Page 99 of Five Mountain Daddies

Which is really the point of a strike, actually. The early shift meets up at the usual spot, but instead of heading down into the mine, they leave and go to The Shaft. Most of the union’s there, minus a few guys from last night’s lastshift.

And everyone’s in a good fuckingmood.

“Looks like they’re gonna cave,” Roy says, grinning his head off, already on his second whiskey of the day. “I mean, they haven’t done shit, right? And they got thatorder.”

I nod, frowning. They haven’t done shit, that’s true. Ingram threatened to hurt us, but he hasn’t done anything, which doesn’t seem like him. I know he has the means and the ability to cause damage, not to mention the desire, but there’s nothing. As far as I can tell, all the guys are fine and accountedfor.

Which is what worries me. I drink some coffee, not in the mood to get drunk with the other guys thisearly.

I keep thinking about Amelia. I know she’s trying to help us, but she’s so unprepared and powerless. I can’t blame her though, she got thrown into the middle of this violent, insane situation, and she’s doing the best she can. But still, she can’t help, and I know this is all onme.

“You’re not celebrating,” Roy notes, shifting in his seat toward me, the smile on his facegone.

“Not yet,” I say. “We don’t have acontract.”

He sighs. “You can’t celebrate any victories, canyou?”

“Just doesn’t feel like a victory, is all.” I look around the room. “Why hasn’t Ingram doneanything?”

“He’s all talk, maybe,” Roysays.

“Nah,” I answer. “I got the bruises to prove he meansbusiness.”

“Maybe your planworked.”

I shrug a little, unsure. Ever since Ingram threatened us, I ordered all mine union members to go everywhere in groups of at least three, the idea being that they’re safer in numbers. It was a pain in the ass for a couple of days, always trying to get groups together, but we did a pretty good job of it. Maybe that’s what kept Ingram atbay.

But I’m not so sure. Ingram’s just not the kind of guy to back off like this, for any reason. I have this terrible feeling in my gut, and it’s just not goingaway.

“Maybe this isn’t about Ingram after all,” Roy says, raising aneyebrow.

I look at him. “What do youmean?”

“We all know what you think about the newCEO.”

I sigh. “Thisagain?”

“I’m just saying, she’s not on our side. This strike is probably making her lookbad.”

I hadn’t thought about that. “She understands why we’re doingit.”

“Does she? Does she really?” Roy leans toward me. “We’ve been shit on our whole lives. Does she understandthat?”

I meet his gaze, but I don’t answer. I don’t know if she gets it, but I think she does. I just know I can’t convince Roy of that, and I’m not going to bother trying. The guys all have their own opinions of Amelia, and although they don’t know her at all, they just see a rich girl that’s totally out of touch withreality.

I’ve tried to bring her around, get the guys to know her. Some of them have tried, and I appreciate it, but in the end I’m the only one that really can see her. I’m the only one that really knows how she’s working for us, not againstus.

As I sip my coffee, thinking about how I’ll answer Roy, someone bursts in through the door. People look over as Boone comes in, limping over towardme.

“Samuel!” he shouts. “Goddamn it,Samuel!”

I drop my cup onto the bar and stand. “Whathappened?”

Boone looks bad. He’s limping, one hand on his ribs, face clearly smashed up. He’s bleeding from a cut on his head. “They fucking came this morning,” he says. “Kicked down my fuckingdoor.”

I walk over to him. “Shit, sitdown.”

The whole room’s silent and watching. A couple of guys come over, help Boone into a chair. Someone comes over with whiskey for him as the group crowdsaround.

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