Page 20 of Grit
“It’s not the same kind of thing at all.” Bud was getting testy again. “These would be people with money. The houses wouldn’t be built unless they were sold already.”
“That may be,” Tammy said, “but we need a lot more discussion than just a fancy flyer and a company man coming to sell us on this idea.”
“Hear, hear.” Les Arthur spoke again. “Let’s hear from this fellow. Where is he?”
“There.” Melissa nudged him. “That guy. I bet you anything.”
“Won’t take that bet.” Cary knew she was right.
The man leaning against the back wall was too polished to be a farmer, even though he wore jeans and a blue plaid shirt. He pushed away from the wall and walked toward the front of Veterans’ Hall.
Bud stood. “I’d like to thank Kevin Fontaine from JPR Holdings for coming tonight to talk to us about the exciting prospects his company has planned for the Allen Ranch area.”
“Boots,” Melissa muttered.
“I see ’em.”
The man’s boots were squeaky clean. Cary probably could have seen his reflection in the finish. The boots Cary wore were made for all-day walking. They had orthopedic insoles and were covered in mud. Melissa’s boots were made for riding and she wore ankle braces because she’d been riding so long. This guy…
“Greg and Beverly know some Fontaines over on the coast,” Melissa said softly. “I’ve heard that name.”
“That’s interesting,” Cary said.
“Isn’t it?” Melissa opened her notebook and began to take furious notes.
Kevin Fontaine walked up to the head table and took his time shaking everyone’s hand before he leaned against the old wooden podium.
“Hey, folks.” The man’s smile didn’t falter even though Cary didn’t spot a friendly face in the crowd. “I just want to say thanks for having me tonight. I grew up in a small community like this, and I gotta say it feels real good to be back.”
“Where?” Cary asked, feeling contrary.
The persistent smile dimmed a bit. He looked over the crowd, trying to discern where the question had come from.
“Where are you from?” Cary raised his voice and waved to the man. “Just curious.”
“Uh… Hey there.” The smile was back. “I’m from Solvang originally.”
“Solvang?” Cary exchanged a look with Melissa. Solvang had some horse ranches and wineries, but it was primarily a tourist pass-through. Was that what this company had in mind for Oakville? Trade its proximity to the national parks for more and more tourist dollars? “Interesting.”
Kevin Fontaine’s gleaming smile hid whatever his true thoughts were. “The development of the Allen ranch will be a turning point in the future of Oakville, transforming a quaint community known for its orange groves and ranches…”
“Quaint,” Cary whispered to Melissa. “Did you know we were quaint?”
“I didn’t.” Melissa was still taking notes. “Do I need to put doilies on my steers?”
“…into a destination for those looking for a better way of life.” Kevin Fontaine’s smile seemed to be frozen even as his mouth moved. “Your new residents will be those looking for a slower pace while still pursuing an active lifestyle. They’re eager to join a traditional community with strong connections to natural resources like parks. They’re people who are already well-established and bring resources with them. Residents who—”
“Oh shit.” The realization hit Cary in an instant. “You want to make Allen Ranch a retirement community for rich people.”
Melissa’s eyes went wide. “What?”
Cary could tell from the frozen look on Kevin Fontaine’s face that he’d hit the nail on the head. “That’s it, isn’t it? You’re building fancy houses for rich retirees.”
“Active lifestyle, huh? Bet there’s gonna be a golf course,” Melissa said. “Did I get that right, Bud? You want them to turn some of the best grazing and growing land in Jordan Valley into an overly manicured monstrosity?”
“This town isn’t owned by farmers and ranchers,” Bud said as the buzz of conversation grew louder and louder. “Other people live here too!”
“Yeah, but most of them work in farming or ranching.” Walter Fagundes spoke, his voice low but booming. “Mari and I may have a hotel for tourists, but this is a farming town, Bud. We like it that way. That’s one of the reasons we moved here. You want a bunch of rich city people moving in and—”
