Page 124 of Five Mountain Daddies

Bringeveryone.”

Vernon stares at me, surprised. “But, Ithought…?”

“Bring everyone,” I repeat, my rage building. “And fast. We need to go as soon aspossible.”

“What’s happening?” I can hear the fear in hisvoice.

But I don’t feel that fear. I feel nothing but anger and the desire to get Amelia away from Ingram and his fucking scumbaggoons.

I was having a good day. I was getting control of the miners, boxing out Roy, and Amelia said that the board’s going to accept our contract sooner or later. Things were looking up, at least until I heard her scream over thephone.

I know what’s happening. I knew as soon as I heard her voice, like I always knew deep down inside of me or something like that. This was inevitable from the start, as much as I hate to admit it to myself. Ingram was getting more and more desperate, and soon enough he was going to make the most desperate move ofall.

“Ingram’s making his move. It’s time for us to endthis.”

He sighs and his expression goes resolute. “Okay, boss. We’ll dothis.”

“Get on the phone. Get everyone you can, as many guys as possible. We leave in a half hour fromhere.”

He nods. “Got it.” He grabs his phone and is about to make a call, but I stophim.

“Tell them to bring guns,” I say. “And theirphones.”

“Their phones?” He frowns a littlebit.

“Just doit.”

“You got it, boss.” He picks up his phone and starts making thecalls.

I join him, getting as many guys as I can gather. Over the next twenty minutes, they start to show up, one after another. Miners of all ages, all stripes, all backgrounds. These are the guys that I’m responsible for, that I care about, and they’re answering my call simply because I called them. Even Arnold’s here, and he probably hates me most of all. He walks into the living room with a nod, his rifle slung over oneshoulder.

When twenty guys are gathered, most of them armed, I addressthem.

“You may not know why you’re here yet, or what we’re about to do,” Isay.

“I think we’re about to go fuck that Ingram shithole,” Arnold calls out, and a few guyslaugh.

I grin at him. “Yeah, something like that. See, me and Amelia worked out a deal. We got a contract coming, boys, and it’s fucking good forus.”

The guys are quiet for a second and then a cheer goes up. They’re celebrating, but the hard times aren’t over, not yetexactly.

I hold up my hands for silence and they slowly calmdown.

“It’s a good contract,” I say. “We got most of what we wanted, all thanks to Amelia working it out. Truth is, she fucking saved our asses, but now she needs help. I think Ingram’s doing something to her, maybe hurting her rightnow.”

There’s a murmur among the guys. I know they don’t have any particular love for Amelia, but I think they hate Ingram evenmore.

“This could be dangerous,” I say. “Seriously, people might get hurt, maybe even killed. I can’t ask you to put your life on the line for a stranger, but that’s what I’m doing. We’re going to save Amelia, and if you don’t want to help, walk out now. I won’t hold it againstyou.”

There’s silence, and a few guys get up. Not many, and in the end I think at least fifteen guys are still sitting in front ofme.

I nod at the guys that walk out. I can’t blame them, not at all. Nobody wants to die for some girl, let alone a girl that represents all the people you don’t like. At the end of the day, this is just a fucking job. You can get a new one, or at last have a chance to get a new one, if you’re still alive. You can’t work from thegrave.

When the room’s still again, I face those that are left. Old guys, young guys, everyone in between. Everyone knows what this means, coming after Ingram with strength like this, but they’re still hereanyway.

I feel so fucking proud it almosthurts.

“Here’s the plan,” I say, and I run through it slowly, with all eyes locked onme.

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