Chapter 9 – Help!

Just as he promised, Bret was there at nine the next morning. I was surprised how quickly he caught on to everything, and by noon we agreed that he'd come back tomorrow for the rest of it. Plus I was curious to see how much he retained overnight.

Once again my brother surprised me. There were only one or two things that he forgot overnight, and they were little things. We went ahead with the training and finished up around three o'clock, just in time for Logan to come in. Bret and Logan hadn't met, so I introduced them and they shook hands. "I see the family resemblance," Logan remarked.

"Yeah, there is that," Bret answered back.

"Except I'm prettier," I told the both of them.

"Look, I don't know about you, but I'm starvin'. How about I take the three of us to a late lunch. Been a long time since we did that, son," my brother told me.

"I shouldn't, but I will. Doralice, honey, can you handle it while we go eat?"

She snorted, she was laughing so hard. "Can I handle it? You forget, Mr. Maverick, that I held down this bar before you ever saw it."

"When we come back, I want you to go home. Logan and me will take care of the rowdy boys tonight."

The three of us walked down to Mamacita's and got a table. This time of the day there wasn't too much of a problem with that, and in just a few minutes we'd ordered. When the plates were brought out, Logan took one look at what Bret had on his and his eyes sort of bugged out. "Are you gonna eat all that?" he asked.

"Yes, sir, every bit of it," my big brother replied, licking his lips.

"Sorry, Logan, I forgot to tell you. The whole family eats that way . . . except me. I'm the lightweight."

"Boy that's a lotta food." Logan was obviously impressed.

"That's nothin'. You oughtta see what he does to a mound of bacon."

That's the way the whole meal went. Logan couldn't get over Bret's appetite. When we got back to the saloon, he was still raving about the amount of food my brother could put away. "And he had this giant plate of food . . . "

"I know, Logan. I've been feedin' this family for years."

I called Doralice over to me and wrapped my arms around her. "Go on home, honey. I'm comin' home by midnight. I'm gonna let Logan close up."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Take the buggy. I've still got Baron down at the livery."

She kissed me, and I kissed her back. My kiss was decidedly more sensuous than hers was. "Is that a promise?" she asked me.

"You betcha," I replied.

"Look at the two of them, just like teenagers. Disgusting." That was from my brother.

"Don't be fooled, Logan. When him and Ginny kiss they're exactly the same way."

"Speakin' of Ginny . . . I think I better go home to her."

"Good to meet you, Bret. Sounds like you've got some family."

Bret just laughed and him and Logan shook hands. "Don't let him work you too hard, Logan."

"I'll try not to."

Doralice and Bret left, and I went behind the bar. It was a busy night, but it passed quickly. Logan came behind the bar with me, and for somebody that had never worked as a bartender before, he picked it up real quickly. By the end of the night he was fairly well-trained.

Me and Doralice came in at nine o'clock the next morning. My attitude was a lot different than it had been just two short days ago. I didn't have to worry about the ranch work anymore; all I had to take care of was the saloon. Now I needed to find two things: a bartender and a General Manager.

Days went by, with no success at either position. Once upon a time there were a lot of men that wanted to be a bartender. Not now, it seemed. And then, one afternoon, I finally struck gold.

His name was Walter Adams and, according to him, it had been a long time since he'd tended bar. But he had done it, and he seemed to have a good head on his shoulders. He was originally from Kansas; he'd been in Texas about ten years. He was just riding through town when he stopped at Sawyer's for something to eat and saw the ad in the paper. He figured Little Bend was as good a place as any to live, as long as you had a job, and there was one right there in The Gazette. So he came down to Maude's to see what it was all about.

"Sure is a fine-lookin' saloon, Mr. Maverick. Is there really a Maude around?"

"I would say so, Mr. Adams. She's my mother-in-law."

"What's the hours of work?" He asked the question casually like he was just trying to satisfy his curiosity.

"Staring time is three o'clock. When we stay open until three in the morning, that's quittin' time. If there's no business, whoever's in charge can close up as early as midnight." Logan came over to the bar and I introduced them. "Logan's the Night Floor Manager, the Head bartender's Willie James. He was injured and he's not able to work right now. When he comes back the two of you will be together from three until whatever time Willie decides to go home. I leave that decision up to him. Willie's been with Maude's a long time."

"Sounds like a good place to be. I'd like to work here if you'll have me. It'll just take a day or so for me to brush up on everything and learn Maude's prices. And I can start right away. If that's alright with you, of course."

"Do you go by Walter or Walt?" I asked him.

"Walt, Mr. Maverick."

"Well, Walt, I'm Bart. My wife has been runnin' the bar since Willie got hurt, so come on in tomorrow and she can show you the ropes. Her name is Doralice. I'm still lookin' for a General Manager, so things might change a little when I hire someone. You didn't ask about salary."

"Lookin' at a classy place like this Mr. . . Bart, I don't think I have to worry about bein' paid a fair wage."

"That you don't," Logan told him.

"Alright, Walt, come on in at three o'clock tomorrow and we'll get you started."

We shook hands. "Thanks, Bart. I'll be here."

I took a good look at him as he finished his coffee and turned to walk out the doors. I'd say he was about my age, not quite as tall, with reddish brown hair and a pleasant face. His clothes were neat and clean, and he had a firm handshake. "Whatta ya think, Logan? Can you work with him?"

"Sure, Bart. He seems like a nice fella."

"We'll see how well he does behind the bar tomorrow. I gotta get out of here. I promised Doralice I'd be home early.

"Tell her you hired a bartender and see what she says."

"I'm sure she'll be delighted."

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