Welcome We have a little nip in the air this first day of May. Have you ever noticed how we travel along our paths going from one event to the next. The next event here is arriving on the 14th. That is the first official day of fishing... I have to tell you I am more than ready. It is a pleasure to see people out and about enjoying the warmer days. My neighbour has started a huge project in her back yard. It appears to be a patio of sorts. What had started to be small has now become huge. So gather around and lets see where life takes Wes this time. If you missed the first chapter please do go back and catch it as it sets the tone for his life, his struggles and yes his success. I hope you enjoy the offering... Hugs from Alberta Canada Chapter 2 “Miles Past” He pressed his nose against the cool glass of the rail car as he gazed at the rising sun over the Grassy Mountains. They were a sight he had not seen in several years. They were not real mountains as the highest would be 2000 feet at the most. Tall Cedar trees stood the entire height, creating an illusion of looking like real mountains. He and his many friends and cousins would hike to the lower peaks in the summer months spending their time in their own adventurous fantasy. They had created many a day up there. He smiled thinking of those days, they were about the only good memory he had of his youth. All else was clouded over by what had happened. The window fogged over with his breath and the cool of the glass seemed to subdue the headache he had coming on. How he dreaded the next few days. Seeing the people he had run from, especially his mother. He had come back once for her 80th birthday. He thought he would surprise her and fly into the community in a small aircraft. Trickle Creek had no airstrip but it made no difference in the flat land. It was as though something had fallen out of the sky that day, dogs barking, horses running in all directions. He smiled at the memory; most people here had only seen an aircraft high in the sky and would point it out as a strange sighting. The smile left his face at the words of his mother. They dug deep into his spirit when she spit them at him. She called him “Big shot and Show Off, and a man of no wisdom, wasting money to impress the people.” It was her way of never giving him credit for his accomplishments, she was well aware of the fact he had done very well for himself. He had been sending money and it had never resulted in so much as a thank you. He had always kept her informed with notes attached, telling her he was doing well. The phone call had started all this business at 4:31am. It had taken him from a dream world to a world again he had chosen to ignore. The caller ID read Tom Omato, his mind was clouded as he answered the phone. The voice on the other end came from his older sister Betty. It was crude and raspy as always, her words were sharp and to the point. “Better come, she’s dying and is calling for you.” Then came the click as the receiver went dead. That was it, no other words, no hello, no goodbye just, “Come.” There was a stirring next to him on the bed, a petite redhead; he could not even remember her name, just another in the line of many who had stayed the night. Success had its attractions and this was yet another. She stirred again, rolled over and went back to sleep. He got up, put on his morning coffee, strong just as he liked it. He climbed into the shower and let the water pass over him as he slowly turned. As always at the last minute he shut off the hot water and allowed the ice cold to take over. He loved the feel after as it woke him completely. The cold reminded him of his childhood where there was little hot water and a bath consisted of jumping in the community dugout which was always ice cold as it was spring fed. Wes poured his coffee, switched on the radio; the weatherman said it was to be another hot day in Great Falls Montana where he had made his home. This summer had broken all records of the past. High nineties were what they were saying. He thought about calling and booking a small plane for the flight, again he recalled the last one and decided on the train instead. The northbound 301 would be leaving later that night. He had some last minute papers to sign to close yet another land sale. Even though it was Saturday he wanted this deal closed today. He had been working on this for months and gone into partnership with a developer. It was for a multi dwelling complex which would see their money returned within five years, after that it would be clear profit, yes this one was a winner. He returned to the bedroom switching on the light, clothes were strewn about the floor. She groaned and covered her head with the sheet. He started to recall the passionate meeting with this lady the night before. His only words were “Morning in the swamp, your cab will be here in five minutes so better get at it Miss.” She groaned and mumbled. “Let me sleep, he reached down and Wes yanked the covers back and said “Come on, early bird gets the worm. There is forty dollars on the dining room table for your cab unless I owe you more.” She climbed slowly from the bed, rubbing her eyes and attempted to straighten her hair. He recalled her name as being Rusty she was the singer at the due that had been thrown in his honor the night before. She slowly dressed and on her way out said, “If I was that kind of girl you could not afford me. Thanks for nothing big man.” She slammed the door behind her leaving the taxi money on the table. He shrugged and started to get dressed. Well at least that had been taken care of. The Real Estate Board of Montana had thrown the annual gala honoring its best in the State. This had been the first year he had been nominated. His closing figures for the year had been a number never reached before. Yes he had done well for himself, considered to be in the top sales across the US. As he snugged up his tie he could not help but notice maybe some of the Indian had been rubbed off over the past few years. Wes Nickel had done all right for himself. His day had gone just as planned, he left his flat at 6:30 am and called Sarah his secretary. “Meet me at the office in an hour, we have to wrap up the Thompson deal by 10 this morning. I want this closed today,” he could hear Sarah groan. “Mr. Nickel, Saturday is my day off.” “Sarah this is important, I will make sure you are taken care of. Please, I will even bring your favorite coffee, one of those latte things you like. Personally I hate them, darned fool things give me gas. See you there my dear and thanks.” He clicked off the phone before she could respond. Next he called Nils Whitman the time was 6:52 am. “Morning in the swamp Pal, times ticking away see you at the site at 10:20 am, and hung up the phone. That would get a rise out of Nils; he recalled Nils had been planning a fishing trip today. He pulled up to his parking place and in drove Sarah slamming the door to her car. He got out carrying two coffees and his briefcase. “This coffee had better be good! She took her cup as she walked right past him. She was a slight girl, mid twenties, extremely beautiful. Today she wore baggy sweat pants, an old sweater and her hair was tied back. Her glasses she wore were bright red. He assumed she had forgotten to put in her contacts. The lenses were thick; her eyes were a deep green and this morning they seemed to be glaring red back at him. They climbed into the elevator. Sarah had little to say to him. He could tell she was angry. “How is the fancy coffee? She glared again just as they stopped at the top floor. “About as cold as I feel towards you right about now. Boss or no boss I should be able to take my weekends off.” He stepped aside and smiled and said “Ladies first.” Her response was simple and to the point. “I should let you go first so I can kick your butt all the way to your office.” Wes decided, best leave well enough alone, she was all business today. He would have to do better than a coffee to make up for this invasion of her private time. Sarah had been with him for going on eight years and a real asset to the firm. He had hired her fresh out of university; her looks would turn any head. Yes indeed she was a looker but untouchable as he soon learned. He had toyed with the idea of dating her early in the working relationship. At least it had been the plan before he found out she had other designs and they were not on men, but the ladies. Even in his youth he had learned that God had spoken of this as being unnatural. She was off limits and that was it. The day went off as planned, papers were all signed after the meeting with the landowners. Sarah had left for home; Nils started to climb into his truck, stopped and said, “You ok Wes, seemed a little distracted today.” “Just fine Nils. I have to make a trip will be back sometime next week I assume. Just wanted this one closed, call Sarah if you need anything she will know where to reach me. Now you can get in some fishing my friend, sorry to upset your day. We will do very well on this deal and I will look after you.” “You always do Wes, take care and see you when you get back. Have a safe trip and take some time to relax a little. You work some unusually long hours and it worries me.” Money had a way of speaking to anyone, especially the people whom had come into the inner circle of his life. He was known to look after the faithful few when they went the extra mile. Nils would be on the list with Sarah this time. © Rolly A. Chabot
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
For a free subscription, just fill out the form below.
Or, click below to follow via RSS. Virtual BuskerFireside with Rolly is a totally free site, but, if you like it and would like to leave a tip, I'll surely put it to good use!
Thanks for your support of the indie biz community. Tipping made easy! 1.Click here ➣ PayPal 2. Select friends or family option 3. Issue to [email protected] Archives
October 2018
|