“You sure it's safe?” I asked, looking out at the lake.
“Yeah, it’s pretty solid,” he said looking down. “We’ve had temps down for long enough and I've skated around seeing no cracks.”
“Maybe you should get off,” I said, as I pictured Webber falling into the lake.
“I’m fine, you don’t have to worry about me even though I love it,” he said, throwing me a kiss.
“Webber,” I chastised. “I think?—”
“Ten minutes and that's it, please?” he pouted.
Dammit.
“Fine,” I grumbled. “I’ll stay to make sure you don’t fall in.”
“If skating is the way I go?—”
“Sam Webber,” I growled.
He cackled as he skated away. I looked around for a place to sit that wouldn’t make my ass too wet. I only found a stump that was covered with debris and once I cleared it, it was mostly dry. Once I sat down, I leisurely drank my coffee admiring Webber. I took more pictures like a proud parent wishing I could have seen him play in person. He was probably amazing.
As I was admiring him my phone rang and I expected to see Jude’s number, but when it was a Texas number, I hesitated. It had been a while since I had gotten a call from Texas, but something told me to answer.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Forest?”
“This is he,” I answered.
“Hey, Forest. This is Walker, how are you doing man?”
“Hey man!” I said. “I’m doing pretty good and yourself? How’s the ranch doing?”
“I’m doing good,” he replied. “I was calling to see if you're looking for work in the new year. I need some help on the ranch down here and also possibly working the stockyards.”
“That sounds like a big job,” I said, watching Webber racing across the lake.
“It is, but look, I’m going to need the help for a year at most,” he said. “I know you don’t like to hang out for more time than that, but I have no one else I'd trust and I’m willing to pay top dollar for you.”
“Top dollar, eh?”
“The ranch is doing great and if you can do both the ranch and the stockyards, I think we can give you at least a hundred thousand,” he said, sounding cocky.
“You think?” I didn’t like his tone and if I was doing all that work there was no way in hell I’d take less than a hundred thousand. “That sounds like a lot of my weekends won’t be off.”
“For you, Forest, I’d give you what you want,” he said. “I trust no one else with my ranch except you.”
Webber waved at me as I smiled.
“When do you need me by?” I asked, feeling nervous.
“My ranch hand leaves February 1st, but I’d like you here before he leaves,” he said.
That was less than three months here.
“Ok, well let me think about it,” I said, even though my knee-jerk reaction was to say yes. “I have some shit going on that I can’t just get up and leave.”
“Yeah, no problem, but I'd like an answer as soon as possible,” he said. “Maybe before the new year, just in case you can’t make it.”
