"Sorry, I'm really interested in you, it's just I've never known any rich kids before," Aiden explained.
"Well, from now on, I'd appreciate it if you would treat me as any other girl in your class," Kellie insisted.
"Okay," he agreed and they grew silent for a while.
Good, Kellie put Aiden in his place right away!
Chapter Eleven
"I really want the job," Letty repeated to the man sitting in the huge chair, behind the big oak desk.
She fumbled with a piece of lint on her skirt.
The vice-president of the bank was a broad man, in his mid-fifties, with graying hair and not a lot of personality. He dressed impeccably and Letty reasoned he probably did everything else just as well.
"But I thought old man McKay left you girls his fortune," the man was saying, wiping his head with a handkerchief.
It seemed to Letty as though everyone was concerned with their fortune. "That's true enough, Mr. Saunders. That is if we live up to certain conditions, yes, that's true. But I don't want my father's money. I want a job."
The banker stared at her. "You're kidding, right? This is some kind of joke?"
"No, it's not a joke. I need the job," Letty repeated. "I want to work."
"I don't understand…" he began. "Why?"
"I know you don't understand. No one in this entire town seems to understand. But you have a position open as a clerk, as I gathered from the sign out front and I want the job. I'm quite capable of handling money." Letty smiled. "As you can see on my resume."
"Yes, I'm sure you are." The man stared at her for a long moment. "I see, well, let me go over your application, do a background on you and I'll be back in touch. How's that?"
"Is there any reason I don't qualify for the job?" she asked.
"No…no, of course not. But it shows on your resume you were going to law school. I imagined you'd want to finish that, not be a bank teller all your life."
"One can go to college and work at the same time…"
"True, but here at the bank, once we start training an employee, we'd like to think they would stay with us."
"And you don't think I would, is that it?"
"Partially, yes."
"I see, well good day, Mr. Saunders," she clipped.
She saw his eyebrow inch higher when she started to protest.
She managed to be gracious, but fury followed her out the door, with a mixture of frustration and anger. She was over qualified for the job; why had he hesitated? It made no sense to her. And why was everyone in this town so interested in the McKay inheritance?
Surely her college background was enough to get the job, after all, she wasn't asking for the vice-presidency of the bank, just an honest job as a teller. And still he hesitated.
What was wrong with everyone? She'd been willing to start at the bottom and work her way up. Why couldn't they understand? She'd been in several businesses today, applying and it looked as though no one wanted to hire her, even though no one was breaking down their doors to apply for the openings, at least as far as she could see. Did she have her clothes on backwards? Did she not list all her qualifications? There had to be an answer.
Frustrated and tired, she went to a small café across the street and plumped herself into a chair.
She didn't remember this café being here last time she came to town, but how long ago was that? Years, her memory corrected her.
The waitress came and studied her a moment. She was chewing gum, and getting her pencil ready to take the order, but her face registered questions.
"Had a bad day, have you?" The woman never missed a lick on her gum.
Letty's mouth hung open; how did the woman read her so well?
Letty sat back in the chair and looked at her. The waitress was fortyish, with dyed red hair, and too much lipstick, but she had the most welcoming smile on her face. And after the morning she had, it was refreshing. It was hard to be mad or aggravated when someone smiled like that, Letty had to admit.
"Yeah, I guess I have."
"What's the problem honey, maybe I can help?" The waitress was not put off by a customer insisting on another cup of coffee. She whirled about, got the coffee and was back before Letty could say a word.
"Lose a boyfriend?" she asked.
"No, not exactly. I'm looking for work."
"Oh my, a job, huh?" The waitress's smile began to fade. "That's a tough one. Only so many jobs in a small town like this, and most of them are taken before the sign goes up that they have one. Maybe you'd have better luck if you went to a bigger city."
"I'm sure I would. But I grew up here, and I don't want to leave. And to tell the truth, it doesn't look like anyone has bothered to even apply for these jobs, and yet they don't seem to be considering me. How can that be?"
"Oh well, honey, you've got to live in a small town to understand it…." The waitress smiled big again, her lips stretching the expanse of her small face. When Letty looked puzzled by her remark, she finished, "You see, in small towns when there are openings for jobs, it usually goes to someone's daughter that they know, or cousin, you know, a friend or family member. They don't even have to bother with an application; they just do it so it looks as though they are offering work to anyone. But they don't hire just anyone, you understand. A recent graduate from the local high school, a relative, those are the ones that get the jobs. Jobs disappear fast like that. No, if you want a real job, you'd best go to a bigger place."
"I see. But I am a local. I've lived here all my life. Well, until the last few years I have."
"Well…what kind of work you lookin' for?"
"I started out this morning looking for work in the bank, or that new dress shop that just opened down the street from here. But they wouldn't even consider me. I just don't get it. I'm dressed correctly, I have a nice resume, what am I lacking?"
"Probably being related would help. Well, Joe back there is hiring for the lunch rush. Wouldn't pay much, but you can make pretty good tips from the lunch crowd since most of the people we get are from the construction site down the road."
Letty glanced at where the waitress pointed and saw a big burly man cooking in the kitchen.
"Is that Joe?"
"That's him. Don't let his size fool you. He's a sweetheart to work for."
"But I've never done waitress work…"
"Don't let that bother you. I can teach you in a snap; I've been doing it for nearly twenty years."
"Twenty years?" Letty's brow rose.
"Yep, everyone in town knows me."
Letty eyed the man, and then glanced about the café. She'd never been here that she could recall and thought the place was nice considering the menu of all home-cooked food. The place was clean and had a diner look about it with its stainless steel furniture and black and white tile floor.
She cleared her throat. "Well, I'll keep it in mind."
The waitress nodded and took her order.
While she waited, Letty watched the people come and go. It kept a steady stream of customers. The job seemed easy enough, but this wasn't the kind of job she had in mind and it was hard to see herself in a café. Still, if she couldn't find anything better, maybe she would apply. She wasn't going to a big city to work, it was too far and she needed to be close to home.
This kind of job would certainly shock Hank! Heck, it would shock her family!
She needed to keep looking. But the fact that small towns tended to hire family and friends first stuck in her head. Not only that, but everyone seemed under the impression that the McKay's didn't need jobs. There were only two attorneys in town and they had been there forever, so if she ever had ideas to find her law career here, she had better rethink it.
Two weeks past and Letty still had no job offers. It all seemed so hopeless.
She had registered online to finish her degree. Obviously, if she gave up her inheritance she might need it to get any kind of job.
She had barely seen Hank and even then only for a
moment or two before someone or something interrupted them.
It seemed he'd grown a wall around him, he barely spoke to her.
Letty's hopes of having any kind of future with Hank were slowly sinking. Maybe she had put too much stock in those hot kisses of his. Maybe she really was hitting her head against a brick wall. Still, having the man of her dreams was worth fighting for.
She wished she could get to know him better.
Determined not to be discouraged with her plan, she hated the idea of moving to town. This was her home and she had loved being here. She could finish school online, work part time in town and then do some shoots with Mike and support herself nicely. She didn't need her dad's money, especially if she lived here on the ranch.
Rethinking her future, she called Mike.
"I'm just calling to let you know I am available for some work, off and on," Letty informed him.
"Okay." His voice sounded puzzled. "Getting bored on the old ranch, huh?"
"Not exactly, I just feel like working. Doing something with my time. I've signed up for computer college classes, and I'm thinking of taking a job in town."
"A job? Are you nuts? You are about to inherit a fortune, why would you do something like that?" Mike chuckled.
"Because I feel like it, I guess," she replied flippantly.
"You McKay's astound me in every way."
"Do we? I suppose you are also talking about my sister, Sandy too."
"Yeah. She's the best. We have a lot of fun together."
"Well, you do know I'm her big sister, don't you?" She chuckled good naturedly.
"Of course. I'd never hurt her, if that's what you are driving at. You ought to know me well enough to know that. Right now, we are good friends."
"Good. That takes a load off my mind." She laughed.
"Well, look, I'll see what I can line up for you and give you a call back about mid-week. How's that?" Mike laughed pleasantly.
"Sounds good, Mike, thanks. Say Mike, is it getting serious with you and Sandy?"
There was a long silence then he answered, "Letty, you and I have worked together a long time. We respect each other. But I draw the line in cutting you into my love life, you know that."
Letty smiled into the phone. "Yeah, you are right. It's none of my business."
"That's right. I mean, I could ask you the same thing with that cowboy."
"What cowboy?" Letty tried to play innocent.
"The one you keep knocking yourself out in front of." He chuckled.
"That cowboy you are referring to isn't interested in McKay women."
"Oh, one of those macho men, huh?"
"Yeah, you could say that."
"Well, maybe he's not for you, then."
"Yeah, maybe."
She heard Mike chuckle softly.
"It isn't funny, Mike."
"I know…believe me…I know."
"Okay, talk to you soon…" Letty laid the phone down and got back online to check out when her classes would start. She could do them during the evening hours.
For some reason, the waitress job filtered through her head. She could take that, working part time and then do some shoots with Mike and she'd have a pretty good income without trying very hard. It sounded like a plan. And she felt invigorated that she was busy again. Her chores around here hadn't been enough to keep her mind working. In that regard, she missed her studies.
She'd managed to put her plans into action, all but the job in town.
That was next on her list of to-do's.
Chapter Twelve
Joe turned out to be a very friendly fella. Although he was a big burly man that stood over six feet, and had a cigar in his mouth almost all the time, he wasn't intimidating. His dark brown eyes shone with kindness and inner peace. His apron was always dirty, but his hands were immaculate and well-manicured, Letty noticed. Funny the kinds of things she noticed in a man these days.
He had no idea who she was and didn't seem to care. The fact that she looked healthy and was willing to try to learn was enough for him. He had barely glanced over her application; instead he seemed focused on her answers to a few basic questions.
"You live around here?" he asked in his deep, clear voice.
"Yes, I was born here actually."
He continued to flip hash browns as he spoke. "Married, got any kids?"
"No, not yet to both."
He eyed her again, one brow shooting upward. "Do you do drugs, drink, or curse?"
"None of the above." She smiled.
"Got your own car?" He went back to his task at the stove with a vengeance.
"Yes I do."
"Good. You be here tomorrow at l0:30. That will give me time to get you a name badge and there are some old uniforms back in the back, if you want to try some on. You'll only be working four hours a day, with the weekends off. We are closed on Sunday, and I have a lot of help on Saturdays. My two daughters come in and work on Saturday for me. I found out early on that no one wants to work on Saturdays, so I got my daughters to fill in for everyone. It works better that way. No hassles with the help."
"Is there anything I should know now?" Letty asked somewhat stunned that she had the job without a resume.
"Only that the customer is always right, and we aim to please. You be friendly, and get their orders right and there will be no problems." Joe wagged his finger at her and smiled. "The One Stop Café is known for its friendliness and good manners. So use them at all times. I like to think I hire good people and that I tend to please my customers with good home cookin'."
"Sounds reasonable to me, thank you."
"Good, see ya tomorrow then." He gestured and got back to work.
The waitress that had suggested the job came up to her. "Go through that back door and check out the uniforms. See if there is something you can wear. And remember my name is Debby, so if you need any help tomorrow, I'll be here with you."
"Thanks, I so appreciate this job…"
"Tell me that after the noon rush and I'll believe it." Debby chuckled.
The noon rush? Was that something to worry about?
Debby looked at her with a strange smile. "Thanks, Debby."
Letty rummaged through the uniforms and found one that would fit. She grabbed it, went into the bathroom to try it on and came out with it on her arm. Debby nodded to her on the way out.
It was as simple as that. No resume, no fifty questions, just show up for work with a smile basically. She could do that. It didn't sound like there was much to it.
Four hours out of her day was practically nothing. How hard could it be?
The next day she found out. She showed up early and waited between orders for Joe to talk to her.
She had pressed the uniform until there were no wrinkles in it. She had put just a tad of make-up on, and wore her sandals.
Joe eyed her carefully when he took a break. "Next time wear some closed toed shoes."
Letty glanced at her shoes. "Oh, are these inappropriate?"
Joe stared at her a moment, then finally nodded. "Yeah. Here's your name badge. Pin it on you. Now just look over the menu here, and get to know what we serve, then Debby will show you how to write most the orders up, put them on the spinner up there at the window and serve it while it's hot. Be pleasant with all the customers and they'll tip good," Joe recommended.
"Sounds good, I'll just go over the menu." She took the menu in her hand and studied it for a long while. Debby joined her as the morning rush slowed.
"Take a look at how I write the orders up. And do it like this. Don't spell everything out, but don't make it too short or Joe won't know what you are trying to say. We'll be getting real busy in about thirty minutes, so go over the menu until you have a good idea of the food we serve. Smile at everyone. That's real important. Don't argue with anyone, don't curse, Joe don't like it." Debby smiled. "Don't worry, you'll do fine."
But at eleven thirty, when half the road crew came in, Letty felt as though her feet were s
uddenly glued to the floor. Her jaw dropped when she saw so many walk in together. She brought them menus, and water and waited patiently for their orders. Some of the men eyed her.
"Guess she don't know we don't need no menu," one of the men said.
Letty's face reddened. "Oh, I'm sorry."
She grabbed the menu from his hand and took it back behind the counter. Then she returned to a long set of faces.
With so many coming in all at once, she got flustered with several orders, and she wasn't sure she abbreviated the orders correctly.
Scrambling with plates on her arm was like juggling, only the plates were hot and she moved quickly toward the tables. She managed not to dump any on the customers, but she did spill water once and got the man's pants wet. She gave one man tea when he asked for coffee, and one order was completely wrong, but Joe didn't scream at her, he just shook his head and said, "You'll get used to it. Just keep smiling, like a pro."
Letty was shocked she wasn't fired. She'd never made so many mistakes in her life. Who would have thought being a waitress took any talent?
Joe couldn't read one order, and seemed frustrated with her momentarily, and she was late getting everyone's tab figured up and on their table. These men had to be back to work quickly and they couldn't wait around for her to bring the tab, so Debby stepped in again and saved her.
Still, she made fifty dollars in tips that day and she went home smiling as though she'd hit the lottery.
The next day was worse, the county workers had come in with the road construction workers and there were twice as many to feed. All of them were in a hurry to eat and get out, and Letty tried to rush herself more. Although all of them were nice, Letty saw several of them frown when she turned around, and a couple insisted that Debby wait on them. Letty tried not to let it get to her. She'd just have to do better, and smile more.
She mixed a few orders up due to the confusion of the crowd, and Debby helped her.
By the end of the second day, Letty was wiping her brow and sighing loudly, but she had made it and neither Joe nor Debby seemed too disturbed with her mistakes.
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