The Senator's Daughter (27 page)

In the last column, he found it. A job listing for an assistant manager at an animal shelter. “Paws for Love.” He glanced over at EW. “Know anything about it?”

EW wadded his empty napkin. “Down the road a piece, maybe two miles. Pet project for the new millionaires.”

Cole waited for EW to either acknowledge his pun or explain the “millionaires” comment.

EW stretched lazily and shuffled through the papers to slide one out. On the front page, a full-color photo showing four beautiful women grinning with absolute joy caught Cole's eye. A surge of jealous bitterness shot through him, turning the sandwich into a hard lump in his stomach. “Local lottery winners Rebecca Lincoln, Stephanie Yates and Jen Neil celebrate the open house at Paws for Love.” As he read the headline, Cole had a vague memory of them at Holly Heights High School, but they were a year or two ahead of him and they'd moved in different crowds. “And Sarah Hillman. Looks like some things don't change. Hillmans are still running this town.”

He scanned the story about the shelter's reopening with new funding provided by the foundation set up by Rebecca, Jen and Stephanie. Sarah Hillman was listed as the organization's director and the day-to-day manager. That would be a problem. He expected a Hillman would set low priority to hiring people like him.

“Two miles...” He pointed toward Holly Heights.

EW shook his head and pointed the opposite direction. “Down the highway.”

Cole tapped a finger nervously on the coffee table. He could walk two miles easy. It was only part-time, but it was a place to start and he had the skills listed. Flexibility. Experience working with animals. He could lift fifty pounds no problem.

“Good character.” That might be the sticking point. Not that he didn't have it, but that he had no way to prove it.

“Take the truck.” EW stretched in the seat. “Go in the morning. Won't know until you try.”

“You'll have to come with me. Can't drive. No license.” Maybe if he had a personal witness, they would listen.

“Might be better to take your chances without me.” EW raised an eyebrow, and Cole understood exactly what he meant. Mimi had bragged on EW's skills with motors. The rest of Holly Heights viewed EW as the town drunk.

But Cole would enjoy having a partner, a little bit of backup, someone who believed when he wasn't so sure himself.

Relying too much on what other people thought was how he'd gotten mixed up with the gang that convinced him taking what he needed was the only answer. Not anymore. Going alone was the only way to stay out of trouble.

“I'll walk it. I can do it.” The distance was nothing. Convincing Sarah Hillman to give him a shot would be the challenge. Finding a job was the key to everything. If he spent too much time sitting around this trailer with nothing to do but list his mistakes and fight the temptation to drown his problems, he'd be back inside Travis before the year was out. He didn't believe in fate or destiny, but this felt right. All he had to do was seize his chance.

Copyright © 2016 by Cheryl Harper

ISBN-13: 9781488009273

The Senator's Daughter

Copyright © 2016 by Sophia Sasson

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