CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
-:- CORK -:-
Instead of going straight home, I decide to throw the idea at Pres right away.
It’s still early enough yet that TwoCents will still be in his office.
I’ve asked Dallas to round up Mia and get her into the office with her on any pretext she can think of.
I know that Mia will want the club to have the ranch, even if it is only so Summer will get a pony out of it.
Entering the clubhouse, I grab a couple of bottles of water from the bar, just to slow my progress into Pres’ office.
Hearing a squeal from Mia, I know it’s the right time.
Knocking on the door has Pres call ‘Enter’. Walking in, he smiles at me. Now Pres normally has a scowl when anyone enters his office because it is rarely good news we bring him.
“Hi, Cork. What can I do for you?” He leans back in his chair, again surprisingly relaxed.
“You look very chill, Pres?”
“I am as I just had a meeting with TwoCents. He couldn’t wait until church at the weekend to tell me how well we’re doing financially. I am currently a very happy president.”
“Oh, well, that is good news. I’m just waiting for Dallas and then I’ll get to why I’m here.”
We both hear Mia call out, “TwoCents! Pres’ office now,” at which Pres’ scowl returns. He eyes me suspiciously as we wait.
Dallas and Mia come bowling into the office with their biggest smiles ever. TwoCents follows close behind.
“TwoCents, keep a tight hold on the purse strings. I have a feeling we are going to be attacked on three sides here, and if we are not careful, it’s going to be costly.” Pres knows that if Mia has called TwoCents into the conversation, it has to involve financials.
“Pres, Dallas and I have been talking about where we are going to live once we’re married.
We had thought of building in the compound, but Dallas has stumbled on something that would be not only our forever home but an outstanding business opportunity for the club.
” I’m trying not to let my excitement ruin how I present this.
“I’m listening. If anyone else came to me like this, I would be suspicious to say the least, but knowing you have a good head for business, Cork, I’m all ears.”
“Just outside of town, there’s a horse ranch for sale. Owner is Colt Farrier…”
“I know the place, Pres. I even looked it over as a possible land grab for the club to flip and make some easy money. It was way out of our price range, though.” TwoCents shakes his head.
“Well, that’s where you’re wrong, TwoCents.
You need to hear me out on this, or you’ll be kicking yourself.
We looked it over and, yes, you’re right, it would normally be out of reach for us.
This is where it gets interesting. Colt has offered to sell part of the ranch to us and the club.
It would be a three-way partnership, but he would hold the controlling interest. We build him a house to live in on the property, and he stays on as co-manager or as a consultant so that we can re-build the business.
The business is still a financial success, but he’s just scaled it down to suit his needs. This could be a goldmine for the club.”
“TwoCents, get on it and see if what Cork is saying is not only possible but viable. Cork, set up a meeting between the four of us, and we’ll take a look at the place also so I can get a feel for this Colt guy.”
“Six of us. You aren’t leaving me and Dallas out of this,” Mia pipes up.
“Oh, and Cork, just for future reference, you don’t need to get my woman involved just to get me to listen.
” Pres grins, and I’m amazed at how easy this has been.
I thought there’d be a lot of to-ing and fro-ing about who and how to run a horse ranch.
“For now let’s keep it in the room. If word gets out that we’re interested, all hell could break loose.
Not everyone is happy about having an MC as a neighbor. ”
Leaving the clubhouse, I feel like I’m on cloud nine.
Dallas and I have such huge smiles on our faces, and we can’t think of anything but the ranch.
As we drive off, I think of Colt and building him a home.
He’s going to want to have some of the furniture from the ranch house, obviously. It’s all his after all.
“You’ve just done what I did when I found the ranch. You missed our turn.” Dallas smiles at me. “I wonder if this is another good omen?”
“I didn’t miss the turn. I think we need to visit another of the club’s businesses,” I say clearly.
“If you’re taking me to one of the clubs to celebrate, I’m not dressed for it.”
“We can do that another time when everything is done for certain. I had another business in mind.” Keeping one eye on the road and the other on the speedometer, because I want to do everything at two hundred miles per hour right now, I drive carefully to Bespoke Furnishings.
As soon as we enter the reception area, Carrie approaches us.
“Hey guys. Looking for furniture already? Don’t you have to have somewhere to put it first?
” Seeing the excitement on Dallas’ face tells her all she needs to know.
“You’ve got somewhere this quick? It can’t be the apartment.
That place wouldn’t take any of our stuff.
Sorry, Cork, I mean size, not that it’s beneath you. Shit, you know what I mean.”
“I know. Where’s Fox? I’ve already heard everything Dallas is going to tell you. No…Wait...Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. We can’t tell anyone just yet. Dallas, you can’t say anything.”
“Cork, you’re such an ass. Why did you bring us here when we can’t tell them what we want and why?” Dallas looks fit to burst, and I’ve certainly dropped the ball coming here.
“Well, we need wooden furniture, so we might as well browse a bit,” I say, hoping that it will ease the sting of Dallas not being able to spill the beans and gush about the ranch.
“Men can be such idiots at times,” Carrie says to Dallas.
“Only when they are conscious. The rest of the time they are sufferable.” Dallas takes Carrie's arm and they wander off, leaving me to find Fox.
Finding Fox in the workshop, he stops what he’s doing and dusts himself off, coating me in the process.
“What brings you here, Cork? You and Dallas found a place already?” Why didn’t I think this through before dashing over here?
“Yes and no, Fox. We think we have, but it can’t be common knowledge just yet. In the meantime, we’re going to cast an eye over your stock and see what you have, as well as how long a lead time you have for orders.”
“Stock is a bit limited. As fast as we make stuff for stock, it goes. Lead time for custom-made furniture depends on how big a job it is. Stu, Chisel and me are just treading water. We could use another one or even two more workers to get ahead, and give us a break now and again. Problem being we’d then need new premises.
This place can’t accommodate more than the three workspaces as it is. ”
Ding, ding. The little bell rings and gives me an idea.
One thousand acres and a sawmill. We could build a whole ‘bespoke’ Bespoke Furnishings Shop and workshop on the ranch.
We might need to upgrade the power supply, but that can’t be that difficult.
There was a lot of cut timber being seasoned when we rode around with Colt.
I wonder if it’s workable? I’ll take that back to Pres and TwoCents next time I see them.
“Well, show me what you’ve got available, and it will give us an idea at least.” Taking me to where Dallas and Carrie are already looking at stuff, I see a large table and chairs.
At first glance, they look solid and ranch-like.
I like them. Fox points out a flaw in the table and tells me that this is why it hasn’t sold and they haven’t had time to fix it.
There are two long parallel cracks running the length of the table.
Dallas has her eye on a massive bedframe. I don’t think it has sold purely because of the size of the thing.
“That was an order that was placed and paid for, but the couple split up before it was delivered. They were so busy getting divorced they forgot about it until we called and said it was ready. Neither wanted it, nor had the room, so we’re stuck with it,” Carrie explains.
“If a brother wanted it, what would it cost?” I ask slyly.
“Hell, if you have somewhere to put that great monster of a bed, you can have it. It’s been paid for so we wouldn’t lose anything, and to be honest, I’d like the space back.
I’ve thought about taking it apart and reusing the timber for other projects.
” Fox looks like he wants me to say yes, so I don’t disappoint him.
“Done. We’ll have it. You’ll have to put up with it for a while longer, but that is definitely our bed.” Dallas rushes over and gives me a smacker on the lips.
“Just think how much fun we’ll have chasing each other around and making babies!” She gushes, then blushes at her outburst.
“I can’t wait to see the house you’re planning on putting that thing into,” Carrie says to Dallas.
“We’ll have a ‘Grand Housewarming Party’ and all will be welcome,” Dallas replies.
Later that evening, sitting on the couch with a beer and the remnants of a takeout on the coffee table, we both sit engrossed in our own thoughts.
“What are you thinking about?” Dallas asks.
“How many horses we should have in the first year. How many foals we’ll have, how many we’d need to buy. Does Colt cut his own hay?”
“You’re thinking of the business, and I’m wondering how we’ll get that damn bed up the stairs! Shouldn’t it be the other way around?” She laughs, and she’s probably right. She is far better qualified to be the ranch manager than I am.
“I guess I’ll need to speak to Ava about taking over the shop.
I don’t see myself commuting here every day when the ranch will need so many hands when the horse population increases.
Besides which, I think we’d make a great team.
” Leaning down, I kiss her on the top of her head.
Well, that was my intention, but she looks up and takes the kiss on her soft lips.
“C’mon, Kemosabe. Let’s go practice for when we have that gigantic bed. You’re gonna need to build that stamina up if you’re going to keep up with the stallion and keep me in foal!”