Page 106 of Red Mountain Burning
“I can’t do it, man. I care about her because she’s your wife and the kids’ mom, but we just don’t mesh, and it’s getting in the way of my job.”
Jake raised his arms above his head and stretched. “I don’t know what to do. I dragged her out here, and she’s lonely. I can talk to her, though. Make sure she stays out of your way.”
“That’s not going to work, and you know it. I hate to say it. This breaks my heart, but it’s me or her.”
Jake shook his head. “Nah.”
“I have no choice,” Brooks said.
Like so often when they were together, the silence said it all. Brooks didn’t feel he needed to elaborate on what Carmen had done. Jake was no fool. He understood.
Jake took on a frustrated tone. “What would you do if you left Lacoda? You’re not thinking of leaving the mountain, are you?”
“I have no idea.”
“Don’t walk away from what we’ve created here. You know Carmen. She’ll come around. She just has these bad stretches. Let’s figure out a way to make it work.”
Brooks shook his head. “It’s me or her…”
