Page 92 of Five Mountain Daddies

The boys all cheer again, and I take a deep breath. I know what I’m about to ask is going to be unpopular, but I also know they’ll do it. They’ll suffer for me, because they believe inme.

I just have to hope that their belief isn’tmisplaced.

“Two days from now,” I call out, clear and loud, “we’re walking off the job. We’re shutting down that mine for one day, and we’ll see what those fucking bastards think about usthen.”

The boys go nuts, cheering, and I can’t help but grin. They’re excited now, heady with joy and a little drunk, but the fact of this is going to settle over the next few hours. They’ll complain, bitch and moan, but they’ll do it, even if ithurts.

I climb down off the chair. Roy looks at me,frowning.

“Are you sure about this?” he asksme.

“They beat the fuck out of me,” I say to him plainly. “That’s the only language theyspeak.”

He sighs, but he doesn’targue.

I limp over to the bar and take a shot of whiskey. More guys shout at me, shake my hand, clap my back, and I endure it all with a grin. This is my job now, to smile and to lead them. I can’t let them see the cracks in my façade, not yet atleast.

After a half hour, I check the time and limp back outside. I get into my truck and drive over to the Evans Energy offices. It’s just after five, but I know Amelia will still be in her office as I ride the elevator to the top floor. The place is mostly empty, but sure enough, Amelia’s door is slightly open and there she is, sitting behind herdesk.

She looks up as I limp in. She’s surprised and stands. “Samuel,” she says. “What are you doinghere?”

I shut the door behind me and walk to her desk. “I’m here on business,” Isay.

She frowns. “Are youokay?”

“I’m okay,” I say. “Now listen, please. I’m here to warnyou.”

“Aboutwhat?”

“In two days, we’re going to walk off the job. We’re going to shut the mine down for aday.”

She stares at me for a second. “Is that a goodidea?”

“Ingram and men like him, they don’t understand anything but strength. If we’re going to get anything, we have to fightback.”

She stares at me and finally sighs. “I don’t likeit.”

“I know you don’t.” I drop a stack of papers on her desk. “If they want to avoid the shutdown, here are ourdemands.”

She picks up the papers. “This is the contract we made together,” shesays.

I nod. “Pretty much. I made a few adjustments, but it’s pretty much thesame.”

“They won’t takeit.”

“They will.” I walk around the desk toward her and she leans back in her chair, looking up at me. I lean down over her, holding onto her armrest, getting near her. “You’re going to convincethem.”

She takes a sharp breath. “I don’t think Ican.”

“Prove yourself wrong.” I tip her chin up toward me. “Because I believe inyou.”

She wants to say something, maybe argue with me, but I don’t let her. I kiss her full and deep and I don’t care about the consequences, about the walkout in two days, about my fucking broken ribs. I need this kiss, her fucking lips, her goddamn body. I need it more than I can evenunderstand.

15

Amelia

His kiss is exactly what I’ve been needing ever since I saw him in bed, beaten andglazed.

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