Chapter 46

Half an hour later, Cole faced his men, all twenty-five of them. Men he’d no longer see after this month was out, at least, not in the same capacity.

But men that were still his, right now. By God, this moment, they were his. As was Dawson Ridges, and its vast resources.

“Men. I know Jesse’s explained the situation to you. Sure, leaving Dawson Ridges is shitty, but it’s owed to Mr. Raary, fair and square. So we’re going to hand it over, as men. Quickly, and with pride in what we’re handing over.”

He stared out at the sea of faces. The men he respected, counted on, admired. In some cases, loved. And now, was counting on, in the biggest way yet.

“But before all that goes down, we have the means to right a situation that isn’t fair, and that’s causing needless suffering to three of our community members, and to countless other kids and their families, too. Men, this is separate from our business dealings with Mr. Raary. And while there’s been bad blood between us and him for a time, he’s also a husband and a father. And a damn good one, from what I’ve personally seen. One of the best.”

He allowed the import of that to sink in for couple of seconds. Then he asked them all the million-dollar question.

They had a right to their opinion. Many of them might feel that Quinn was taking their home and their jobs from them, even though he wasn’t. It had been Cole’s decision, along with his Dad’s.

But they had a right too.

So in the way he’d always treated his hands, he asked, plain and simple, the question echoing in the open area.

“You all in agreement with what’s been proposed? Do we ride, early tomorrow morning, and put this wrong to right? I’ll be going, dead to rights. Make no mistake. I’d sure like to take you all along with me. To save a little boy’s home, and that of a whole lot of other sick kids.”

The area was silent, then, grins broke out on the faces. Eyes shone, and the work-hardened expressions filled with resolve. More, there was a joy. A rabble-rousing cheer went up in the stable they’d all worked in, for years, side by side. Through times of despair, times of great joy, and everything in between.

They were a damn family. No doubt about that. 

A fire burst, like an explosion of pyrotechnics, in Cole. Yes. This was right, finally. Every damn bit of it.

Ranger spoke first. “We’re ready, Boss. 4 a.m.? ”

Rafe also burst out, with his characteristic disregard for convention. “Hell, yeah. We’re on it!”

And finally, the new guy, Spence, the character, had to put in his two cents worth. “Well of course we want to rebuild a place that’s falling apart, in the last few days we have left here. We’d be bored otherwise!”

The men all roared in laughter, slapped Spence on the back.

So, it was decided, in a mutual show of solidarity and community spirit. Cole thought he’d bust with pride. This. This was what they’d achieved, the last many decades. They’d built a viable enterprise that had weathered many a storm, intact.

But more, they’d built a solid team, that stuck together through thick and thin.

Perhaps it had been just for this moment that all this had been breathed into life, who knew. Maybe, maybe not.

But either way, it was a go. The plan, hatched less than a scant hour ago, was on track. 

And it was what a damn Dawson would do, and what his men would do, no matter their personal situations. Not for praise or glory, but because it was right.

That’s what Dawsons and their men did.

“Men, something else. I’ve made arrangements for a few others to join us. Dare Logan, Tabby’s brother, has smarts in the building trade. Doesn’t have any papers yet, but he’s in the process. He’ll be here. He’s en route tonight.”

The men nodded. Cole didn’t bother to mention what a coup that had been, and how quickly Dare had agreed.

“Also, Rachel Westerly’s a fine nurse, from Toronto, from the hospital Dad’s in, and that Tabby was in. She’ll be here too. She’ll help front us with any of the kids, if they ask any questions. She’ll also be on hand if any of you bozos need tending or first aid.”

He’d called her, earlier. Tabby had told him, more than once, what an important part of her recovery Rachel had been, and how the young woman felt she needed a change. That was going to be a surprise for Tabby too, along with Dare showing up.

“Reckon I’ll get a scrape, maybe even a bad cut. I’ll need tending, Boss. Bad.” Spence, a hand hired on within the last few months, was an incorrigible bad boy and had an eye, and more, for the ladies. The men erupted in ribald mutters and laughter.

Cole ignored that. “The other one coming to help with the hospital build is Charlotte Cavanaugh.”

Rafe whistled. “Oh, yeah. We’ll definitely need another nurse, Boss. So many of us’ll need first aid. In fact, I think my hand’s still painin’…”

He cradled the hand that had healed up nicely from the earlier sabotage incident, and donned a pathetic look. The men guffawed and snorted, and a couple of catcalls erupted.

Cole fixed them with a no-nonsense look. He was still their boss. “Not a nurse. Steel rigger. Apprentice, but she’s on her way. Trust you’ll give her the same respect…” his eyes scanned the motley crew in front of him. “Hell, no. Make that a shit-load more respect than you afford each other. That clear?”

“Quiet, you jackasses.” Jesse got their attention. Cole always marveled how the man barely had to say anything, but the men obeyed. Quickly.

“Kidding aside, we’re ready, Boss.” Ranger spoke firmly, and his mood spread throughout the group. From one man to the next, serious determination replaced the previous laughter.

Cole was humbled. He may be the leader, but apparently, they were a lot quicker at realizing the truth than he was.

His mind also leapt to a certain woman. He hoped, so bad, that her spirit was looking on, and finally, cheering for him. That he’d become a real man in her eyes.

He snorted, shook his head. Only words, until it was done and proven.

And he was set to prove it, in the early morning, which was approaching, suddenly, too fast.

“Excellent, men. I’m damn proud of you. Clean down to these old worn boots of mine. Jesse? You organize this band of rejects. Ranger—get on the horn to Coop, tell him what’s going down. That it’s hush hush, and that he and his are welcome. But with or without anyone else in this community, men, tomorrow morning we ride, and we ride with purpose. Our mission.”

He breathed deeply of the Ridges air that would always remain a part of him, no matter where he lay his hat, or made his bed. “We're going to go take care of our own, men. We’re going to go save a little boy’s home.”