“Yeah. Know anything about that?”
“Hell, no, do you?”
“Hell, no.”
Reede went to a cabinet where he kept a supply of liquor and beer. He poured himself a hefty shot of Jack Daniel’s and tossed it down. He tilted the bottle toward Angus. “Want one?”
“Sure, thanks.” As he sipped the whiskey, he watched Reede slam back another one.
Catching Angus’s curious stare, he said, “It’s been that kind of day.”
“Alex?”
Reede ran his hands through his hair like a man plagued by demons. “Yeah. Damn, she’s tenacious.”
“There’s no telling what kind of crap Merle Graham filled her head with.”
“No wonder she’s vengeful.” He blew out a breath of extreme agitation. “If ME doesn’t get that racetrack, all my future plans will be affected.”
“It’s that important to you, huh?”
“What did you think, that I want to be a fucking sheriff for the rest of my life?”
“You worry too much, boy!” Angus said heartily. “We’ll get it, and your future looks nothing but sunny. That’s what I came out here to talk about.”
Reede regarded him curiously. “My future?”
Angus finished his whiskey in one hefty swallow and crushed the paper cup in his fist. He pushed his cowboy hat back further on his head and looked up at Reede, smiling devilishly.
“I want you to come back and be an active part of Minton Enterprises again.”
For a moment, Reede was rendered speechless by shock. He fell back a step, laughed, and said, “Are you shittin’ me?”
“Nope.” Angus raised a callused hand. “Before you say anything, hear me out.”
He had already outlined in his mind what he was going to say. After receiving disturbing calls from two worried members of the racing commission who had read about Alex’s investigation in the Austin newspaper, he’d decided he’d better get more aggressive about putting a stop to it. This thing wasn’t going to blow over, like he’d originally hoped.
The long-distance conversations had ended on an optimistic note. He’d pooh-poohed Alex’s allegations, told them a few dirty jokes, and had them laughing by the time they hung up. He wasn’t gravely concerned yet, but he definitely saw the need for ME to present a solid front. Having Reede as an integral part of the corporation again would be a positive step in that direction.
Now, his rehearsed words flowed smoothly. “You know almost as much as I do about racehorses, and more than Junior ever took the time or effort to learn. You’d come back into the company as an executive. I’d divide responsibilities equally between you and Junior, though you’d have different functions.
“I know how much this airfield means to you. You’ve got a sentimental attachment to it, but you also see its moneymaking potential. So do I. I’d incorporate it into ME. The corporation could afford to finance the rebuilding and expansion you want to do. We’d also have a lot more clout with the airlines.”
His smile broadened. “Shit, I’d even throw in a few shares of ME stock as incentive. You can’t pass up a deal like that, boy.”
He was disappointed in Reede’s reaction, which he had hoped would be astonishment tinged with pleasure. Instead, it appeared to be astonishment tinged with suspicion.
“What brought this on?”
A picture of equanimity, Angus said, “You belong with us—always have. I’m in a position to get things moving for you. You’d be foolish not to take advantage of my offer.”
“I’m not a boy who still needs your charity, Angus.”
“I never considered you a charity case.”
“I know that,” Reede said evenly, “but no matter how we dress it up with fancy words, that’s what I was.” He peered deeply into the older man’s eyes. “Don’t think I’m not grateful for everything you’ve done for me.”
“I never asked you for gratitude. You always did an honest day’s work for anything I sent your way.”