Star Spangled Cowboy by Paige Warren Read Free Book Online Page B

big. And getting a legitimate job was a big deal for her. She’d never had one before and wasn’t certain they would give her one now since she didn’t have her G.E.D. yet. Was that a requirement?
    Letting out a breath in the muggy air, she pushed open the door and stepped into the icy interior of the shop. Clusters of tables dominated the right side of the room, while the coffee bar was on the left. She approached the counter and hoped she didn’t trip over her tongue. Dacey couldn’t remember a time she’d been this nervous before. She stopped at the register and waited until she had the barista’s attention. Having never ordered coffee from a place like this before, she was tempted to get something to go, but asking for an application was more important.
    The girl turned to her with wide eyes. “You’re Dacey Morgan, aren’t you?”
    This was definitely a time when Dacey didn’t want to be well-known around town. Word had spread fast about her stay at the hospital and her life with Carlos. The townspeople had shown her a mix of pity and revulsion, and she never knew which she would face when she dealt with a new person.
    “Yes, I am.”
    A tall man stepped over and stared at her over the rim of his glasses. “What can we do for you, Miss Morgan?”
    She licked her lips. “Well, not kicking me out would be great.”
    He smiled a little. “We’re sympathetic to your plight here at Cuppa Joe. I guess you came in for a reason, though. A cup of coffee?”
    “I was wondering if I could maybe have an application. I don’t have any job skills, but I’m a fast learner, and I’m working on getting my G.E.D. I should have it within the month. I’ll work hard, and I don’t care what schedule you put me on. I’ll even work holidays if you want.”
    “We’re closed on all major holidays,” he said kindly. “How many places have you applied?”
    Her shoulders drooped a little. “I’ve been to six shops today, and they all turned me away. So, if you don’t want me to have an application, I’ll understand.”
    The man reached under the counter and pulled out a paper, then handed it to her with a pen. Her eyes widened when she read the top of the form. Application for Employment. Her heart kicked her chest as she realized that he was willing to give her a chance.
    “Thank you.”
    “I have two openings right now, and while I do need that form completed, one of the positions is yours if you want it. The pay isn’t much, eight dollars an hour, but you get all the coffee you can drink both on the clock and off. It’s just twenty hours a week so that you won’t make a lot, but after you’ve been on the job six months, we can discuss a full-time position, if that’s something you decide you want.”
    “You’re … you’re giving me the job?” She was certain she had misheard. Every door in town had been slammed in her face all afternoon. It seemed too good to be true that she was finally going to be given a chance.
    “Yep. And if you’re working on your G.E.D, I’m going to assume you’re taking the class over at the library. I can start you on the night shift, six to ten Monday through Friday to start. Once you’re surer of yourself around here, I may have you work some weekends, too.”
    “Thank you!” she squealed, wanting to launch herself over the counter to hug the man.
    He held out a hand. “Tim Roberts. I own Cuppa Joe, and you’ll find me here most days. I like to have a hands-on approach to this place, even though I have a very competent manager and staff. If you have any problems, Dacey, you come to me or Mark Stevens, he’s the manager. We don’t tolerate bullies, even if they are customers.”
    She nodded that she understood.
    “Fill that out and you can start next Monday.”
    Dacey hurried over to an empty table and did her best to fill out the form. She didn’t have a copy of her social security card, but she did know the number. Thankfully, her phone still had minutes left, so