Page 110 of Five Mountain Daddies

“Likewhat?”

“Things about you and that CEO girl.” He watches me react for a second. “Is ittrue?”

I hesitate a second, then I nod. “Some atleast.”

“You like her? Got a good thing withher?”

“I don’t know if I haveanything.”

He grunts a little bit. “You listen to me. I’ve been in and out of marriages for years now. My last wife, she ran out on me a few years back, leaving me like this, and you know what? I miss that lying bitch every singleday.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Because we aren’t shit without someone else to share all this garbage with. I know it sounds pathetic, but it’s important. Family isimportant.”

“I’m supposed to be negotiating against her, Boone. I can’t trust myself with thatanymore.”

“Shit, Samuel. When did you become such apussy?”

I look at him, surprised. “I’m not a fuckingpussy.”

“Then why do you think you’ll sell out all your guys just because that girl tells youto?”

I stare at him and I realize he has a good point. I may be biased, but I’m not stupid. That first contract we negotiated was a good contract. It was fair and balanced. I know I can’t make it happen now, not with the attacks and the strike, but it’s still proof that I can work reasonably withher.

“The boys are suffering. But I think you’re sufferingtoo.”

“I’m fine,” Isay.

“You been drinking already today?” He watches me quietly for a second when I don’t respond. “I thought so. You can’t escape this, Samuel. You took it on. So do something aboutit.”

“I know you’reright.”

“But it’s hard,” he finishes for me. “Well, we’re used to hard, right? We’re fucking miners. We work in the pitch darkness with thousands of tons of rock perched just above our heads. We risk our lives every day, not because it’s easy, but because it’s hard, and someone’s gotta do it. This is hard, and you’ve gotta doit.”

I laugh a little bit. “Since when were you so full ofadvice?”

“Ah, shit,” he says. “Always been full of it, but normally I had other things to do. Now I’m stuck in bed and I guess giving advice is better than just staring at the TV allday.”

I laugh again and stand up. “I’ll tell the boys to visit youmore.”

He looks horrified. “Oh shit, no, not what Imeant.”

I grin at him and wave. “Thanks,Boone.”

“Do the right thing, asshole,” he calls after me as Ileave.

Sarah gives me a nod as I pass her. I wave and head out the front door, thinking tomyself.

Boone’s right. We’re miners, and we’re used to doing the hard thing. I’ve never backed down from a challenge before, and I don’t plan on doing it now. Maybe it’s taking me a little while to figure out how to come to grips with what I’m feeling and with what my duties are, but I can do it. I can keep it separated, have my Amelia and eat hertoo.

I smile to myself, and I have to decide. I could go back to The Shaft and spend the day drinking again, like I have been these past few days. Or I can go home, shower up, and do the rightthing.

I choose to head home. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s fucking hard, and it’s what I have todo.

23

Amelia

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