The joy in the air quieted as the weight of Reva’s words settled over them.
“What are we talking about, Reva? How much is needed?” Charlie Grace asked, leaning forward.
Reva sighed, running her finger around the rim of her glass. “More than we’ve got. The estimates to bring the buildings up to safety standards are pretty staggering. The town doesn’t have the funds, and if we don’t figure something out, we’re going to be stuck.”
Capri frowned, feeling the reality of the situation hit hard. Thunder Mountain was a small town, and earthquakes weren’t something they had prepared for. “So, what’s the plan? Can we raise money for it?”
“I’ve been thinking,” Reva began, tapping her fingers on the table. “We need something big. A community event that brings people together and raises enough awareness. Something unique.”
Charlie Grace nodded. “You’re thinking along the lines of a fundraiser?”
“Exactly,” Reva said. “But not just any fundraiser. Something that would get the entire town talking and involved. Something that would gather interest beyond our tiny community and spark interest in donating to an online crowdfunding account.”
Lila perked up, a slow smile forming on her face. “What about a Rocky Mountain oyster fry? It’s different, it’s local, and you know people’s interest would perk up just for the novelty of it.”
Capri’s eyes widened. “You mean real Rocky Mountain oysters?” She stifled a laugh as the idea took shape. “Rocky Mountain oysters—only in Thunder Mountain would people line up for fried bull testicles without batting an eye.”
Lila chuckled. “Why not? People love that sort of thing out here. We could sell tickets, have donated prizes for a raffle, and maybe even get some local businesses to sponsor.”
Reva leaned back in her chair, her expression bright with excitement. “It might not cover everything we need, financially speaking, but it’s a start. And if we can get the town excited about it, maybe more people will step up and donate to the fund.”
Charlie Grace grinned. “I can already picture it—local businesses could donate items for the raffle, and we could get people from neighboring towns to come too. I’ll reach out to a few ranches, see if we can get some contributions.” She paused, an idea seeming to form. “I can ask Nick for ideas to get the word out. His production company has a whole marketing division.”
Capri nodded, feeling a sense of hope filling the group despite the challenges ahead. “It won’t be enough on its own, but if we can pull it off, it’ll show the community is serious about getting this done. Maybe it’ll inspire more people to help.”
Reva smiled, her shoulders relaxing a little. “It’s a start. That’s all we can ask for right now. I’ll send out an email about the mandate, detailing the requirements, and alerting residents of our plans.”
The friends exchanged looks, the energy shifting back to something hopeful. They knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, and the fundraiser would only scratch the surface of what was needed. But for now, it felt good to have a plan—a way to move forward, just like Capri had with Jake.
29
The four girlfriends stood in the town square, the faint scent of freshly baked bread and roasted coffee drifting over from the nearby Heavenly Bites Bakery. Capri adjusted her ball cap and eyed the list in Reva’s hand. “Why do I feel like we’re about to go to war?”
Charlie Grace laughed. “Because you’ve never been part of a fundraiser in Thunder Mountain before.”
Reva, clipboard held like a shield, grinned. “Don’t worry. With my mayoral charm, we’ll have them eating out of our hands.”
“Yeah, but will they be eating oysters?” Lila asked, eyeing the long list of businesses they had to hit.
Capri placed her hands on her hips. “If Gibbs Nichols is involved, they’ll be washed down with beer. Charlie Grace’s ex never passes up a cold one.” She turned her cap backwards on her head. “Let’s divide and conquer, ladies.”
With determined nods, the girls split up, each armed with a list along with charm, determination, and, in Capri’s case, a growing headache.
Minutes later, she pushed open the door to the Yarn Barn, greeted by the familiar sound of knitting needles clicking. The Knit Wit ladies were gathered around their usual table, surrounded by skeins of brightly colored yarn.
Betty Dunning, the leader of the Knit Wit crew, looked up from her knitting, a spark of suspicion in her eyes. “Well, this is a surprise, Capri. What brings you by?”
“By now, you’ve probably received Reva’s email about the earthquake remediation mandate.”
All the ladies nodded their heads, followed by a chorus of “We sure did.”
Capri grasped the opportunity to launch her pitch. “We’re organizing a Rocky Mountain oyster fry to raise money for the earthquake retrofit. We could really use your help.”
Betty pursed her lips. “And by help, you mean what exactly?”
Capri shrugged. “I don’t know...maybe donate some knitted potholders? Or a few of those meat pies you made last year?”
Dorothy Vaughn, who was always game for anything, piped up. “We could do both! I’ll throw in a couple of pies, though they’ll be filled with peaches. My trees are loaded this summer.”
