Looking For You All My Life Part 69

planting both palms on the edge of her desk. "Why don't you

just do everyone in Pine Mountain a great big favor and move

on now. I think we've all had enough of your kind of help."

He spat out that word. "Putting up your silly little lampposts

and park benches isn't going to save this town from financial

ruin. We're ready for some real development, and it looks to Looking for You AllMy Life109

me as if you and this one-sided newspaper are the only obsta-

cles standing in our way at the moment."

"You're right about one thing, Greg, this town does want

and need development. And for your information, so do I.

But I believe the majority of people want good development,

and not at the expense-"

"You don't know this town as well as you think you do.

You haven't been here long enough to understand our ways

or our history-you're the newcomer here and I, for one, am

pretty certain you've worn out your welcome! And not that

you're even invited, but I happen to be having an important

meeting this weekend for those local businessmen who are

ready for growth and development in Pine Mountain-folks

who will stand behind me for the sake of our town. But

maybe you should send Out a reporter-not that you guys

will ever get your stories straight-but because the people of

Pine Mountain have a right to know the truth!"

She sank back into her chair as he stormed out of her

office. Lambasted by his words, she felt unsure of anything

at the moment other than the fact that he might have missed

his calling! The way he could confuse the issues and turn the

tables on his opponents, he really should've become a lawyer

or maybe even a politician. Not that all lawyers and politi-

cians were like him, but Greg could've made some of the

worst of them look pretty decent.

"Are you okay, honey?" asked Abigail after the front

door slammed loudly.

"Just peachy." Maggie forced a smirkish smile to her

face.

"Don't you worry about a single word he said," soothed

Abigail.

"That's right," agreed Scott, also poking his head in the

doorway. "I couldn't help but overhear his bl.u.s.tering, and

most of what he said was nothing but blatant lies."

"And what wasn't an out-and-out lie was completely

twisted anyway," added Abigail.

Maggie closed her eyes and exhaled slowly.

110Melody Carlson

"Want me to cover that meeting for you?" offered Scott.

She briefly considered this tempting offer, and then sadly

shook her head. "No, but thanks anyway. You've got the

Ebbert story to work on, Scott. Unfortunately, TS Develop-

ment is my baby."

"And what a spoiled rotten baby it is!" exclaimed Abi-