Looking For You All My Life Part 21

is money."

"I see. And how long before this project is completed?"

"Well, phase one should be well under way soon-that

means we hope to have sewer, water, streets, and utilities

installed this winter. Then actual housing construction will

start in early spring. But our a.s.sociate developer will begin

promoting and selling lots immediately. Any of your rich

California friends interested in a vacation home?"

She ignored that and continued to question him about lot

sizes, selling prices, amenities, and any other information

that might pertain to those interested in investing in the

development. And with congeniality, he carefully answered

each question. Then finally she glanced up from her notes

and looked him straight in the eye. "And where, may I ask,

will Mr. Westerly reside once the bulldozers start tearing up

his farm?"

Rick pulled his head back and scowled darkly. "Well, that

wouldn't be my problem, now would it?"

"But you've led him to believe that he can continue living

there-"

38Melody Carlson

"I don't know where he got that fool notion. His house

will be the first thing to go down."

Maggie could stand it no longer. She felt her nostrils flare

as she snapped off the recorder and rose to her feet. "I think

that's more than enough for my article, Rick!" She moved

quickly to the front door, holding it wide open and nodding

as if she had suddenly gone mute.

Once on the porch, Rick turned to her and said, "You

better not make us look bad in your paper, Maggie. This

development has the potential to help this whole sorry town

get back on its feet. I don't think the local businesses will take

it kindly if you do anything to discourage growth and devel-

opment of this kind." Then he grinned slyly. "And anyway,

we all know that you and the paper are pro-development-

you made that real clear last summer. You wouldn't change

your stance now, would you?"

She pressed her lips tightly together and, without

answering, solidly slammed the door almost in his face. She

knew it was childish and rude, but she couldn't help herself.

"I've got everything I need now," she said out loud as she

marched back into her office and flipped on her computer

switch, waiting irritably for the machine to warm up. Then

she furiously began writing her story, pounding on the key-

board as if it were personally responsible for this whole hor-

rible affair. Only after nearly an hour did she pause long

enough to phone home and let Audrey know that she'd been

sidetracked at the office. By the time she finished her piece

and was on her way home, she knew that it was one of the

finest stories she'd ever written-full of pa.s.sion and heat and