The Family Gathering

She shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you. I don’t know anything about her.”

He grinned at Sid and it was completely genuine. “You are such a liar.”

“And what can I get you?” she asked.

“A beer. Whatever is on tap.”

“Are you having anything to eat with that?”

“No. I’ll be thinking about food with my next beer. I bet you see and hear some stuff in here.”

“Oh, no, you don’t,” she said. She served him up a beer. “I had to sign a confidentiality agreement to work here. Your priest isn’t as safe as I am.”

“Cocky,” he said. “You hear a lot of jokes, don’t you?”

“Yes,” she said. “I’m even learning to tell a few. I have to practice in front of the mirror.”

“I bet you don’t,” he said with a laugh. “I’m very experienced in talking to bartenders and you’re not what you seem.”

“I can assure you, I’m exactly what you see,” she said.

“Okay, what did you do before bartending?” he asked.

“Don’t you think that’s a little personal?” she returned.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “Unless you were in the Secret Service or something.”

“If I was, I wouldn’t be able to tell you.”

“If you were, you’d have a cover,” he said. He disarmed her with his smile.

“I worked in computers,” she said. “Very dull. In a room without windows. Figuring out programs and stuff. It’s what everyone in California is doing these days. What did you do in the Army?”

He leaned back, almost satisfied. “I mostly trained to go to war and then went to war. My last shift was Afghanistan. And that’s when I decided I’d rather pick up trash.”

“Really? That sounds like a dramatic change.”

“Maybe,” he said. “Do you know a guy named Tom Canaday?”

“Sure. I know Tom. Everyone knows Tom.”

“I met him. Hell of a nice person, Tom. He’s had all kinds of jobs, being a single father and all. He said roadwork, refuse pickup and plowing in winter pay very well and have great benefits. He said he still works for the county part-time.”

“You weren’t kidding about picking up trash,” she said. And then her cheeks turned a little pink.

“Aha! I knew it! You never miss a thing!” He laughed at her.

“How’d you meet Tom?” she asked.

“If I tell you, promise not to tell your other customers?” She put a hand on her hip and just glared at him. “He did some work for my brother. My brother had a remodeling job and Tom helped.”

“Well, that makes sense,” she said. “Tom has worked all over this valley. He even did some work in this bar.”

Dakota looked around. “I don’t know what he did but it’s a good-looking bar. Now back to you. Why’d you trade computers for bartending?”

She sighed. “Rob, my brother, is also a single father. His wife died and their kids were very young. So, he changed his life, moved here with the boys, bought this bar and it worked for him. He has some good employees so his schedule is flexible—he can leave someone else in charge and be available for the boys. They’re fourteen and sixteen now and active. But then his manager gave notice and quit and he needed help right about the same time I wanted a change. Who better than Aunt Sid? And, as it turns out, I like this.” She flung an arm wide. “I now have windows and everything.”

“Really different, though, isn’t it?” he asked.

“About as different as picking up trash will be from going to war,” she said.

He drank a little of his beer. “Got me there,” he said. “In my case, that could be a refreshing change.”

“Did you ever find yourself married?” she asked him.

He gave her a perplexed look. “As in, you wake up one morning and find yourself married? No, that never happened to me. Did you ever find yourself married?”

“I’m divorced,” she said. “Over a year now.”

“I’m sorry,” he said.

She looked at him with a slightly sad or sheepish smile. Then she gave a nod. “Incoming,” she said, and turned away to wait on someone else.

“Well, what a coincidence,” Alyssa said. He saw her reflection in the mirror and turned toward her. She put her hand on the chair beside him. “Are you waiting for someone?” she asked.

Dakota was amazed at how quickly Sid could sneak away. She was all the way down at the other end of the bar. “No,” Dakota said.

“All right if I sit here?” she asked.

“Sure,” he said. “Of course. Can I buy you a drink?”

“That would be so nice,” she said, fluffing her hair. “What have you been doing with yourself?”

“Nothing much,” he said. “Looking around. You?”

She laughed brightly and he knew. He was being stalked. There must be a real shortage of men around here. This wasn’t something that happened to him with regularity—women coming on to him. It happened, but not often. What was more common was him coming on to them. He certainly couldn’t complain about their looks, the two women who’d hit on him since he’d arrived in town. Alyssa was gorgeous. She was probably five-ten and her silky hair screamed for a man’s hands. And those legs, so many possibilities there.

She began to describe her day of styling hair, laughing at her own stories.

“Hi, Alyssa,” Sid said. “What can I get you?”

“A glass of merlot? Whatever label you like.”

“Coming right up,” she said, turning away.

Dakota was disappointed. He enjoyed a little good-natured bantering with a woman who was capable of giving it back. Alyssa was very sweet and polite, nothing about her put him off. He asked her what she did for fun. She liked to shop. Did she ski in winter? “Sure, everyone skis. Do you? Is that what brought you to Colorado?”

“As a matter of fact, I do, but I’m no expert. What else do you do for fun?”