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

“For the money. Needed a job that paid more than minimum wage.”


“Yeah, it ain’t paid for yet.” No use telling these guys I’m trying to pay my way through another year of college. They’d pro’bly laugh their asses off and gang up to make my life hell. It’s going to be hard enough to fit in, if I’m reading this right. Well, nobody’s tried to kick my ass—not yet, anyway.


The next morning, Roane met the foreman. Flannery didn’t impress him much more in the rising sun than he had the night before. He came waddling over, a scowl on his puffy, blotched face. “New hire?”


“Yep. Roane Wellman. The hiring agent told me to report to you when I got here, but it was after quittin’ time when I drove in last night.” No use letting on I saw he was drunk or stoned or whatever.


Chapter 5