Looking For You All My Life Part 161

certainly didn't make any secret of it to me, and obviously,

251.

252Melody Carlson

they know that my job is to print the news here. All they

really said was that they'd discovered enough evidence to put

a temporary halt to any more construction in the area in

question until they can reach a final conclusion in their study,

but at least this will slow the development boys down a little.

And, as I mentioned in my article, the holidays are a good

time for them to take a break anyway. No big deal, really."

Scott laughed. "Sure, no big deal, but maybe I should

start packing a gun to the office just in case old Greg Snider

should decide to come in here and vent a little frustration."

Maggie made a face at him. "Gee, that's a pleasant

thought, Scotty. Any more Christmas cheer you'd like to

spread around?"

"Just trying to be practical is all."

"Speaking of practical..." She glanced out the window as

the big flakes quickly acc.u.mulated on the steps of the porch

outside. "With the opening of the ski resort looking quite

possible, I wonder if I shouldn't hold back on printing a

couple of those especially irate letters that I selected for this

week's editorial page. And maybe we should shelve that local

Ibusinessowners pet.i.tion story. Some of those people might

be feeling a little more optimistic and positive right now."

"But then again," said Abigail thoughtfully, "It just might

prove to be a good reminder to folks that moods around here

can change at the drop of a snowflake. People need to

remember in times like these that a little bit of patience can

go a long, long way."

"That's a good point." Maggie thought specifically of

Kate and Buckie's recent display. WQuld they still be so hard

on her if they suddenly had traffic flowing through the Blue

Moose as a result of this long-awaited snowfall? "I guess it's

situations like this that show you who your fair-weather

friends are."

By noon there was nearly two inches on the ground, and

it was still coming down steadily. Maggie walked happily to

the deli, eager for a hot bowl of soup. It was busier than

usual with local businessowners already celebrating what Looking for You All My Life253

looked to be a turn in the road for everyone. Maggie sat

alone eating her soup, pretending to read her mail as she lis-

tened to s.n.a.t.c.hes of~conversation.

"Cindy at the hotel says she's already booked every single

room for this upcoming weekend..."

"My brother called from Portland this morning saying he

heard on the radio that our resort will be one of the first to

open in this area."

"And what with Christmas vacation starting this week,

we should be crawling with tourists in the next day or