His Old Lady - Debra Kayn Page 0,29

made him be rude and mean to them." She blew out her breath. "Uncle Walker...my friends are all struggling, money-wise. We started talking when I wanted to quit, and well, they offered to walk off the job, too, as a sign of support, mostly. We all thought it would be easier to find a serving job, even if we had to go into Missoula. So much about waitressing is getting along with other waitresses. That's the problem with waitressing. If waitresses don't get along or don't like each other, it causes a lot of problems with the customers and tips. Anyway, I found a place where we could all work together."

He tilted his head in attention. "Where?"

"Well, it's a part-time job that pays just as well as working full time. The first night went off great. My new boss was happy with how we worked together. The customers gave great tips on top of what we earned. I'm excited about the extra income. It will go a long way to purchasing a plot of land where I can move the nursery and eventually expand and be able to afford to work in the greenhouse year-round. You know that was what Grandma June always envisioned and was never able to do. I finally feel like it's possible to have everything I ever wanted since I first stuck my hands in potting soil." Her heart raced, trying to talk her way through the conversation. "The thing is I've hit a road bump."

"Where are you working?" He ignored her overexplaining.

Afraid of what he'd say, she blurted, "Curley thinks he can tell me where I can and can't work. You need to tell him that I can make the decisions about what I do with my life. I'm old enough to know what is best for me, and working right now gets me closer to my goal. In one year, I should have enough money saved to start looking for the right piece of property to purchase for the nursery."

Tension hardened Uncle Walker's body. Over the phone, the links chaining his arms and legs together clinked against the counter in front of him.

"The amount of money I'll be earning will give me more options." She pressed the phone to her ear. "Not only helping me with my dreams, but Stephanie is a single mom, trying to raise her child and take care of her mom with no support. It feels good to be doing something with the others and seeing how this benefits everyone."

The knuckles of his fingers holding the receiver had gone white. "Where are you working?"

"Kingston Bar." She held her breath.

"No."

"But—"

"No." Uncle Walker dipped his chin breaking eye contact. "It's not a safe place."

"How do you know?" Losing patience, she gritted her teeth.

It wasn't fair to argue with him, but he'd been in prison for sixteen years. Missoula had changed since he'd lived on the outside. Lance probably hadn't even owned Kingston Bar back when Uncle Walker was living there and riding with Tarkio.

"Don't question how I know things." Uncle Walker's lips thinned. "If...he... told you to quit, you quit."

"And if I don't?" She almost stood from the chair, signaling the end of the visit, before she slumped back down and leaned closer to the Plexiglas. "You can't even say Curley's name, and this relationship between him and me is a joke. He doesn't care about me."

"God damnit, little girl," mumbled Uncle Walker.

"That's the thing, Uncle. I'm not a little girl. I want you to tell Curley to let me go. I want to be free to work where I want. Love who I want to love. Have a life, a family." Anger replaced the nerves coiling in her stomach. "You know, I'll never find my happiness as long as he's claiming me, and giving me nothing in return."

"He went in front of Tarkio and swore on his life to take care of you. You do belong to him."

Her vision blurred, knowing how going to the table at Tarkio meant more than common laws for citizens.

She'd never told Curley or her uncle what she wanted more out of her life. Always afraid they'd see her dreams as something they'd failed at providing her. They both had to face the fact that she was an adult. She was the only one responsible for her own happiness.

Uncle Walker stared through the Plexiglass. She met his gaze. Her friends depended on her to keep working with them. She needed the independence, and if she couldn't