Page 83 of Five Mountain Daddies

“So tell me inperson.”

I pause a second. “Now?”

“No, tomorrow. The miners are having a little picnic over in Jackson Park. You should swing by, say hello to theboys.”

“You think that’s a goodidea?”

“Sure,” he says, laughing. “It’s a great idea. They loveyou.”

“I doubt it,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m theirboss.”

“Nobody cares about that. Just show up, have a drink, make small talk, and you can tell me what you want to tell me. Allright?”

I know I should turn this down. It’s just going to drag me deeper into his world, and although it feels so good to be near him, I know I should be actively trying to getaway.

But instead, I put my hand on my stomach.I’m pregnant with your baby, Ithink.

“Okay,” I say out loud. “Text me thedetails.”

“Will do. See you tomorrow,boss.”

He hangs up the phone. I groan to myself, dropping my phone into my bag. I know this is stupid, but I can’t help it. I have to get out of thathouse.

And besides, I want to see Samuel again, even if I know I shouldn’t. I’m going down a bad path here, but it’s a bad path that feels sogood.

* * *

“Perfect day for it!”Callie exclaims as we climb out of hercar.

I smile to myself. I’m glad I invited her along. It’s a good way of keeping my distance from Samuel, and besides, she knows most of these people already. I’ll look more like I belong here if I bring someone that actuallydoes.

Plus, I like Callie. She’s optimistic, maybe even a littlebubbly.

“Come on,” she says, pulling her bag from the back. “Looks like they’re already getting thingsgoing.”

I laugh and follow her gaze. “Are those…kegs?”

She nods, grinning. “Looks likefive.”

“No, six,” I say, pointing at another keg stationed over near the horseshoepits.

“Of course. Can’t run out ofbeer.”

We head down to the picnic, and I can’t help but grin. There are probably eighty people here, maybe even more, I can’t honestly count them all. There are several big wood tables with benches set up here, and several folding tables with food piled on them. People mill around, drinking beer, putting food on plates, and generally having a goodtime.

And it seems like everyone knows each other. Callie introduces me to like ten people, all rapid-fire, and they all seem to know who I am already. I catch a few names but it’s all mostly a blur as someone hands me a red cup of beer and Callie laughs, flirting with some guy I don’trecognize.

I fall into the crowd, holding my full beer but not drinking any, hanging around with Callie and the small group she’s gathering around herself. Periodically I spill some beer on the ground, making it look like I’m drinking, just so that nobody suspects anything. I don’t see Samuel anywhere, but I recognize a few of the other miners. Vernon’s playing horseshoes with Roy and two other guys I don’t know. Boone’s standing near a keg, talking to this guy named Arnold and another young miner. There are a few other faces I know, but mostly these people are strangers tome.

Except they’re not. As Callie keeps introducing me to people, I start recognizing last names, and slowly a picture of Wheelville starts to form. This is a small town, and these people are all a part of my life in some strange way. They all say they miss my father, which is kind of them, but I think some of them actually mean it. These people were my neighbors, teachers, babysitters. I even think this one old man is a distant cousin of some sort, although he just smiles and nods when I ask him aboutit.

I blend into the party and soon I forget all about being the CEO of Evans Energy. I’m the boss of most these people, but they’re not treating me like that. Instead, they’re treating me like just another young girl from the neighborhood, just another member of thefamily.

It feels good. Really good. I love this sense of community, and I’ve been missing it for a long time. I have vague memories of what it felt like to live in Wheelville, back before my father sent me away. I remember gatherings like this, big groups of people all smiling and getting along, drinking and eating and playing games. I remember friends and semi-friends and connections between people. I remember family andhome.

This picnic reminds me of all that and more. It’s strange, but after a couple hours, I feel like I neverleft.

That’s when I spot him. I fill up my drink, happy as a clam and smiling about something Callie said, when I spot Samuel leaning up against a tree, sipping from a cup. He smiles and nods when I spot him, and I feel drawn over in hisdirection.

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