The meeting began the way they all did, with laughter, food, and wine from Bernadine’s cellar, and catching up on one another’s lives. Roni Garland shared news of her latest music project. Tamar was questioned about Olivia’s well-being with Thad July in town. Lily called Gemma out on something everyone noticed at the most recent Movie Night.
“So, how long have you been seeing Mike Freewater?”
Gemma’s face pinkened and, over the laughter of the others, replied, “Not long.”
“Details, Gem,” Genevieve said. “Spill it, and don’t leave anything out.”
Gemma took a deep sip from her wine, as if needing bracing, then confessed, “I met him at the store about a month ago.”
“And?” Bernadine prodded.
“God, he’s so nice!” she gushed. “And considerate, and charming, and so unlike anybody I’ve ever had in my life before. He opens my car doors, likes jazz. Isn’t bossy.”
Lily asked, “How’s he with the kids?”
“Jaz likes him as much as I do. I don’t think the boys are convinced yet. They’re watching him like he’s going to carjack me.”
“It’s what sons are supposed to do,” Tamar noted. “Glad Wyatt and Lucas are on their job. Mike and Trent grew up together. He’s good people.”
Bernadine asked, “Do we need to start planning another Henry Adams wedding?”
Rocky warned, “Don’t answer her, Gem, otherwise she’ll be booking the Taj Mahal.”
Lily raised her glass. “Ain’t that the truth.”
“Both of you, hush!” Bernadine laughed.
Reverend Paula asked, “Is this serious, Gem?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. The last time I thought something was serious, he turned out to be married, remember?”
She was referencing an ill-fated hookup with one of her community college professors.
She added, “I’m going to take it slow.”
“Keep us posted.”
“As if I could do otherwise,” she quipped with amusement.
More laughter.
Sheila thought this was the best group of women she’d ever had the pleasure to know.
“How’s the colonel handling running against you?” Marie asked.
Sheila saw concern played out on faces around the room. “Honestly? Not very well. I was hoping we could make this fun, but as the kids say, not so much.”
They looked sympathetic, which she appreciated.
Gen said, “How can we help?”
“Barrett’s beyond any help at this point, but I’d like to run some of my platform ideas by you, and have you tell me what you think.”
Everyone took seats and she began.
The discussion was lively. Some of the items she proposed drew enthusiasm. One in particular moved Bernadine to say, “That’s a fabulous idea, Sheila. It should’ve been instituted when we first began construction.”
Nods of approval followed that.
Tamar said, “Worked real well for the Dusters,” referring to the African Americans who had first migrated to Kansas after the Civil War.
Sheila added, “I should have the basic research done in time for the debates next week.”
Roni said, “I think you’re going to blow people away with this.”
“I hope so.”
Sheila said, “Here’s another idea. What do you think about making Henry Adams a Black History destination place? I’d like to explore getting the town put on the National Register of Historic Places and use some of the old photos and whatever other kinds of memorabilia people have in their attics and barns to start a museum. Not many people know about the Dusters but a museum might draw tourists.”
Gen said, “And tourists bring revenue.”
Tamar said, “We could resurrect the historical society to run things. I headed it up back in the day but once the town started dying, it fell by the wayside. Nobody was interested anymore.”
Bernadine followed that by saying, “The big issue I see with it would be funding and overnight lodging. Visitors could stay in Franklin, of course, but I’d want that money to flow to us. We’ll have Tina’s B&B eventually, but I think making Henry Adams a historic destination place should be given serious consideration in the near future.”
Lily said, “I think this is exciting, Sheila.”
Nods of agreement followed.
Gemma said, “It’s a much better idea than a casino. Was your brother serious about that, Tamar?”
“He says he is. But who really knows what he’s up to? He left for home yesterday. Said he’ll be back in time for the debates. Can you imagine a casino in Henry Adams?”
“We don’t need a casino,” Marie snapped.
Her tone drew everyone’s attention.
Sheila agreed a casino wasn’t needed. However, there was something in Marie’s sternly set face that seemed to speak to more than the general consensus. Sheila didn’t know what it was but rather than press for an explanation, she moved the agenda along.
They spent the rest of the meeting talking about how Gemma was coming along with all the costumes she was making for the upcoming Halloween party—she encouraged everyone to smack her if she ever volunteered to do something so time-consuming again. Discussion then moved to the Dads trip to the Buffalo Soldier Monument, and the update on how former town chef Siz was doing in Miami.
“He’s homesick,” Rocky said.
“Aww.”
“Misses his family, Henry Adams, his dog—I never even knew he had a dog—but loves the weather, his new ride, and apartment. Said the head chef works him like he knows Tamar, though.”
That drew smiles.
Rocky continued, “He says he’s learning a lot.”
Moving to a fast-paced city like Miami after being born and raised on the slow plains of Kansas had to be as adjustment for Siz, Sheila knew, so she was pleased to hear he was doing well.
The meeting ended shortly thereafter, and everyone pitched in for the cleanup. An hour later, alone again, Sheila gave thanks for the women of Henry Adams. From the day she and Barrett arrived, they’d inspired her to become more.
BERNADINE’S FRIEND TINA Craig hadn’t wanted to endure the long ride from the Hays airport to Henry Adams, so she had her helicopter pilot touch down in the open field next to the fire station and Bernadine picked her up there. As the chopper flew off, the two friends rode to Bernadine’s place.
“So, how are things?” Tina asked after placing her luggage in the upstairs guest room. “I’m excited to see the site for my B&B and the architect’s final drawings.”
Bernadine was, too. What didn’t excite her was the prospect of discussing Mal, which she knew Tina would be bringing up at some point. “Things are good. So how long are you staying?”
“A week, maybe two. Depends on how soon I wear out my welcome and you give me the boot.”
“No chance of that. Stay as long as you like.”
“Good. I brought my laptop, so if anything pops up needing my attention, I can handle it.”
“There’s an empty office at the Power Plant if you’d prefer a dedicated place to spread out.”
“No, I should be good here, but if I do, I’ll let you know.”
Bernadine was glad Tina had come for an extended visit and looked forward to her moving to town permanently.
“Can we grab some lunch? I had coffee and a bagel early this morning and I’m starving.”
Lunch meant seeing Mal. “Sure, but how about we do lunch in Franklin, so we don’t have to shout over the noise at the Dog to hear each other. Let me get my jacket and my purse.”
As Bernadine turned onto Main Street and pulled up to the curb where the B&B would be, they viewed the flurry of noisy activity. Bobcats were leveling the ground and dumping the excess soil into the trailers of large semis. There were workers digging and men standing behind survey cameras. Trent and Henry Adams’s construction boss, Warren Kelly, were in the center of the fray, while Bobby Douglas guided one dirt-fille
d semi off the site and beckoned in another. Seeing Bernadine and Tina, Trent walked over. “Hey there, Tina.”
“Hey, Trent. I see you’re busy getting my place ready.”
“Trying to get as much done as we can before the snow falls.”
“I appreciate it.”
They spent a few more minutes talking before Trent said, “I need to get back.” He bade them goodbye and returned to the site.
As Bernadine drove them away, Tina viewed the town center and said, “Whoever thought you and I would end up here?”
“I know.” They’d both traveled and lived all over the world.
“There’s a peace here that calls to the spirit,” Tina said. “When the doctors told me to slow down after my heart attack—”
Bernadine’s jaw dropped. “Heart attack! You didn’t tell me you’d had a heart attack!”
“Did I leave that part out?”
“Tina, quit playing. You only said the doctors wanted you to dial back.”
“I didn’t want everybody worrying and fussing over me.”
“But it’s okay for me to worry and fuss now? Not good, girlfriend. When did this happen?”
“Last winter.”
“So, telling me and the rest of our friends you were in Costa Rica with a new lover was a lie?”
“Nose-growing Pinocchio lie.” She turned to Bernadine. “I’m sorry. I was scared—embarrassed.”
“Embarrassed, why?”
“Because Captain Marvel Tina Craig leaps tall buildings with a single bound. She doesn’t have heart attacks.”
“You’re mixing Marvel with DC, but I’ll allow that.”
Tina smiled before her tone grew serious again. “After the surgery, I came face-to-face with my mortality, and it wasn’t pretty.”
“You should’ve reached out.”
“I know, but I had enough sense to talk to my shrink and she was a big help.”
Bernadine eyed the woman she considered a sister of her heart and didn’t even want to think about how devastating losing her would’ve been.
“My heart issues made me realize life isn’t about how many hours I work, my wealth, or any of that. It can end in a Thanos snap, so I’m planning to kick back and enjoy the time I have left—however long that may be—here in Henry Adams.”
“Good.” When her own mother passed away at an early age, Bernadine learned how short life could be, and the pain and grief remained buried deep inside. Knowing death is inevitable means nothing when you’re a teen viewing your mama in a casket, it just hurts. Losing Tina would’ve hurt, as well.
Tina continued, “So, since life is short and we need to grab happiness by the balls, what’s going on with you and Mal?”
Bernadine sighed and gave her the details of the disastrous dinner. When she finished, she warned, “If you say I told you so, I’m stopping this truck and putting you out.”
Tina replied gently, “I’d never say that to you.”
For a moment, she studied Bernadine silently, before asking, “How do you feel about it? Are you happy? Sad? Aren’t sure?”
“Truthfully, getting the chance to tell him how mad I was has been freeing in a way.”
“Was this during the dinner at Crystal’s, too?”
“No, a few days later after the candidates’ event at the Dog.” Bernadine detailed what happened and added, “It took me all this time to figure out why I was still so pissed off even after all his many apologies. I never got to speak my mind because I was more focused on his feelings and playing the nice little girlfriend.”
Tina nodded understandingly. “So after you called him out, what did he say?”
“I was too busy burning rubber out of the parking lot to care.”
“A bit angry, were you?”
“A lot angry.”
“And now?”
She shrugged. “I feel better knowing I told him the truth, and as for what happens next between us? No idea.”
“Maybe now you two can find a way to go forward.”
“Maybe. Either way, life’s way too short to worry about it, though. Especially at our age.”
“Amen.”
LATER THAT EVENING, Leo Brown shook the hand of each of the twenty men who entered his expansive great room and directed them to the drinks and food prepared by his employee Jane Hubbard. They were simple farmers, underwater on their mortgages, and up to their necks in debt for equipment and seed. He wanted the room and food to show them what success looked like and make them as envious as Riley had been. Leo’s mission was to seduce them with the prospect of accumulating their own wealth and have them eating out of his hand when the meeting ended.
Stillwell was one of the last to arrive. Dressed in gray denim overalls, he offered Leo a curt nod. The room was crowded so he took up a spot by the windows. The lease agreement he’d insisted upon hadn’t been drawn up because Leo wanted to put it off for as long as possible. He’d tell Stillwell that the lawyers were still working on it. What he wouldn’t tell him was that it would be worded in a way so as not to be legally binding.
“Is everyone comfortable?”
He saw a few nods. There was also skepticism on more than a few faces but he’d expected that. “I had Al invite you here this evening for a couple of reasons. First thing is why I think Riley Curry should get your vote for mayor of Henry Adams.”
One of the men tossed back sarcastically, “Yes, please tell us.”
Leo didn’t care for that but kept going. “As it stands now, Ms. Brown is only concentrating her efforts on the town, but Riley and I believe she should be doing more for the families and farmers in the surrounding areas.”
“You mean like hiring all the construction people she’s employed who don’t live in town? Or providing a new fire department, which we’ve never had before, or a new recreation center we all go to on Friday nights? Nope. She hasn’t done a thing to help us outside the town limits.”
A few snickers followed that.
“Mike Freewater, right?” Leo asked.
“Yes.”
Leo remembered him as being one of the men adamantly opposed to the pipeline. “Pleased to see you again,” he lied, hiding his contempt. “Thanks for coming tonight.”
Another man spoke up. “Name’s Lamar Ralston. Since Riley doesn’t have two nickels to rub together, how’s he plan on changing things?” By his graying blond hair and ruddy, sun-lined face, Leo estimated Ralston to be somewhere in his sixties.
“Corporations will pay good money for open land to build on. Riley will court these corporations.”
“The same way he tried to sell out Henry Adams before Ms. Brown bought the place?” another man asked.
Ralston added, “Any man who’ll steal from his wife is not someone I’ll be voting for. Riley’s as crooked as they come.”
A tight-lipped Leo surveyed the room and realized this was not going the way he’d planned. He knew nothing about either of the mentioned incidents and mentally kicked himself for not vetting the old barber better, but that would be remedied soon. “I have business connections as well and will be putting out feelers on your behalf, too. In fact, I have letters of assurance from a few multinational corporations who’ve expressed interest given the right political climate.”
“Like who?” Ralston challenged.
Lying, Leo rattled off a few companies he thought they’d be impressed by. The surprised looks many of the men exchanged in response proved he’d been correct.
Freewater asked, “Why would a big-tech company like the one you just named want to relocate here? There aren’t enough potential employees with the kind of educational background they’d need.”
“They’re willing to train, and some will bring employees with them in order to hit the ground running. And when they come, they’ll pay for the improvements in infrastructure because it will be in their best interests.”
Freewater looked doubtful.
A heavyset man about Ralston’s age spoke up for the first tim
e. “Name’s Elam Vine. So how does this benefit us farmers.”
“You own the land they’ll need. They’ll pay top dollar. Some of you own hundreds of acres. Wouldn’t you like to lease a portion, or sell outright to pay off your debts? Farming is difficult these days.”
A buzz filled the room as men shared whispered conversations. Leo now had their attention. “To show the companies are operating in good faith, I’ve been instructed to give every man who wishes to be in on the ground floor of this a thousand dollars, with the hope that you’ll consider giving Riley your vote, so this project can go forward.”
More buzz.
“So this is a bribe,” Freewater called out.
“No,” Leo countered. “It’s a down payment on the future of Henry Adams.”
“No strings attached other than to consider voting for Riley?” Ralston asked.
“And think about attending his rallies if you care to and have the time.”
“Why isn’t he here?” Vine asked.
“He’s home preparing for next week’s debate. I need a show of hands of those interested.” He glanced around the room.
Fifteen of the twenty eagerly complied.
Freewater stood up and walked out. Ralston, Vine, and two others followed his lead.
“Their loss,” Leo said. He went over to the large silver chest positioned next to the fireplace. He’d purchased the antique in Bogotá over a decade ago. When he lifted the top and the stacks of money inside were revealed, their eyes widened. Leo calmly gave the men two stacks of twenties holding five hundred each. They viewed the cash wondrously.
“It’s yours to spend however you wish,” he declared, once the chest was closed again. “Does anyone have any questions?”
“How much do you think our land will be worth to the corporations?”
On the Corner of Hope and Main Page 9
