Page 52 of Cole's Joy
“It’s not built yet, but yes, that’s basically it. We want to get in on the bottom floor to help them build this. I know it’s going to take a long time to build it.”
“Not really,” Iris said. “If you have the money, and the right crew, it could probably be built in a year.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” she said with a shrug. “If you don’t believe me, call Grandpa. He’s worked construction all his life.”
“Wow, okay, well, we don’t know anything about that, but we wanted to tell you what we were offered, and that we’re willing to help out with the girls’ college education.”
“Can we get back to you on this?” John asked as he looked at his watch and slowly stood. “I need to get back out to the fields, you need to get some rest, and I need to think about this. It might take a day or two, because your mother and I will have to talk it over.”
“We’re not saying no,” Iris stressed. “We know you’re going to do it, and we appreciate you coming to us with this idea, we just want to make sure it’s all on the up and up and you’re not being hosed in any way. Like Dad said, we have to talk it out, and I just looked, Fool’s Gold is roughly five hours from here. I don’tsee why we couldn’t take a family trip over there and talk to this Cole in person.”
“Do you want us to call him and set it up?” Kade asked.
“Please,” John answered, then he grabbed his hat, stuck it on his head and headed out the door. Later when the boys were in their old room, they looked at each other with a grin as Kade pulled his phone and the business card. Ten minutes later he hung up and high-fived his brother that Cole said it would be fine, and there would be plenty of room for them to spend the night.
The following weekend,John slowed the family van down, and turned into the driveway. Everyone, even him, had their heads on a swivel, and he slowed down even more when they came to the bend. Right after that, he slammed on the brakes and when everyone yelled at him, he only pointed out the front windshield.
There were varying degrees of shocked responses from, “Oh my,” to, “holy shit,” as they all looked out and saw the ranch before them. John only whistled as he continued on. He stopped when he saw a man, and rolled down his window.
“Help you?”
“Yes, we’re here to see,” John paused and looked back at his sons. “What’s the guy’s name again?”
“Cole. I don’t know his last name,” Kade called out from the back.
“Are you the Montgomerys?”
“We are.”
“We’ve been expecting you. You can park on the other side of that small red pick-up truck.” He pointed and waited for them to park.
As soon as everyone exited and stretched, Becky, the middle girl suddenly dropped her hands to her knees and hung her head, saying repeatedly, “It’s her, it’s her.”
“What’s wrong?” Rachel asked her sister, but Becky didn’t answer, instead she jumped up and slugged her brother, which happened to be Kade and on his bad shoulder. She covered her mouth in shock, when he let out a howl, and tried to apologize.
“What on earth is wrong with the two or you?” Dana, the youngest daughter asked.
“Why didn’t you tell meshewould be here?” Becky demanded.
“Oh, did I forget to tell you that’s who I’ll be working for?” Kade laughed.
“Who?” Rachel demanded.
“I believe she might be talking about me,” a voice from behind them said, and the entire family turned and stared in shock at the woman standing there.
“I thought you died,” Dana blurted out, and gave an oomph when Becky slapped her hand over her mouth from behind.
“No, I survived. It was an unusual circumstance, but I survived. However, I was in a wheelchair until this past spring. I know, it’s complicated, but I’m all good now.”
“Are you still racing?”
“No.”
“Oh.”
“No offense,” John said as he looked at the beautiful woman standing before them. “Maybe I’m dense, but may I ask who you are?”
