Bluegrass Undercover (Bluegrass Brothers)

overwhelmed. He had just started getting the hang of being the offensive coordinator, but to take over the whole team…he wasn’t ready for this.
    “You’ll do great,” Will said.
    Cade looked at his friend and thought he actually meant it. “I guess I have a lot of work to do this weekend.” Cade sat back down in his chair and stared at his lesson plans. He now had to finish his lesson plans and figure out a coaching strategy by Monday.
    “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. Call if you have any problems.” Will gave him a thump on the back and headed out the door.
    Cade pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose and sighed. This was a hell of a year to start out as a coach. The whole offensive line was empty because of graduation. The quarterback Austin Colby was good but lazy, and the only wide receiver worth mentioning was Ryan Hall, and he was a freshman! At least he had senior Trey Everett at running back. The defense was small, but they had Corey Bonner coming off an all-state season as linebacker.
    To make matters worse, spring practice had been a nightmare. It was like the whole team, except Trey, quit. They were lazy and acted as if they didn’t care. This was definitely a rebuilding year.
    “Come on, Justin. Let’s get home for dinner. It’s going to be a very long night.” Cade stood up, packed up his folders, and grabbed the team’s playbook. Justin jumped up at the mention of food and trotted out of the room ahead of Cade.
    Cade dug into the pocket of his jeans for the keys to unlock the doors to his Highlander SUV. Justin leaped into the front seat and pressed his black nose to the window. His pink tongue hung out as the hot sun warmed him up.
    “Is your dog wearing a bow in his hair?” Cade turned and saw Principal Margaret Lopez standing behind him, staring at Justin with a goofy little grin on her face.
    “The groomer put it in. He can’t see without it. His hair falls into his eyes.”
    “Well, maybe next time ask for another color besides pink. Poor boy, he looks embarrassed.”
    Cade agreed. Justin did seem embarrassed by the tiny pink bow on top of his head. He kept pawing at it and even growled at himself when he saw it in the mirror. “Well, let me be the first to congratulate you, Coach,” Margaret said as she patted him on the back. “I know you’ll do a great job.”
    “I hope so, even though it’s a rebuilding year.” Might as well make sure everyone knows not to expect miracles.
    Keeneston wasn’t known as a football powerhouse. It was better known as a rifle club powerhouse. While everyone bled blue for the University of Kentucky basketball and football teams, they just didn’t have the population to support a strong program in those major sports at the high school level. Even though they weren’t a power house, he hated to disappoint his town. They may not be the best, but they definitely had the most hometown pride. People closed businesses for big games, parades were given for Homecoming, and most of the town showed up to support “their boys” at the football games.
    “Will warned me about that. The town will support you, especially with your knowledge and talent. All the kids love you. You just take good care of those boys a nd do the best you can. Well, I’m off to Bluegrass Airport to pick up our new guidance counselor. I am so glad we finally got that position filled. I was afraid I was going to have to ask you to do it!” she joked.
    “Where is the new counselor coming from?”
    “Miami. Has a great resume and references. Gosh knows I haven’t found anyone I liked so far. She’s on a one year probation, and then we’ll offer her tenure track if she works out.”
    “Good. I hope she does. See you Monday for orientation and football camp. Are you planning on giving your normal talk to the team before practice?”
    “Yes. But then the new counselor will be coming and getting smaller groups of freshmen throughout the day as their names are called for the smaller orientation groups. If that’s okay?”
    “Of course it is. See you then.”
    Cade jumped into the car and rolled the window down for Justin, who enjoyed the wind blowing back his hair as they drove down the country road surrounded by rolling hills, black fences, and hungry cows. It was going to be a very long weekend, and he needed to get home fast to finish up those plans and then pretend he knew what it meant to be a head coach.
     
    Annie walked off the plane and into a small,