Read The Posse for Free Online Page B

tomorrow.”
    “Looking forward to it!”
Jude clicked off with a broad smile. Matchmaking had never been her
thing, but maybe it was going to be part of her old age.
    Inviting the posse was a
simple matter of one call to her sister-in-law, Samantha. The
informal phone tree that was in place for all events or emergencies
sprang into action, and by the time Emmy showed up at five to
relieve Jude, Sam had called back to report that everyone was
coming to her Sunday night shin-dig.
    “Emmy, why don’t you come,
too?” Jude leaned against the counter. She’d just detailed her plan
to the night manager. “Bring the kids. It’ll be fun.”
    “Come back here on my off
hours? Are you nuts?” Emmy shook her head and laughed. “Okay, sure.
But only because my children would kill me if I said no to an
evening of fried foods and playing with other kids. Want me to
bring a pie?”
    “Nah, it’s your day off.
Plus I asked Sandra to bring dessert. Just bring yourself and the
kids.”
    “Done.” Emmy grinned. “So
who’s going to cook?”
    “Everyone. I’ll try to make
extras of everything throughout the day, and then I’ll draft some
of the guys into manning the grill. It’ll be casual, but we’ll be
having fun.”
    “Awesome. Now tell me why
you’re really doing this.”
    Jude widened her eyes. “What
do you mean? I have to have an ulterior motive for dinner with my
friends?”
    “Of course not, but you have
a gleam in your eye. You’re up to something.”
    Shrugging, Jude winked.
“Watch and learn, my young apprentice. Watch and learn.”
     

    The Riptide was hopping for
a Sunday. Jude felt like she needed roller skates to keep up with
the rush, even with Sadie and Mack working alongside her. The clear
blue skies and bright sun had people flocking to the beach, and it
seemed everyone had decided to enjoy a late lunch before heading
home to start another week.
    “Three burgers, fried
chicken and a salad for number eighteen.” Sadie stomped back into
their open kitchen. “Plus those kids at the bar want two more
orders of fries and refills on drinks.” She clipped the ticket to
the rack, as Mack squinted up at it.
    “Good God, woman, your
chicken scratch gets worse every day.”
    Sadie scowled and slammed
the basket into the fryer. “I just told you what the order was. And
it’s not my writing, old man . It’s your eyes and those
glasses you won’t go get updated.”
    Jude rolled her eyes. She’d
been the buffer here for so long that it came naturally. The busier
the restaurant was, the worse they were. She grabbed three beef
patties from her stock in the fridge and set them down next to Mack
at the grill.
    “I’ll handle the salad and
the chicken.” She read the ticket and bit the side of her lip,
determined to be as diplomatic as possible. “Sadie, is
this...chicken Caesar salad?”
    “No.” Sadie tore the paper
from Jude’s hand. “Right here, see? Chicken ranch.” She clipped it
back on the rack and went back to her fries, a frown still on her
face. At the grill, Mack made the mistake of snickering.
    Sadie wheeled around,
snatched up a large metal spoon from the nearby jar and shook it at
Mack. “You keep it up! Don’t think I won’t take this to you. Right
upside the head. And no one would blame me a bit. No court in the
land would convict me, not for what I put up with from you!”
    Jude clamped down on the
insides of her cheeks to keep from laughing, knowing the old woman
wouldn’t hesitate to turn that spoon on her next.
    “Sadie, here.” She handed
her a bowl with breaded chicken tenders. “Put these in the fryer,
please. And give me the spoon. We don’t have time today to clean up
the mess if you decide to beat Mack senseless.”
    Sadie humphed, but she
pulled out tongs and dropped the chicken pieces into the bubbling
oil. Over her head, Jude exchanged a glance with Mack before they
all got back to work.
    She wasn’t usually strict
about closing time on Sundays, and often they