Page 112 of Five Mountain Daddies

I stare after him, not sure what to make of that. I think it was a warning, that I have only five days before they terminate me. But that part about Ingram, I think that was a plea forhelp.

There must be factions in the board, and some of them are probably loyal to Ingram. I can’t tell where Neal falls, exactly, but he’s making it clear that it’s up to me to give the board a reason to get rid of Ingram. The violence though, that’s not going to beenough.

I gather my things and head out soon after that. I’m pretty distracted on my drive home, trying to figure out what the hell I’m going to do. Part of me just wants to give up and walk away. I don’t really need this job, not with all the money my dad left me. I have an old life I can go back to, back in the city, but the idea of quitting just rubs me the wrongway.

Besides, I’d be leaving the miners in the hands of Ingram, and I don’t think I can do that tothem.

I’m so distracted that I don’t even notice the truck in my driveway until I’m parked behind it, and it takes me even longer to realize that it’sSamuel.

I climb out, heart beating fast. He’s standing on my porch, looking down atme.

“You’re back,” I say tohim.

He nods. “Wanted to talk toyou.”

I bite my lip. I don’t know why I feel so angry with him. “Okay. Comeinside.”

He follows me in again, back to the kitchen. This time he sits at the table and I sit down across fromhim.

“Cards on the table,” he says finally tome.

“I can do that,” I say, my pulsespiking.

“We’re hurting, Amelia. We need to end thisstrike.”

“We dotoo.”

“Let’s cut adeal.”

I take a breath and let it out. “Okay.”

“But first, I need toapologize.”

I bite my lip. “Forwhat?”

“For the last time I saw you. I shouldn’t…” He trails off and hesitates. “I was forgetting about what Iwant.”

“What do you want?” I ask himsoftly.

He doesn’t look away. “I want you,Amelia.”

I take a breath and slowly let it out. Before I can stop myself, the words tumble from my lips, the worst thing that I’ve been so afraid to say, so fucking terrified of saying outloud.

“I’mpregnant.”

He stares at me for a second, and I feel so much better. It’s done, I said it, he knows, and now whatever happens will happen. I don’t have to worry, or guess, or stress about any of it. I can just sit back and take it all in and actually do something about this. I can finally take some fucking controlback.

He stares at me, clearly surprised. “You’repregnant?”

I nod. “From the first night wemet.”

His eyes get wider. “It’s…mine?”

“It’s yours,” I say. “I’m going to keep it. I mean… maybe I’ll put it up for adoption, I don’t know. I haven’t thought that faryet.”

“Have you told anyone else?” he asksme.

“No,” I say. “Don’t worry, it’s still a secret. Your miners aren’t going to turn on you.” He stands up and comes toward me, but I just keep talking. “I didn’t ask for this, you know, didn’t want it to happen. But it happened, and I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you until now. I should have told you sooner, Ijust—“

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