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"What’s yours?"

"I go by Rooster"

"Rooster?"

"After the John Wayne movie," one of the other bikers explained

"Oh, okay," Bethanne ht"

The biker pointed across the booth at the two otherone is Skunk This here is Max," he said, nudging the man beside him

"Bethanne," she repeated

The twoher, Max looked out theThe two other bikers were adding creae further conversation, Bethanne retreated behind the counter Her hand trehtly as she returned the coffeepot to the burner

The door opened again, and a steady strealanced outside, seeing that the bus had arrived ahead of schedule She’d been too distracted by the bikers to notice She grabbed the coffeepot again and moved toward the counter, which had filled up first Annie had taken on waitress duty, as well, and the two of the from one end of the café to the other In no time the two coffeepots were empty

"I need coffee down here," an ill-te right up," Bethanne pro orders and shuffled them to Marie as fast as she could Once the coffee had finished brewing, she hurried to the grouch by theHe had an entire booth to himself

"Is this decaf?" he demanded

"No…I don’t believe so"

"Get me some decaf"

"I’ll need to brew that It’ll be a few minutes"

"What kind of joint is this?" he complained loudly

"Would you likecharitably that he was probably hungry and tired

"No, I want my decaf coffee"

"Is that all?"

"No," he said pointedly, "and the longer you stand here arguing withto have to wait for et back on that bus, you know"

Bethanne realized she should have automatically brewed a pot of decaffeinated coffee There was siet it," Annie called out, and hurried toward the coffeeorders when she noticed the decaffeinated coffee was ready Dropping off more orders with Marie, she picked up the coffeepot and rushed over to the co He didn’t bother to right his cup so she did it for him, and filled it to the brim

"You overfilled it," he snarled "Now there’s no room for creaain, leaving it three-quarters full

"That’s only half a cup!" he nearly shouted "I suppose you intend to charge me for a full one?"

Bethanne started to add more coffee when she felt a hand on her shoulder Rooster, the older biker, stood directly behind her

"Listen, buddy," he said, and the threat in his voice made her shiver She couldn’t see his face but she saw the reaction of the man with the coffee and he seeet hungry I get cranky You’re delaying et cranky"

The other man didn’tThe rattle of dishes died down and conversation fell to a soft hush Soon the whole café had gone silent as Rooster bent over the man in the booth

"That coffee’s just fine now, isn’t it?" Rooster asked

The other erness to assure Rooster it was

"That’s what I thought" Rooster gently patted Bethanne’s arm as he returned to his friends

"I think your order’s up now," she said He winked as he passed by, and Bethanne did her best to disguise a s she walked back to the kitchen and placed the orders for the four bikers on a large tray and delivered them to the table