Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Daniel looked around the bar. Lost Creek had many single women. Some were looking for their “forever” kind of guy. Others were merely looking for some lovin’ for a night. As for Daniel, he wasn’t looking for anything but to make money, and to keep the town as safe as possible. They needed tourists, but he also knew they needed to make sure the tourists didn’t trash the place.
The rest of the night went by without event, and no one put up a fight to leave, which he was thankful for. He was tired and even worse, he was grumpy. All week, he’d been looking forward to his Friday night dance.
Closing the bar, he made his way toward the back where his office was located. From there, he accessed the door that took him to the apartment above the bar. He could afford to live anywhere else in Lost Creek, but he didn’t have a problem living above his bar.
His father had owned this place before him, and his father before that. He’d been told as a young boy that owning this bar came with a shit ton of responsibility. This bar was erected once The Reapers finally rid the town of the bad shit that had taken root there. He, his father, and his father before him had a responsibility to hold the fort, to put a call out when they sensed the threat of danger. This was also the place for The Reapers to gather. No one knew who a Reaper was, but a Reaper did. It was a single tattoo, mingled into another tattoo, right next to their chest. For Daniel, his Reaper sign, which was simply two Reapers back-to-back, was encircled by a moon on his chest.
He took his job seriously. Before Nigel had given him the title of leader, he had earned his right to be a Reaper, to take care of the town of Lost Creek. This was not a gang for personal gain. Yes, they made money through tourism, and they also banded together to help provide for those in need.
Like the twenty thousand in cash Billy had stolen. That money hadn’t come through illegal means, but by rounding up what they could from the town to help a young couple whose house had burned down. Now, it did help that the house had been destroyed because of a couple of tourists, too drunk to care what they had been doing. The majority of the twenty had come from them. The rest had been what had been collected and given to help the couple. The house was nearly complete, and to keep it from happening again, the mayor had also invested in more fire hazard and prevention equipment. Again, another member of The Reapers.
No one could know their identity. Apart from their partners, and only then, according to Nigel, you must trust the woman you’re with. The goal of a Reaper is not to take personal credit. The main focus is to take care of the town, the people, and the land. Nothing was for personal gain.
Billy had to learn the lesson the hard way. Daniel moved about his apartment, and he couldn’t help but wonder if Amy would be able to handle who he was and what he did. He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, this life wasn’t for everyone, and he couldn’t help but wonder if it was for Amy.
Chapter Three
Penelope continued to mope and Amy was getting tired of seeing her so sad.
“You know, we have customers,” Amy said.
“I know. I know. But I am hurting.” Penelope stuck out her lip as if that was going to make it all better.
Martha tutted. “So another man screwed you over. Have you ever thought about not showing a man the goods?”
“That’s easy for you to say … you had the perfect marriage with the perfect guy. Lost Creek doesn’t have that!”
Martha snorted. “That, Missy, is where you’re wrong. Lost Creek is flooding with ripe and willing men. Men who will call you back. Men who will take you on a date. The biggest problem you have, sweetheart, is that they will take you back home. They have no desire to leave Lost Creek. You decide you want to stay and settle down, you’ll be in for a treat. You don’t, then you’re going to keep being used and discarded.”
Amy didn’t want to stick around and listen as it didn’t apply to her, but Martha had a way of telling it like it was, and, well, Penelope didn’t like to hear the harsh reality.
“Now, your boss gave you an instruction. Unless you want to add ‘unemployed’ to your list of bad stuff happening, I suggest you get to it.” Martha clapped her hands, and that was the end of the discussion.
Penelope let out a huff, got to her feet, and left. Amy wasn’t too worried, though. She saw the smile on her friend’s face, and she clearly just wanted to have a stern talking to.