Page 105 of Grit
Cary said, “I’ve heard they’re really good with sheep.”
“The point is,” Adrian continued, “they’re going to do everything in their power to screw you out of as much tax money as possible.” He turned to address the council. “I know this seems like it might be a solution to the budget shortfall. But it’s not.” He pointed at the JPR representatives. “These people have no interest in this town. They’re out to make money. They don’t care about the health of the community. Not even a little.”
Devin Peres, Kevin Fontaine, and Blond Lawyer Delaney were all glaring at Adrian.
He didn’t seem to care. “I very much doubt the residents they attract are going to shop on your Main Street,” he said. “Theymightgo to Metlin. Maybe. But they don’t care about Oakville. I know you need development, but this is not the way.”
Bud looked defeated. “I don’t want to close the high school, Adrian.”
“No one wants that,” Adrian said. “And if you want, I will volunteer my time with you guys to figure out some better solutions. But don’t do this.” Adrian looked at each council member, one by one. “Let’s figure out a way that keeps Oakville the town you love.”
Someone in the back started clapping, then the whole room joined in.
Melissa bumped Cary’s shoulder. “It’s a good thing I love you.”
He frowned. “I don’t disagree, but why?”
“Because if I didn’t, Adrian Saroyan is looking surprisingly attractive right now.”
“You know, I had the exact same thought, only about Gus Allen.”
Melissa burst out laughing and slid her arm around his waist. “Well, it appears that the Allen Ranch Retirement Community is on life support and things are not looking good. My father-in-law is going to be pissed, but I don’t really care. Let’s go home.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Cary?”
“Yeah?” He looked up from pounding nails in a small shed for Abby’s goats. “What’s up?”
Abby popped her head up from behind the box she was cleaning. “Want to hear a goat joke I just thought up?”
He smiled. “Yeah.”
“So there was a mama goat and she went home, and the dad goat was giving their three baby goats a bath.”
Cary smiled. “Uh-huh.”
“And the mama goat says to the dad goat, ‘Hey, you’ll never guess what happened. I went to the vet and I found out that I’m gonna have three more babies. Surprise!’ And the dad goat is really shocked and says, ‘Wait, how can that be possible? You just had these goat babies.’ And the mama goat says, ‘Don’t worry. I was just kidding.’” Abby burst into laughter. “Get it? Because a mama goat having a baby is called kidding!”
Cary hung his head and laughed along with her, as much from her laughter as the joke. “That was pretty funny.”
“Princess.” Abby danced in front of her goat. “Do you get it? You were just kidding!” Abby continued to crack herself up.
It was Saturday morning and Cary had the morning off. Melissa, Emmie, and Joan were cleaning and painting furniture for the bunkhouse, so Cary was hanging with Abby and helping her fix her pens.
“Hey, kid.”
“Yes, adult?”
“How often have you fixed these pens?”
Abby stood and cocked her head. “Uh… maybe three times this year I think.”
“Have you ever thought about investing in stronger fencing? Something with more metal?”
She chewed on her lower lip. “How much would that cost?”
“I don’t know. Want me to find out?”
