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And as far as Nate knew, they’d added more men to their ranks. The five of them, Nate included, had formed a camaraderie that Nate missed powerfully every time he thought of his friends.
He did have Spencer now, and Nick, and a few other cowboys that lived in the house with him. He had Connor, and Ginger, and Emma. And his family, though he didn’t get to see them much.
He let Dallas talk about River Bay, and how nothing much had changed. “Oh, except guess who just took over your job in the office?” he asked.
“Who?” Nate asked.
“Josiah Manuel.”
All sound ceased as Nate absorbed that information. “You’re kidding.”
“I wish. And he’s strutting around now like he’s wearing the Manager’s uniform or something. He’s headed for a big fall.”
“I didn’t realize he had so much sway.” Nate hadn’t really either, but Josiah held a ton of tickets, and he’d almost been moved up a level of security because he loved to start fights.
“He doesn’t,” Dallas said. “Greg just wants him where he can keep an eye on him, because one of our wings is going through a remodel.”
“Ah, I see.” Nate wondered if he’d been in the office for a reason like that, but he dismissed the idea quickly. A beep sounded on the line, which meant that Dallas had one minute left on his call. So they said their goodbyes, and Nate hung up.
He moved to the edge of the bird blind and looked down the road, still finding it empty. He looked up into the clear sky, the hot sun burning straight through him. Frustration built inside him at his situation, so Nate decided to make one more phone call before he went back to the more populated areas of the ranch.
Sam Wiseman picked up his personal line after only one ring with the words, “Hello, Nathaniel. What can I do for you?”
“I need another withdrawal,” Nate said. “In the same amount as last time. Same envelope too, if possible.”
“It’s possible,” Sam said crisply. “I can have that ready for you for this afternoon.”
Nate started thinking about possibilities, and he asked, “Can you deliver it to someone for me?” He couldn’t imagine detailing how to put the money in a locker at the mall, not to Sam.
“No, sir,” Sam said. “We can’t do that.”
“Can I pick it up tomorrow?”
“Absolutely. The counter is open from ten until two. I’m not in on weekends.”
“How would I get it?” Nate asked.
“I’ll put it in your safety deposit box, if that works for you?”
“That works,” Nate said. He wasn’t sure how he’d carry the briefcase around the mall, disappear, and come back without it. He needed a new bag, one that would conceal the envelope and that he could carry with him reasonably. Did men carry backpacks around the mall?
He shook his head at this situation. He hated it. He just wanted to give Oscar his money and be done with it. But Oscar refused to take more than nine thousand dollars at a time, and for the twenty-six thousand dollars Nate owed Oscar, that required three drops.
Tomorrow would only be the second, which meant Nate had to go through this again.
His phone rang, and when he looked at the screen, he found Ginger’s name on the screen. “Hey, sweetheart,” he said.
“Hey,” she said. “You still out at the bird blinds?”
“It’s good to hear your voice.”
Ginger gave him a light laugh, and that made him smile. He wanted to confide in her, but he didn’t know how. She probably felt the same way about telling him about her ex-boyfriend.
A guy like him.
“And yes,” he added. “I’m out at the bird blinds. Done, but I can’t bear the thought of walking back in this heat.”
“I have good news for you then,” she said. “I’m about five minutes away, and the air conditioner in this truck works really well.”
