight.
Dragging me over to the register, he said, “Open it.”
I did as I was told and was appalled to see so much still in the drawer. Brax needed more regular deposits. He shoved me hard, and I stumbled into the side of the bar, cracking my elbow and my ribs. He ripped wads of cash out of the drawer.
I don’t know where Ethan came from, but one minute he wasn’t there, the next minute he had easily disarmed the man and had him against the bar, his arm twisted up behind him until the guy cried out.
“Ethan,” I said breathlessly.
“Are you all right?” His tone held an underlining anger, but his eyes were calm, the violence he contained in those impressive muscles under his control. He leaned down after my nod. “You move a muscle and you won’t be able to move for a very long time. You got me, son?”
“Yes,” the guy bit out when Ethan torqued his arm. Ethan let him go long enough to scoop up the gun. He ejected the bullet in the chamber and then set the safety. That’s when the guy bolted, making a run for the front door. I stuck out my foot and he went sprawling.
“Nice, Lawson,” he said with a chuckle as he hauled the guy up off the floor and grabbed both of his hands in his big one. Marching him back over to the bar, he said, “Call the sheriff.”
Those words made me freeze. I wasn’t keen on law enforcement, and I had solid reasons for it. The men after me would stop at nothing and they used and abused their power both with me and the system. But how could I argue?
I grabbed the phone and Ethan rattled off the number. It wasn’t long before a man came through the door dressed in blue jeans, a camel colored shirt with a silver star on it, a gun holstered on his hip. “Ma’am,” he said, nodding to me. “Mike Dalton.”
“Lawson Edwards. Nice to meet you.” He was a middle-aged, tall, broad-shouldered man with a boyish face and a twinkle in his eyes. I liked him right away.
He turned to the robber and sighed, “Jimmy, haven’t I given you enough room and board, son? The judge is going to throw the book at you. I’m thinking you really need AA and a ten-step program.”
The man remained sullen as the sheriff pulled out a pair of cuffs.
“Nice job, Ethan. I swear, boy, your talents are wasted behind this bar. Speaking of that, I’m going to be shorthanded for the festival next week.
Would you be available to fill in. With your military training, I wouldn’t have to worry about breaking you in. ”
Ethan hesitated for a split second, something flashing in his eyes. Then, he nodded. “Sure, Mike. I got you covered.”
Ethan had been in the military? That explained the air of authority around him, the close-cropped hair, and the honed body. It also explained how he’d easily subdued that guy. As soon as the sheriff was gone, he came into the kitchen. I had managed to save the biscuits.
He walked right up to me. “Are you sure you’re okay? He didn’t hurt you?”
“No, just scared me.”
He was standing so close. Kissing close and as soon as that popped into my head, I couldn’t seem to resist looking at his mouth and those full, enticing lips.
He smelled so damn good again, that spicy and citrus smell making me lean into him.
He cupped my lower back and pressed small circles there as if he was trying to release the tension so evident in my body.
I shivered and he felt it. His face softened, his head tilting.
“I’m sorry you were scared,” he whispered.
“But, you’re safe here. After work, don’t go rushing off. I want to show you something.”
That sent another wonderful shiver down my spine, and I lifted my chin to look him in the eyes. This close they were more green than blue and that took my breath away.
Boots clopped on the stairs and the back door opened. Braxton came into the kitchen, and Ethan moved away from me. Even though I was relieved, I was also disappointed. He froze studying our faces. “You two look like something happened.”
Ethan explained, and Brax swore a blue streak.
That was one thing about him. The “f” word seemed to be his go to word.
Then he asked me several times if I was okay, more serious than I’d ever seen him.
After that, there was no time for anything else.
Customers were filing in, and people needed to be fed.
Later on in the day, I headed into the kitchen and heard Brax swearing softly. I looked into his office and he had his head in his hands.
“Brax?”
He raised his head and said, “I wish there was someone in this town who could do more than just add and subtract.”
I came into the room and got a little excited. “I have experience with numbers. It’s a bit slow, want me to take a look for you?”
“Gladly.” He rose and indicated I should have a seat. His phone rang, and he said, “Boone. My tripdar was going off. What’s up?”
He moved into the kitchen, still talking to his brother. I looked at the screen and groaned. Geez, was this man still living in the dark ages. I got a little frisson of joy as I got to work.
Thirty minutes later, Brax walked back into the office.
When he came around the desk, I glanced up at him with an expectant look on my face.
I explained to him exactly what I had done and how easy it would be for him to keep track of expenditures and income.
Then I said, “And you really need to make sure your receipts are tallied every night and deposited in the safe so that some lowlife doesn’t come in here and steal you blind. ”
He stood there for a moment and stared at me. “How about I pay you more and you take over the management of all…this?” When he named a figure, I swallowed hard. “It would be a salary and a permanent job. You’ll have to open a bank account and everything. What do you say?”
“I can’t. I hadn’t planned to stay, Brax.”
“This is just as good as a place as any and you have a good opportunity here. I’m serious.
There’s no one here who can do this for me.
” He upped the figure, and I was finding it difficult to breathe.
Part of me was jumping at the chance and the other part of me, the scared part wanted to just get up and get out.
“C’mon, sugar. I won’t take no for an answer. He named another figure and threw in room and board. I held up my hand.
“Brax, stop,” I pleaded. I loved this work, had always loved numbers and organization.
I had gone to school for accounting and had my masters in accounting.
It was in my blood. Why couldn’t I just stay long enough to get him established?
I didn’t have to stay forever. “All right. I’ll do it, but I don’t know how long I’ll be here. I can’t promise—”
“We’ll take it a day at a time. I’m grateful for your help, Lawson.” He pulled open the drawer. “Now you can take care of these.”