Page 98 of Five Mountain Daddies

He clenches his jaw. “I know that,” he says. “You think I don’t know it? I’m playing right into his hand, which pisses me off evenmore.”

“Samuel,” I say softly. “Come on. Work with mehere.”

“I can’t,” he snaps. “Don’t you get it? We’re enemies. I can’t let… whatever this is between us get in theway.”

I bite my lip for a second and let that linger in the air. I reflexively put my hand on my stomach where his child’s growing, but quickly drop itaway.

“What is this thing?” I ask himsoftly.

“I don’t know,” he says quietly, relaxing a little bit. “But I know you feel ittoo.”

I don’t deny it. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. “So what do we do?” I askinstead.

“I don’t know,” he admits. “I know I’ve been… distant.” He looks like he’s struggling to say something. “It’s just that, I’m torn in all these directions… the mine, the union, and you…” He shakes his head, not able to goon.

“I understand,” I say. “And Samuel, I want to help you. I want to help everyone. I just need you to help me do that. We’re on the same side, even if we’re coming at it from oppositeends.”

He nods a little and sighs. “We’re planning a walkout, you know. And it’s coming soon. I wasn’tkidding.”

I clench my jaw. I didn’t think he was serious about it, but clearly he’s following through. “Are you sure this is the right time forit?”

He nods. “It’s the best time, actually. But there’s somethingelse.”

“More than you guys walkingout?”

“Ingram threatened my men. Said he’d break knees if we go through withit.”

“Fuck,” I say softly, which makes him smile. “That bastard. How can he get away withthis?”

“He has the cops in his pocket.” He shrugs a little. “That’show.”

“It’s not fair.” I tighten my fists, and I want to walk around the table, sit in his lap, and kiss him. Or maybe pull his hair. Or slap him a little bit. Or scream and punch Ingram in theface.

Instead, he just smiles at me and I lean back in my chair. “I’m going to call them back in. Can you please work withme?”

“I can try,” he says. “But the strike’s happening. Ingram can try to stop it, but we won’t lethim.”

“What are you going to do?” Iask.

He smiles a little. “We have someideas.”

I sigh and shake my head. “Just don’t get in any trouble.” I stand up and head toward thedoor.

“Why not?” he asks softly. “I think you like that I’mtrouble.”

I glance at him and smile. I can’t help it. He’s probablyright.

I open the door and call everyone back in, and from there on out, Samuel’s more engaged. We get some decent work done, mark up the contract he gave me, and Ingram promises to give it to the board. I don’t know if he means it or not, and I seriously doubt it. Most of his suggestions were outright ignored by Samuel, mainly because they were unnecessarily harsh and one-sided.

I can sense something looming. I know this is going to come to a head, but I don’t know how. I can smell violence in the air, and I’m afraid for Samuel. Not really because I think they’ll hurt him even more than they already have, but because I think he’ll hurt them back even worse. I’m afraid he’ll do something, go too far, and he won’t be able to comeback.

I’m stuck in the middle of all this, torn between two worlds, wishing I was never given this burden, but glad I got to meet one part of it atleast.

18

Samuel

We walk off the job. And nothinghappens.

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