Chapter Four

Samsonville never had much of an option for me to buy many clothes, I mean sure they had clothes stores, but I just couldn’t find much that I would want to wear. It wasn’t a surprise Mum used to say that I had my own style “child I cannot keep up with you, one minute its a cute summer dress the next flared jeans and a floor length fur coat” she always encouraged me to dress how I wanted though, and I loved her for it. God how I missed her, Things like this make it near impossible for me to block out the fact that she was really gone. It has been two weeks since her funeral, three weeks since she had passed and it was easier for me to not think about her or else I would break, something I was yet to do. I know with time it would get easier, it did when dad died.

“I was thinking we could head to dinner at the bar and grill? What do you say?” Uncle Jesse cut into my thoughts.

“huh” I hummed his question catching me of guard.

“Are you ok kid? You seem a little down” he asked as we approached the truck.

“Yeah, I’m good” I cleared my throat to rid the ball of feelings that was now stuck in it.

“Alrighty then, bar and grill how about it?” he repeated taking my bags that had the few items of clothing that I did manage to find and throwing them into the back of the truck.

 “I’m not that hungry” I shook my head, which was a lie because I was starving, in all honesty I was avoiding any type of socialising, I felt so out of place here the last thing I wanted was to sit in a busy restaurant where everyone had their eyes on the British girl.

“It is after six o’clock at night, you barely ate a thing since you arrived last night, so I’m taking you for a bite to eat” he insisted holding the truck door open for me.

“Ok, fine” I reluctantly agreed climbing into the truck, I didn’t miss the successful grin appear on his lips before he closed the door gently. It was obvious he was pleased at my agreement, and it made me wonder if he had been wary of if I had some kind of eating disorder, and that was far from the case.

The bar and grill were less than a minute drive, we literally turned a corner and there it was, Rays Bar and Grill. The sign with a bull’s head and bright white lights behind it illuminating the whole front of the building. It gave of this sophisticated cowboy feel and I was intrigued I loved barbeque grill; I wasn’t sure what kind of grilled food Americans cook on the grill, but I could not wait to find out.

I hopped of the step of the truck; the car park seemed rather full. This place was busy I can tell by watching the many bodies that loitered outside the door of the grill with lit cigarettes. Ugh I was badly in need of nicotine; I had smoked my last cig when I got off the plane yesterday, but I had no clue how I was to buy a new pack with me being stuck in a new country an all. It was so easy for me to get my hands on some back home, back home Ashton would buy me them, with him being eighteen it was not a problem. Now I was stuck, I was seventeen in Texas where the laws are twenty-one and over. Hell, this life sucked.

Everyone knew Uncle Jesse, I don’t just mean a few hi and hay’s from the locals. I mean every person greeted him with excitement and large smiles as we entered the grill, it was surreal.

I smiled behind him, nodding my head and greeting with a small hello as he introduced me to a few people.

“Where you sitting today honey?” a red headed waitress drawled out.

“Arlene what a sight for my eyes, usual place darlin” he sent her a wink and I swear she blushed to the high heavens. Uncle Jesse had game, he was smooth for sure and I had to bite my lip to halt a laugh from escaping.

“Go at it cowboy, I’ll be with you shortly” she tapped his shoulder with her pen, and I turned my gaze away from them feeling like they needed privacy or something.

The place was rather busy, a variety of seating options from high tables and stools to booths. This seemed to be the go-to place for locals.

“You don’t mind if we sit with a few friends of mine, do you?” Uncle Jesse brought my attention back to him.

“No go ahead” I shot him a reassuring smile and followed behind as he led us to a large booth occupied by a man, woman and younger guy. They were definitely father son and mother with their blonde shades of hair.

“Oi, oi” the older guy let out loudly as we approached the table.

“He lives, I was ready to send the sheriff out to hunt you down” he carried on making a scene. I was so thankful that everyone was minding their own business like it was a normal thing for the locals to be rowdy at dinner.

“Alright, alright” Uncle Jesse laughed as he greeted his friend with a ‘bro’ hug before placing a kiss to the woman’s cheek.