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Ruth shoved her sweater sleeves up past her elbows "I’m a champion dishwasher, at your service"

"I can bus tables," Annie offered

"Uh" Bethanne hesitated She was thinking she should wash dishes

"Co like a pretty girl to build up business," Marie told her, grinning as she said it "And I could certainly use the help"

"Then I’d be delighted" The last tiraduated fro at the local Denny’s The experience had convinced her that she wasn’t waitressheavy platters and busing tables In addition, she’d discovered that people could be dee for a few hours

"I’ve got another apron in back Let et it for you" And Marie bustled into the kitchen, with Ruth close behind

"I hope I don’t spill coffee on anyone," Bethanne worried "Or mix up all the orders"

"Moreat"

As little as tenquietly in the car knitting a wedding gift for her future daughter-in-la she wore a pink apron with a frilly starched border She looked like a character in some ht as well play the role She purposely tucked the pencil behind her ear, then reached for the order pad and slipped it in her apron pocket

"The specials are listed on the chalkboard outside," Marie explained "It ood idea to memorize them"

"Gotcha," Bethanne said, and walked outside She studied the blackboard Haravy was first, followed by macaroni and cheese The third special was pot roast with ravy Apparently, Marie was fond of s herself with the specials when she heard the roar ofas it drew closer "What is it about men and motorcycles?" she ets here?" Annie asked She wore her own apron and carried a cleaning rag and a gray plastic tub piled high with dirty dishes

"About twenty ht fill the water glasses now It’ll save you time later"

"I’ll do that," Bethanne said She found a pitcher and set about pouring water into each glass While she was at it, she figured out hoork the coffee machine Meanwhile, Annie washed the counter, cleaned the tables and put out silverware

The roar of engines thundered to a stop just outside the café and, shortly after, four burly h boots walked in as if they owned the place

Bethanne stared at them They paused by the door and looked around Bethanne wasn’t easily intiht, but theseRoad warriors They were everything Grant’s sister had warned the about biker culture, but to her inexperienced eye, two of them looked halfway decent and the other two looked suspicious She certainly wouldn’t trust any one of thehter Come to think of it, they were four women alone…

A prickle of fear went down her spine and she stood there paralyzed, unable to ine the headlines now Four Wo happened, Robin would bla as she’d most likely be dead

Annie’s eyes connected with hers Deciding not to give in to her overactive ientlemen can sit anywhere you want"

The older one, with the short, skinny ponytail, said, "We generally do"

The others laughed The four of theh she were a fresh piece of ry wolves

"I’ll take your order in just adeaze and then scurried into the kitchen Bethanne trailed her at ato sho intimidated she actually felt

"Do you know thoseinto the café fro to so"

"Bikers stop by here all the time Don’t let theh, but underneath they’re pussycats" She was busy stirring a pan of gravy and didn’t even glance out "Besides, theirnot to reveal her fear, Bethanne removed the order pad she’d stuck in her apron pocket, took the pencil froet you boys?" she asked, forcing herself to act as if she was in a theater production Or one of those diner o with the attitude

"Boys?" Again it was the older man with the ponytail who responded "Do I look like a boy to you?"

"It’s a figure of speech," she said, holding her ground "Would you like separate checks?"

"Please" The one who answered was the ested he’d been on the road the longest He had intense brown eyes and wore a leather bandanna tied at the base of his neck His leather vest looked orn and he had on fingerless gloves She al a similar pattern for her son’s fiancée--but she didn’t It was a good bet that he wouldn’t be interested in her latest knitting project

"Cheeseburger, with double pickles and no onion," theacross from Ponytail told her

Bethanne wrote that down She looked over at the biker next to him, who ordered macaroni and cheese Leather Bandanna ordered a bowl of chili and Ponytail wanted the pot roast special

"I’ll have those out for you in a few ave Marie the order that she realized she hadn’t asked if they wanted anything to drink The coffeepot was full, so she carried it over to the table, and when they all righted their cups, she did her best to fill the her hand shake She didn’t want these men to kno nervous they made her

Bethanne started to turn ahen Ponytail stopped her "Where’s your na?"

"Ah…I left it at hoiving hih he approved