“Touch it and you are dead,” she said.

“Don’t be her friend, Liz. She’s mean and hateful.” Dewar grinned.

Jasmine shot right back, “Don’t be his friend. He’s a thief.”

Liz picked up a chicken leg with her fingers and bit into the best fried chicken she had ever eaten. She didn’t moan with pleasure but she wanted to. After just one afternoon, she would never be able to keep all the names, attitudes, and information straight in her mind, but she was having a great time. There wasn’t all that much difference between a carnie family and a real one after all.

Jasmine talked between bites. “Lucy usually supplies me with waitresses, but she’s out of stock right now. You’d have to be there at six in the morning, but you’re done about two so your afternoons and evenings would be free.”

“Lucy?” Liz asked.

“It’s a long story. Pearl, who’s been my friend since we were toddlers, inherited a motel over in Henrietta, Texas. Short version is that she took in Lucy to help her out when Lucy’s abusive husband whipped on her the last time. When Pearl and Wil married, she turned the motel over to Lucy to manage. She helps other abused women find work when they decide to get out of their bad relationships. But she doesn’t have anyone to send to me right now, and Amber is leaving on Wednesday to live around her folks in northeast Arkansas.”

Dewar eyed her bottle of beer, and Jasmine air- slapped his shoulder. “You do not even want to think about touching my beer. I might stab you with my fork for messin’ with my bread, but darlin’, they won’t even find your bones if you steal my beer.”

“See?” Dewar said. “I told you she was mean.”

Liz shrugged. “I’d say she’s protectin’ her property. A woman can’t be lettin’ a man come along and steal her property, can she?”

“You got that right,” Jasmine said. “Me and you are going to get along just fine. So will you work for me?”

“Sure, I’ll fill in until Lucy finds someone who needs a job.” Liz wished she could reach up and snatch the words back into her mouth the minute they were out in the air. She should have at least slept on the idea before she took the job. She didn’t need the money. She had plenty in her bank account to live a year without lifting a finger. But on the other hand, she would meet the local people, get to know them, and carve out a place in Montague County, Texas. Or else by the time the carnival was ready for another season, she’d be ready to give up her roots, slap on her wings, and fly away.

“Could you come in Tuesday and work with Amber to get the feel of it?” Jasmine asked.

“Sure. Where is it?” Liz replied.

“Right up the road a couple of miles. Same side of the highway. Next to Gemma’s beauty shop,” Jasmine said.