Page 109 of Five Mountain Daddies

“Rumors,” I say, dismissinghim.

“And have you even met with corporatelately?”

“No,” I admit. I can’t stand the idea of facing Amelia again, and I know I can’t be in the same room as Ingram without trying to killhim.

The violence is getting worse. Another one of our guys was attacked a couple of days ago. The threats are getting more and more intense, and I know Ingram’s close to cracking. I need to wait him out, get him to offer us a decent deal so we can end this and get back to work. Instead, Ingram’s just attacking usharder.

“We can’t keep doing this,” Roy says. “You have to hash out adeal.”

“That’s what they want,” I say. “We knew this would bepainful.”

“Nobody knew how painful. We thought it might last a few days, but now there’s no end insight.”

I sigh, not able to meet his gaze. I know he’s right. I didn’t think things would get this far, either, but I fucked up with Amelia. I keep seeing myself in her kitchen, acting like an asshole, pushing back against her, refusing to take that contract. She hasn’t tried to get in contact for a few days, and I haven’t triedeither.

It’s like we’re in our own little strike, and I hate it. I want that strike to end so badly it almost hurts. I can handle the strike with the miners’ union, all that pain and difficulty, but the strike with Amelia is breaking my fucking heart. I know it’s absurd but it’s thetruth.

I want to go over there and tell her how I feel. I want to take whatever contract she has to offer, just to make her happyagain.

But that’s exactly why I’m not calling her. I can’t trust myself. I think the guys might be right, I’m so totally fucked when it comes to Amelia that I don’t know if I’d make the rightdecision.

“Just call the girl,” Roy sayssoftly.

“I can’t,” I say to him, finally meeting his eye. “You know that, right? I’ll fuck it all up. I have to negotiate withIngram.”

He sighs. “So negotiate. Dosomething.”

“I can’t, as long as Ingram’s trying to kill ourpeople.”

“So what, we just sit here and donothing?”

“Yes,” I say, clenching my jaw. “For now atleast.”

“This can’t go on.” Roy stands, shaking his head, and walksaway.

I turn back to my drink. That’s the only thing I’m good for right now, drinking and waiting, and I hate myself forit.

I finish my whiskey and force myself to get up. I head out and drive over to Boone’s place. He’s awake, in bed still, and Sarah’s nearby, puttering around with somemedicine.

Boone’s still the worst off of all the guys attacked so far. Sarah’s been taking care of him, since he can’t afford real medical care thanks to our fucked-up benefits. “You look good,” I say to him as I come into theroom.

He grins at me. “Better than you, Ibet.”

He’s probably right. “Sarah’s taking good care ofyou.”

“She’s a good one,” he says,nodding.

I sit down in the chair next to his bed. “Listen, Boone. Is there anything I can do foryou?”

“Nah,” he says, shaking his head. “I’m fine here, youknow?”

“Good, it’s just…” I trail off, not sure how to put it intowords.

He grins at me. “This ain’t your fault, youknow?”

“I think it mightbe.”

He shakes his head. “It’s not.” Sarah quietly leaves the room as Boone leans closer to me. “I’ve been hearing things. From guys that keep coming to visit me, even though I tell them notto.”

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