Chapter 6
Cole looked up at the knock on his office door and didn’t know whether he wanted to talk to the man standing there or not.
“Come in, Clem,” he said as he tossed his pen on the papers and leaned back in his chair.
He waited until the other man filled his own cup of coffee and settled down in the chair across from him. “What’s up?”
“Nothing much, I haven’t seen you around here lately, and I was wondering what was up with you?”
Cole shrugged, then shook his head. “Just working here and helping a lady out.”
“Are you dating Lois Gibson?”
“Is that really any of your business, Clem?”
“No, but I don’t want to see you hurt.”
“Really, is that really what you’re going to discuss with me?
After everything we’ve been through, you’re worried about me being hurt by a wonderful woman?
” When Clem looked away, Cole chuckled, and asked the question he thought would get to the root of Clem’s concern.
“Or are you jealous that I saw her first.”
“Fine, yes, that’s it. I can tell you right now that you don’t have anything to worry about when it comes to Lois.”
“What does that mean?” Cole sat forward to demand. “What did you do?”
“Nothing bad, but I went over to talk to her. She was inside her home, but when I started asking questions, instead of inviting me in, she came out and talked to me outside. I thought it was strange, but when I called her on it, she told me she didn’t invite strangers into her home.
I also asked what about you, and she said you weren’t a stranger.
I know it sounds bad, but I wanted to make sure she liked you for you, and not for your money. ”
“She knows about my money, and I don’t have anything to worry about in that avenue.
She didn’t tell me how much she had, but I believe what I told her I had inherited is a drop in the bucket to what she has.
I’m not trying to date her for her money, Clem.
I like Lois for herself. She’s beautiful, smart, funny, compassionate, friendly, and did I mention beautiful? ”
“Are you in love with her?” Clem asked in shock.
“Yes, or at least I’m heading in that direction. I know it’s only been a couple of months, but I really, really like her.”
“Good, I’m happy for you. Now, if you need me to take over any duties here, let me know. I’m sort of bored without having anyone to train for the rodeo.”
“Talk to Erin,” Cole said, then laughed at his shocked expression. “I mean it seems like whatever Erin touches turns to gold, and I’m saying that in a good way. I do need help in one aspect, but I don’t know what to do. Maybe we can put our heads together and you can take over.”
“What?”
“We need to hire at least six or seven more people. I like the idea that Erin had with Broken, hire someone with challenges. I’m not saying we need to go to the back alleys of Denver to look for homeless veterans, but you know what I’m talking about.”
“Yeah, I do, and I like that idea too. Maybe I can talk to Ann to see if she has any friends that are looking for work.”
“Yeah, that sounds like a good place to start. Why don’t you do that, while I finish this.” He pointed to the papers.
“What’s that?”
“Quarterly reports,” he laughed at Clem’s expression.
“I’m out of here. I’ll let you know if I learn anything from Ann, and I might go talk to Erin.”
“Another thing you might want to swing by Erin if she doesn’t have any ideas, about hiring people.”
“What’s that?”
“Ask her if you could go into town and talk with Jake Cogburn. See if he knows of anyone male or female getting out of the service, or already out that might be down on their luck and wanting employment.”
“Holy shit, I didn’t think of him. I know I have to go to town in the next couple of days.” He wrinkled his nose at his best friend. “We’re out of carrots and apples.”
Cole couldn’t help it, he threw his head back and laughed.
“Better you than me. Remind me later to talk to Lois about coming over here and marking off a section to put in not only a garden, but also a carrot patch.” He stood, reached back for his wallet, and pulled out several bills to hand to Clem.
“What’s this for?”
“See if you can’t pick up some canning jars. With all of us, I think we’re going to need a lot. Oh, and also see if you can pick up extra lids. No clue what size, or how many. Use the money I gave you, and we can start storing them in the back room at Ducky’s.”
“I’ll get with Ducky and see if he wants to go with me. Don’t you think this five hundred is too much?”
“I don’t know, but that will be my contribution.”
“Thanks, Cole. I’ll go talk with Ann, then grab Ducky to head over to Erin’s.
” He looked at his watch, then grinned at Cole.
“He should be done with his morning nap by then.” Cole laughed as his best friend left his office, then before he settled down to do his quarterly paperwork for New Double, he filled his coffee mug and started a new pot.
As that brewed, he used the facilities, and then settled down to work the rest of the day crunching numbers.
Around four that afternoon, Cole pulled his truck into the barn at The Broken Wheel, and smiled as he exited and saw Reid in the pasture playing ball with his horse, Katie.
He walked over and said hi, and when Reid asked what was up, Cole scowled and held up the folder he held. “Quarterly reports for New Double.”
“Yuck, I’ll muck out stalls every day for the rest of my life if I don’t have to do the paperwork that you, Naomi, and Erin do every day.”
“Someone has to do it.” He laughed and turned away, but turned back quickly. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“Do you have any other military friends that are looking for a job? It’s been working with the ladies and men from Broken coming over to pitch in, but I would feel more comfortable if I had my own crew.”
“I don’t right off the top of my head, but I can put feelers out.”
“Thanks, and I don’t care whether they have a challenge, or if they are male or female. The only thing I don’t want is someone strung out on drugs. At least not until they’ve been sober for at least six months, and has a clean bill of health from a doctor or two.”
“I hear you, man, I hear you. Let me think on it, then let you know.”
“That’s all I can ask.” Cole did walk away that time, and he walked into the barn and loved the sight before him.
There were the women helping several people on the horses, and he could tell by the grins on the riders’ faces that they were having the time of their lives.
Seeing this made everything Erin and Naomi went through to bring The Broken Wheel to fruition all worth it.
He looked up when he saw someone approach and grinned.
“Noomi, how are you?” It made his heart swell when he saw her actually walking toward him.
“Good, what brings you here? Not that I don’t want to see you, but what’s up?”
He grinned as he held up the folder like he had with Reid. “Quarterly reports.”
“Shit, I knew there was something I had to do.” She shook her head and had him follow her back to her office. As she settled in her chair behind the desk, she looked at him with a shake of the head. “It’s hard to believe that you’ve been here for three months already.”
“Technically, it’s been almost four. I’m a little behind.
” He laughed at her wrinkled nose. “That is just your copy, the originals are over at New Double. I know I don’t have to, but it’s been such a habit over the years that I had a safe installed in the floor of my office in the barn, and have the originals there.
The other copy is in the actual file drawers. ”
“Yeah, keeping secrets from Benson will be a long habit and take time to break.”
“I agree.” He sat there and studied the woman sitting before him and felt proud of how she turned out.
“Was there anything else? I’m not telling you to leave, but your expression is telling me you have something you want to discuss.”
“I do.”
“Okay, what is it?” When he still wouldn’t speak, she smirked at him. “I’m not going to yell at you.”
“Oh, good, because I didn’t know how to ask this question.”
“Just ask. The worst I can say is no.”
“True, now here goes. Do you still have connections in the rodeo?”
Naomi reared back like she’d been slapped and scowled at him. “Excuse me?”
“Noomi, we need help. Serious help. I’m not saying the ladies and gentlemen that come over from Broken aren’t good, they are, but New Double needs permanent help.
Benson and Big Pig fired our regular hands to bring in their thugs.
I didn’t bring any of them with us because I didn’t want anyone to report back to them.
The regular hands, when I reached out to them, refused to move to Colorado, and they wanted nothing to do with Benson.
” Cole shook his head sadly as he settled back in the chair he had taken.
“I told them repeatedly that Benson has no claim to New Double, they still refused to relocate.”
“I can understand that, and I know I’ve been neglecting to come over as often. How many hands do you have now?”
“Including me, three and a half.” He laughed at her shocked look. “Me, Clem, Ann, and Ducky.”
“Ah, are you taking care of him?”
“Yes. Clem was waiting for him to get up from his mid-morning nap and they’re heading into town.
It’s Clem’s turn to pick up the carrots.
” They shared a laugh and he looked at her seriously.
“I don’t know if you know this, and I don’t like to talk about my personal life, but you’re old enough to understand this. ”
“What?”