Hawkeye raised his hands palms up and smiled. In the meantime, you have me. Use me while youre advertising for additional staff. What can it hurt? Youre getting my services free.
Olivias stiff shoulders relaxed slightly. Youre right. And thanks.
Dont sound so ungrateful. Wait until you see what I can do. Im strong, and Ive hauled my share of hay in my younger days. He stopped at the bottom of the staircase and pulled Olivia around to face him. And I have a special skill. His lips twitched.
Her breath hitched and her gaze dropped to his lips. Oh yeah? she said, her voice a whisper.
Hawkeye leaned toward her, as if he might kiss her, his lips passing her mouth and going toward her ear. I know the difference between a steer and a cow. He leaned back and smiled. Yes, he was flirting with her, but he could tell she needed a little levity in a bad situation. Having lost her father and now with her foreman off the ranch, she had a lot weighing on her shoulders. Hawkeye winked.
Olivias lips pressed into a tight line.
Not exactly the reaction he was aiming for. For a moment, Hawkeye thought he might have gone too far flirting with the pretty rancher, and she might slap his face again. Just in case, he leaned back a little farther.
A moment passed and Olivias firm lips loosened and spread into a wry smile. You dont know how important a skill that is. She stuck out her hand. For however long youre here, youre hired.
With an accord reached, Hawkeye shook her hand, an electric shock running up his arm and shooting low into his groin. The woman had an effect on him he hadnt counted on. Rather than kissing her, like he wanted to, he turned her toward the tavern entrance and ushered her inside with a hand at the small of her back. With everything going wrong in Grizzly Pass, helping Olivia was the first thing that felt right.
As Hawkeye opened the door, a young man was thrown through. He stumbled, fell and landed on his knees on the sidewalk.
A man with a scruffy beard and unkempt brown hair lurched through the door, his face red and splotchy, his breath reeking of booze. No damned stepson of mine is going to be a dishwasher in a saloon, carrying out other peoples trash. He pointed a finger at the boy. Get home, where you belong. You have your own chores to do.
Olivia crouched to help the teen to his feet.
Once upright, the young man shrugged off her hands and faced the angry man. I finished the chores before I came to town.
Dont talk back to me, boy, the man growled.
Hawkeye recognized the drunk man as one of the men Garner had on his watch list. Ernie Martin. A man who had a gripe with the government over the discontinuance of the subsidies on his livestock.
Get back to the ranch, Ernie said.
The teen lifted his chin and set his feet slightly apart as if ready to do battle. I have a job. I need to be here when I said I would.
Did your mother tell you that you should get a job? Ernie snorted. Is she too lazy to get out and get one for herself and bring a little income home for once?
The teens fists clenched. My mother isnt lazy. She has three small children to raise. Shed never make enough money to pay for child care.
And whose fault is that? She shouldnt have had all those brats.
The teens eyes narrowed. You should have stayed off of her. Theyre your kids, too. And what are you doing to put food on the table? My mother should never have married you.
Shes lucky to be off the reservation. And you should be thankful I took you in out of the goodness of my own heart.
With a snort, the teen brushed the dust off his jeans. You didnt do either of us any favors.
Ernies face flushed even redder. Why, you ungrateful little brat. Thats all the bull crap Im taking from you. He launched himself at the teen.
Before hed gone two steps, Hawkeye grabbed Ernies arm and jerked him around. Leave the kid alone.
Ernie glared at Hawkeye through glazed eyes, cocked his fist and swung.
Hawkeye caught the fist in his own palm and forced the mans hand down to his side. Take another swing and I wont go as easy on you. He fished the mans keys out of his pocket and then shoved the man backward, out of range of landing another punch. Youll have to find a ride home.
Sheriff Scott pulled up in his county sheriffs SUV, parked and got out. Whats going on here?
Ernie stalked up to the sheriff. This man stole my keys and threatened me with bodily harm. He pointed at Hawkeye. Arrest him. The stern tone was offset when the man belched, sending out a vile fog of booze-heavy breath.
Now, Ernie, Im sure theres another side to this story, the sheriff said.
Its cut-and-dried. Ernie pointed at the keys in Hawkeyes hands. He has my keys.
Sheriff Scott leaned away from Ernies face. The mans doing you a favor and keeping you from getting a DUI. He stared at Ernie. How much have you had to drink?
Just one beer, Ernie said. A mans got a right to drink a beer. Or is our government going to take that right away, too?
The sheriff crossed his arms over his chest. Care to take a Breathalyzer test?
Ernie opened his mouth and had just enough sense left to close it again before his alcohol-soaked brain let his mouth loose.
Hawkeye almost laughed, but knew it would only rile the man more.
Hop in, Ernie. Ill give you a ride home.
The man folded his arms over his chest and dug his heels into the concrete sidewalk. Aint leaving my truck here.
Ill drive it home, the teen offered.
Ernie shot a narrow-eyed glare at the young man. You aint touching my damned truck.
The teen raised his hands. Okay. I wont drive your truck.
Dont worry about it, CJ, the sheriff assured him. He turned to Ernie. Ill have my deputies bring your truck out to your house in the morning, after youve had a chance to sober up. You shouldnt be driving anymore tonight. Sheriff Scott hooked Ernies elbow and eased him toward the backseat.
Ernie jerked loose of the sheriffs hold and pointed a finger at the teen. Youre done with this job. I didnt approve of it anyway.
The teen stood with his feet braced apart, his jaw set. Im going to work.
Not as a dishwasher, you arent. I wont have members of this community pointing at you, feeling sorry for poor Ernie Martins stepson who has to work to support his family.
I dont care what you call itI want my sisters and brother to have something to eat. Its either here or somewhere else.
I provide, Ernie insisted. And it aint your place to be telling tales about what goes on at home.
CJs fists clenched. Im going to have a job.
Not here, youre not, Ernie said with a finality that made CJ blink.
How about at my place? Olivia stepped forward. Mr. Martin, you might not remember me, but Im Olivia Dawson, Everett Dawsons daughter.
Yeah. So? He ignored her outstretched hand. That doesnt give you the right to butt into a private conversation.
Hawkeye had to stop himself from snorting. The way Ernie had been yelling, the entire town of Grizzly Pass had to have heard his private conversation.