Chapter Two #2
“No. I like my duties just fine.”
“Glad to hear it. You know if there’s ever an issue with anything, you can talk to me about it. That includes any problems with Bart.”
Sloan chuckled. He and his siblings knew their father, Bart Outlaw, could be a handful and usually was. The reason Garth was now running the company was because Bart had been forced into retirement. It was either that or be ousted by the board.
It was no secret that Bart had been married five times and that each of his sons had different mothers.
It also wasn’t a secret that some of those wives had been full-fledged gold diggers.
Somehow Bart had managed, and quite manipulatively and underhandedly, they figured, to obtain custody of all five of his sons from his ex-wives.
Things had been a little different with Charm’s mother, Claudia.
To this day, Claudia was the only woman Bart had ever truly loved.
And she’d been the only one Bart had not married.
..but not for lack of trying on his part. Hell, he was still trying.
Bart hadn’t known Claudia was pregnant with Charm when their six-month romantic fling had ended and she had taken off for parts unknown.
Fifteen years later, Claudia reappeared with Charm in tow, telling Bart that Charm was his child and Claudia couldn’t handle the sassiness of the daughter he hadn’t known about.
She’d given custody to Bart and told him he could deal with Charm now.
Bart’s idea of dealing with Charm was spoiling her rotten.
It had taken the brothers, especially Garth, to let Charm know they wouldn’t tolerate her unruly attitude.
Charm quickly fell in line and now adored the five older brothers she hadn’t known she had.
“Sloan?”
He glanced over at Garth. “What?”
“You’re daydreaming again.”
Had he been? Probably so. Sloan paused but then decided to discuss with Garth what had been on his mind since he had spoken to Redford at the wedding. As much as he wanted to dismiss it from his mind, he couldn’t, so he definitely could use someone else’s perspective.
“I saw Leslie Cassidy at Tyler and Keosha’s wedding celebration.”
Garth nodded, then asked, “How did that go?”
He knew why Garth was asking. Everyone knew how much he’d cared for Leslie and how badly he had taken their breakup. “It was fine. She finally found out the truth and apologized.”
“Better late than never, I guess.”
“Yes, better late than never.”
Garth studied him. “I take it there’s something else.”
Sloan nodded. “Have you ever heard of a businessman by the name of Martin Longshire?”
Garth shook his head. “I can’t say that I have. Who is he?”
“A bastard.”
Garth chuckled. “Will you tell me how you really feel, Sloan?”
Sloan chuckled as well. “I just did.”
“Then maybe you ought to tell me why you feel that way.”
Sloan told Garth about the conversation with Redford. He could tell by his older brother’s facial expressions that he didn’t like what he was hearing.
“Did you get a chance to talk to Leslie about it when you saw her at the wedding reception?” Garth asked.
“No. I figured it wasn’t my business.”
“Like hell” was Garth’s quick reply. “If what Redford told you is true, then that’s alarming. No man should deliberately target a woman just because of a beef he had with her father. You’re right. Longshire is a bastard.”
A smiled spread across Sloan’s lips. “So tell me how you really feel, Garth.”
Garth didn’t say anything for a minute and then he asked, “Cassidy Cosmetics is still headquartered in Wasilla, right?”
“Yes, what of it?”
“Nothing. I was just asking.” Garth paused. “You still plan to take December off?”
Since Sloan hadn’t taken any time off this year, Garth had suggested he take off the entire month of December.
Normally this time around the holidays would be the freight lines’ busiest, but thanks to Cash’s satellite office, road transportation was doing great, since the weather in the lower forty-eight had been pretty good this year.
All the domestic freight trucks were delivering ahead of schedule for the Christmas season.
“Yes, that’s the plan. I’m looking forward to spending a week or two at the cabin on Kodiak Island before joining everyone in Westmoreland country for Christmas.”
It still amazed Sloan how their Westmoreland cousins, whom they’d met only a few years ago, could be such an intricate part of their lives now.
The Westmorelands and the Outlaws enjoyed getting together as if to make up for that period of time they hadn’t known about each other.
“Those plans can be changed if you think I’m needed here, Garth. ”
Garth shook his head. “No, you won’t be needed here. However, considering what Redford told you about Leslie’s company, I’d think you might be needed elsewhere.”
Sloan held his brother’s gaze, knowing what Garth was alluding to. “Why should I even care what happens to Leslie or her company?”
Instead of answering him, Garth stood and walked out of the conference room. Sloan didn’t have to wonder why his brother hadn’t answered. In Garth’s mind, Sloan’s question didn’t dignify a response.