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

They all sought places in the limited shade, mostly on the north side of the flatcar or the two other cars holding ties and shorter rail lengths, and settled down with lunchboxes and water jugs. Roane sat with Willie and Jack, having finally reached a casual friendship with them. The group didn’t talk a lot, concentrating on eating and grabbing a few minutes of rest from the morning’s work with more to come.


Everyone’s heads swiveled when two strange pickups and an SUV, all with government license plates, pulled up and parked to one side. Several men got out, including one who unloaded a sleek tan dog with black points from a crate in the back of the SUV.


Chapter 18