“So am I,” parrots Hilary, who’s come out from the back.
Coleman thumbs toward her. “My wife, Hilary.”
I give her a nod. “Nice to meet you.”
“What were you saying about building?” Coleman prods.
“Right. As soon as I’ve completed my project, you’ll have orders coming out of your ears. But the thing is, right now I’m lean on funds.” He frowns. I push on. “I’m looking for a line of credit. Now, you’re taking a chance giving it to someone you don’t know. I realize that. But for taking that big chance, you’ll see an even greater reward. Imagine it, more business than you know what to do with—orders flooding in, and no one’s talking to K-Yard. They’re all dealing with you.”
Hilary pokes him. “You need to listen to him, Coleman. I been wanting a trip to Paris. You been promising it to me. You can get the money and I can have my trip.”
He studies his wife before focusing back on me. “And how are you going to do all this? Have you seen our town? Few visit Mystic Meadows anymore. Once the magic dried up, the whole town fell apart. Hell, I’m lucky to have the business that I have.”
Here’s where the Maddox determination floods through me. Even though I’m going out on a limb, I believe every word of what I’m about to say. I don’t know how, but it’s a feeling bubbling deep inside me.
“This town is going to come back, and the first property that’s going to be part of this renaissance is the one I’m working on.”
“And what property is that?”
“Wadley Farms.”
There’s a beat where Coleman looks at me and blinks. Then he tosses his head back and laughs. “That old place? That farm ain’t worth two pennies. How are you going to make it anything?”
My chest constricts. He just insulted my business, and by doing so, he also insulted Rowe. “I don’t appreciate being laughed at,” I growl.
“I’m sorry, but there isn’t hope for that property. You tell me that you’re going to fix up the ice cream shop and I’d believe you, think maybe you’d be on to something. But the Wadleys’? Forget it.” He turns his back to me and walks off. “Good luck, city boy.”
No.
No way am I leaving without this man’s partnership. I storm up to the front counter, which he and his wife are back behind, still laughing.
My next words are spoken around the gravel in my mouth. “What would it take for you to do business with me? To help me out?”
One side of Coleman’s mouth ticks up into a smirk. “I’ll tell you what it’ll take.”
Coleman points. “You see all those trees over there?”
“Yes, sir. I do.”
We’re out in a lumberyard behind the hardware store. One side is filled with treated and cut planks. The other is filled with uncut logs.
He points to the mess of haphazardly stacked logs. “I need those cedars cut into poles. We got a big order going to the off-grid yurt community that’s just outside town. All my workers are busy on other projects. If you can get those cut, then we’ll talk.”
Why do I have the feeling this test isn’t about whether or not I’m a successful person, but whether or not I’m a man?
“I’ll be happy to cut them.”
“You ever worked a chain saw before?”
Once, a long time ago. And it was only the one time. My uncle had us up at his cabin, and he was cutting away at a tree that had fallen.
That was also twenty years ago, and as much as I’d like to say that the hotel business requires regular maintenance with chain saws, it does not.
“I’ve, um . . .”
“Great,” Coleman says, slapping me on the back. “Just make sure that you cut where the logs are marked, straight down the center. You’ll find safety gear there.” He points to a shed. “If you need anything, just give me a holler. Get to it, and let me know when you’re done. Good luck, kid. May you be able to put your money where your mouth is.”
Before I can say anything else, he disappears inside the store.
A chain saw. I’ve got to cut cedar posts with a chain saw. This is definitely a test of my manhood.
I flip back through my memories, trying to quickly recall everything my uncle taught me—keep your hand steady, watch for kickback, don’t let the chain touch the dirt. That seems about it.
I rub my hands together. This is going to be a piece of cake.
