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“Okay. Let me know about the money as soon as you can.”
Ellen promised she would and, relieved to have the conversation behind her, disconnected. While she’d been talking, another text had come in. This one was from Ben, but it wasn’t about meeting her this morning.
We’ve been working six days a week for the past two and a half years, ever since you hired me.
She didn’t know how to respond. Was he asking for the day off?Are you saying you’d rather not work today?
I’m wondering if you think I’ve been doing a good job.
Why would he be asking her this right now? Couldn’t they talk about it while they were drilling? They’d have plenty of time for conversation.Yes, I do. I’ve told you that before. I’m grateful for your help.
I’m happy to hear it, because Hendrix Durrant just made me an offer I might not be able to refuse.
Ellen’s blood ran cold. Hendrix had approached Ben? “Please say it isn’t true,” she whispered. She’d thought he might go after her future drilling jobs, but she’d never dreamed he’d try to steal her only employee.When?
Last night.
What’d you tell him?
I haven’t told him anything yet.
Which meant he might be open to staying. But it would cost her.
The chair scraped the floor with a squeal as she stood. “Shit!” she yelled. There went any hope of being able to save up for her pump puller.
Three
As soon as they finished drilling and set the pump, Ellen let Ben go home, which meant she couldn’t install the pressure tank today. If she were stronger, she might be able to maneuver it into place in the Slemboskis’ garage, but it was heavy and awkward and there was no way she could do it by herself. She’d have Ben help her on Monday. Then she could wire up the control box. She’d wanted to push through; it’d been hard for her to quit when they were so close. But it was already four o’clock, and she knew Ben wouldn’t react kindly to being asked to stay late. He’d been too eager to go celebrate their new deal.
She’d needed a break from him after negotiating with him, anyway. She fully believed there’d be months when he’d be making more than she was—at least until she could pay off her equipment or increase the number of wells she was drilling, neither of which was guaranteed. She was disappointed he’d driven such a hard bargain. She’d told him she didn’t think she’d have enough money to keep the business afloat if she had to give him such a big raise. She definitely wouldn’t if her mother kept bugging her for money. But he had a better offer in hand, and that had given her very little bargaining power. He wanted to make as much as possible. Anyone would. It was Hendrix who was to blame for what’d happened.
At least she’d ultimately talked Ben into staying on. She should probably hire someone else and train him or her as soon as possible. But if she brought in another employee, it would be all too easy for Ben to guess she was planning to replace him now that he was demanding so much. He’d leave at that point, anyway.
There wasn’t a good answer. For the next month, she’d just have to limp by and see how things went. She had too many wells scheduled now that spring was almost here. Too bad it was impossible to drill alone. She wished she could, but it required at least two people.
Moving the rig would also have to wait until Monday, but she handled the derrick to get it ready and was hooking the trailer containing the rest of the casing up to her truck when she saw an expensive Ford pickup with a double-cab and dual tires come trundling down the drive. She would’ve assumed it was a visitor for the Slemboskis. After all, she was at their house. But even though the sun was glinting off the front windshield and she couldn’t see the driver, she recognized the truck.
Straightening, she watched warily as her father parked, got out and came toward her.
They’d always avoided each other—looked the other way if their eyes ever met at town events like the Christmas-tree lighting ceremony or the Fourth of July fireworks, circumvented each other if they happened to pass in the street, left a restaurant, grocery store or gas station if they arrived to find the other one there. This was the first time he’d ever purposely approached her since she’d moved to town, and it caused a flood of unexpected emotions. All the hurt, anger and betrayal she’d felt as a kid came welling up, along with fresh anger over what Hendrix had done in trying to steal Ben from her last night.
“What doyouwant?” she asked as soon as he got close.
“I think... Maybe it’s time we talked,” he replied.
She removed her leather gloves. “About your attempt to steal my driller?”
His eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”
“Hendrix offered my driller way more than I’m paying him to come work for you. What’s going on? After being here all these years, you can’t get your own employees?”
He opened his mouth, closed it again and cleared his throat.
Stepping closer, she poured all the malevolence she was feeling into her voice, mostly to mask emotions she hadn’t been able to stamp out even after all the years she’d told herself she hated this man. “So is that what you came here to talk about?”
With a sigh, he stared down at the dirt. Then he kicked a small pebble a few feet. “No, never mind,” he said. “I’ll leave you alone.”
Ellen watched him go, both angry at herself for not giving him a chance to say what he’d come to say, and proud of herself for managing to conceal the terrible longing he evoked whenever she thought of him or encountered him. Her life could’ve been so different, so much easier.Hewas the one who’d had the power to make it that way. He could’ve loved her and protected her like other fathers loved and protected their daughters.
