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“God can cause opportunity to find you. He has unexpected blessings where you suddenly meet the right person, or suddenly your health improves, or suddenly you're able to pay off your house. That's God shifting things in your favor.”—Joel Osteen.
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THE SWEETWATER RIVER Ranch, Lander, Wyoming
Jed Dalton removed his hat and gingerly entered through the open door to Logan’s spacious office. It was located immediately beyond the front counter to the left of the foyer in the main barn-shaped house. He had no idea what was up, but usually everything concerning the wranglers went through his supervisor, Buck. It was rare to be asked up to the office, but it did happen from time to time. “You wanted to see me, boss?”
Logan Haven looked up and motioned him in, placing a document to his right as he stood up from behind his massive desk, everything atop it organized and in its proper place. “C’mon in Jed.”
The owner of The Sweetwater was meticulous. His wife, Jill, helped him keep everything running smoothly on a part-time basis, even with five kids and a newborn. Jed often marveled about how efficient they were, wondering how they accomplished all they did.
“Thanks for getting here so quickly. I know you’re busy, but I need a favor. Have a seat and I’ll explain.” Logan waited until Jed was seated in one of the leather chairs opposite the desk before continuing. The boss sat down in his desk chair and rolled it forward, his hands resting on the arms.
“What can I do fer ya, boss?” Jed asked curiously, his eyebrows arched.
“We’re in a dire predicament or I wouldn’t ask, but I hope you’ll hear me out.” Logan cleared his throat. “I know it’s an unusual request and I’ll understand if you say no.”
“Fair enough.” Jed nodded.
“This morning, The Sweetwater Bakery manager had to resign due to a family emergency. I guess his mom has to have an operation and was rushed to the hospital last night. It’s a pretty serious situation and he doesn’t think he’ll be able to return. It involves relocation and a long-term absence.” Logan sighed, shaking his head.
“Wow, that’s rough. Carl must be devastated. He loved being here.” Jed felt bad for the fella. He’d done a great job of managing the bakery.
Logan nodded. “He is, but he’s even more worried about his mom. On top of that, the new assistant he hired turned in his keys, too. Said it just wasn’t for him.” Then he leaned forward. “That’s what brings me to how you might be able to help us.”
Jed still didn’t see where Logan was going with this. Sure, he liked to bake stuff now and then, mostly cookies, but he didn’t have a clue about running a bakery. Jed glanced nervously around the office, trying to deny the urge to run. He couldn’t help but laugh. Several times.
When he managed to stop laughing, he managed to choke out, “Me?”
Logan was barely managing to keep a straight face himself. He wore a look of hope in his eyes.
“Surely you jest,” Jed blurted out, still stunned. He was a wrangler, not a baker. He’d never worked in a restaurant a day in his life. He began bouncing one knee up and down to expend nervous energy. Were his palms really sweating?
“It’s not what you think. We just need someone to help out for about a week until the new manager settles in,” the boss clarified.
“Oh, you’ve got a new manager, then?” He began to relax a little.
“Well, no, not yet...” Logan cleared his throat again. “But we’re working on it. McGuire’s sister’s job placement agency is going to send someone over as soon as possible.”
“Oh.” Jed nodded, his eyes wide with amazement, his mouth agape while he tried to think of something to say. Anything to defer Logan’s clearly misguided line of thinking.
“Jill and I thought of you because you won that first place blue ribbon for your chocolate chip zucchini bread at the bake off a few months ago.” Logan swiveled around in his chair, retrieving the framed photo of him receiving his award. He swiveled back around and placed the memory on the desk.
Jed rolled his eyes and coughed, remembering the event. It had taken him a week of experimenting before he’d had the guts to enter the contest, and he probably wouldn’t have if it hadn’t been for McGuire and Jack egging him on and it being the dead of winter. He’d been bored out of his mind that week.
Cookies. He liked baking chocolate chip cookies. Well, and snickerdoodles. Sometimes those peanut butter kiss cookies or the kind you cut into shapes, frost, and then sprinkle with colored sugar at Christmas. That’s it. He could—on rare occasion—make a decent banana or pumpkin bread. He spent most of his time picking egg shells out of the bowl, but he guessed he liked baking cookies best. Sure, he enjoyed a little baking, but a baker, he was not.
“What about Corky or Mrs. Wright?” Jed heard himself finally ask a reasonable question.
“With the ranch booked to full capacity, we just can’t spare either one of them from their regular duties.” Logan drank some of the coffee in his cup.
Jed’s eyes lit up with another idea. “Have you asked Jill’s mom? Everyone knows Betty Anne Fontaine is one of the best cooks in Wyoming.”
Logan shook his head. “She’s in Europe for the next few weeks—by herself—much to Jill’s dismay.”
“Europe?” Jed’s mouth dropped open and then shut again. How’d he miss that detail? If anyone managed to leave Lander, it was big news.
“London for a week, then Paris.” Logan sighed and then shrugged. “I know, right? Horrible timing! I guess she’s never really done anything like a vacation by herself and wanted to prove to herself she could do it.”
Jed stopped his knee from bouncing. “We could’ve dropped her at a James Bond movie and then lunch at that new café in Lander. Same impact and she’d have been home in time for dinner.”
Logan busted out laughing and Jed finally relaxed again. He couldn’t help but smile a little. He couldn’t crack eggs without getting shells in the batter, but at least he could still crack silly jokes and make people laugh. That made him happy.
When he stopped laughing, Logan leaned back in his desk chair and clasped both hands behind his head, his elbows jutting out. “We don’t expect much right now, Jed, especially since there’s only a part-time bakery clerk to help out. If you could keep the front case stocked with cookies and breads or whatever you can manage to whip up, that’d be great. Run the register, order supplies, that sort of thing. Keep the place clean. Try not to break any health department rules. Then when the agency sends someone over, stay there for about a week until he or she is acclimated. You know, try to keep to the regular bakery hours as much as possible. Keep the coffee hot and fresh. Give people some free coffee or cookies if you have any unhappy customers.”
“I dunno, boss,” Jed sighed. “I’m not much of a baker. That blue ribbon was a fluke.”
“Jill and I would really appreciate anything you could do. We’d make it worth your while with overtime pay while you’re there.”
Jed liked the sound of overtime pay, but he hesitated to say yes.
“Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re going to be exhausted when the week is up. Jill and I already thought of that. We’re willing to throw in a three day getaway to my cousin’s ranch, The Broken J, whenever you wanna take it, all expenses paid, courtesy of The Sweetwater.”
“Now you’re talking my love language.” Jed grinned.
Logan laughed. “Do we have a deal?”
“There’s just one more thing, boss.”
“Yeah?”
“I have no idea what I’m doing, so ya can’t hold any mistakes or upset customers ‘gainst me. I’ve never worked in a bakery or a restaurant or anything like this before,” Jed warned, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Fair enough.” Logan leaned his head to the right and nodded. “Jill and I will hold you exempt from repercussions as long as you do your best.”
“One more very important thing...” Jed interjected.
“You drive a hard bargain, cowboy!” Logan began to look mildly exasperated while he waited to hear his demands.
“I can have as many cookies and as much chocolate milk as I want.” Jed paused and then added, “You know, since I’m doing you a huge favor at my personal inconvenience and the expense of my reputation as a wrangler. I mean, some parts of this are going to be downright painful, boss.”
Logan grinned. “Point noted. Have as many cookies and as much chocolate milk as you want, but on the condition you’ll start today, right after your lunch break.”
Jed finally relented, allowing a slow smile to spread across his face. They’d arrived at a fair arrangement. “Deal, but not one minute longer than a week unless I’m enjoying the pain, and you have to explain all of this to Buck. I don’t want to be the bearer of news that he’ll be shorthanded when we’re so busy.”
“Deal.” Logan agreed. They stood and shook hands across the desk firmly. A cowboy’s word and his handshake were worth gold in Jed’s book. Logan handed him the keys to the bakery. Jed strode out of the office, putting his hat back on, wondering what he’d just gotten himself into.