“As have I,” Carson said. “But I'm just failing when it comes to finding some kind of breakthrough strategy.”
He paused and looked at her, getting lost in Sally's hazel eyes, something that had happened to Carson on more than one occasion.
“Have you had any luck?” he finally asked, forcing himself to concentrate.
“Perhaps,” Sally said, who was equally enchanted with Carson's dark, wavy locks and broad shoulders. “But it is a radical idea.”
“I'm open to just about anything,” Carson said, shrugging. “At this point it's almost a lost cause.”
“Don't say that, my love,” Sally said. “God always provides. He has brought us to one another, has he not?”
“Indeed,” he replied, his heart stirring. “When I first started campaigning, I thought it was the most important thing in the world.”
She grinned. “And now?”
He shook his head matter-of-factly. “It matters, of course, because of the nature and importance of it and the time we have put into it,” Carson began. “But it is utterly secondary to our love and the plans we've made.”
“I feel the same way,” Sally said, giving his hand a squeeze. “Even though those plans were based on the idea of you being the mayor of Last Chance.”
Carson turned slightly glum. “A possibility that seems to be receding with each passing day,” he noted. “Unless we can think of a way to turn things around.”
“We've been over it time and time again,” Sally said, becoming frustrated. “At this point, it will be Christmas before we come up with a solution.”
“And the election will be long past,” Carson said. “What then?”
“Wait!” Sally exclaimed suddenly. “That's it!”
“What is?” Carson asked, buoyed by the sudden burst of energy in her voice.
“Christmas!” she said excitedly.
“I don't understand,” he replied. “What about it?”
“What if we changed our strategy completely?” Sally theorized. “What if we've been going about this in completely the wrong way?”
“I'm afraid I still don't understand, my love,” Carson said. “It sounds like your mind is racing well ahead of both of us.”
“Perhaps,” Sally acknowledged. “But what if it isn't?”
He shook his head. “What do you have in mind, exactly?”
She cocked her head, going deeper into thought. “Ideas,” she said. “A pair of them. They're not fully developed yet, but they could change everything.”
Sally tried to stay with her thoughts, thoroughly aware of how fast her mind was moving.
This was something that had happened occasionally during her brainstorming sessions with her father—sometimes she just got an idea that was so compelling that it was exhausting to keep up with, much less to voice and frame.
This was the first time it had happened with Carson, and it thrilled her to have him be a part of it. Her father had often simply ignored Sally when she did this, dismissing her thoughts as being “too progressive.” Or worse, “too immature,” a description she especially loathed.
“Well, I'm all ears,” he said. “Perhaps I can help you bring them to fruition.”
“I'm sure you can!” Sally said, taking both his hands as she stood up from the table. “But you have to promise me two things.”
“OK.” Carson said, half rising to match her eagerness. “You know I would do anything for you.”
“You have to promise to do them both,” she said, her eyes blazing. “Regardless of how crazy you think they are.”
Carson blinked, wondering what he was getting himself into. He'd mapped out every step of his campaign quite carefully, so a sudden change seemed like a considerable risk.
On the other hand, though, he had little to lose, Carson thought to himself. With the election just three days away, it would take something very dramatic to shift the voter dynamic. Carson had seen other candidates in similar circumstances back in Denver, and he knew the odds were stacked against him.
Then he reminded himself of what he stood for. Carson had always been about taking risk and initiating change, and he'd based his entire campaign on that combination.
So it would be foolish for him to throw away the chance to capitalize on whatever Sally had in mind, especially since he'd seen numerous examples of her brilliance since she'd joined him on the campaign trail.
“The answer is yes to both of your ideas,” Carson replied, grinning at her. “You've saved me more than once at several events. So I will make this promise and keep it, no matter what you have in mind.”
“Good!” Sally said. “Right now I need to walk.”
“Huh?”
“Walk.” Suddenly Sally got up and crossed the room to fetch her petticoat, which was hanging on a hook near the meeting room door.
Carson watched her, his expression quizzical. “I'm afraid I don't understand.”
“Walk and talk,” she said, grinning. “You've seen me do this before.”
“Ah yes,” Carson said. “I have indeed.”
It was one of the ways Sally got ideas, Carson was beginning to realize, but it was always a surprise when they arrived so suddenly. Sally would get a stream of thoughts, and at some point soon after that she would demand that they move about, regardless of the weather or the circumstances.
“You do realize that it's quite cold out there?” Carson asked.
“Of course,” Sally replied. “That's why I'm fetching my petticoat.”
As she did, she plucked Carson's long jacket off the hook next to hers. “You'll need this as well,” she said, handing Carson the jacket.
He smiled at her determination. “I suppose I will,” Carson acknowledged. “Any idea where we're going?”
“None at all,” Sally said, laughing. “But I supposed that's half the fun of it.”
The fun definitely didn't include the weather, which was crisp to say the least. A mild, almost summery Colorado fall had given way to the beginnings of winter, and both Carson and Sally knew how jarring the temperature shifts could be.
Sally, however, had taken to the sudden shifts much better than she'd expected. The cold helped her think, and it invigorated her when there were tasks at hand that had to be done.
The thick, sludgy mental fog that had bogged her down in Maryland had vanished as soon as she'd arrived in Last Chance. And Sally suspected that had much to do with not having her father and Jack Haversham constantly trying to impose their will on her.
Carson was wonderful in that regard. He was an exceptional listener, especially for a man, and most especially for a politician. Carson was an excellent sounding board, and he knew how to respond to her with a mixture of acceptance and challenge that brought out the best in Sally.
She shivered for a moment when they got outside, though, and for a moment Sally wondered if this was a good idea. She reached immediately for Carson's hand, though, and once she felt the warmth of his energy she felt better. His touch reminded Sally that she was exactly where she was supposed to be, with the man who was meant to be hers.
“It is a little blustery,” Sally noted as a blast of wind caught her full in the face. “Perhaps a slightly shorter walk would be in order.”
“As you wish, my love,” Carson said, grinning at the realities that were often imposed by the Colorado weather. “Whatever it takes for you to voice your thoughts.”
“Thank you,” Sally said softly, and she leaned into Carson to buss his cheek before their walk began. “I think I need to see Main Street again to be able to say what I need to.”
Carson let her decide which way to go, and Sally turned away from the town hall toward the more prosperous end of town. As they walked, she noted once again how established the folks who lived in these houses were, and how hard it had been to get them to consider change.
“What if we simply started over?” Sally said suddenly, voicing her first idea.
“Excuse me?” Carson said, surprised
as always by the latest sharp turn in Sally's thought process.
“We know we have a solid following of people who want a fresh start and new ideas, right?” she began.
“Absolutely,” Carson affirmed. “They have stood with us during thick and thin during this whole campaign.”
“So what if we simply gave them what they want?” Sally asked, her eyes lighting up as she voiced the question.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, our chances of winning the election are close to nil at this point,” Sally stated. “Are we agreed about that?”
“Sadly, yes,” Carson acknowledged with a deep sigh. “I suppose it's time to face that.”
“So what if we used it as an advantage?” Sally speculated.
“What do you mean?”
“What if we simply start over and build a new town?”
Carson shook his head. “Huh? I'm afraid you've lost me completely.”
Sally picked up her pace, and Carson realized they would reach the end of town quite quickly at the rate they were going.
“I've had conversations with several people during the campaign,” she explained. “They knew people who'd moved here from First View, and they asked me if we could help them. And several of those were people who'd actually lived in First View.”
“The town that burned down?” Carson asked.
“Yes!” Sally exclaimed, going even faster. “So what if we simply rebuilt it?”
For a moment Carson was stunned. “That would be a formidable undertaking for certain,” he said, then thought further about it. “Although I have heard rumblings here and there from those who might support such an idea.”
“Exactly,” she said, nodding. “So what if we simply took that idea and made it our own?”
“It's not a bad thought,” Carson replied, although he had to admit that he still didn't understand it completely. “It was something I was considering doing after the election—before things took a turn for the worse, numbers-wise.”
“But now we could use it to our advantage,” Sally stated simply.
He frowned. “How so?”
They reached the end of town, and Sally whipped around, heading the other way. Carson smiled as she dragged him along, barely managing to keep up with her.
“Simple,” she said, charging back toward the center of town. “What if we went door-to-door with those who we know are going to support us, and propose a new option to them?”
“I'm open to that,” Carson replied. “But what would that option be?”
“That we start a new town,” Sally stated.
“What?” He shook his head. “What are you talking about?”
“Rebuilding First View,” she said. “And renaming it Fresh Start.”
Carson gasped. At first the idea seemed crazy beyond reason, the thought of rebuilding and renaming a town was both ludicrous and audacious.
But as they continued to walk, his heart began to lift, and the depression that had been plaguing Carson as the election drew closer began to dissipate. Losing could damage his career beyond repair, and the last thing he wanted was to transfer that kind of stain to his life with Sally.
The more they walked, though, the lighter he felt. The whole thing would be incredibly hard, he knew that, especially with winter fast approaching.
Then he realized that this was exactly what he wanted. Carson wouldn't have to deal with the stodgy faction of folks who were resisting growth and development in Last Chance. And he could use the energy of his followers to start anew, knowing that was what many of them wanted.
Moreover, he would have Sally's assistance in the project. She had made many friends in Last Chance while working with him, and Carson had seen how persuasive she could be while out on the campaign trail.
Transferring that energy to rebuilding First View would energize the entire project, and Carson rejoiced at knowing this was something he wouldn't have to do alone.
“We could do it,” he said finally as they continued to walk. Sally had been watching him all the while, studying his expression as his mind raced through the decision process. “And the idea of renaming the town Fresh Start is simply brilliant.”
With that, he suddenly came to a halt, just as they reached the less prosperous side of town. Carson turned to Sally and took her hands in his, lifting them to his lips to bestow a gentle kiss.
“With your love and support I know we could,” Carson said, and Sally nearly leapt into his arms to give him a grateful embrace. They enjoyed each other's warmth as the prairie wind swirled around them, until finally they both knew it was time to continue walking.
“So when would we start this bold endeavor?” Carson asked, turning to take Sally's hand as they began to walk again.
“No time like the present,” she said, giving him a sly smile. “How about right now?”
Once again, Carson was both surprised and taken aback by the sheer audaciousness of his bride-to-be. He had seen this time and again during the last couple of weeks, and he was only now starting to get used it.
“Well, we are in the right place, I suppose,” he said, wryly. “Most of our supporters live in this part of town.”
“Exactly,” Sally said. “But before we do, I have a serious request to make.”
Carson rolled his eyes. “As if the idea you've just proposed was frivolous?” he said, shaking his head and laughing. “You are a whirlwind, my love.”
She smiled, turning slightly shy. “For better or worse, you're probably right,” Sally agreed. “It's something I've never been able to hold back.”
“Nor should you wish to,” Carson added, studying her expression carefully to see what might be next. “It is something I have come to adore.”
“Well, thank you for that,” she replied. “I know it can be a bit overwhelming at times.”
“But in a perfectly good way,” Carson pointed out. “So what is this request you have?”
“We need to walk some more,” Sally added. “May we head to the stream and the copse at the edge of town?”
“Of course,” Carson said, knowing it had become one of her favorite places during the brief time they'd been together. “Do I get any clues about what you might have in mind?”
“Uh huh.” She smiled at him in an utterly girlish way, and Carson found himself charmed beyond measure. Sally began to walk again, pulling at Carson as she did, and finally she turned to him as they sped toward the stream.
“It's about our upcoming nuptials.”
They reached the stream in record time, and suddenly Carson sensed a change in Sally's mood. As purposeful as her strides were, she suddenly seemed pensive, and Carson had spent enough time with her to know that this was often a harbinger of new emotions.
Sally had thought about her upcoming request for some time. When she'd first arrived in Last Chance, Sally had insisted that they focus exclusively on his campaign, and of course on remaining chaste during that time.
Now, however, it was time to set a date. She'd postponed doing it to throw herself into getting Carson elected, but the more time she spent with him, the more Sally knew she was going to stay with him through thick or thin.
There'd been nothing tentative about their arrangement to date for either one of them; it was simply time to formalize things. And Sally knew exactly how she wanted to do that.
She walked to the side of the stream, sitting on the grass despite the coldness of the ground. This was unusual for her, and Carson watched to see where her mood might take her.
“Sit,” Sally said, patting a place on the ground next to her. Then she smiled. “It's only cold for a second when you first sit down.”
Carson shrugged, plopping himself down. “My heart is always warm when I'm with you,” he said, draping his arm around her.
Sally leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “You're very sweet, you know,” she said.
“Thank you,” he said, shifting his position to shield Sally from the wind as much as he
could. “And you've been a revelation in my life.”
“On the political side,” Sally chided him, grinning.
“In all ways,” he said, pulling her close.
She paused. “That's what I wanted to talk to you about. . .in part,” she began.
“OK?” Carson said, surprised to see Sally abandoning her usual direct approach for the moment.
“It's about a dream I have,” Sally added.
“Ah,” he replied. “Is it one you've told me about?”
“Not yet,” she said. Then she smiled. “I've been saving it for a special occasion.”
He tilted his head so it was touching her hair, then leaned over further so he could rest it on her shoulder. “Every day with you is a special occasion,” Carson added. “You know that.”
“And for me, too,” Sally agreed. “But I simply must tell you about my dream.”
“All right,” he said. “I apologize if I've delayed you in that regard.”
“You haven't,” she said. “I've been thinking about this for a while. It's just taken me a bit of time to work up to it.”
“You know we have all the time in the world together,” Carson said.
“I do,” Sally replied. “But I've always had a specific dream about how I wanted that time to begin.”
He shook his head slightly. “I'm not sure I understand.”
“When I was a young girl, Christmas was always very special to me,” Sally began. “But not nearly as much to my father.”
“That's surprising,” Carson said. “I've always assumed he was as religious as you are. . .at least until the problems started.”
“No, never,” she said, feeling tears beginning to form around the rims of her eyes. “My religious education and devotion always came from my mother. She was very devout.”
“But not around for most of your childhood,” Carson added, remembering back to when Sally had told him about her mother's struggles with alcohol when her father's true nature had been revealed.
“Yes,” Sally said as a lone tear carved a path down her cheek. “Most of my memories of Christmas are at least somewhat dark, unfortunately.”
Christmas Miracles: Mega Mail Order Bride 20-Book Box Set: Multi-Author Box Set Page 70
