“Problems, sis?”
Turning, she beamed up at me, rushing around the bar to jump into my arms. “Hey, Mike! I was wondering when you were going to stop in.”
“You could have come to see me.”
“And interrupt what I’m sure was a fun lecture from Daddy? No thanks.”
“Why? Is he hassling you again?”
She rolled her eyes as she started flipping the chairs off the tables to prepare for the lunch shift. “Oh, you know how it is. A woman shouldn’t be running a bar, especially not alone.”
“Looks like you’re doing pretty well for yourself. The bar looks great.”
Smiling, she looked around with a happy sigh. “I am. The bar is doing amazing, and I’m in the black. Can’t say a bad thing about it.”
“And your house?”
“What about my house?”
I started helping her prepare for the shift. “I mean, can you afford everything? How’s money?”
“Geez, you’re just as bad as Daddy. I’m fine. The bar’s fine. The employees are being paid.”
“Yes, but are you being paid?”
“You’re so nosy.”
“It’s a simple yes or no question.”
Sighing, she stopped and glared at me, though there was absolutely zero heat behind it. “Yes, Father, I’m getting paid. I have enough money, and my electricity is still on. Oh, and I have groceries in the fridge.”
“Hey, I’m just making sure my baby sister is doing okay.”
“Well, I am. If you want to worry about anyone, worry about Krista.”
That instantly got my back up. “Why? What’s wrong with Krista?”
“You mean, other than being under Daddy’s thumb every second of the day?”
“I thought she enjoyed working at the ranch.”
“Yeah, when it was a ranch. I tried offering her a job here, but she didn’t want to work with me.” Frowning, she shook her head. “I don’t know why.”
I had an idea, but I’d never say it out loud. Krista and Lizzy were like oil and water. They got along fine as long as they weren’t working together.
“Is she looking for something else?”
She shrugged. “Not sure. You’d have to ask her, but don’t tell her I said anything. She won’t speak to me for a month. The last time I pissed her off, she pissed in my beer.”
My eyes shot up in surprise. “Really?”
“Yes. I mean, she told me about it first, but still…”
“Remind me not to make her mad. I don’t remember her being quite so vindictive.”
“It comes with the territory,” she grinned.
“Of being the oldest sister?”
