The long black limousine was impossible to miss. Brad’s Jeep was parked next to it with Manley’s gaudy red Cadillac convertible on the other side. She parked as far away as possible on the other side of the lot.
The luncheon meeting was also easy to find. With the dining room humming with the peak of noonday business, the men sat around the huge table in the center of the adjacent meeting room. Manley, Trimble, and several other local businessmen situated down one side and both ends, with three seriously overdressed men on the far side of the table. The tall man in the center seemed to be holding court.
On the way up, Hattie thought about what she wanted to say. Now she hesitated, not sure it was smart to embarrass Brad and Chuck in front of strangers. She made her way to a table near the door where she could quietly eavesdrop on them.
Though she couldn’t hear everything, it was clear the tall stranger controlled the meeting. When he spoke in a deep rumbling voice, she heard prosperity and an economic boom forecast for Leadburg. It was no doubt Wilson’s top dog doing the forecasting.
After a bit, she concentrated on Brad’s posture. He was giving polite attention, but his face was masked with that inscrutable facial expression which always vexed her. She couldn’t help noting he looked temptingly handsome in his plaid shirt and khaki pants.
Her impression from the previous day lingered in her mind. He’d changed in subtle ways that had escaped her attention. Tanned, well-muscled forearms showed from the shirt’s short sleeves. And there were the beginnings of mature character lines on the well-tanned face. That inscrutable handsome face…she wrenched her gaze away.
Why he was involved with these people if he wasn’t part of their scheme to grab her father’s land. No, not Harry’s land. It’s my land now, and my choice, too. Brad knows that very well ,or if he doesn’t, he soon will.
After the waitress came back for a third time, Hattie ordered soup and iced tea. She had no appetite but it was lunchtime in the busiest restaurant in the county. The least she could do was pay for taking up space.
Meanwhile, she could decide how to handle Brad and Chuck. Once the men were served, tallboy’s monologue subsided. There was a general air of excitement among the locals as they stuffed their faces. It almost made her laugh to see them being fattened for the kill. Didn’t they know what would happen to their businesses when Wilson and his minions came to town?
Brad listened attentively to Goodnow’s enthusiastic description of what he could do for their community. And, he had to admit much of what the man said made sense. At least in the overall sense of prosperity, it did.
He glanced around the table at the affirmative expressions on the faces of his fellow townsmen, wondering how many of them would end up working for Wilson.
What about Ben Cline? His family owned the town’s only pharmacy for decades. They knew each of their clients personally and could be counted on in any emergency. How could Ben’s little drug store compete with a giant who would only discount prices enough to drive out competition?
And there was Joe Phillips, who ran the little service station and tire store the same way since before discount stores were invented. Could he hope to compete with the proposed new store’s prices? Probably not.
His thoughts turned to Hattie’s store. The sole survivor of a long line of retail dinosaurs, it was based on small single sales, but needed lots of them to operate in the black. He shook his head at the food chain mentality. It would end up being another fish gobbled up by an even larger fish.
By the time the meeting broke up, Hattie decided it would be smarter for her to keep silent for now. She didn’t want Manley to know she was on to his little game. As for Brad, she couldn’t wait to get that character alone again.
Giving me that song and dance about my father and how much he’d meant to him! She winced at the image of Henry turning in his grave. Oh, well. I can be thankful I’ve learned what the jerk is like before too late.
It occurred to her that Brad might spot her car in the parking lot. She raced to the register and dropped a bill on the counter, twice the amount of her tab, but she didn’t want a face to face confrontation with the others looking on. Halfway out the door a voice called out. A familiar baritone voice.
“Hey, Hattie. Hold on. I didn’t know you were having lunch up here.”
She glared. “Well, that’s another in a long list of things you don’t know, Brad.”
“I’m sorry.” He winced at her sharp words. “Guess I should learn to mind my own business. Anyway, it’s nice to see you. And thanks for confirming your ad.”
Her expression was anything but warm and friendly when she replied, “Yeah, whatever. Well, did you and your cronies have a good meeting in there?”
“My cronies? What do you mean?”
“Don’t try to fool me. I saw you and Manley in there with those goons. All those other so-called civic leaders, too. And to think you almost made me believe you wanted to help me decide what’s best for our town.”
“Hattie...”
She shot out the door and ran to her car. By the time Brad was outside, she’d lurched onto the highway in front of a van whose brakes squealed with their effort to avoid a collision.
Manley nodded toward the road. “Did I miss somethin’?”
“Nope.” Brad scowled. “Just another local proving that we need to give them more driver training before turning them loose on the unsuspecting public."
He trotted quickly to his Jeep. He wanted to ask Hattie what was stuck in her craw, but he knew her well enough to know it would be hours before she settled down. Better to let her get it out of her system first. He allowed a nostalgic grin. Her Hattitude!
Hattie was waiting when Brad parked at the Express. One foot was on the ground, the other still in the Jeep when she charged up to him. “I want you to explain one thing, Brad Trimble! Just how long have you been in bed with those rats?”
“What rats? At least make sense if you’re going to embarrass me in public.”
“The rats you just had lunch with. Looked to me like a meeting of the town council with those goons.”
“Those goons, as you call them, are spokesmen for Wilbur Wilson.”
“I know very well who they are! I had a visit from our honorable mayor this morning. When I came over to tell you what I think they’re up to, you were already with them. So, I guess I don’t really need to tell you anything, do I?”
“Chuck Manley talked to you this morning?”
“Yes.”
“Well then, why weren’t you there with the rest of us?”
“That’s something you’ll have to ask your friend the mayor. But I think I can give you a hint. How many women were at the meeting?”
“None. But wha...” Brad stopped when he realized where she was going with this. “I don’t think it has anything to do with you being a female.”
“Hah! You men are all alike. Why not say, ‘I don’t think’? That should cover it.”
His eyes flared in anger. “Look, lady, I might agree with your assumption, except for one thing. There’s only one woman who manages any kind of business in Leadburg, and I’m looking at her. What other women do you think they should have invited?”
She swallowed the incendiary words that were poised to pin him to the wall. He was right. She was the only woman business owner in town.
Hattie reconsidered her position as her gaze locked with his. “I guess you could be right. I am the only one. But why didn’t the mayor ask me to come up and meet those guys when he talked to me?”
“I don’t know, but you can bet I’m going to ask him the next time I see him. You should have been with us for this.”
Her face had flushed bright red. Brad remembered the girl from years ago. His girl. The most vivid recollection was with her face afire, just like now. And those bright blue eyes dancing with energy.
She said, “Well, I wasn’t. Are you going to tell me about it?”
“Sure. I’ll tell you. But what did Manley want with you today?”
“Oh, he just came by to tell me Wilson has fallen in love with my property and wants to purchase it.”
“Down here on the square?”
“No, goofball. I thought you were smart. My property on the heights, where I’m going to build my new store.”
“New store? Then you are going through with it?”
“I was. This may change things.”
“Can you tell me exactly what Chuck said?”
“Sure. They’re prepared to offer me much more than the lot is worth. I’ll be rich, to hear him tell it.”
“I see. And then he came to invite me to a meeting of civic leaders to have a lot of hot air blown up our kilts. I don’t think I’d trust any of them any further than I could throw them.”
“The two of us agree on that score.”
“Come on inside. Let’s sit down and talk it out. You’ll no doubt be getting a lot of pressure to sell now.”
“No kidding!”
Sheila glanced at Brad, then at Hattie, but said nothing as they stomped through. After closing the office door, he offered Hattie a chair and sat behind his huge desk.
“What made you decide to go ahead and build?”
“Dad’s dream. He was sure it would be good for the town. He’d never have spent the money for that land without researching it thoroughly. Whatever else I am, I am a McCall. The last of the McCalls, you could say.”
“Not necessarily the last.”
“Oh, yes, I am the last. I’m the only living McCall, and I’ve decided that romance is out for me. Too many unknowns.”
“By unknowns, do you mean too many hurts?”
“That too. No more reckless chances for this little girl.”
“On that subject we agree. Love bites.”
“I didn’t realize you talked that way, Brad.”
“I usually don’t.”
She remembered the classmate he’d made such a fuss over after she refused to go to the senior prom with him. “What about that girl in school? The way you fussed over her, I thought you two were a match made in heaven.”
“You mean Julie Evans?”
“I guess that was her name. How do you two get along?”
“We don’t. I haven’t seen Julie since a month after high school graduation. We never were really serious.”
“You could have fooled me. Half the school, too.” Not wanting the conversation to veer the way it was, she changed the subject. “I told Manley I’d give them my answer on Friday.”
“Three days? That’s not very long to figure out what game they’re playing.”
“No, it’s not. But I’m tired of losing sleep over all of this. I really do want to do the right thing, though it may not matter much if Wilson’s coming to town. Mostly, I just want it to be over.”
Brad’s mind refused to leave the subject of romance, though he was glad to be past the reminder of the mistake he’d once made. The huge mistake. Her sapphire eyes were dull. Surely the vibrant little fireball had more fight in her? But, even if she did, it obviously wouldn’t be wasted on him.
“From the looks of it, I’d say you’ll get your wish. This could be the week things’ ll pop.”
The door opened and Sheila stuck her head inside. “Sorry to interrupt y’all, Brad, but Joel wants to know if you’re goin’ to need him to stay ‘round.”
“What?” He turned to Sheila. “Oh, yeah. I guess so. I still have to write my editorial so he can set it up.”
He swung back to Hattie. “Do you mind if we talk again later? I hate to be rude, but I need Joel to help me or else we’ll be late with this week’s edition.”
“No problem. You know where I’ll be. For a few days.”
“Hey, Tigger, don’t wimp out. We’re not done yet.”
It was the first time in years he’d used that nickname from her unsuccessful attempt to be a cheerleader. Because of her height, she’d instead become the Leadburg Tigers’ first, and last, mascot. She’d worn the tiger costume her mom made proudly, even after Brad labeled her as the famous Pooh cartoon character. She gave him a flicker of a smile and headed for the door.
Sheila watched her leave. “Anything hap’nin’ I should know about, Brad?”
“Nope. Hattie’s trying to make a business decision. I was helping her sort it out.”
“Oh. Well, I’ll go on and tell Joel to stay.”
“Why don’t you ask him to take a break for an hour? That should give me time to write something up.”
After Sheila shut the door, he returned to his chair. The look on Hattie’s face haunted him. It was clear she was about to give up, which meant she’d probably move away. Whatever else he might want, it wasn’t that. Besides, he’d given his word to Harry. Somehow, he had to win her over, difficult as that might be. He turned his attention to the blank pad and began to write.
* * *
Henrietta left the Express in total confusion. She’d been so sure Brad was in cahoots with Manley and itching to verbally tear him to shreds. His ability to convince her otherwise left no target for her pent-up wrath.
The frustration was overwhelming as she drove back to the Mercantile and parked. Glancing up at the old building, for the first time ever, the irregular rows of missing bricks claimed her attention. Although it wasn’t a structural factor, their absence did signify the building needed attention.
Funny how things can change so quickly. This morning I was prepared to get a full evaluation of the building and now I see how utterly irrelevant that would be.
Instead of going inside, she remained in the car considering her options. If she sold the land to Wilson, he’d be a force she couldn’t compete with. On the other hand, if she held on to the land, there was the dilemma of spending a small fortune to refurbish this relic, or to build new. In either case, Wilson would build nearby and eventually put her out of business.
In itself, that should have been enough to keep her in a tizzy. But her mind was drawn back to Brad. His burned in her memory—eyes that said more than his lips ever revealed.
Usually unfathomable, there’d been such clarity in those hazel windows to his soul. He was interested in her problem for sure, but it was more than that.
Does he still have feelings for me? What about the kiss?
She’d been shaken by his confession the girl who’d replaced her years ago wasn’t a serious relationship. All these years she’d assumed Brad found in Julie whatever it was Henrietta had lacked. Maybe he really was still interested in her. Maybe that was why...
Come on, girl. Snap out of it. You have a job to do. You can’t be thinking about romance. You need to be in control of your life. Especially now. And what a person wants, what any person wants, is to be in control.
Control? What a laugh!
She focused on the Mercantile again. Any fool could see she was certainly in control here. Gerald and Shirley would be totally lost without her expert guidance. And she’d really shown cheesy Chuck who was in charge.
Her thoughts turned to her forsaken career in education. No wonder she’d become a teacher. The classroom was a perfect place for a control freak. There, at least, she was mistress of her own destiny. Maybe that was where she truly belonged.
Harry, on the other hand, always seemed like the captain of a large ship the way he ran his store.
His store.
Maybe that was it. It was still Harry’s store, and perhaps always would be. It would never truly be hers.
In that case, she should take advantage of the opportunity and get clear of the whole mess, Brad included.