Christmas in a Small Town

by Kristina Knight

  Thom’s explanation of the benefits didn’t make Levi feel any better about the tourism plan than the last time the man had brought it up, at a town meeting in October. At the time, the bass nationals had just officially signed a contract to host a major fishing tournament here next spring. But the other businesses seemed to like the trail idea. Of course, most of them wouldn’t have annoying tourists tossing empty water bottles and candy wrappers in their fields.

  The rail trail would cut across a large section of Walters Ranch, and with the winding nature of the old tracks in that area, he’d have about five miles of trail to clean up every day. He’d have to hire someone to patrol it or take time out of his day to deal with the rubbish.

  The mayor handed a thick stack of manila envelopes to Calvin Harris, who took one and passed the rest on.

  “The town council has taken the liberty of creating the easement contracts. You can read through them, sign and return the packets at next week’s council meeting,” he said.

  The stack of envelopes made it to Levi, who took one and passed the rest to Collin across the aisle. “Taken the liberty,” Levi grumbled under his breath. “Because this section of the trail could just as easily follow the highway and not inconvenience any of us and you know it.” Of course, then the Slippery Rock section wouldn’t be a rail trail at all. It would be a highway trail. Not what the state wanted, and probably not what hikers or bikers wanted, either.

  It would definitely make things easier for ranchers like him, though.

  No one overheard Levi’s grumbling, which was just as well. He didn’t want to start some kind of town feud—he just didn’t want random people wandering across his land all summer.

  “Are there any questions?” Thom asked, waiting barely a second before continuing. “No? Then we’ll see everyone at the town meeting next week. Don’t forget, our first grandstand holiday concert is Saturday night. We’ve got several area bands lined up, and Savannah Walters has landed an amazing act for our New Year’s Eve concert—the band Backroad Anthem will be with us.”

  Everyone clapped. Levi shot a look at his sister, sitting between Collin and Aiden, who was beaming. She’d met the members of Backroad Anthem when she entered a talent contest a couple of years before and had started on the same label as the band before leaving Nashville for good.

  With the meeting over, everyone stood and began talking about the plans. Thom made his way to Levi and clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m sure the town can count on your support for this project, son.”

  “I still think we’d have more control over the trail if it followed the highway. It wouldn’t be as disruptive to those of us with working ranches, and it would be easier for the sheriff’s deputies and emergency squads to respond to accidents that way, too.”

  “But we’d lose the scenic nature of the trail, and the rail trail feel,” Thom pointed out.

  “I think it’s a great idea,” said the last voice Levi expected to join the conversation. Camden continued, “The Katy Trail near Kansas City follows old railroad tracks, and it’s a great addition to those areas. Thousands of people hike and bike it, nearly year-round.”

  “Exactly my point. We don’t have time to clean up after thousands of tourists.”

  “So you’ll post signs to pack out everything that’s packed in and provide trash cans at the trailheads.”

  Her answer was too reasonable for Levi. As if he hadn’t considered that people would pick up after themselves. The only problem with that was he’d been a professional football player, and before that had played at a big-time college. He’d seen cleanup crews walking the stands for hours after a ball game, picking up everything from empty beer bottles to partially eaten hot dogs. People didn’t clean up after themselves.

  “I think Levi has a point,” Calvin put in, joining them. He held Bonita’s hand in his, the familiar gesture one of Levi’s favorite things about the couple. “The last thing an active dog school needs is tourists disrupting training sessions.”

  “Nonsense, you don’t even use that area of our property. The runs are far enough away that the dogs won’t notice a thing,” Bonita added.

  “Doesn’t affect the orchard, and added tourism would be nice in the summer. It could mean more customers at the farmer’s market,” Collin put in.

  “More people browsing the storefront Jenny is planning on opening after we finish renovating the empty building next to Buchanan’s,” Adam put in, and Aiden nodded in agreement.

  “More tourists means more traffic to all our stores. More people thinking about getting married at the lake,” Julia added.

  Levi frowned. More people sampling the organic products from his dairy. Only he didn’t want to think about the positives when the big negative would mean time taken out of his plans so he could police the trail for trash. Although he could probably hire a couple of high school kids to make a trash run every few days during the busy season.

  For that matter, wouldn’t there be some kind of grounds crew making sure the trail was free of weeds and in good shape for hikers, runners and bikers? That would include trash pickup.

  “It will mean an extra patrol or two for the department, but we already patrol the area around the tracks to make sure teenagers aren’t having wild parties out in the boonies. A trail might keep some of them from getting into trouble out there, actually,” James added, the “sheriff” addition to his badge somehow making his words sound more official.

  Well, his friends were just no help at all. Hell, maybe he was being persnickety, as Mama Hazel liked to say. Making a big deal out of something that would really only be a minor inconvenience.

  “Local service groups would probably join in the cleanup every few weeks,” Camden added. “I did a bikeathon on the Katy Trail a couple of years ago, and it was pristine. People loved it.”

  Of course she had. The former Missouri Miss had probably donned a bikini or an evening gown for her bike ride through the wilderness on her quest for world peace.

  And that wasn’t fair at all.

  Thom was asking Camden questions about the bikeathon event. Getting even more ideas, no doubt. Levi tuned them out, forming his own argument against the trail, which he’d never really wanted but had never truly objected to, either. Not until tonight, and he didn’t care to consider why that was. His objections to the trail were one thing.

  The bigger problem was that Camden was too adorable. Standing there all earnest and enticing in jeans, a flannel shirt and a puffer vest. Clothes that were as ordinary in Slippery Rock as apples from Tyler Orchard. The rain boots weren’t ordinary. This pair had neon flowers emblazoned on them and should look more suited to a toddler than an adult. Damn it, those boots should not make his heart beat faster in his chest. For that matter, all those enticing curves he’d been dreaming about since seeing her at the Slope that first time were completely covered in flannel and denim—not the most seductive of fabrics. Although the denim was definitely curved in all the right places. And that vest was fitted to her slender torso, showing off the rest of her to perfection.

  And, damn it, he was not getting all hot and bothered by Camden Harris in a vest, jeans and a ridiculous pair of rain boots. The second ridiculous pair of rain boots he’d seen her wear. He was annoyed at a proposed bike trail that was going to cause him a lot of extra work. He was not excited that Camden was still in town more than a week after her arrival. He was definitely not thrilled at the prospect that she was staying, or that Calvin was talking about reopening the dog school he’d been ready to sell only a few weeks ago. Camden and her dog-training plans could throw a definite wrench in his plans to expand the dairy. That was another thing to be annoyed about.

  Annoyed at the trail.

  Annoyed Camden could muck up his business plans.

  Not attracted to the woman who was running away from her problems.

&n
bsp; “They can love that other trail all they want. This is Slippery Rock, and when the town council agreed to them damming the river to create the lake all those years ago, they wanted the area to remain as undeveloped as possible. One marina, no condo developments. They wanted to keep Slippery Rock the same small town it’s always been.”

  Several pairs of eyes swiveled to him, all confused about his newfound objections to a trail that was a potential tourism boon to their little town. Levi straightened his shoulders, ready to defend the position he wasn’t even sure he wanted to champion. What the hell was wrong with him lately?

  Daydreaming about Camden and that stupid kiss. Thinking about Camden wearing nothing but those silly rain boots. Making multiple trips to check on the old dairy cows, a herd that was getting lazy and fat and had shown no interest in trying to escape their new home. He was losing it, and for what? A woman who had sad eyes and probably a long, self-indulgent story? He needed to get his eye back on the ball: his dairy, his plans, building a strong business that would create jobs for the people in his community.

  “No one is talking about turning Slippery Rock into the kind of vacation rental–strewn place that Branson is,” Thom objected. “We’re talking seasonal tourism, something that will benefit all of us.”

  Before Levi could offer up another argument against the trail that he wasn’t positive he didn’t want, the door to the hall opened and closed, and Camden’s eyes grew as wide as quarters. She blinked, as if she couldn’t believe what she saw. Levi turned to see a tall clean-shaven man wearing khakis and a blue-checked button-down shirt and an open leather jacket. He had blond hair, cut short. Levi had never seen him before.

  “Grant?” Camden said, pushing out of their group.

  “Camden, sweetheart.” The man reached for her hands, but Camden pulled back from him. The ex? The one who didn’t know the kind of ring his woman wanted to wear? Levi studied the stranger. Slicked-back hair. Perfectly pressed trousers. Manicured hands. He leaned in to Camden, as if he might kiss her, but she wrinkled her brow, pulling away from him.

  Definitely the ex.

  The man looked...like exactly the kind of man a beauty queen would marry. But seeing Camden next to him was wrong. Levi couldn’t picture her, not even the wedding gown–wearing version of her, with whoever this guy was. The rain-booted, flannel-wearing version fit even less.

  “What are you doing here?” she hissed at him. Then she looked back toward their group, grabbed Grant’s arm and dragged him toward the door, out of earshot.

  Levi watched her for a long moment, animatedly waving her hands as she spoke. It was the most lively he’d seen Camden since she arrived back in town. Well, aside from the moment she flailed around with him on the dock, but that wasn’t the same.

  “...and if you really have these concerns, raising them during the meeting would have been better than talking behind the council’s back,” Thom said, drawing Levi’s attention back to the people he’d grown up with and the town mayor. A man who was only guilty of trying to improve Slippery Rock. A goal Levi shared, although his plans included more jobs and less tourism. He was being an ass about the trail, and it had more to do with Camden’s enthusiasm for the project than the project itself.

  Which was just plain dumb. What was arguing with Camden about something he was going to do anyway going to accomplish?

  Levi waved his hand. “I’m in the minority, and I’ve never been one to stand in the way of progress.”

  Satisfied with the answer, Thom nodded to the group. Calvin and Bonita were watching Camden and the ex carefully.

  “Going to the Slope?” Collin asked. “Savannah and Mara are already there, holding the table.”

  “You mean they’re sweet-talking Merle into breaking out the blender for margaritas,” Julia said with a laugh. “They’re convinced they can make him see the benefits of mixed drinks. I’m not so sure. But I’m in.”

  “I go where she goes,” Aiden said, grinning when Julia elbowed him.

  “I’ll call Jenny’s dad, see if he’s up for watching the boys so Jenny can come by for a bit,” Adam said, already dialing his cell phone. His service dog padded along behind Adam as he strode from the room. Levi hadn’t noticed the dog, which he supposed was normal. Sheba was part of the gang now, part of Adam, although his friend had not had a seizure in nearly two months.

  Levi nodded. “Sure, I’ve got nowhere to be,” he said, but he couldn’t take his gaze off Camden.

  Calvin and Bonita bypassed them on their way out of the building, waving at their granddaughter as they passed. Camden crossed her arms over her chest, shutting out whatever the ex was saying, just as she’d shut Levi out that day at the barn. Before he had kissed her.

  Collin slapped Levi on the shoulder. “See you in a few,” he said.

  “Yeah.” Levi offered a half wave, his focus across the room. He shook himself and looked around.

  Thom and a few council members were across the room, stacking envelopes as they talked, probably about construction dates. James, Aiden and Julia had left. Calvin and Bonita were nowhere to be seen. Levi’s parents watched him from the doorway.

  He crossed to them, but part of him was still focused on Camden and the man she argued with in the corner. “We’re meeting up at the Slope, if you want to stop in for a drink.”

  “I’m missing NCIS, and you know how I love my Gibbs,” Mama Hazel said. “But we’ll leave the light on for you and Savannah.”

  “She’ll probably be staying at Collin’s. And I’ve been moved into the new house for weeks now.”

  “Still, we’ll leave it on.” Mama Hazel patted his face, her walnut-colored skin nearly identical to his, her brown eyes with a hint more amber at the iris.

  His father eyed the woman across the room. “You sure you know what you’re doing there, son?” he asked, his deep baritone seeming to boom across the room. No one else seemed to notice, though, which was odd.

  “I’m just going to the Slope.”

  “Yeah,” Bennett said. He put his big hand at the small of Mama’s back, leading her from the meeting room. “See you in the morning,” he said.

  There was no one left to talk with. Nothing holding him back from heading to the Slope to shoot darts with his buddies. Levi looked across the room.

  Camden pointed a finger at her ex, still annoyed about something. His being here? His taking more than a week to get here? Levi had no idea. Not his problem.

  He pushed the door open and glanced back one more time before leaving the room. It was none of his business, and he shouldn’t care.

  So why did he?

  * * *

  “SWEETHEART, I KNOW. I embarrassed you at the rehearsal dinner with that speech,” Grant said placatingly.

  Camden held back an eye roll. While his rehearsal dinner speech had had very little to do with her, it was small potatoes compared to her finding him with Heather in the closet down the hall from the bridal suite minutes before their wedding.

  Grant was still talking, but Camden had no desire to listen or to even be in his presence.

  “I don’t give a fig about your speech at the rehearsal dinner. I care about the fact that you’ve been sleeping with my supposed best friend. For how long, Grant? A month before the wedding? Two?” Grant looked uncomfortable. “Three? Six?” His spray-tanned complexion reddened. “Since before you proposed?”

  “Camden, it didn’t mean anything. Heather and I dated for a while in college, when you were at Mizzou and we were both at KU—”

  “You said it was just a flirtation before.”

  “Flirtation usually leads somewhere. In our case, it led to sex.”

  “So this has been going on for more than five years?”

  “Having sex with Heather doesn’t mean I don’t want to marry you.”

  Actually,
she was pretty sure it did. Especially the way he’d gone about that last encounter. In a closet or not, he’d been inside their wedding venue, where servers and planners and guests and their parents and the bridal party were rambling about.

  Camden sighed. “Why didn’t you just propose to her instead of me?”

  Grant blinked. “Because your father is on a partnership track with my father’s firm, and hers is a cardiovascular surgeon.”

  Something clutched in Camden’s chest. Not hurt, not entirely. Not betrayal, although the bile at the back of her throat tasted like it. Not sadness. She’d realized several weeks before finding him in the closet that she didn’t love Grant. But at the time she’d looked to her mother and stepfather for inspiration. They had made a marriage of common interests work, and it had never seemed like such a big deal. It had, in fact, seemed so much more safe than to wait for the kind of love she’d seen between her biological parents.

  The kind of love that sent her mother whirling into a months-long depression and then severing every tie that reminded her of the man who’d had the audacity to be killed in a drunk-driving accident.

  She poked at the emotion she didn’t want to name. There should be a word that encompassed sadness and betrayal and relief and anger all at the same time. Not miserable, though—she was too relieved to have gotten away from the mistake she might have made to be miserable. If there was such a word, it would be something like sangerbelief, maybe.

  “Don’t be mad,” he said, and the placating tone was back in his voice.

  “I’m not mad. I’m not even all that sad. I’m relieved that I walked out before I made the biggest mistake of my life.”

  Camden looked past Grant to the nearly empty meeting hall. Her grandparents were probably waiting outside. God, she was going to have to tell them everything at this point. What would they think of her? Camden closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, she saw the mayor standing near the front door, looking everywhere except in their direction. She needed to get Grant out of here. Out of the hall and out of Slippery Rock entirely. He didn’t belong here, and she didn’t want him here. A lick of the anger she’d been trying not to feel heated in her belly.