Read Online Payoff Pitch (Philadelphia Patriots) by V.K. Sykes - Free Book Online

an eye.
    “Oh, crap. I thought Joe had more sense,” she said.
    Her father sighed. “But it’s hard to blame him, right? I know he looks at the gas royalties as security for his mother’s old age. God knows they don’t make that much from the farm anymore.”
    Despite her disappointment, Teddy had to acknowledge the pressures that people like the Hendersons faced. Dairy farming could provide a solid income if you had a big enough herd, not a lot of debt, and you knew what you were doing. But there were a lot of small farms in Susquehanna and neighboring counties that didn’t score high on those scales. The Quinn farm probably fell somewhere in the middle of the pack from an economic viability standpoint. With his herd of sixty Holsteins and all his years of experience, Dad scratched out a decent living. But he hadn’t saved much money in the process and, like most every farmer, was only one disaster away from financial calamity.
    The truth was, the Henderson farm had been marginal even before Joe’s father died. Could she really blame the son for looking at the up-front money from the lease—and the royalties that would soon enough line his pockets—and saying hallelujah for shale gas and fracking?
    “No, they don’t,” she agreed. “But I guess they don’t put much of a price on the environment, do they?” She mentally winced, knowing how sanctimonious that sounded.
    “Not as much as we do, anyway,” her father said wearily.
    Dad wasn’t a leader of any of the anti-drilling groups that had sprung up, but he played his part in the fight against the blitzkrieg of hydraulic fracturing that the gas companies had inflicted on the region. Most importantly, he steadfastly refused to lease his farm’s drilling rights despite the nagging and sometimes belligerent pressure coming from his son.
    Teddy adored him for his courage, his commitment, and for just being her dad.
    “How’s your business going?” he said when she didn’t say anything more. “You don’t talk about it much.”
    Although her brain continued to buzz over the lousy news about the Hendersons, she injected a smile into her voice. “Great, Dad. Just great.” A stretch, but Dad needed it. “I managed to snag an important new client today. You’ve probably heard of him because he plays for the Philadelphia Patriots.”
    “Well,” her father said in a deep, drawn-out voice. That single word in that particular tone was what he almost always uttered when he encountered an unexpected pleasure.
    “His name’s Noah Cade.”
    “Hah! Really? Cade was one of the best pitchers in the game until he blew out his arm last season. He hasn’t pitched a regular season game since, though it looks like that’ll change any day now.”
    Teddy remembered Noah saying he’d hurt his arm but had no idea he’d suffered such a serious injury. “Blew out? What’s that mean?”
    “He tore his ulnar collateral ligament. When that happens, a pitcher has to undergo what they call Tommy John reconstructive surgery. It’s named after the first pitcher to have it, back in the days when it was experimental. It’s not such a big deal anymore, and pitchers can usually resume their careers after about a year of rehab.”
    “Usually?” Teddy said, suddenly concerned for Noah and, truth be told, for the future of her deal with him. “So, there’s a chance he might not make it back?”
    “Well, from what I’ve read and heard, there’s been some disappointment with his performance so far. But apparently the Patriots are going to give him a start on the weekend.”
    That eased Teddy’s anxiety a little. “I’m sure it takes time, not just to recover fully but to get your groove back. I don’t suppose that’s the right expression, though, is it?”
    “Sounds about right to me.” Then her father’s tone suddenly turned more serious. “I don’t know exactly how to say this, Teddy, but Cade’s got a bit of a reputation—as a ladies’ man, as your grandma