“I have to go.”
She shoved by them as Kenny looked at his cell phone.
“Shit!”
“What? What’s wrong?” Blake asked.
“It’s Bryant. He fell and is on the way to the hospital.”
“Shit!”
* * * *
“Well, we have to do something. He needs someone to help him. We should do like the doctor said and hire a cook and maid, maybe someone who can help him with the exercises and stop him from drinking,” Will stated.
“I agree with Will. He needs this or he’s going to drink himself to death or do something drastic,” Frank added.
“The person needs to be calm and compassionate but also tough,” Doc stated.
“I know exactly who we can ask. She needs the money and she’s tough,” Abigail interrupted.
The men looked at her.
“Well who? Who would be willing to take on a job where the boss is drunk half the time and meaner than a crippled snake?” Doc asked.
“Lena,” she stated.
“What?” all three men asked in unison.
“Are you crazy? How the hell can she handle that?” Doc asked.
“She’s tough, but she’s also caring and gentle. She needs work, too. You’ve been making stuff up around the office to keep her busy,” Abigail stated.
“Hey, it might not be a bad idea. We could see if Lena is interested. The men were pissed off last night when they found out that Lena was working at Rocky’s,” Will stated.
“Really?” Abigail asked, sounding thrilled.
“Don’t go trying to play matchmaker now. They were concerned over the outfit Lena has to wear to work there. It’s very revealing,” Frank stated.
“People are talking,” Will stated.
“What are they saying?” Doc asked, concerned.
“I was at the feed supply store, and some of the men were partying last night. They said Lena looked incredible and she handled herself well when a few men tried to get fresh with her. Then Kenny, Quinn, and Blake showed up and cornered her by
the bar. They were spreading the word that she belonged to them,” Will added then smiled at Abigail.
“Oh my God. Then they might be really upset if she works for Bryant, granted he doesn’t kick her out or scare her away,” Frank added.
“Bryant noticed her, too. He must have been watching her outside his window because when I showed up, he tried to act like he didn’t care about his new neighbor. However, when I dropped a few hints about her being homeless and her troubled past, he seemed affected,” Doc added.
“Well, I think that seems promising. She is a gorgeous young woman and very sweet. She can’t go anywhere in town without someone talking with her. We should ask her right now,” Abigail stated.
“Let’s ask her and see if she’s up for the challenge.”
* * * *
“Let me get this straight. You want me, a complete stranger, to force myself into your son’s house, clean for him, cook for him, and help him with his exercises even if he curses me out, throws things at me, threatens me, or tries his hardest to piss me off or hurt my feelings?” Lena asked as she stood before the Joneses.