Covered in Coal

by Silla Webb

  I watch the crew work for the last hour of their shift, then ride back to surface with them. By the time we reach the portal of the mines, Eric’s eyes are blood shot, and you can’t make heads or tails of what he’s actually sayin’. He keeps rubbin’ his face, and sniffin’.

  I wait for the men to finish up in the bath house, before pullin’ Eric aside one last time, and give him a final stern warnin’ about whatever the hell is up with him. He promises he’s just lackin’ sleep, so I drop it at that, and send him home so he can catch up on his rest.

  Makin’ my way up through the gravel lot to the main office, I see that Carly Jo’s cherry red Camaro is parked in the front spot by the buildin’. It may have been one hell of a rough start to the day, but knowin’ she’s here, just spreads a wide smirk across my face. I climb the stairs two at a time to get to her office.

  Walkin’ straight passed Shelly, I don’t even knock on Carly Jo’s office door before enterin’. She’s sittin’ at her desk, with her back turned from the door, lookin’ in a filin’ cabinet. Hearin’ the door click closed, she swivels the chair, and her hazel eyes flicker up to meet mine. She has the phone pressed to her ear, and pulls her index finger to her lips, willin’ me not to interrupt her conversation. I nod, and sit down at the chair in front of her desk, and wait for her to finish the phone conversation. She mumbles in agreement to the caller, then sighs before speakin’.

  “Bill, I can’t find the contract. I know that Daddy had James keep copies of his contracts as well. I’ll call right now and get a copy emailed over to me, then I’ll forward it to you. Yeah. No, just calm down, and I’ll handle it. I’ll call ya once I have a copy of the contract. Okay, thanks.” Carly Jo hangs the phone up, then pinches the bridge of her nose before stalkin’ to the counter to fill her coffee cup. She turns back to the desk, and places a cup of coffee on the desk in front of me.

  “Mornin’, Colton. Noticed you were in a little early this mornin’. Everything okay?”

  “Mornin’, darlin’,” I reply with a wink and a smooth smirk. “Yeah, everything is fine. Just like to have a look in on the night crew from time to time. What was that about?” I ask, noddin’ toward the phone.

  “How was Thanksgiving in the Smokies?”

  “Great, stop avoidin’ my question. What was that about?”

  “Just random company shit. How’s Heidi Jo?”

  “She’s fine. Why are you bein’ so damn evasive?” I know she’s hidin’ somethin’. What would she be doin’ on the phone with my old man, talkin’ ‘bout company contracts?

  “What makes you think I’m being evasive? I don’t have to tell you every damn dilemma that the company faces.” Carly Jo scoffs.

  “You know that if we’re walkin’ into a shit storm, you need to give me a heads up, right?” I ask, as concerned as I possibly can sound. Her eyes turn cold as she shoots daggers the short distance across the desk at me.

  “Colton, don’t sit there with your damn sexy ass smirk and friggin’ condescendin’ tone. That has nothing to do with you. I’ve got it all under control. If I need to inform you any damn thing, I will.”

  “Fine, just don’t want you takin’ all of this on, all on your own. It can be overwhelmin’. That’s all.” I reply, swirlin’ my finger in the air.

  “And what the hell is ‘this’, Colton?” She replies, mimickin’ me with her finger twirlin’ in the air.

  “Whatever the hell you’re hidin! I’m your Superintendent. You ain’t been on the damn job for more than three damn months. All I’m sayin’ is think about things before you try to be a damn hero.”

  “Be the hero for what exactly? I’m Carly Jo Simon, the damn CEO of this frickin’ company, and I’ll be damned if I will let anyone threaten that. I’m workin’ my ass off to run this damn empire as smoothly as Daddy did. If you don’t like the way I run things, friggin’ hit the bricks.” She shouts, her face flame red with heat.

  “Whoa. Back it up. What are you talkin’ about? I come in here to see you, because I missed you. I haven’t seen you since Wednesday, and if you’ll remember correctly, we’re supposed to be workin’ on us.” I exhale a deep frustrated growl, and her eyes twist into slits. “Whatever I walked into has you more than stressed, it has you friggin’ terrified. I can’t help ya darlin’ unless you stop the bitchin’, and once again, let me the hell in.” My growl is fiercer than I intend, but seein’ Carly Jo obviously addled by somethin’, pisses me the hell off. I hate to raise my voice to her, but she needs to reel it the hell in, and calm her sweet ass down.

  She looks up at me with wide fearful eyes, as she chews on the bottom of her lip. A clear sign that she’s upset with somethin’ more than our small argument. Moments pass, and not a word is exchange. I crack my knuckles against the palms of my hands, then stand up to leave. I turn toward the door, and just as I grab the handle, she speaks up. I hesitate, and listen to her whispery words. “Sales. They’re bad, and thanks to Drew Varney, they may possibly get worse.”

  Chapter 25

  Carly Jo

  The first day back to the mines after Thanksgiving, and I’m immediately faced with a shit storm blowing hard enough, we’ll smell it for weeks. As soon as I come in, Shelly tells me that Bill Weston is on the line, and that it’s urgent. It takes me about five minutes to calm the frantic and highly pissed Bill. After he has stopped screaming, he explains that he needs a copy of the contract between Dalton Trucking Company and Simon Energy.

  Bill and Daddy signed these contracts over twenty years ago and never looked back upon the written terms. They weren’t ever concerned with the legalities of their agreement. They had a verbal agreement that they stood in partnership, a unity, working together until one of the companies falter, meaning when coal supply dries up or a company bankrupts.

  When Daddy died, Bill got a new co-partner in Dalton Trucking, Drew Varney. AKA-jackass of the year, AKA-my long lost brother. From what I understand, Drew is taking advantage of those terms and his new partnership with Dalton Trucking. He is trying to force Bill’s hand to signing a new exclusive contract to only haul coal for American Heritage Coal Company.

  The contract between Simon Energy and Dalton Trucking is still very much viable, because both companies are striving. Losing Dalton Trucking’s business could truly hurt our coal sales. Sales are slow enough now, but if we lose the contract with Dalton Trucking, that’s fifteen trucks that won’t be making daily hauls of coal out of our mines. We have contracts with other companies, even the railroad, but losing fifteen coal trucks ain’t negotiable.

  Bill is in fits, because he understands the damage that this could do, if he breaches contract with Simon Energy. He also would like nothing more than to wiggle out of the one partnership with Drew Varney, let alone diggin’ himself into another. I don’t blame him. Drew is a conniving bastard who can’t be trusted. Drew Varney, is just like his daddy…Big John Simon. Daddy did everything for his own personal gain, in his business life and personal life, and with each turn of the page, I see deeper into his twisted web of lies. The more I see, the more my love for my daddy turns to hate.

  Colton comes into my office just as I am ending the call with Bill. As soon as he hears his dad’s name slide off of my tongue, his interest peaks. He has been worrying a lot about Bill’s business with Drew.

  The few times that I’ve been there when Bill comes in from work, he’s always distressed and upset from his day at work. Business owners eat stress daily, but should never carry the burden of stress from the hands of their partner. Partners in any relationship are supposed to work together. And from the way Bill talks, Drew fights him on every damn thing. Daddy was a bastard, but he and Bill were friends, and even when they didn’t see eye to eye on a matter, they always worked the matter out quickly.

  But filling Colton in on the details of Drew’s plans to screw Simon Energy over, is not my story to tell. I don’t know the specifics, all I know is that Bill is obviously upset over the plans that Drew hopes to set forth.


  Colton can get pissy all he wants, he’ll get over it.

  As soon as he’s done with his little sissy tantrum, I pick up the phone and call James McCoy. Alisa makes no delay in forwarding my call to James. I inform him that I need a hard copy of all of Simon Energy’s company contracts sent over by a courier, as well as sent to my email by the end of business today. James agrees, and disconnects immediately.

  I don’t full-heartedly trust James, so I call downstairs to the filing department to see if we have another copy of the contract in house. Daddy always kept important documents like that in this office, so why they aren’t here now is beyond me, but I can’t find any of our company contracts.

  Finally after battling with this since I stepped foot through the door, I can exhale. The office is quiet, the phones have stopped ringing, and Colton Weston has finally given up and has left me alone. Finally. I have just a slither of peace. I rest my head back against the cool leather chair, pinching the bridge of my nose, trying to push away the migraine that threatens to attack at any given moment. Colton has every reason to be concerned for the way I’m operating the company because I doubt myself. Don’t get me wrong, although sales aren’t steady, productivity is booming at all five mines, we have set the record with safety this quarter. I’ve ran Daddy’s coal company for three months, and have managed not to send his damn empire up in flames.

  My heart is a tangled mess of emotions and I don’t know which way is up. When I was in Myrtle Beach, I had the strength each day to crawl out of bed, and press forward, because I had blocked the heartache of my past from my mind, and was determined to live, happily. But now, all of the stress of running this mines, learning all of Daddy’s secrets, and having Colton Weston breathing his hot, sultry breath down my neck at every chance, leaves me feeling overwhelmed. I hate the feeling of doubt that has stained my confidence.

  Everything changed when I came home to Kentucky. I feel like I’m drowning. I am totally out of my element here. I have half the mind to leave work tonight, and drive straight to Myrtle Beach, never looking back. Leave Simon Energy behind for someone else to battle with.

  Damn, I’ll never be rid of my daddy’s control. Even from the grave, I realize there hasn’t been a moment in my life that he hasn’t had his foul claws dug deep into my life. It disgusts me that someone that I loved and trusted without question, could be so manipulative and corrupt. But that was my daddy. That’s Big John Simon.

  A knock on the door interrupts my self-loathing so I inhale a deep cleansing breath, and invite the visitor in. Shelly steps inside and informs me that McCoy Law Offices had called, and no contracts could be found. Surprising, right. I tell her to stay in contact with Natalie, in the filing department to see if any copies of the contracts are found. Shelly agrees, asking if I need anything else before leaving my office. I turn my attention back to the filing cabinets, and begin going through each file with a fine tooth comb.

  After twenty minutes into my search, my office door swings open, then slams, rattling the pictures on the walls. Glancing over my shoulder, I see that it is Colton. His face is red, and full of anger. He stops in front of my desk, and shoots daggers down at me as he runs his fingers through his hair in frustration.

  “I know Emily Weston well enough to know that she taught you your manners. So please, tell me why you feel the need to piss me off further by invading my privacy and just walking the hell on in, without knockin’?” I toss at him, without even looking his way. I’m too engrossed in finding this damn contract.

  “You still can’t find the damn contract either?” He spits at me, his tongue sliced in anger. I glance up at him, raising my eye brow in question. He knows, without even hearing my words, what the look on my face is expressing.

  “Yeah, I called my old man. He told me what was goin’ on. What the hell was so damn hard with you tellin’ me yourself, is beyond me, but you can fill me in on that shit when I’m done here, darlin’. Dad’s copy of the contract is missin’ too. I know what that bastard Drew Varney is tryin’ to do, Carly Jo. It makes sense, he’s a smart son of a bitch. Kinda reminds me of the same business sense Big John had. But regardless, we gotta find the contract. Drew is puttin’ some real heat on my old man to breach the contract with Simon Energy. Pops is torn, Carly Jo. He don’t know what to do.” Colton says, dropping down in the chair in front of the desk. He palms his face, and lets out a grunted rumble from deep within his chest. His face is red with heat. Tension mares all over Colton’s body, as he cracks his knuckles, flexes his shoulders, and rolls his neck from left to right. I’ve seen Colton like this. Colton is fighting mad and I’m willing to bet that if he got his hands on Drew right now, he’d strangle the breath from his putrid, filthy body. Drew Varney, come on down!

  I walk around the desk, and sit on the edge, right in front of Colton, so that I have his undivided attention. The moment I’m within close contact he looks up at me, the anger still deep in his dark eyes. No matter how hard I try to distance myself from Colton, and keep my heart beneath the steel cage it’s encased in, there is no denying the affect we have on each other. Our bodies are like magnets, pulling each other closer together at every contact.

  “Colton, Drew Varney is dangerous. I don’t know what to do in this situation, but he needs eliminated from Dalton Trucking and our lives for good.”

  “Dangerous? What the hell do you mean? I thought you didn’t know Drew Varney?”

  Shit. How to cover my tracks after that epic screw up. I bite down on my lip, and think for a second, but before I can say anything, Colton speaks up again.

  “Baby, your hidin’ something. You’re bitin’ that damn lip, which is a tell-tell sign that you’re nervous. Just what exactly is it? And don’t lie to me, because I always figure you out.”

  “I’ve researched him. Your dad said I need to know who my competitors are, so I looked into him. He’s not the perfect frat boy he’s put off to be.” I don’t lie, but I don’t tell the full truth either.

  Colton stares at me with questioning eyes for a beat. “Like what, how dangerous?”

  “Look at his track record as CEO, Colton. Look at the MSHA violations, the safety issues, and injuries his miners have sustained. It’s all in black and white. Public Record, all ya gotta do is Google him,” I reply, shrugging my shoulders.

  “I’ve been here since four a.m.. Night shift was shit, and I’m done with this day. I’m gonna take off, I’ll talk to Dad when he gets in tonight, and see what else is goin’ on.”

  “Wait, what happened with night shift?”

  “Nothin’ happened, I’m just tired from bein’ here half the damn night and all damn mornin’.”

  He stands tall before me, tucking my hair behind my ear. Trailing his fingers softly down my cheek, he looks longingly into my eyes, before giving me his signature wink and smirk.

  “Call me if ya need anything, darlin’.” He whispers, kissing my forehead.

  My breath hitches at his close contact and the very essence of his scent. Inhaling deeply, I try to breathe him in, before his scent is lost in the air. Colton turns on his feet, and stomps heavily out my office.

  Chapter 26

  After shredding apart every filing cabinet in my office, I still can’t locate the Simon Energy/Dalton Trucking Contract. The walls of my office are slowly closing in on me, trapping me into a slow asphyxiating death. Before my mind cracks any further, I grab my things, and take off for the day. I leave strict instructions with Shelly that I’m to be called the moment the contract is found, and nobody is to enter my office under any circumstances. I’m leaving files scattered about in a mess, and I don’t need any more sticky fingers misplacing important documents.

  It’s just after three o’clock when I leave, and since the day has been so hectic, I decide to swing by The Village Diner to pick up a quick dinner. From there, I plan to go home, strip these filthy soot covered clothes from my body and climb into a hot bubble bath, where my Kindle and my latest book boyfriend will
be waiting for me.

  Pulling into the diner, I hurry inside to place my order. I take a seat at the bar and wait for the grill master to throw together my greasy bacon cheeseburger, and salty fries. Oh, don’t forget that slice of peanut butter fudge cheesecake, cause we know I ain’t coming to The Village without indulging in a slice of that pure sin. Besides, I’ve had a long day, and they remove the calories in all of their food here at The Village.

  I’m listening to the soft song filtering through the sound system when I feel a steel hand lay upon my shoulder. Startled by the electrifying pulse that surges through me, I jump at the contact. Whipping my head to my right, I see Luke, with that melts my panties right off my ass smile of his. Obviously peanut butter fudge cheesecake ain’t the only pure sin in The Village Diner today.

  “What’cha so jumpy for, doll face?”

  “Didn’t expect to see you here. I didn’t see your bike in the lot.”

  “So you were lookin’ for my bike, huh?”

  Rolling my eyes, I huff at him loudly and say, “Honey, don’t you wish.”

  “Hell yeah I do.” Luke says moving in closer to me. I can feel his heat from my toes to the top of my head. I feel like I’m literally burning from the bottom up.

  “Awfully cocky now ain’t ya?”

  Luke chuckles softly at my comment, but his stature never falters. He stands with confidence, inching in closer and closer by the second. “Not cocky beauts, just confident.” He replies, then sits down on the barstool next to me.

  “Do you just randomly hang out here?” I snarl at him.

  “Sometimes. Do you just randomly skip work to come get peanut butter fudge cheesecake?”

  Rolling my eyes yet again, damn, everything is getting under my skin today. I may need to just barricade myself in my house and let no one in until I calm my tattered nerves. Ya know, take no hostages. If that’s the case I’m sure as hell gonna need more than just a slice of pie. Can I get a whole pie to go please?