Roane Wellman only intends to work one summer on railroad maintenance to pay for his next semester of college after his party-guy ways made his grandfather to stop supporting his schooling. In a summer of hard work, adventure, and danger, he matures and finds a new course for his life. Before the season ends, he knows he’s meant to be workin’ on the railroad as he fights to build a career and a partnership that just might last for the rest of his life.<br><br>Alden Prescott is a loner, content to operate his big crane and shrug off the added responsibilities of being a gang foreman. His current foreman, however, is a drunkard and so close to worthless that Alden ends up doing a lot of the functions he has tried to avoid. Although Alden’s strongly drawn to the handsome new summer hire, memories of a past tragedy make him afraid to pursue the relationship.<br><br>What will it take to convince Alden that Roane is not going to let him repeat past mistakes? Is their budding relationship heading for a train wreck, or is it the perfect connection to take them down life’s track together?

Workin' on the Railroad

A short train consisting of one locomotive with a half dozen gondolas and a flatcar stood on the other side of the parking area. A bunch of men scrambled off the flatcar and headed toward the line of bunk cars. A few glanced curiously at Roane, but none of them said anything to him.


Then a new but badly dinged-up red pickup came roaring in, fishtailed in the gravel, and slid to a halt near the end car in the row. A short, corpulent man got out, stumbling as his feet hit the ground. He grabbed the side of the bed and held on for a few seconds before reeling off toward the last camp car in the row. A couple of young Latino guys got out on the other side and hurried after him.


Chapter 3