“I’d like to say something,” said Charlotte, holding up her hand next. “Quiet please. I need to make an announcement.”
“What is she going to say?” Cal whispered to Twiggy.
“I honestly have no idea,” Tuesday whispered back. “But I hope she hurries because I think Maggie’s diaper needs changing badly.”
“Go ahead,” Pete told Charlotte once the crowd had quieted down.
“I just want to say that I now have a new partner at the daycare. Meet my new half-owner, Tuesday Twaggard. I mean, Tuesday Reeves,” she corrected herself, holding out her hand. Everyone clapped and cheered. “Tuesday, say something,” whispered Charlotte.
“Well, I’m excited to be part-owner of the daycare, thank you everyone. But I am even more honored to be the bride of the bravest, most handsome, most honorable man I’ve ever met, Cal Reeves.”
Once again, there was clapping and cheering.
“Excuse me, excuse me,” said Simon, raising his hand in the air. “I have an announcement to make, too.”
“We’re never going to get to consummate this marriage the way everyone in town has something to say,” Cal whispered to Tuesday, but Simon heard him.
“Well, Cal, this is something I think you are going to want to hear.”
“What’s that?” asked Cal.
“I own the marina in Sweetwater, and also one in Benton Harbor.”
“Now who is getting a plug for their business?” grumbled Levi.
“Brother, let me talk,” said Simon. “Since there is an abundance of orchards around here, and farmers are always needing truckers to deliver their food, I decided to take part of the building I own in Benton Harbor, and open up a truck driving school this fall.”
“Really?” asked Cal, not understanding where this was going.
“Simon, just ask him already,” complained Judas.
“I’m opening up a truck driving school and I’ll need someone who knows the ropes to teach the new recruits,” said Simon with a large smile.
“Me?” asked Cal, rubbing his sore shoulder. “I might not even be able to use this arm much for a while yet.”
“I’m sure by fall you’ll be able to do it,” said Simon. “Besides, I’m in no rush and there is a lot of planning to do first. It’s only a half-hour away, so you won’t be away from your wife and daughter that long, like being on the road.”
“Cal, this is great,” said Tuesday excitedly. “You can still have something to do with trucking without having to be on the road all the time. Then you’ll still be here for me and Maggie and any other children we might have.”
Cal had already decided to give up trucking, because his family was the most important thing to him and he didn’t want to be away from them for very long. This opportunity would help to fill that empty void he supposed.
“What do you say?” asked Simon. “If you end up buying a house in Sweetwater, you are welcome to keep your rig at my facility and use it as your office.”
“I suppose it would be good to teach the new recruits to drive a truck like mine,” said Cal in thought.
“You’re going to let someone else drive your rig?” asked Twiggy in surprise.
“Yeah. I think so,” he said with a nod, realizing that this way he’d have the best of both worlds and neither he nor Twiggy would have to totally give up their dreams.
“So what’s your answer?” asked Thad.
Cal looked out to all the eyes staring at him. Nothing like being put on the spot. “Well, I’ll only accept the position if, in time, you give me the option of buying into the business with you, Simon,” he answered.
Simon gave it some thought, then smiled and nodded. “I’m okay with that. Put it here – future partner.” He reached out to shake Cal’s hand but, of course, it was in a sling. Everyone laughed, and Cal shook with his left hand instead.
“I’m really looking forward to this,” Cal told him, feeling as if life just kept getting better and better for him.
Everyone cheered and clapped and talked excitedly. Aunt Cappy put her fingers in her mouth and whistled to get their attention.
“Aunt Cappy?” asked Pete. “Do you have something to say?”
“You’re damned right I do,” said the plump older woman, not caring that she was swearing in church. “There is food at the diner that is getting cold and we need to hurry this along. Tuesday and Cal, we’re all happy for you, but can we go eat now?”
“Sure, we can,” laughed Cal as Burrito rushed over and started barking happily. Maggie cooed and reached down from Tuesday’s arms trying to touch the dog.
“Good,” said Aunt Cappy with a satisfied nod. “Now, let’s all go to the diner and eat. I think enough attention has been given today to Sweetwater’s new Trucker Daddy.”
From the author
I hope you enjoyed Trucker Daddy and will leave a review for me. Please be sure to read the rest of the Working Man Series where you will see guest appearances by those Bad Boys of Sweetwater.
If you’d like to read about Thad, Levi, Judas, Simon, Aunt Cappy and the rest of the Taylor brothers as well as the little town of Sweetwater, you can do so in the 12-book series, Bad Boys of Sweetwater: Tarnished Saints. Here is also a list of all the books in the series.
Doubting Thomas
Luring Levi
Judging Judas
Seducing Zeb
Saving Simon
Wrangling James
Praising Pete
Teaching Philip
Loving John
Playing Nate
Igniting Andrew
Taming Thad
And always free is the prequel to the series, Tarnished Saints Christmas. (Be sure to pick up the audiobook as well.)
If you like audiobooks, I have started to put the Tarnished Saints into audiobook form. You can check periodically to see which new audiobooks I have by clicking HERE.
Thank you,
Elizabeth Rose
About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Rose is a multi-published, bestselling author, writing medieval, historical, contemporary, paranormal, and western romance. Her books are available as Ebooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks as well.
Her favorite characters in her works include dark, dangerous and tortured heroes, and feisty, independent heroines who know how to wield a sword. She loves writing 14th century medieval novels, and is well-known for her many series.
Her twelve-book small town contemporary series, Tarnished Saints, was inspired by incidents in her own life.
After being traditionally published, she started self-publishing, creating her own covers and book trailers on a dare from her two sons.
Elizabeth loves the outdoors. In the summertime, you can find her in her secret garden with her laptop, swinging in her hammock working on her next book. Elizabeth is a born storyteller and passionate about sharing her works with her readers.
Please be sure to visit her website at Elizabethrosenovels.com to read excerpts from any of her novels and get sneak peeks at covers of upcoming books. You can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads or BookBub. Be sure to sign up for her newsletter so you don’t miss out on new releases or upcoming events.
Click to join Elizabeth Rose’s Readers’ Group.
Also by Elizabeth Rose
Medieval Series:
Legendary Bastards of the Crown Series
Seasons of Fortitude Series
Secrets of the Heart Series
Legacy of the Blade Series
Daughters of the Dagger Series
MadMan MacKeefe Series
Barons of the Cinque Ports Series
Second in Command Series
Holiday Knights Series
Highland Chronicles Series
Pirate Lords Series
Medieval/Paranormal Series:
Elemental Magick Series
Greek Myth Fantasy Series
Tangled Tales Series
Contemporary Series:
Tarnished
Saints Series
Working Man Series
Western Series:
Cowboys of the Old West Series
And More!
Please visit http://elizabethrosenovels.com
Trucker Daddy (Working Man Series Book 3) Page 20