Page 46 of Cole's Joy
“What do you mean how?”
“Is this annually?”
“What? No, that’s weekly for the first ninety days, if you work your jobs, and do it well, you should get a ten percent raise. Then after that, you’ll get an annual review and your pay will be adjusted then. It will only be adjusted down if you quit and are no longer working for us. Otherwise, it will only go up.”
“When do you need to know?” Lane asked seriously. “I know we’re considered adults, but I’d like to go home and talk it over with my father first.”
“I don’t need to know right away, but I do need to stress this, and it’s non-negotiable.”
“What’s that?”
“Wewillrun a background check on you. We use a service in Fool’s Gold, and Erin’s head of security is a former FBI agent.”
“Oh, wow, okay, I don’t have a problem with that. I’m good.” He looked at Kade.
“Me too. What do you need?”
Cole got the information, and then nodded. “I can give you two months to get back to me.”
“It won’t take that long. Hypothetically, what would happen if we wanted to start in say, two weeks?”
Cole handed him another business card with a decisive nod. “Call me.”
“One other thing,” Lois said, and waited until she had their attention. “We do not turn anyone away if they pass the background check.”
“What’s that mean?”
“It means that all those Navy SEALs we told you about, and their women, who if we hadn’t mentioned are also former military, they all have some form of a challenge. That’s what they call them, but according to anyone outside the ranch they’re considered disabilities. Erin herself is missing her right handfrom a fatal car accident that took her parents from her. That’s why she made Erin’s Way into what it is now.”
“Another thing,” Cole said, and waited until they looked at him. “Lois said she saw something in Kade, that’s why she invited him here today. I see it in both of you. You’re hungry, but also scared. That’s the type of people we want to work for us. Someone that wants this type of life, and is willing to do the work. If you know of anyone like the two of you, please contact me with their contact information. Not everyone can come to work for us, and they’ll have to go through the background check. Just because you gave me their information doesn’t mean we’ll hire them.”
“We also don’t want people that are there for the season,” Lois said. “As Cole explained, and though I don’t know what I’m talking about, but it’s my understanding that ranching is a twenty-four-seven, three-sixty-five endeavor.”
“It is. It’s just like farming, and we understand what you’re trying to say.” Kade nodded. “Will you be over at the arena tonight?”
“We will. I know with tonight being Saturday, it’s going to be a bigger turnout, but if you need me for anything, questions, people to meet, or just want to hang out, you have my number.” They shook hands, and when Cole stood, he looked at them directly. “What I’m about to say, I mean no offense, but do you need any money to get you through?”
“No, we’re good. Kade lost on Brutis last weekend ended up that way, but I won and was able to cash the check this morning. It’s not a lot, but it’s enough to keep us going. We have a lot of talking to do.”
“Yes, and remember that we’re not asking you to give up your life if you come to work for us, we’re only asking that you treat this like a real job and don’t run off when the rodeo comes to town again. I was offered the position of manager shortly beforemy twenty-first birthday, I just turned sixty-nine, I’ll let you do the math.”
“And remember this, boys,” Lois said as she rose from her chair. “It’s all in the employer. You can have a wonderful job, but a piss poor boss that makes you hate the job. Then you can have a crappy job, but a terrific employer that makes the job easier. It’s all on how you treat one another.”
“We know.” They nodded and watched as the older couple walked away, and smiled when they lifted the puppy from the purse, put a leash on it, and walked out the front door.
“What do you think?” Kade asked Lane, trying not to break down and cry in excitement.
“I think we should sleep on it for the next couple of days, finish this rodeo, go home and talk it over with Mom and Dad, and only then make a decision. As much as I want to think I’m adult, I still value Dad’s opinion.”
“Yeah, me too, and I don’t think we’re going home with our tail between our legs. I look at it like we did our thing, and even though we still have six months left, and as much as I love the family, I have to say, I fucking hate cows.”
“Yeah, me too. If we can get in on the ground floor of this, I think we can make something of ourselves.”
“What did you think of the salary?”
“Holy shit, Kade. If we don’t have to pay rent, think of the money we can save for the girls to go to college.”
“I know. I like the idea of what you said. Let’s let it sit for a few days, then go home and talk it over with Mom and Dad. And to think, we did this all on our own.”
