Page 23 of Colt

“Yes, I’ve known him about ten years. He’s one hell of a livestock agent and an even better man.”

“I know that now. I used to have a habit of rolling my eyes, and man, I did it one too many times at him. He looked me in the eye and said, ‘roll your eyes at me one more time.’ I knew not to.” Joey laughed.

“Well, it’s good you can laugh about it now.”

“That’s the truth. It was because of him though that I got to work here to pay my fine. I didn’t have a lot of choices. It was either cleaning up trash on the roads, juvenile detention, or this.” He shrugged, then looked at Colt. “I love it here.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear that. You have a job here every summer, if you want it.”

“Really? Isn’t that up to Chelsea?”

“I’m the manager. I do the hiring and firing unless she has to fire someone. Did that make sense?”

“Yeah, I get it. I’d love to come back.”

“As I said, every summer, if you want it.”

“Are you married, Colt?”

“Nope. I never have been.”

“Why not?”

Colt shrugged. “I never wanted to get married.”

“I’m not sure about that.”

“You’re only sixteen. You have a lot of time.”

“How old are you, Colt?”

“Forty-three.”

“You’re the same age as my dad,” Joey said in a surprised voice.

“Well, hell, thanks for that.”

Joey laughed. “I just meant; he seems so much older than you.”

“I’m still not sure how to take that.” Colt chuckled.

“He seems a lot older than you in years. Does that make sense?”

“Yeah. Do you have a girlfriend?”

“Candy Miller,” Joey said with a grin. “Any advice about women?”

Colt shook his head, stood, and placed his hand on Joey’s shoulder.

“Son, there is no advice a man could give you about women. We have no clue how their minds work. The best thing I can tell you is stay off their shit list, but you won’t be able to.” He grinned. “They’re hard to understand, but I don’t think any man would have them any other way. Have a good rest of the day. I’ll be in the office.”

“Yes, sir.”

Colt strode toward his office when he heard Brian call out to him.

“Hey, boss.”

“Brian. What are you guys doing now?”

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