Page 106 of True North

“And there’s a reason it is, Louisa. Hand in your uniform and apron after your Friday shift. Cynthia will cover for you from then on.”

“Darla, no. What the hell?”

Heat prickles up my neck and engulfs my face in its hideous flames. I force air in and out of my lungs. Darla rises from the booth.

“This isn’t California, Louisa. Folks around here take this sort of thing personal.” She walks past the counter, disappearing into the back room. I sit there, staring. Any hope I had of funding the remaining payout for the restaurant just went up in smoke along with any goodwill I had here.

Not good.

Really, really not good.

“You needin’ work couldn’t have come at a better time,” Harry whispers.

Confused, I frown, looking up into those blue eyes that are a mix of concern and wonder.

Heavens above, sometimes I can’t get a read on my Harry.

“What d’you mean?” I study his face.

“Well, it so happens I am in desperate need of a ranch hand.” He holds me at arm’s length before turning me side to side, running an inspecting eye over my form. “Not bad. More than I can say for the pay. Which is none.”

The biggest grin splits his face.

How can he be this happy about this?

“Harry, I needed that job to pay out the Mancinis. Unfortunately, I think Darla realized that.”

His face falls instantly.

“That’s fuckin’ low, even for this small town.”

“Yeah, well.” I sigh. “What’s done is done. I need another job that pays the same as the diner.”

“How much an hour was Darla payin’?” he says, letting me go as he walks for the hearth.

“Two thirty an hour.”

He glances back, the concern on his face deepening. “Lou, that’s below minimum.”

“Huh, should have known. Thought maybe she was taking the uniform allowance out.”

He tosses logs onto the sooty bed of the fireplace and stuffs kindling underneath the darker hardwood before lighting it. He pushes back up to his feet, groaning, and heads for the sofa. I round the worn seat and flop down next to him. Swiveling on my seat, I drape my legs over his lap and rest my head on his shoulder.

“I’m not sure if I’ll find anything else. Apparently, word travels fast in this tiny town. But maybe the grocer will take pity on me?” Even the words sound like defeat. Harry lays his head back, staring up at the ceiling.

“How much have you put down, percentage wise?”

“Around a quarter of the total now.”

“You’ve done well, considering Darla underpaid you.”

“Yeah well, might all be for nothing now.”

“No, darlin’.” He turns, his gaze meeting mine. “We will make this work. All of it.”

I huff a small sound that sounds like amazement.

Hell, it is. He never ceases to amaze me.

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