Page 138 of Blue Jean Summer

“Can you be reliable and show up on time?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said with a confident nod.

“Do you feel comfortable working with kids?”

Zach paused but offered a reluctant nod.

“What about working with kids and teens around your age?”

Doubt was written across his face. Zach shook his head. “Um, not really.”

I waved it off. Truthfully, I could use a little help around the cottage—just keeping things tidy and making sure the animals were taken care of if I got held up doing something else. I didn’t need full-time help, or even part-time help. More like a sporadic helping hand. But if Zach was putting himself out there, then dammit, I was going to find a place for him.

“That’s fine. It’s not a deal-breaker. It just tells me where I can put you,” I said.

Zach looked rather relieved at that.

“What about during the school year? Are you just looking for a summer job, or do you want to work some afternoons when you get home from school?”

“Uh…” Zach glanced at Hallie, then back at me. “If Mom’s cool with it.”

“Let’s talk about your starting pay,” I said. “Do you have a rate in mind?”

His eyes widened. Zach looked like a deer in the headlights. “No?”

“I can start you at minimum wage,” I said.

He stammered. “O-okay.”

I shook my head and whispered, “Ask for more.”

“Uh…okay?” Zach rubbed the back of his neck. “I’d…I’d like to make…eight—”

I shook my head and pointed up.

“Nine?” he hedged.

I kept pointing up.

Zach cocked his head. “Ten dollars an hour?”

“Keep going,” I stage-whispered as I caught Hallie’s amused smile from the corner of my vision.

Zach and I played our little game until he asked for—or rather guessed—a number that was fitting.

“You’re hired,” I said as I extended my hand to shake his. “I look forward to working with you, and I’ll see you bright and early at seven a.m.”

“What? Seven? In the morning?” Zach’s excitement crumbled. “But…it’s summer.” He sighed, clearly crestfallen at the idea of having to get up that early.

I shrugged. “That’s the job.”

In the kitchen, Hallie waited with bated breath to see if Zach was going to decide that it wasn’t worth it.

After a moment of contemplation, Zach nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll be ready to work.”

“Good. Meet me in the kitchen, or down at the stables. We’ll take Maisey and Elvis up to the cottage. It might be a messy day. Do you have work boots?”

Savannah appeared in the kitchen, jingling and jangling with all the jewelry she wore.