Page 17 of Pain in the Axe
I gave him a nod, then I turned and smiled at the crowd. It was integral to our success that I put on a united front now, even if I kind of wanted to punch him in the grumpy face.
“But what about the drugs?”
Gus leaned forward. “We are hardly the only rural community to be hit hard by the opioid epidemic. We will do everything we can, but this is a far larger problem than one timber company can solve.”
That seemed to quiet them. And I was begrudgingly impressed.
“Now, we have far more pressing matters to discuss.” He turned around and looked at the agenda projected onto the screen. “Earl, it seems, has filed another petition to ban motorboats on the lake on Sundays.”
Some man in the back, who I assumed was Earl, shot to his feet. “Your damn motors disturb the fish.”
Another man stood and shook his fist. “There are ponds, streams, and brooks all over the county that are great for fishing. Stop wasting our time.”
Others piped up from all over the room, weighing in on Earl’s proposal as Gus tugged on my elbow and led me away from the podium.
The whole way, I fought the urge to stomp on his foot with my stiletto. The way he’d butted in was bad enough, but his large, comforting presence was what really made me irate.
When we were outside the gymnasium, I yanked my arm back.
“I do not need to be rescued. You shouldn’t have interfered.”
He crossed his thick arms and glared down his nose at me. “I think you pronouncedthank youwrong.”
“I’m not thanking you.” Huffing, I pulled my shoulders back. “You just undermined me in front of the town.” I sounded petulant, but I didn’t care. This was my company, dammit, and I could take the heat.
“I just stopped the pitchfork-wielding mob from coming after you.” He raised one eyebrow, smug.
I almost laughed. This entire situation was absurd, and yet I was itching for a fight. To yell and scream and stomp my feet. But I’d learned long ago that, as a woman, keeping my cool was the single most important thing I could do. So I pushed the rage down and bit the inside of my cheek.
“I didn’t realize they’d be so hostile,” I admitted.
Gus chuckled. “You should never have led with saying you were from Heartsborough.”
“Hey.” The Lovewell people had no right to judge me based on that. This place was freaking Beverly Hills compared to where I’d grown up. Snobs.
“This town is proud, and the people hate change. Trust me, they’ve treated my brothers and me way worse over the last couple of years. Hebert Timber is a stain on Lovewell and its pride. The chief of police has had it out for us, like we’re the reason my dad ran a successful drug trafficking ring under the asshole’s nose.”
My stomach knotted with concern, even as my interest piqued. “I guess that explains why he won’t meet with me.”
“Officially,” he mumbled. “Soon enough, he’ll show up at the office with a minor infraction or some half-baked excuse to poke around.”
Wonderful. Just what I needed, more law enforcement with their noses in my business, messing things up.
“But if you want to talk to him, the trick is to get him on his turf, where he can’t get away from you.”
I stood straighter and took a step closer, curious. “How do I do that?”
“The Moose.”
Moose? I frowned. What was he talking about?
“How are you at darts?” he asked.
“Terrible.”
“Even better. He hates to lose. I’ll help you.” He relaxed a fraction, his posture easing, and I got a hit of his scent. The pine tree and strong man combination that I definitely didn’t like at all. Nope. It was repulsive.
But despite how annoying good he smelled, his idea was a good one. I wouldn’t let the officials in town ignore me just because they could and then mess things up when I wasn’t expecting it. I would make them meet me on my terms.
