It was a cardinal sin to be awake at five o’clock, and a glance toward the mirror proved it. Liz’s black hair looked like a whole nest of rats had had a party in it while she slept. She grabbed a brush and went to work, sweeping it up into a ponytail and twisting it into a sloppy bun. She slapped on barely enough makeup to be presentable in public and went back to the bedroom. Jasmine said jeans and a T-shirt were fine and that she provided aprons.

Her eyes were still half shut when she picked up her purse and keys from the kitchen table and stumbled out into the darkness. Hooter looked up from the corner of the porch with mournful eyes, and Blister ran to her empty food dish.

“I can’t leave until I feed the livestock,” Liz grumbled as she went back inside the house.

She filled the food dishes and made sure there was fresh water and headed toward her pickup truck again.

“Good mornin’,” Raylen said cheerfully as he hopped over the fence in a swift movement.

Liz glared at him. “It’s five thirty in the morning. What is good about that?”

“Going to be a beautiful day. Sun will be rising in another hour. Thought I’d stop by and tell you good luck on your first day at work. I’m getting ready to plow that field right there.” He pointed toward the tractor sitting on the other side of the fence.

“Thank you for the good luck,” she said.

He hurried to the truck and opened the door for her. “Have a good day.”

“How can you be so happy at this time of day?” she asked.

“I’m an early riser. Love the morning when things are just waking up,” he answered.

She brushed against him and the electricity between them woke her up so fast it made her head swim. So, the fire in his kiss wasn’t a one-time episode.

“See you later. I may drop in today if I get this job done,” he said as he slammed her truck door shut.

***

Liz drove out to the end of the lane and turned north. It was a good thing he hadn’t kissed her, or she’d have been tempted to just stay home and make out with him all day. By the carnie bible she was already sinning by getting up before the sun; she might as well go to hell for a big sin as a little one. She had a smile on her face when she opened the door to the café and saw Jasmine through the serving window in the kitchen.

“Hey, come on back here and get a cup of coffee. It’ll be about ten or fifteen minutes before the crowd starts wandering in,” Jasmine yelled.

Liz headed that way and stopped at the kitchen door.

Jasmine pointed at the coffee machine and the cups stacked up beside it. “Your breakfast and dinner are included with the job. If you want a sausage biscuit, help yourself.” Jasmine nodded toward a plate with several already made up. “Want cream or sugar with your coffee?”