Read Online Calvin’s Cowboy by Drew Hunt - Free Book Online

were selling their house, and that he’d been given the contract to fix up the place before it went on the market.
    “You’ll still be able to come to the game on Friday, won’t you?”
    Brock hoped Calvin would understand if he took the day off, or maybe it’d be better to wait until the following week before starting. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Champ.”
    “Thanks. Glad you’ve got some work.”
    Brock had kept most of his financial worries to himself, but Junior was a smart kid, and knew they weren’t in the best financial shape. Thank God Mary Anne’s folks had agreed to pay for Junior’s camp this year.
    “We’ll be okay, you an’ me. We’re a team.” Brock crushed the now empty can in his free hand and tossed it in the overflowing trashcan.
    “Love you, Dad.”
    “Love you, too, Champ.”
    * * * *
    Before Brock knew it, it was 4pm. He hadn’t managed to gather all the figures he wanted from the trade catalogs. There was nothing for it; he’d have to go online to check the rest. When he’d been in high school there were precious few computers, and the Internet hadn’t existed. Junior had shown Brock the basics, and although he’d forgotten much of what his son had taught him, Brock was reasonably sure he could get the information he needed without too much difficulty. The only trouble was Junior had taken his laptop to camp with him, so Brock had to go to the library to use theirs.
    “At least they’ll have air conditioning,” Brock said, going in search of a T-shirt.
    * * * *
    The library did have air conditioning, but unfortunately it wasn’t working.
    “Oh, John,” Miss Aldridge, the elderly librarian twittered when he entered. “It’s you.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Brock said, taking off his old black Stetson. He hadn’t been able to find his Resistol when leaving the house.
    Fanning herself with a magazine, she said, “Our air has stopped working. Do you think you could take a look at it?”
    “Well, I’m not sure.” Brock looked up at the wall vent, thinking of possible law suits if he did something wrong. He had fixed window AC units, but he didn’t know squat about central air.
    Miss Aldridge had been his English teacher in high school and now, Brock assumed, to try and keep active, volunteered at the library.   Looking at her lined and wrinkled face Brock mused that she must be at least eighty now.
    “Oh, dear.” She looked disappointedly at him.
    Brock shuffled his feet. “Have you called the air-conditioning company?”
    “Yes, but they said they couldn’t send anyone until tomorrow afternoon, at the earliest.”
    Brock sighed. He’d never been able to say ‘no’ to this woman, something he knew she was counting on. “I guess I could take a look, but I can’t promise I’ll be able to fix it.”
    Her old face lit up. “Oh, thank you, John, That’s very kind of you. You’ve grown up so much since high school.”
    Brock winced. Trust Miss Aldridge to be able to issue a compliment and a rebuke in the same statement.
    As he was led in back, Miss Aldridge said, “I understand you’re helping Calvin Hamilton renovate his family’s house.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Brock had long ago ceased to marvel at how quickly news traveled in the town.
    “That’s good of you. Especially as you two were not exactly friends years ago.”
    “No, ma’am.” Brock tried to keep his face neutral.
    “Well, here we are,” she said, opening a nondescript door. “I’m sure I don’t know what has happened. We’re always so careful with it, just setting the controls like the man showed us.” Always prim and starched, Miss Aldridge looked as though the heat was getting to her.
    “You go back and take a seat, Miss Aldridge, and I’ll see what I can find out in here.”
    “I will, but first I must check to see if those books—” She wandered off, still talking to herself.
    Brock shook his head before turning the light on in the tiny equipment room. He stared at the