Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
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.