“Sweet tea, please. And a menu.”
Tammy, at least that’s what her name tag said, returned a few minutes later with his drink and a menu covered in clear plastic. He took a few sips of the tea, resisting the urge to gulp the sugary sweet nectar of the south since he hadn’t yet emptied his bladder. When he’d left Texas behind at eighteen, he’d taken his love of authentic country cooking with him. A quick scan of the menu convinced him he was in the right place to satisfy his craving. He made his choice and signaled to Tammy.
“I’ll have the country fried steak, please. Plenty of gravy and butter on the mashed potatoes.”
“You got it, sweetie.”
Order placed, TJ made his way to the restroom. On the way back to his seat, he noticed a bulletin board. Pausing to peruse the various business cards and ads tacked to the board in hopes of finding a mechanic, a job opportunity caught his eye.
Foreman needed at horse therapy ranch. Must have reliable transportation, knowledge of farm and equine operations. Lodging provided.
He pulled off the tab with the phone number and put it in his pocket. Just like that, he had a job lead.
When he returned to his seat, the delicious aroma and the steam rising from his plate caused his mouth to water in anticipation. A large cube steak, a heaping mountain of mashed potatoes, and thick white gravy covering it all beckoned to him. He applied a generous amount of pepper to the entire contents and dug in. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was, not stopping until he placed his fork down on the empty plate he’d practically scraped clean. Just as he drained his glass and pushed it forward, the waitress approached and refilled it.
Eyeing the empty plate, she smiled in apparent satisfaction. “Looks like you enjoyed it. How about some dessert? Cherry pie is our specialty.”
The pie did sound good. “In that case, ma’am, I’ll take a slice.” Before she could turn around, TJ cleared his throat to keep her attention before speaking. “I’m not from around here, and I need a place to stay tonight. Do you know of a motel nearby?”
She eyed him up and down again, the assessment in her gaze obvious. “I’ve been workin’ here over twenty years, seen lots of people come and go. What brings you to Green Springs?”
Although she was simply a waitress in a diner, he always strived to give a great first impression. He supposed it stemmed from his eagerness as a child to please his parents and gain their attention. Plus, he’d learned a long time ago that you never know who you might deal with and what connections someone may have. He tried not to take her scrutiny personally. He knew small towns didn’t always welcome strangers, and she didn’t know him from Adam.
“I just finished up a job north of here and I’m headin’ down south for work. My truck is actin’ up, so this looked like a good place to stop for the night.” Since he’d already memorized the info from the bulletin board, he added, “I see Sullivan’s Farm is lookin’ for a foreman. I may give ‘em a call.”
In an instant, the older woman’s demeanor changed. Was it because he hinted at sticking around? She leaned into the countertop slightly and subtly licked her lips. She must be what his former military buddies would call a cougar.
“Well then, you should head over to Brewer’s Motel. Nana’ll take care of you. Tell her Tammy from the diner sent you.”
Personal recommendations were always good. Despite his discomfort at her forward behavior, he smiled his thanks and repeated the name to make sure he had it right. “Brewer’s Motel?”
“Yes, hun. A few miles down the road on the left. What’s your name? I’ll call Nana and tell her to expect you.”
“That’s mighty nice of you, ma’am. My name’s TJ. TJ Juarez.”
After thanking Tammy for the recommendation and settling his bill, he had no trouble finding the motel. It looked like many other roadside inns he’d encountered over the years. As he entered the office, the dated interior gave the appearance of stepping back in time. A little old lady with blue-gray hair dressed like a southern society matron in a dress and pearls came out from around the front desk and greeted him warmly.
“Hello, dear. You must be TJ. Tammy told me you were coming. I’ve got a room waiting for you.”
He removed his hat out of respect. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“She tells me you’re looking for a mechanic and you might be interested in the foreman position at Sean Sullivan’s farm.”
Wow, news traveled fast in this town.He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Everyone calls me Nana. You should too. Only strangers call me ma’am.”
“Yes, ma’am. I mean, Nana.”
She waddled back around to the other side of the counter and rummaged around on the desk. “I put you in room eight. Here’s your key. You can settle up with me later once you figure out how long you’re staying.”
“Thanks. I’ve been drivin’ all day, so I’m lookin’ forward to a hot shower and a clean bed.”
“You’ll find both here, hun. Stop by in the morning and I’ll give you the number for Green’s Garage. Nolan can have a look at your truck.”
TJ left the office and moved his vehicle down to the parking space in front of room eight, then grabbed his duffle and toiletry bag from the back seat of his king cab. It was twilight, so as soon as he entered the room, he flicked on the switch by the door, bathing the room in sufficient light so he could get his bearings. It was simple enough with the essentials: a bed, desk, TV, small closet, and a bathroom. The nightstand by the bed held a phone and a lamp. The old-fashioned phone reminded him he needed to make a call. He pulled out his cell and retrieved the paper with the number on it from his pocket, setting up an interview at the farm for the next afternoon. That should give him plenty of time in the morning to have his truck looked at.
* * *
