3. Dane #2
“I have a daughter, Maise. She loves three things. My dad, hot dogs, and pigs. A trucker needed to bring his rig in for repairs and asked if he could house the pigs here overnight because they couldn’t stay cooped up in a trailer.
Anyway, I said yes and my brother…” Jesse sighs and takes a drink before continuing.
“My brother, whom I love dearly, didn’t secure the gate properly.
I brought my daughter here on the way to daycare, thinking, hey let’s show her all the pigs.
One met me at the fucking door, and I had to take her to daycare without pigs. ”
Jesse sighs, and I want to laugh if his only problems are a disappointed toddler and wayward pigs.
“I assume you tried to wrangle them yourself.”
“I had to. Warren wasn’t answering his phone, and my youngest brother is no help with anything like this. I certainly wasn’t calling my dads because I don’t want to look incompetent, you know?” He drinks again. “But I guess I am when it’s catching pigs.”
Jesse laughs and shakes his head. “Thanks for rescuing me.” He pulls a wallet from his pocket and hands me five twenty-dollar bills. “As discussed.”
Taking the bills, I stuff them into my pocket. “I appreciate it. So what’s the real job?”
“Well… you might find catching pigs more glamorous.”
“If it pays well, I don’t care.”
Jesse runs his fingers down the side of his beer can as he smiles, but something has him less relaxed than he was a moment ago.
“I pitched an idea to my brothers for this place. We have a lull two weeks before the rodeo school starts up. Sure, we could use it as downtime for maintenance, but we’ve stayed on top of things well enough.
” He takes a drink and bounces his knee.
Whatever he needs me for is causing friction with his family.
“Listen, Jesse, you’re a good guy, but whatever your brothers didn’t green-light seems to upset you. Maybe I shouldn’t get involved and just call it a day.”
Especially if it means Warren being extra pissed when he learns I’m involved.
“It’s just…we do so little for the cattle farmers. We train for rodeo, we hire stock contractors for the school, and we send business to the community for hotel bookings and restaurants. There’s an older guy who breeds Angus, and he’s been struggling…”
Jesse and I could be kindred spirits. I recognize the way he hesitates and shifts, like his skin is too tight. No one likes to ask for help.
“Jesse, what does he need?”
“He needs help.” He runs a hand through his messy hair.
“Many of the farmers do. The cost to bring cattle to the auction house in the city is high, and a few of the ranchers are getting up there in years. They don’t like to drive, or the cost to hire one cuts into their profits too much.
Then some of the other farmers with meat animals heard of my offer and,”—Jesse shrugs—“we can use the building as an auction house for a week, but it’s a lot of work. Clarence is no help, and Warren—”
“Is Warren,” I finish. Jesse doesn’t need to explain. Warren just needs to breathe in my space to unsettle me. I can only imagine what it’s like to have him as a brother.
“He doesn’t like to see animals at auction. He’s been ignoring me about it, and it’s too late to back out. Can you help?”
Warren’s brother wants me to replace him and help. I’m not sure how I feel about it, but I guarantee it won’t make Warren happy.
“I’ll pay you a base pay that was approved for the budget, but I’m offering you a share in the earnings. Rather than charge a set fee, I asked the farmers to pay 20% of their earnings from the auction to the school. I’ll give you 5% of that on top of the wage.”
Quick math has me raise an eyebrow. “You sure about that? Beef prices are high right now.”
“Yeah, I’m sure. It’s a lot of work, and I don’t have enough hands on deck to help with it. I’d like to sleep sometime in the next week.”
This could be such a huge boost to my bank account for Darla. If the auction goes well, the long days will be worth it.
“Can I get your offer in writing?”
Jesse grins and pulls a sheet of paper off the printer. He handwrites the entire offer on it and signs it with a flourish. “Is that good enough for you?”
After reading it, I motion for a pen and sign the bottom with a date. “Want a copy, or can I keep this one?”
Jesse shakes his head. “Keep it. I know what I wrote and that we’re good for it. They’re gonna wish they helped. This is a good thing for everyone in Kissing Ridge.”
We stand and shake hands.
“It’s good for me, and I’m not about to walk away from it. I’m sure the auction will work well, Jesse. It’s nice to care about the community, and I’m happy to help.” Even if it means Warren will be less than pleased.
“You’re a lifesaver, Dane. See you Monday at 6 A.M. The auction starts at 8.”
“I’ll be here.”
After seeing myself out, I step into the darkness of an early April evening. With a hundred dollars in my pocket and a job lined up to bridge the income gap, I figure it’s a great time to take a night to myself for good food and maybe companionship.
After hopping into my truck, I head to the local bar. Renewed optimism blooms in my chest. Perhaps things will work out after all.