by Merry Farmer
Scott chuckled, taking a seat in the surprisingly comfortable chair on the other side of Howie’s desk. “I’ve noticed that about this place.” At least, he’d noticed how one particular Haskellian was ready to defend her family and their land to the death.
“Makes for a strong bond in times when things go wrong.” Howie leaned back in his own leather office chair, steepling his hands. “When the Great Depression hit in the 1930s, the whole town banded together to make sure that no one went hungry and everyone kept roofs above their heads. And a lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to keep this last recession from hitting folks here that hard.” He touched a finger to his nose, a mischievous spark in his eyes.
Scott grinned, wondering if Haskellians knew how good they had it. Not every town in America had a wealthy and kind-hearted patron willing to take care of everyone when times got hard. In fact, he didn’t think that any other town in America, or maybe even the world, was in the unique position that Haskell was.
“Actually, that’s part of why I’ve brought you here today,” Howie went on. “I’ve heard loads about this house you’re planning to build out on the Flint ranch. Tell me about it.”
Scott’s brow inched up. He shrugged. “What do you want to know? It’s going to be a self-sustaining, green, log cabin design. It’ll be entirely off-grid. Power will be generated by solar panels and a windmill. I’ve got plans to dig a well and put in a septic tank. Overall, the impact on the environment will be minimal, the cost of utilities will be negligible, and the space itself will be comfortable and attractive.”
“Excellent.” Howie leaned forward and rapped his knuckles on the top of his desk. “And I can see you’re passionate about the project too.”
“It’s been a dream of mine for about ten years, since I saw how little people were able to live with on my tour of duty in Kuwait.”
“Yes, I remember reading in your file that you’d served in the army.”
Scott shrugged. “It was a blessedly unremarkable tour. I spent most of it behind a desk, far from any truly dangerous areas. But I did get a chance to see that a lot of what we think we need stateside isn’t really essential. I vowed when I came back that I would try to live as simple and efficient of a life as possible.”
“Young man, that is highly admirable.” Howard smiled. “And that’s exactly what I want you to talk about at Haskell’s city council meeting next week.”
“City council?” Scott sat straighter, adjusting his posture. “You want me to speak to the city council?”
“I absolutely do.”
“About my house-building plans?”
“Exactly. I think you’re on to something,” Howie went on. “I’d like to see more green construction and innovative home energy initiatives.”
Scott’s lips twitched. “Won’t that hurt the town’s bottom line when it comes to utility income?”
“Not enough for it to concern me overmuch. And I’m sure some of the more remote ranches would love to hear more about consolidating their resources.” He leaned back in his chair as if he’d won an argument. “Yes, I think a presentation about these building plans of yours will draw quite a crowd.”
“But you said it was for the city council meeting,” Scott said.
“Of course.” Howard shrugged. “All council meetings are open to the public and always have been. How else are citizens supposed to stay on top of their elected officials and keep them in line?”
Howie’s grin was so wide that Scott laughed and shook his head. “I’m a long way from L.A.,” he joked. “But believe me, I’m glad for that.”
“Good.” Howie stood. As he came around the side of his desk, Scott stood to meet him. “And I’ll do my best to make sure that you stick around for the long-haul. That’s what these mixers I’ve been planning are all about—introducing townsfolk and employees, doing a little match-making, growing our family.” He winked and slapped Scott on the back.
Scott instantly thought of Casey, her indomitable spirit, her cheeks pink with cold and determination as they walked around downtown Haskell, her fiery brown eyes. He wouldn’t mind doing more mixing with her.
Before he could say anything, Howie went on with, “I’ve got a great idea for a spring mixer. Orienteering.”
Scott blinked right out of his thoughts of Casey. “Orienteering? Isn’t that where you blindfold people and drop them off in the middle of the wilderness, and they have to use survival skills to find their way home?”
“Yes, that’s it exactly.” Howie grinned as if he’d just described a pre-school Easter egg hunt. “We’d have a few training sessions before the actual event, of course. I’ve already been in contact with officials up in the Shoshone National Forest who have a few ideas of their own.”
“Isn’t it kind of rough and remote up there?”
“It sure is.” Howie beamed. “Imagine the potential for folks making connections when they’re dropped into the forest in couples, forced to combine their mettle, fuse their wits, and help each other through grueling physical and mental challenges.”
Scott could hardly believe what he was hearing. It sounded way over-the-top. Of course, it also sounded like a once-in-a-lifetime chance for awesomeness. “As long as people are in groups and have GPS devices so we know where they are, and means of calling for help if they need it.”
“We’ll have all of that and more. Everything will be carefully monitored. I’m thinking of announcing it and posting sign-ups, here and around the town, as soon as I get a few other details worked out. What do you think?”
Scott shrugged. “I think it could be quite an experience.”
“And you’ll sign up, won’t you?” An impish twinkle in his eyes made him look far younger than his late-fifties. “I’m sure we can find the perfect Haskellian lady for you to get cozy with.”
Scott laughed and thumped Howie’s back. “Nice try, boss, but I’ve already got my eye on someone.”
Howie lit up. “Oh really? Who?”
Inwardly, Scott winced. He wasn’t so sure tipping his hand was a good idea. But it was too late now. “Casey Flint,” he admitted.
Howie’s expression went through a series of surprising emotions, from delighted to regretful. “Ah, Casey. I’ve known her since she was born. I’ve known her parents since they were born.” He let out a breath and looked sad for a moment. “Hester Flint was a woman among women.”
“Casey’s mom?”
Howie nodded. “It hit the whole town hard when she passed away last year. Breast cancer,” he added in a quieter voice. “I don’t think anyone was harder hit than Casey, though.”
“I can imagine.” A wave of sympathy washed through Scott. And with it, the impulse to go find Casey right that second and hold her.
After a short silence, Howie met Scott’s eyes. “You be careful with Casey,” he said, as much like a father as anything. “She’s been through a lot, and needs to be treated with TLC.” Scott opened his mouth to swear that he had every intention of treating her with just that, when Howie’s expression brightened and he went on. “Actually, I think you might be exactly what our Casey needs. Just don’t go into it thinking you’re in for a casual good time,” he cautioned. “Not with Casey.”
“I swear, I have the best of intentions,” Scott said, feeling like he was a young man from a hundred years ago asking permission to court a girl.
“Good.” Howie patted his shoulder and walked him to the door. “I know I can count on you. And I look forward to seeing your presentation next week.”
The parting words left Scott with the heavy feeling that he had a lot of work to do before the city council meeting. He took that feeling back to his desk, where he already had a lot of work to do for his part of the inaugural rocket project. At least he had his team there to back him up.
“Did everything go well with Howie?” Laura asked as Scott passed her desk.
Their team was arranged in an open office space that reminded Scott of an elementary school
classroom, only with much larger desks. His desk stood at one end of the large, high-ceilinged room decorated with an amusing combination of fine art, photographs of nebulas and distant galaxies, and printers and copiers. The rest of the team’s desks faced each other in two lines that ran down the center of the room. Scott could only imagine that it was another of Howie’s ideas to combine productivity and sociability.
“It went fine,” he said, sinking into his chair. “He wants me to do a presentation about my building plans at the city council meeting next week.”
“That sounds interesting,” Dennis said. “Can anyone come?”
“As a matter of fact, yes.”
“Oh, great! I’ll be there too,” Laura said, then went on with a sheepish, “It’s not like I’ve found many other ways to be social around here yet.”
“Is that all he wanted to talk to you about?” Will asked, glancing up from his computer screen with a slight frown.
“Well, he also mentioned plans for another mixer this spring.” Scott fought his grin at the idea.
“Cool. What kind of mixer?” Laura asked.
“Orienteering,” Scott chuckled. “In the Shoshone National Forest.”
Laura’s jaw dropped. Dennis’s eyes went wide. Will, however, burst into a rare smile. “Orienteering? Are you serious?” he asked.
“Apparently, Howie is very serious,” Scott said. “Why, are you interested?”
“Yes.” That was the sum total of Will’s answer, but the enthusiasm behind the single word spoke more than volumes.
Scott grinned and pulled his chair toward his desk, trying to remember where he’d left off with his work. So Will liked the idea of being dropped in the middle of nowhere and having to find his way out. Scott wondered what other quirky interests his team had.
“Hey, Scott’s back,” Hero said as he came around the corner from another section of the office. “Did I miss anything?”
“Howie wants him to do a presentation on his off-grid house,” Laura reported. “And apparently there’s going to be an orienteering event this spring.”
“Oh wow.” Hero laughed. “There’s no way Denise is going to let me do that.” He reached his desk—one of the two closest to Scott’s—and went on to ask, “Do you think your new friend Casey will do it?”
Scott looked up from his work. “How do you know about Casey?”
Hero had the good grace to look sheepish. “Well, I didn’t, really. Denise keeps track of these things. She’s new in town too, but she grew up nearby, so she’s been trying to master the art of Haskell gossip.”
A sinking feeling filled Scott’s stomach. “I’m not Haskell gossip, am I?”
Hero winced. “Well, your name has come up a few times in connection with Casey Flint’s. But only because everyone in town is really concerned about her after her mother died last year.”
“Wow, Hero.” Laura blinked at him from farther down the row of desks. “You really are good at this town gossip thing.”
Hero sent her a mock-modest grin. “I try.”
“And we should all try to get some work done,” Scott said. Anything to get people off the subject of his potential love life. It wasn’t that he didn’t want everyone talking about him and Casey, he just wanted to figure out what was going on between the two of them first. He was definitely drawn to Casey, and he had the feeling she was attracted to him too. But more in the way a flame wanted a moth to get close.
His thoughts were still running in circles about Casey and ways he could get to know her better without setting her off on whatever deeper issues were bothering her as he headed home for the night. In her eagerness to convince him to move into one of the houses Howie was having renovated in the heart of town for his employees the other day, Casey had failed to ask where Scott was living until his house was built. She would have been surprised to hear that he was staying in the historic Cattleman Hotel, just a stone’s throw away from where they’d had their scene. Lucky for him, it was also within walking distance of the PSF building, although in the middle of a Wyoming January, it was a frigid walk.
He was halfway home when he was stopped by a call of, “Hey, Scott.”
He turned as best he could in his thick jacket, scarf, and fur-lined hat to find Ted jogging to catch up with him. Cold as it was, Ted only wore a jacket and cap. Scott felt even more like an L.A. transplant who had a lot of adapting left to do.
“Hey, Ted. What’s up?”
“On my way to the Silver Dollar,” Ted answered. “Wanna join me for a beer?”
A nice, warming beer sounded wonderful right about then. “Yeah, sure. Why not?”
“Great.”
They walked on together, and Scott was grateful that the bar wasn’t that far away. In fact, the Silver Dollar Saloon sat right in the center of town. As Scott and Ted walked through the front doors, they were hit by a burst of blessedly warm air, country music, and the chatter of the regular crowd. Scott had been a big fan of the place from the moment he found his way there on his first night in town.
Like many of the other buildings in the heart of Haskell, the saloon was original, built in the late 1860s. Unlike almost every other building in town, it hadn’t been renovated, partially reconstructed, or added to in the past hundred and fifty years. New windows had been put in over time, a new front door, and modern bar equipment, but the floors were original, the bar was original, and the huge fireplace blazing at one end of the vast main room was original too.
“What are you drinking?” Ted asked as they took seats at the bar.
“Whatever you are,” Scott answered.
He glanced around as Ted ordered from the grizzled old barkeep. He’d never been the sort to hang out at the bar with his buddies before—neither in L.A. nor when he was in the army—but the Silver Dollar felt more like a community gathering spot than a place you went to drown your troubles.
“So about my sister,” Ted said as soon as they each had a frosty mug in front of them.
Warning bells went off in Scott’s head, but they faded under the intense good feeling of the bar and Ted’s ironic grin.
“Casey’s impossible, isn’t she?” Ted went on.
“I like her,” Scott said, playing things cautiously, and took a drink.
“I’m glad.” Ted laughed. “She drives us all nuts sometimes. She latches onto ideas and just can’t let them go.”
“Hmm, like protesting the sale of a part of your ranch?” Scott asked with a wry grin.
Ted shook his head. “Yeah. I’m sorry about all that. I just wanted to let you know that Dad and I don’t share her prejudices about that whole thing.”
“I didn’t think you did,” Scott said, hoping to put Ted at ease. “The fact that you haven’t come knocking on my door, trying to give me my money back and ripping the deed from my hands was my first clue.”
“Glad we’re on the same page,” Ted said. “I’ll tell my sister to leave you alone.”
“No! Don’t do that,” Scott said.
Ted had started to relax and unbutton his coat, but he was so startled by Scott’s protest that he nearly fell off his stool. “You don’t want me to tell Casey to back off and give it a rest?”
“Absolutely not.” Scott chuckled and took a drink. “I haven’t had a woman so interested in me since my ex slammed the door in my face and walked out of my life.”
Ted gaped at him, then burst into laughter. “She must have been some ex if Casey’s obsession looks like a good idea to you now.”
“She wasn’t right for me,” Scott said, unwilling to be completely bitter about Brenda. “Maybe Casey is.”
Ted’s grin faded to a deeply assessing look. “Are you actually interested in my sister? I mean, for real? Not just flirting at a party or putting up with her now that she’s got this bee in her bonnet?”
“I am really interested in your sister,” Scott said. “And why shouldn’t I be? She’s cute, she’s full of fire, and she’s got that certain something that makes me w
ant to wrap my arms around her and—” He stopped, mouth open, then chuckled. “I’m not discussing that with her brother.”
Ted still looked like he couldn’t believe his ears. “We’re talking about the same Casey, right? The stubborn, irrational, overly emotional tornado that lives under the same roof as me?”
“The very one.” Scott nodded over his mug and took another sip.
Ted shook his head. “Just be careful with her, okay?”
It sounded very much like what Howie had said to him. “I intend to be.”
“She’s been through a rough patch, what with our mom’s death.”
Scott’s senses flared to alert. “So I’ve been told.”
“You have?” Ted shook his head and went on. “She’s the kind of woman who feels things really deeply, bad and good. That’s why this whole thing with her getting it in her head that she needs to fight against you building on our land has me worried.”
“What is there to worry about?” Scott shrugged. “You and Roscoe sold me the land. My architect has approved the house plans and given me full instructions on how to go about building it. I’m not going to get sidetracked, and there’s nothing Casey can do to stop me.”
“You’d be surprised what my sister is capable of.”
For whatever reason, Ted’s words brought a smile to Scott’s face. “I think that’s what I like so much about her. I’m just waiting for her to surprise me, and I know she will.”
“Yeah, but for your sake, you’d better hope it’s all good surprises and not something crazy.”
“Why, has she ever done anything crazy?” Scott asked.
Ted paused to consider, taking a drink. “Maybe not on this scale, but you should have seen the way she ran the barrels back when she was doing rodeo.”
“I heard she did that.”
