Read Online Coal Black Blues by Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy - Free Book Online
Authors: Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy
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grab what I need and get out of here so you can wrap things up.”
Caroline acknowledged him with a nod, then accepted payment for gasoline from two customers and rang up a pack of diapers for a harried-seeming young mom. By then, Neil had returned with a loaf of bread, package of lunch meat, and a soda pop. Not much of a meal after working all day. But she bit her lip and kept silent. An idea sparked, one she promised herself she’d pursue farther after she got home.
“See you tomorrow, Carrie,” he said after she sacked his purchases.
“Goodnight, Neil.” She ached to say so much more but didn’t. He nodded and amidst the rush of customers returning home to Coaltown after work, she missed his leaving. His truck was there and the next chance she had time to look, he had gone.
Closing at six proved more difficult than Caroline planned. Customers kept trickling until after six thirty when she turned off the pumps and dimmed the lights. She rang up the last few purchases and locked up for the night. Weary and bleary eyed, she made her way home and heated a frozen turkey pot pie in the oven. I’m not much better than Neil but at least my supper is hot.
As she ate, Caroline remembered her idea back at the store. If Neil didn’t eat a decent meal after a hard day’s work, she could provide something at the store. After she finished, she searched the cupboards for her grandma’s old Harvest Orange Crockpot. After washing away the dust and accumulated dirt from years of storage, Caroline put two cans of chicken broth, canned chicken breast, some diced baby carrots, a chopped onion and seasoning into the pot. She would let it simmer on low all night long.
Although tired, she took time to make egg noodles the way her grandmother always did, without a recipe, with flour, an egg, dash of salt and a pinch of baking powder. Caroline rolled them out to dry, leaving them thicker than usual to make what Granny called “cut dumplings” in the morning. She would add them to the pot and carry it to work, leaving it to slow cook all day long so when Neil came by after work, she could offer something hot and satisfying. For a second, she wondered what she’d do if he didn’t come, but her instincts said he would.
With tomorrow’s supper on the make, Caroline took a bath and retired. She woke before the alarm, finished the dumplings, loaded the slow cooker and packed some old heavy bowls. At the store, customers arrived almost before she had the pumps or lights on. The hours moved with speed, business keeping her too busy to think about much of anything except the store. By the time she spotted Neil’s truck parking out front, Caroline’s feet ached and so did her back.
He managed to arrive in the slack between after school and the after work rush. His arrival reminded her of old times, when she worked here as a teen and he’d come by to see her. Caroline greeted him with a genuine smile, noting he’d made an effort to wash most of the coal dust from his face and hands. “Hi, Neil,” she sang out. “How did your day go?”
“Hard,” he replied and she resolved to think of another greeting. But, before she could say anything more, he offered a small smile. “Tolerable, though, thanks for asking. How’s business?”
“It’s booming. I guess Coaltown missed having a local store. I think everyone in this part of the county’s been here.”
“I imagine so.”
Two pickups and three cars were at the pumps. In a short time, she’d be ringing up their fuel purchases along with whatever other purchases they might make. Before Neil could leave or she got too busy, Caroline asked, “Are you hungry?”
He leaned against the counter and shut his eyes for a brief moment. There were bags beneath them and heavy shadows. After a moment, though, he opened his deep gray eyes, a contrast to his pale face and dark beard stubble. “I’m near starved, but I have the rest of that baloney I bought at home. I just came by to see
Caroline acknowledged him with a nod, then accepted payment for gasoline from two customers and rang up a pack of diapers for a harried-seeming young mom. By then, Neil had returned with a loaf of bread, package of lunch meat, and a soda pop. Not much of a meal after working all day. But she bit her lip and kept silent. An idea sparked, one she promised herself she’d pursue farther after she got home.
“See you tomorrow, Carrie,” he said after she sacked his purchases.
“Goodnight, Neil.” She ached to say so much more but didn’t. He nodded and amidst the rush of customers returning home to Coaltown after work, she missed his leaving. His truck was there and the next chance she had time to look, he had gone.
Closing at six proved more difficult than Caroline planned. Customers kept trickling until after six thirty when she turned off the pumps and dimmed the lights. She rang up the last few purchases and locked up for the night. Weary and bleary eyed, she made her way home and heated a frozen turkey pot pie in the oven. I’m not much better than Neil but at least my supper is hot.
As she ate, Caroline remembered her idea back at the store. If Neil didn’t eat a decent meal after a hard day’s work, she could provide something at the store. After she finished, she searched the cupboards for her grandma’s old Harvest Orange Crockpot. After washing away the dust and accumulated dirt from years of storage, Caroline put two cans of chicken broth, canned chicken breast, some diced baby carrots, a chopped onion and seasoning into the pot. She would let it simmer on low all night long.
Although tired, she took time to make egg noodles the way her grandmother always did, without a recipe, with flour, an egg, dash of salt and a pinch of baking powder. Caroline rolled them out to dry, leaving them thicker than usual to make what Granny called “cut dumplings” in the morning. She would add them to the pot and carry it to work, leaving it to slow cook all day long so when Neil came by after work, she could offer something hot and satisfying. For a second, she wondered what she’d do if he didn’t come, but her instincts said he would.
With tomorrow’s supper on the make, Caroline took a bath and retired. She woke before the alarm, finished the dumplings, loaded the slow cooker and packed some old heavy bowls. At the store, customers arrived almost before she had the pumps or lights on. The hours moved with speed, business keeping her too busy to think about much of anything except the store. By the time she spotted Neil’s truck parking out front, Caroline’s feet ached and so did her back.
He managed to arrive in the slack between after school and the after work rush. His arrival reminded her of old times, when she worked here as a teen and he’d come by to see her. Caroline greeted him with a genuine smile, noting he’d made an effort to wash most of the coal dust from his face and hands. “Hi, Neil,” she sang out. “How did your day go?”
“Hard,” he replied and she resolved to think of another greeting. But, before she could say anything more, he offered a small smile. “Tolerable, though, thanks for asking. How’s business?”
“It’s booming. I guess Coaltown missed having a local store. I think everyone in this part of the county’s been here.”
“I imagine so.”
Two pickups and three cars were at the pumps. In a short time, she’d be ringing up their fuel purchases along with whatever other purchases they might make. Before Neil could leave or she got too busy, Caroline asked, “Are you hungry?”
He leaned against the counter and shut his eyes for a brief moment. There were bags beneath them and heavy shadows. After a moment, though, he opened his deep gray eyes, a contrast to his pale face and dark beard stubble. “I’m near starved, but I have the rest of that baloney I bought at home. I just came by to see
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