“What meetings?” Jasmine asked.

“Started them a month ago. That’s another reason I don’t get out much. Sunday afternoons, we all meet in the Baptist church fellowship hall. It’s like AA, only for abused women. It’s our support group,” Lucy said.

“When does she want to start work?” Liz asked.

“She’s sittin’ out there in my truck. Thought we’d check here before I took her on to her folks’ farm,” Lucy said.

Jasmine looked at Liz. “You sure about this?”

“I’ll miss you, but I figured out what I want to do, and Maddie said I could work with the horses. I’ll give Bridget my apron and start work on the ranch tomorrow morning if you say it’s all right,” Liz said.

She remembered someone in the last few weeks saying that change was a good thing. Though she couldn’t recall exactly who said it, she sure hoped they were right.

“I’ve loved working here,” Liz said around the lump in her throat.

Jasmine crossed the kitchen and gave her a hug. “Girlfriend, just because you don’t come in to work every day doesn’t mean we won’t see each other often. We are family now. Lucy, go bring Bridget on in here. She can work with Liz all afternoon and start full-time tomorrow morning,” Jasmine said.

Lucy nodded and headed for the door.

“Lucy takes her mission to help abused women very seriously,” Jasmine explained in a low tone. “I’m going to miss you like crazy.”

“It’s the right thing and the right time,” Liz said.

Bridget was a short woman, carrying about twenty extra pounds and a few faint yellow bruises around her eyes. After introductions, she held out her hand to Jasmine and said, “Thank you for givin’ me a chance. I did some work over at the Dairy Queen when I was in high school, but that was a while ago. I’ll learn fast though.”

“Minimum wage to start,” Jasmine said.

“The tips are really good, though,” Liz said.

“I would work for minimum and give the tips to you,” Bridget said.

“That isn’t the way it works. You keep the tips. Some days they’ll be better than your wages. I pay on Saturday at quittin’ time. At the end of work today, I’ll give you a fifty-dollar advance on your first paycheck for gas to get you to work the rest of the week.”

Bridget smiled for the first time. “Daddy said I can use his old work truck until I can get something better. He’d probably fill it up with gas, but if I can do it on my own, I’d like that.”

“Then get an apron and follow Liz everywhere she goes today. Lucy, you want to pick her up on your way back home?” Jasmine asked.

“I’ll be here at two,” Lucy said.

“Lucy, you said you had two women needing work. What’s the other lady looking for?” Liz asked.

“She’s fifty years old and never worked outside the home. We got her set up in a little garage apartment in Henrietta, but rent is due at the end of the month. We could only help her get situated and pay one month. She’s not qualified for anything,” Lucy answered.