I pull the needle through one more time before I cut the thread to the button on Clay’s jeans. There’s no point in throwing them out if I can fix them.
Laundry was the next task after the kitchen, but it’s mind-boggling the amount of dirty clothes he has. It’s going to take some time to get it all done with only one washer and dryer. A laundromat would be best, but no way am I hauling all this around.
I fold the jeans and put them with the others, but my eyes keep drifting back to the first load of white shirts I did. I think there will be four loads in total by the time I’m done, which is crazy. It could be five if I keep finding them in random places. Who needs that many shirts?
My cell buzzes on the table next to me with a text from my sister.
Kitty: It’s so boring without you here. I volunteered to cook dinner with Mom.
Me: Yikes.
A moment later she sends a picture of herself to show how truly bored she is, making me laugh. I miss her too. At least when I marry Judge I’ll be close to her. If I really wanted to, I could walk to Judge’s house from Mom and Dad’s place. I wondered a few times what Judge might say if I asked if my sister to come and live with us. Judge looks like he’s always in a shit mood and grunts a lot of his responses. I think that man was truly raised in a barn, and Clay might have been, too, after seeing his mess.
Another picture comes through, making me laugh harder as she pretends to put her head in the oven. I would, too, if I had to make dinner with Mom. The woman can’t cook to save her life, but she thinks she’s the best one around. I taught myself because it was that or eat cardboard. As I’m laughing, I hold my phone up and take a picture of myself to send back.
“What are you doing?” I jump and drop my cell phone on the ground as my heart races.
“You scared me.” For a big man he sure can tiptoe, because I didn't hear him coming at all.
“These are work hours. Text him on your own time.”
Clay turns away and stomps back outside before slamming the door behind him. I guess this means he’s still not happy I’m here.
I bend down and pick up the cell phone and see the screen is cracked. I try and get it to come on, but nothing happens. I swallow the lump in my throat, and when a tear escapes I wipe it away quickly. I put it down and try to get back to work while not thinking about how I just lost my only connection to my sister.
An hour later and I’m so sick of laundry, I quit for now. It will take him a week to get through what I have washed and folded already, so I put everything away then go to the kitchen for lunch.
I need to call Kat or she’ll start freaking out if she doesn't hear from me. I saw a landline in the office earlier, so maybe I can use that.
When I open the fridge, nothing looks appealing, and my stomach complains. I glance at the clock on the microwave and see that I have more than enough time to get to town and back and still be able to make dinner.
I dart off to my room and grab a jacket and my purse. When I step outside, I see my car is gone, and then I remember Clay saying he’d put it in the barn. I walk over that way to see an older man inside stacking bales of hay. On the other side I see my car and walk over towards it. The older man stops when he sees me, and a slow smile pulls across his sun-weathered face.
“Hi.” I wave at him, trying to be polite. “I’m Dotty, the new housekeeper.”
“Nice to meet you, Dotty. I’m Otis.” He holds his hand out for me to shake. “There something I can help you with? I’m guessing Clay won’t like you being out in the barn alone.”
“My car.” I nod towards it. “I need to run to town, but would you happen to know where the keys are?”
“Yep.” He walks over to the other side and opens a drawer at an old workstation. “If you park in the barn, we keep the keys in there in case someone needs to move a vehicle for some reason.”
“Okay. I’ll make sure I do that when I get back.” He drops the keys into my hand. “Thanks again.”
I smile when the car starts right up, and I think things might be looking up from here. Now, if the phone people can fix my cell, that would be wonderful.
I jerk awake when someone touches my shoulder. I must have nodded off at some point while waiting for them to fix my phone.
“Oh gosh. I’m so sorry.” Jo gives me a sympathetic look as I stand up from the chair. My butt is killing me because I’ve been sitting in that chair for a few hours. I can tell from the look on his face I’m not going to like what he has to say. He was checking into a warranty or maybe a replacement.
“There is nothing we can do. You’d have to buy a new one.”
“At full price I take it?” You get a major deal when you buy it with your plan.
“Yeah.” He hands me back the broken phone, and I shove it into my purse. “I’m really sorry about this. The wait and the phone.”
“Thanks.” I do my best to give him a smile before I head out. The sun is already setting, so I guess I’m not making it home before dinner. It didn't help that the first store I went to had moved locations. Then when I got the new address, I got freaking lost for an hour.
I try to make it back to the farm quickly without speeding. I have a feeling I’m going to be in trouble. I should have been working this afternoon and dealt with my phone on my own time over the weekend. I’d let my emotions get the best of me, but I hate losing this contact to my sister. For some reason, the phone made me freer, because now I’m beginning to feel trapped.
“Crap.” My stomach drops when I hear the familiar clicking sound coming from the engine. “We’re so close, please don’t do this to me.” The car starts to slow down on its own, and it’s quickly getting dark outside. I bite the inside of my lip, thinking without the car lights it’s going to be almost pitch black except for whatever light the moon has tonight.
Not really having a choice at this point, I start to pull the car off to the side because I don’t want it to die in the middle of the road.
It’s impossible to see what’s ahead, and I let out a scream when I feel the car drop. The sound of crushing metal fills my ears before everything goes truly black.