Page 154 of The One With the Mountain Man

Shocked was an understatement. "You're not leaving, are you?"

"We're not moving, if that's what you're asking. My family is here, Huk. You're part of that family. But we'd like to start traveling more, have more time with the grandkids."

Travis stowed the last of the PFDs. "You look like I did yesterday. Give us some fucking warning, Red."

"Yeah, that."

He shrugged. "What did you think was going to happen? That I'd work here until I keeled over? Sell the place? Hell no. You two have been part of ODX since I first trusted you to hold a paddle. You grew up here. I watched you turn from wild boys to fine young men. You're good friends who take care of your families. ODX is yours."

Travis blew out a breath. "This calls for beer."

"I'm meeting Marley at the saloon in an hour." My mind was mostly blank. I couldn't grab onto a single thought.

"The saloon it is. Red?"

"One beer," he agreed. "Then, no offense, I'd rather be home with my wife."

We locked up and wandered across the lot to the saloon. And I do mean wandered. Red had to turn around twice to remind us where we were going. Even though Travis had an extra day to absorb the information he was just as dazed as I was.

Red grabbed a round table near the corner of the bar and told Scottie we needed a pitcher and two shots.

"Shots, huh?"

He shrugged. "You two need it. Your eyes are all round and you keep blinking like you're not sure where you are."

"I mean, I know we're at The Still but I could be Huk or Joanne or it could be 1982 for all I know." Travis kept looking around, not landing on anything until Scottie plunked our drinks down on the table. One pitcher, three glasses, and three shots.

Red frowned. "Uh, I only ordered two shots, Scottie."

"I know. The third one is for me. What the hell happened?"

"How do you know something happened?" Red fought back a smile.

Scottie always was the most observant of us all.

"These two are white as sheets and you're grinning like a cat that got the canary. Spill it."

"Red is retiring," I said out loud. That made it real, right?

"Hot damn. Congrats, man. Celebratory shots it is, boys." He held up his while nudging the other two at us.

We all held up the small glasses filled with brown liquid and tipped them back at the same time.

He wiped his mouth, his eyes narrowing. "Did youjusttell them? They're like zombies."

"I think they thought I was going to live forever." Red sipped at his beer.

"No," Travis said. "Just...it'syours."

Scottie shook his head. "And the bar was my Uncle Jerry's. Now it's mine. Time to grow up, boys."

Holy shit. Scottie was right. He grew up and took over the saloon. Digger grew up and took over the construction business. While Travis and I played around at ODX like we were still a couple of teenagers.

Damn. Whether it was the shot of alcohol or Scottie's obvious yet profound observation, my brain finished its reboot and started working again. "ODX is ours."

Travis held up his beer. "Here's to the beginning of a beautiful partnership."

We'd been partnering up our whole lives and this was the next logical step. "I can't believe it never occurred to me we'd inherit ODX." I was too busy staying clear of Lost Creek to consider it. Sure, Red was the father figure we needed, he'd helped raise us, and always kept a spot for us at ODX, but I'd never let myself think that far ahead.

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