Read Online Rest Thy Head by Elaine Cantrell - Free Book Online Page A

Ashley’s number.
    Ashley answered on the first ring. Her voice sounded tired when she said hello.
    “Hey, Ash, it’s me. I thought you might be on your lunch break.”
    “I got fired.”
    Peyton jumped out of her chair. “What! How did that happen?”
    She heard a hint of anger in Ashley’s voice now. “It’s Drew’s fault. He brought his car to be waxed, and I was the one who had to work on it. He stood there and called both of us every name in the book. His language was so bad I threw my polishing rag at him and refused to work on his car. He complained to the manager, and when I refused to apologize to Drew, I got fired. Drew was pleased, too. I saw the smirk on his face.”
    Peyton’s shoulders slumped as guilt filled her. How could she have destroyed her own sister’s chance for an education and a decent job? “Oh, Ashley, this is all my fault!”
    Ashley laughed, but she didn’t sound amused. “Your fault? Hardly. Drew’s the one at fault, and don’t you forget it.”
    Peyton bit her thumbnail, an annoying, nasty habit that she thought she’d almost broken. “What will you do now?” she worried.
    “Look for another job, I guess. Mother sure won’t take us in.”
    Peyton mentally considered the different businesses in Millford. “Why don’t you try Chef’s Pantry? People come and go all the time in a grocery store, and the work might be easier than the car wash.”
    “That’s a thought, and there’s always the Dairy Queen.”
    The minute she got off the phone Peyton savagely kicked her sandals across the floor. “I hate him! I hate him, and I hope I never see his sorry face again!”
    Almost immediately someone knocked on the door. “Come in,” Peyton yelled.
    Annie poked her head around the door. “Who do you hate?” She had changed out of her uniform and put on a pretty, floral dress that somehow reminded Peyton of a picture she had once seen of her grandmother. She guessed styles really did repeat themselves. You could even buy bell-bottoms now, and who’d ever have guessed such a ridiculous fashion would ever return?
    “I didn’t mean to be so loud,” she apologized. “My sister just called, and you’ll never guess what she told me.” Peyton repeated Ashley’s story for Annie, and this time she also told her about Drew and Megan Thomas. “If Ashley can’t find anything in a hurry, I’ll have to go home and get a job so I can help her. I’ve almost used up my savings, and she doesn’t have a penny to her name. I wish Mother would help Ashley but she won’t.”
    Annie gasped. “I have an idea! Why not ask your sister to come here for the summer? I heard that Dorrie Bettis, she’s one of the maids, might be ready to quit. Your sister could take her place.”
    Peyton shook her head. “She’d have to find somewhere to live, and she has a small son too. I doubt she could afford to rent a place.”
    Annie thought for a moment. “How about the attic here at the inn?” `
    “Is it finished?”
    Annie nodded. “Part of it is. The previous owners made one nice bedroom up there. It’s about thirteen by seventeen I imagine, and there’s plenty of furniture in the storage area.”
    Tears filled Peyton’s eyes. “I love it! You’ve been so good to me. I can’t thank you enough. I hope if there’s ever anything I can do for you, you won’t hesitate to ask.”
    Annie favored her with a brilliant smile. “Oh, you already did something nice for me. I heard about your trip to town with Jake.” She giggled. “I heard about the lettuce football game too.”
    “I think I made things better for him with the kitchen staff, but I embarrassed him when we went to town,” Peyton confessed. She told Annie how she had taken Jake’s hand.
    Annie spun around and clapped her hands. “That’s wonderful! You grabbed his hand just like you’d have done if he had no scars! That’s what he needs, someone to treat him normally, to show him those scars aren’t the end of the