Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 143728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
Gavin turned back to Shade. “Sorry about that, but I’m here now. Have you told your dad the good news?”
Shade arched a sardonic brow at him. “That you want us to put the last of the club money into buying a new property, or that you’re wanting me to give a loan to build a new factory when you do? Yes, I told him.”
Will gave his son a censoring look. “I think it’s a great idea.” He turned his attention to him. “Where are you thinking about looking for property?”
Gavin didn’t let Shade put a damper on his excitement. “Jewell, you mind handing me the folder I left behind the counter and a cup of coffee?”
As he waited for Jewell to get the coffee, he asked about Will’s wife, Shade’s stepmother.
“Rachel is keeping busy. She should be coming … Ahh … Here she is now. I promised her a shopping trip. You mind if she joins us until we’re finished?”
“Not at all,” Gavin said, standing up to hug the smiling woman as she reached the table.
“Gavin, you get better looking every time I come to town.”
“Be careful. You’ll make Will jealous. I wouldn’t haven’t asked Taylor to marry me if I thought I had a chance of talking you into divorcing him.”
Rachel patted him on the cheek. “You couldn’t handle me. I’m in the prime of my life. You’re just getting started.”
Gavin laughed, putting his hand over his heart. “You always shoot me down. One day I’m going to get you to reconsider and give Will something to worry about.”
As they sat down, Jewell set the coffee cup and folder in front of him before reaching down to place an arm over Rachel’s shoulder to give her a side-hug.
“Can I get you anything?”
“Since my husband is drinking a beer, I’ll take a cup of coffee. I don’t want him to get pulled over and have to explain why a sheriff has alcohol on his breath.”
Gavin winked at her. “Bring her a beer, Jewell. I’ll be happy to drive you around this morning. It’ll give me a chance to spend the day with you before you leave.”
Rachel scooted her chair forward. “Hear that, Shade? Someone who actually wants to spend time with us.” She gave an appreciative smile as Jewell slid a mug of beer in front of her.
“I spent the last two days taking you shopping. If Gavin wants to volunteer, he can go for it. Dad and I can stay here and catch up.”
“You mean, stay here and play poker?” She rolled her eyes at the deck of cards sitting in the middle of the table. “By the time I get back, no one in the club will have a dime to their name.”
Shade leaned forward, taking the cards to shuffle them. “I’ll need every dime I can get if Gavin manages to convince me to give him the loan he’s trying to talk me into.”
It was Gavin’s turn to roll his eyes at Shade. “You could loan the club enough to build three factories and still have enough for a happy meal.”
Shade cut the cards. “Why do we need two factories? We could just sell the one we’re using now and buy one larger.”
“We could do that, but I want to expand the business. One would be primarily used for production, and the other would be for distribution.”
“Makes sense to me, son.” Will leaned back in his chair to place his arm across the back of Rachel’s chair.
“It makes sense to you because it’s not your money.” Shade lined six cards down on the table facedown.
“We can find a small town that needs economic growth and give those who live there new opportunities to make a decent living. Give them jobs to make a future for themselves and actually build for a retirement so they won’t have to worry about not having enough money to live on.”
“Sounds like Treepoint,” Rachel said unhappily. “They desperately need jobs there.”
“Treepoint?” Gavin opened the folder he had been using to put together possible locations. “Where you and Will live? In Kentucky?”
“Yes. It’s a small town. It only has a few businesses still open. Most of the younger people have left town. Will and I have grown to love living there.”
Gavin took a sip of his lukewarm coffee, remembering exactly why Shade’s father and stepmother had gone to Treepoint in the first place. “How is the little girl you went to check on doing?”
Curiously, Gavin noticed Will’s startled expression at the question.
“Beth or Lily?” Rachel asked warmly. “They’ve been doing fine since Will’s been sheriff. Thank God that Cash asked Will to check on them after he retired—”
“Rachel …,” Will warned.
Rachel angrily snapped her mouth closed then shrugged. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s just that man sickened me.”
“Cash told me that he was surprised you didn’t decide to move on from Treepoint after their parents died.”