Page 31 of Redemption

It was enough.

It was perfect and knowing it was Charlie’s haven made it extra special to me.

But if I wanted to eat, clothe myself and grab some tools to do the maintenance the place needed and maybe try my hand at woodworking, I had to make some cash. The couple of hundred dollars I was given as I left prison wouldn’t last me long. I was happy to give Kat my time during the day for free. But my evenings and weekends could be used for other jobs. In the morning,I was going to head back into the town and scout out some of the restaurants and bars to see if they would take anyone on to bus tables or wash dishes.

I stopped pacing and headed to bed to get a good night’s sleep. I stripped my pants off and got under the blanket that smelled kinda musty but I wasn’t fussed at this point. I continued to ignore my dick that perked up anytime thoughts of Kat popped into my head.

A low rumbling woke me up in the night, followed by a soft whine. I panicked for a moment wondering if a bear or wolf had broken into the cabin. I quietly slipped out from the sheets, grabbed the candle I left on the side and lit it. I peeked into the living room but couldn’t see anything.

“You’re not used to sleeping on your own,” I muttered. Normally I would be surrounded by forty other men trying to sleep. I turned and went back into the bedroom but saw something move under the wooden bedframe. My heart was pounding, having no clue what to expect. I bent slowly and shone the candle underneath the frame and couldn’t believe what I saw.

“Well hello there buddy. I’m not gonna hurt ya,” I crooned. The dirty, matted ball of fluff had the decency to let out a gentlewoof.The dog looked back at me with wide, uncertain eyes. I wiggled my fingers and it craned its neck, giving them a sniff before ducking back out of reach.

Maybe it belonged to one of the girls? But what would it be doing out here? The dog was dirty as hell and I didn’t think the girls would let him live like that. I’d have to ask Kat about it and damn if the thought of talking to her didn’t make my heart kick a little faster in my chest.

I tried to coax the dog out, but it wasn’t willing to come and I needed some sleep.

“Stay under there all you want, buddy, but I’m going to bed.”

I set the candle on the floor and got back under the covers before blowing it out. Sometime later in the night I woke up and felt something warm snuggled at my back. I didn’t move, didn’t speak, just chuckled to myself that the dog was cold enough to drop its aloof act.

In the morning, when I turned over there was nothing there but some light brown hairs dotted on the blanket. There was a chunk of wood at the bottom of the cabin door which had been hanging loose before I fixed it yesterday. Now it was loose again and I reckoned I knew how the mutt got in last night. The rags in the corner must have been its bed.

I left the cabin, breathing in that beautiful country air and letting the green grass and blue sky fill my view. Heading past the house, I couldn’t help but let my gaze stray to the porch to see if Kat was there. I ignored the disappointment that hit me when I saw the space was empty.

I strolled into town, whistling to myself, swinging by Dough Re Mi bakery for a bagel and some side-eye. It seemed like everyone in town knew who I was, but I didn’t recognize any of them. It was unnerving but I guess it was all part of the deal now.

After demolishing my bagel, I doubled back to ask if they needed any help, even a kitchen assistant, figuring I could do early morning baking before running back to the ranch. They practically laughed me out of the place.

I tried a few more local businesses before I stopped by the local mini mart to grab a few basics to keep me going. I walked past the pet food section and for some ridiculous reason bought a box of dog biscuits, just in case that mutt came back andwas hungry.

I was threatened and forced out of the local Smokehouse bar and grill and even Tony’s Pizzeria refused to give me a job and Tony had giveneveryonein Reverence their first job. Seeing how little money I had left, I was beginning to feel desperate. So when I saw the sign for The Lonely Bison, I figured I had to at least give it a try then I could say I’d asked around everywhere. With a deep sigh, I pushed open the door.

The whiskey smell immediately hit me but it wasn’t unpleasant. An old jukebox was playing softly, a couple of guys were at the pool table and in the corner was a mechanical bull that some old man was currently riding.

“Can I help you, buddy?”

I turned towards the voice and saw a fairly young-looking guy with longish dark hair, dark eyes and stubble. He halted in the middle of stacking some bottles.

I cleared my throat, ready to get told toget the fuck outone last time. “That depends, are you needing some help here?”

He stopped stacking bottles and stared at me. “Help? From you?”

Even this guy knew who I was but he looked too young for me to know him. I shrugged, pretty done with all the shit I’d been getting today. Hell yeah I deserved it but goddammit, I was trying here.

“Yeah, your patrons don’t need to look at my face. Just stick me in the back washing dishes or something.”

The guy gave me a once over and sucked his teeth. “You’re pretty good-looking,” he stated.

I hadn’t had a compliment for over a decade, if ever, and I’m not gonna lie, it felt kinda nice. “Thanks, but I’m not looking to hook up.”

His mouth ticked up on one side. “It was an observation, not a come-on.”

I didn’t really know what else to say. He hadn’t answered my question and I really didn’t want to repeat myself just for his shits and giggles.

“You can work behind the bar, the ladies’ll love you, and the controversy will increase my volume of customers,” he said, his low voice held a hint of resignation.

It took a moment for his words to sink in. “Wait, you’ll give me a job?”

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