Looking For You All My Life Part 139

fair wage since it was his idea, but that's all I'm offering. He

can take it or leave it."

"That's more than I expected," said Gavin. "I'd like to

continue selling advertising for the paper too-I think I'll

have time for both. It's good for me to keep busy... keeps me

out of trouble." He smiled.

"But how will you do it?" asked Maggie. "Do you know

anything about developing properties of this kind?"

"Well, as you may recall, I spent a couple years down in

Arizona. Not that I learned so much while I was there, but

my old buddy Stan Williams turned out to be one of the

finest developers around. You can go down and see his

places for yourself if you don't believe me. Or just do the

research on the Net; this guy's been written up in some pretty

prestigious magazines for his creativity and style. To tell you

the truth, I used to be seriously jealous of all his success, Looking for You All My Life217

thinking if I'd only stuck it out with him just a little

longer..." Gavin shook his head. "But I probably would've

just dragged him down in the long run. Anyway, I'm glad

he's where he is now. And he's a really good guy-nothing

like that Cohn Byers you wrote about in last week's paper."

"Do you think your friend would have the time, or even

the inclination, to do something like this?" asked Maggie.

"We must look like pretty small potatoes to someone like

him."

Gavin smiled. "I already called him to sound him Out. I

didn't want to get everyone's hopes up for no good reason.

As soon as I mentioned that Cohn Byers was involved, Stan

grew very interested. Apparently, he's well aware of this

creep's reputation. He said Byers is the kind of developer

who gives the rest of them a bad name. Stan wants to check

us out because of Byers. I've invited him to come out at his

convenience." He frowned. "Now, if only we had some

snow to offer. Stan mentioned he'd like to bring his wife and

kids up here for a ski weekend sometime after the New Year

and asked if I could work out the details for him. No

problem getting rooms here in the hotel, but I don't know

what to do about the lack of snow."

"Maybe we should get that Michael fellow to praying

again," said Clyde with a smile.

"Maybe we should all do some praying," added Maggie

quietly. Then she turned back to Gavin. "Well, this is the best

news I've heard in weeks. I hope everything works out. Is

there anything I can do to help?"

They talked extensively about all the possibilities and

Maggie teinporarily forgot about her concern over Jed's ear-

lier presumptions about Gavin, but by the time they left, Jed

and Leah's table was vacant and wiped clean. It figured, she

thought, as the three of them stepped out the door. "I have

more good news, Maggie," announced Gavin. "I found a