A Memory to Cherish

by Kay Correll

  He almost told her she wasn’t going to be able to actually see anything through the wind-lashed rain. “They’ll think what?”

  She turned and looked at him with those eyes framed in long, curling lashes. “I’m running against James Weaver. He has powerful friends in this town. The town has never had a woman mayor—it’s not the most, um, progressive town around. The people that might consider voting for me are a bit leery of considering a woman for the job, and if they think a little rainstorm can keep me from a meeting, my credibility will drop about a zillion points.”

  He knew about the closed minds of some of the people in town all right. He was surprised they were even considering her for the job. Well, of course legally they had to. But saying the leaders of this town weren’t the most progressive was like saying his homemade chili was a little spicy.

  “Even men get flat tires,” he said dryly.

  “Of course they do.” She bristled. “But I refuse to look like a helpless woman.” She banged her fist on the dashboard and let out a mild curse word almost silently under her breath.

  “Nice language.”

  “What? Only men can swear?”

  Her eyes flashed with fire, and he had to keep from smiling at the sight. She sure was an easy one to rile. He was glad to see the windows on her side of the truck were fogging over now too. “I try not to swear in the presence of ladies.”

  “Thanks so much for the kind consideration.”

  Two swaths of red highlighted her checks. He thought she might actually be embarrassed to be caught swearing. He grinned at her.

  “What are you smiling about? There’s nothing funny here. I have to get to that meeting.”

  “Okay. Let’s give it a shot. The rain is letting up some.” He needed to get out of here. Out of the closed space. With her leg so near he could touch it without hardly moving. With the scent of flowers drifting around him. He faintly remembered that scent. Surely she didn’t still wear the same perfume?

  He flipped the key and the truck ground to life. He heard her let out a sigh.

  Yeah, honey. Let’s get out of here. Fast.

  They couldn’t get out of there fast enough for Beth. How was it possible the front seat had become so small as they waited for the rain to lessen? She was sure he hadn’t been this close to her when they started out.

  She squished herself farther to her side of the seat. She wondered if it was some kind of sign that she ran into Mac McKenna today, of all days. She peered out the window as they hit the streets of town. Surely no one could see her in here with all the rain. Just what she needed to make a smashing impression. Show up at the town council meeting with the biggest troublemaker the school had ever seen. Old Mr. Dobbs had been a teacher back when Mac was out breaking every rule the school had ever made. Long retired from teaching, he now presided over the council with a closed-minded, iron fist.

  They pulled up to the front door of the school. She intended to grab the box and run before anyone saw her.

  “Here, I’ll get the box.” Mac reached behind the seat and hefted the box onto his lap. “I’ll carry it in for you.”

  “No, I’ll get it.” She knew her words came out too fast. Too obvious.

  He looked at her for a moment, steel eyes hardening. “No, I insist.” He slid out of the truck and was opening her door before she had any time to protest any further.

  She climbed out, glancing around to see if anyone was in the parking lot. When they got in the front door, she turned to him. “Here, I can take it now. Thanks for your help.”

  He moved the box from her reach. “I’ll get it. No problem.”

  “Don’t be silly. I’m perfectly able to carry the box.”

  “And I’m perfectly able to carry it, too, and escort you safely to your meeting.”

  “I don’t need an escort.” She glared at him.

  Mr. Dobbs chose that exact moment to walk through the front door. He stopped dead in his tracks and stared at Mac. Then at Beth.

  “Miss Cassidy. I see you made it. I wasn’t sure if this storm would keep some people safely at home.” He looked closely at Mac. “Mr. McKenna, haven’t seen you around these parts since… well, in quite a while.” Old Man Dobbs left no doubt that he recognized the renowned troublemaker.

  Mac’s hand encircled her elbow. She couldn’t just jerk away and make a fool of herself. “Here, hon. Let’s get your things into the meeting.” His deep, clear voice said each word slowly and distinctly.

  Dobbs about had a heart attack on the spot. She turned and glared at Mac. More than a glare. A look that would tell him he could drop from a heart attack right along with Old Man Dobbs. Mac grinned back at her with an exaggerated innocent look plastered on his face.

  The three of them walked to the gymnasium, unfortunately, all in perfect health.

  Chapter 2

  The voices in the cafeteria drifted into the distance as Mac strode away. Away from the stares. Away from the look in Beth’s eyes. She’d been upset to be seen with him. He’d seen it clearly register across her face. He couldn’t blame her. She was running for mayor and walked in with the biggest troublemaker the school and possibly the town had ever laid eyes on. He’d always be an outcast here. A loser. A never-do-well. A weirdo. An outsider. He could hear the litany of name calling that he’d endured his entire school life.

  The feelings he’d worked so hard to bury deep in his subconscious struggled to the surface. He struggled right back until he reached the door of the cafeteria, then he lost the battle.

  He took a deep breath as the familiar smells of the school washed over him. It still smelled faintly of disinfectant and spoiled milk. He hadn’t been in there since the day he graduated from grade school, and when he thought about it, he didn’t particularly have the desire to be here now.

  The past came back like a wave of nausea. Same round tables with gray-white Formica tops. The table where he’d always sat.

  In the corner.

  By himself.

  Choosing the chair that placed his back to most of the cafeteria. Squaring his shoulders in a nonchalant pose while he ate his lunch from a battered brown bag.

  The kids would come by and kick the chair legs or bump into the back to try to make him spill his drink. He always carefully ignored them.

  An invisible hand tightened around his heart as he remembered those miserable days. Then there had been the weeks the sixth-grade boys had let him sit with them. He’d started a fire in the trash can in the boys’ bathroom, and they’d been impressed. Strange the things that impressed kids that age. They told him he could sit with them as long as he did a prank they’d dream up for him to do each week. And he had, so desperate to fit in somewhere.

  He’d written cuss words on the bathroom walls, taken a key and scratched the principal’s car, and run a pirate flag up the flagpole. He couldn’t even remember all the things they told him to do. But he could remember the feeling of dread each Monday morning, wondering what they were going to have him to do that week.

  Then they’d told him to slash the tires on Miss Henderson’s car. The only teacher who had treated him like he was important. The only teacher who had always patiently answered his questions and didn’t treat him like a dummy. He remembered the day clearly. It was pouring down an icy rain. The wind whipped sheets of water across the parking lot. He hadn’t been able to do it. Miss Henderson would have come out to her car after dark. She was always staying late. She would have had to either call someone to change it or get soaked changing it herself, if she even knew how. He couldn’t do that to her.

  He’d promptly gotten bumped back to his solo table, enduring the jeers and remarks about the dummy table, eating his lunch as quickly as possible so he could escape out to the edge of the playground until it was time to go back to class.

  Mac shook his head, clearing the memories that floated past his vision. He turned his back on the cafeteria, on the past, and hurried out of the school, letting the front door slam behind him.<
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  “Thanks, Sophie. I really appreciate the lift.” Beth gathered her papers from the presentation she’d given at the meeting and stashed them in the box. “I know it’s out of the way for you.”

  “It’s really no problem. It’s not like I have a hot date tonight or anything.” Sophie grabbed a stack of papers and helped stuff them in the box. “Besides, you knew I’d come to the meeting tonight in support of you. You did a great job. I think people were impressed that you filed for the grant money to help fund the library technology expansion.”

  “I don’t know if they were impressed, but it’s needed funds. We need to get more computer access for the people who can’t get a good internet signal way out in the mountains. The library seems like the logical place.” Beth looked around to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything.

  “I think you’re right. There are those few computers that Annie put in her new addition to Bookish Cafe, and she has free wireless internet for people to bring laptops, but more access at the library is needed. I also like how the grant would include more funds for the library to purchase ebooks. You did a great job on this.”

  “If we get the grant.”

  “At least you’re out there trying. Which is more than James Weaver is doing. He’s just running around shaking hands all over town.” Sophie slipped on her coat.

  Beth gave the area one last look around to make sure everything was picked up and ready for tomorrow’s school day. “At least it stopped raining. I should be able to get the flat fixed and home before long.”

  “I wish you’d just wait for the garage to fix it.”

  “They said they couldn’t get to it until tomorrow. I need the car first thing in the morning.” She shrugged as they walked out of the school. “Besides, I know how to change a tire. I have my gym bag in the car. I’ll slip on my sweats and tennis shoes and have it changed in no time.”

  Sophie pushed the door open with one hip. “Well, as long as my old clunker makes it out to where you left your car, we should be set.”

  They hurried to her friend’s car. Car was such a generous name for the vehicle. An old yellow Volkswagen bug that she nursed along from year to year. Sophie had had it since they were both in high school, but she loved the rattletrap and refused to part with it.

  They climbed in and headed out to the west edge of town. Sophie fidgeted restlessly until she finally blurted out, “Whatever made you show up with Mac McKenna?” She glanced over at Beth.

  “Oh, don’t beat around the bush, please.” She smiled at the woman seated next to her. They’d been friends since kindergarten. Sophie never was one for keeping her opinions to herself. “I didn’t really have a choice. I needed a ride. He was there.” She shook her head. “I didn’t think he’d make such a big deal and walk me inside. I’m sure the council will have a field day talking about it.”

  Sophie gave her a supportive smile. “I’m sure they’ll find something new to gossip about within the week. Just you wait and see.”

  Beth rubbed the back of her neck and rolled her shoulders. “I hope so. The last thing I need right now is a bunch of rumors flying around. Beth Cassidy and Mac McKenna, of all people.”

  She was aware he’d deliberately escorted her inside. He’d noticed her discomfort and taken advantage of it.

  Or… shoot, maybe she’d hurt his feelings. She felt like a jerk.

  This was too complicated to think about now. She was dead tired. She scrubbed her hands over her face and tucked a wayward lock of hair behind her ear.

  “Your presentation went well.” Sophie interrupted her thoughts. “All the things you have planned to help the town. The grant for the library that you already applied for. Maybe if you get the mayor job things will start to change around here.”

  “That’s a big maybe. First, I would have to win the election. Win against James Weaver. And since he’s a man, I’m sure he’s better qualified. Just ask Dobbs.”

  Sophie grinned. “Yeah, a man must be more qualified than a mere woman. Even if he’s the most non-progressive man ever. He’ll keep the town firmly entrenched in the last century if they hire him.”

  “But he never rocks the boat. And I have a habit of always seeing how hard I can rock it without actually tipping it over.”

  “One of these days, you’re going to go splashing into the water.”

  “Don’t I know it.” She shrugged. “I just keep pushing and prodding. Sooner or later, they have to move into this century. I have to be careful not to push too hard though. I can’t afford to alienate people if I want them to vote for me. I have to convince them that my ideas are good for the town.”

  “Well, Weaver is buddies with Dobbs, so he’ll do everything Old Man Dobbs wants him to.”

  “And if James is elected, he’ll get a say on the planning commission, and if Dobbs gets his way, there’s a good chance he’ll ruin Lone Elk Lake by allowing high-rise condominiums to be built on it. But Dobbs only cares that it will put money in his own pocket. He doesn’t care about things that will actually benefit the town.”

  “You mean things that benefit the town like the river walk that your mother and Annie championed? Or the grant for technology for the library?” Sophie rolled her eyes.

  Beth grinned back at her friend. “Yes, things like that. I kind of really push when I believe in something.”

  “Gosh, I wonder where you got that stick-to-your plans trait from? Not your mom, I’m sure.”

  “I might have picked up a bit of her persistency character trait.” Beth sighed. “Well, I’m sure that Dobbs favors a man for mayor. He hasn’t quite heard of equal rights yet.”

  She looked over at her friend. What would she do without Sophie? Always there for her. Listening to any and every problem she ever had. Standing firmly by her side when her husband—ex-husband—had left her for the blonde bombshell who was just two years past being crowned homecoming queen. He must be fifteen years older than, what’s her name… Bambi or something.

  “Slow down.” Beth pointed out the window. “There’s my car.”

  Sophie pulled off the edge of the road. “I’ll stay until the tire is fixed.”

  Beth dug in her purse for her keys. “Hey, turn on the overhead light. I can’t find my keys in this mess of a purse.”

  Sophie flipped on the light. “Find them?”

  She dumped the contents of the purse on the seat and dug through the mess. She checked the pockets of the purse. Nothing. She sighed and looked up at Sophie. “I don’t have them.”

  “What do you mean, you don’t have them? You lost them?”

  “No, I gave them to Mac McKenna to get a file out of my trunk. I must not have gotten them back.”

  “You sure?”

  “Positive.”

  “Well, I guess it’s on to Mr. McKenna’s for your keys. Do you know where he lives?”

  “He owns Mac’s Place in Mountain Grove. We could try there. Could you drive me out to his bar? I’m sorry. I know this is out of your way.” Beth shoved her hair out of her face, aggravated that she hadn’t thought to rescue the keys from Mac after he retrieved the files for her. So much for his gallantry. It had only caused her to have to traipse over to Mountain Grove.

  She immediately felt embarrassed about how ungrateful she sounded, even if it was only in her thoughts. Men didn’t usually throw her so off-kilter like Mac McKenna did.

  “On to Mountain Grove. Like I said, no hot prospects tonight anyway.” Sophie grinned, then pulled back onto the road. “I’d kind of like to see you meet up with Mac McKenna again anyway.”

  Sophie pulled into the parking lot of the bar. A neon sign in the window flickered brightly, proclaiming they were open. A lighted sign over the door said simply Mac’s Place. The lot was full of pickup trucks of every size and variety. Old ones. New ones with extended cabs. A bright yellow one with a flame painted down its side.

  “I’ve never seen so many trucks in my life.” Beth stared at them.

  “Looks like this i
s the place to be around here. Let’s go in and see the infamous Mac McKenna. I was sorry I didn’t get to the meeting early enough tonight to see you waltz in on his arm.” She switched off the car and gathered up her purse.

  “I did not waltz in on his arm.” Beth shoved open the door to the car to emphasize her point.

  “Whatever you say.” Sophie didn’t sound convinced.

  They headed across the gravel parking lot, carefully avoiding the numerous puddles from the recent rain. Sophie pulled open the big wooden door and they crossed into the tavern. Beth blinked, giving herself a moment to let her eyes adjust to the dim lighting. As her eyes adjusted she noted everyone in the place was staring at them. She straightened her shoulders and zigzagged through the tables to the long wooden bar, ignoring the inquiring expressions of the patrons she passed.

  “I’m looking for Mac McKenna,” she said to the man tending the bar.

  He looked at her for a moment. He looked at Sophie. She wasn’t sure he was going to answer her. Then he nodded his head in the direction of a doorway beside the bar. “Back there.”

  Beth grabbed at Sophie’s sleeve and tugged her toward the doorway. She didn’t have a chance to go any farther. Mac came pushing through the swinging door with a gray plastic tub of ice balanced on one hip and a cartoon of beer bottles on the other hip.

  Mac glanced up and stopped in his tracks. The man behind the bar sauntered over and took the tub of ice. “These ladies are looking for you, Mac.”

  “I see that. Miss Cassidy.” He nodded at Beth. “Ma’am.” He nodded Sophie. “What can I do for you?”

  Beth just stood there for a moment, then felt Sophie’s finger jab her side. “Oh. Well. I mean. I think you have my car keys.”

  “I do?”

  “From when you went and got the file out of the trunk for me. You never gave them back.”

  “Hm, they must be in my rain slicker. I’m sorry you had to come chasing after them.”

  “No, I’m sorry. You’re the one who rescued me and drove me into town in time for the meeting. I should be thanking you.”