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Wyattsent back a thumbs up emoji.Hecouldn’t believe in a few months, his little brother would be a daddy.
Wyatt’sstomach growled, thinking aboutPammy’sfamous lasagna but there were a few things he needed to take care of first.Hemade his way down, hopped into his pick-up truck and headed into town.
* * *
Wyattparkedthe truck onRidgeAvenue, one block east ofMainStreet,Breckenridge’smain thoroughfare.Hestepped inside the community center, nodding to several friends and neighbors as he took his seat.
MayorCarterBillingsstood at the front of the room.Hisusual unassuming demeanor was marred by a distinct pout.Herubbed the back of his neck, nervously.Astranger walking in would think a funeral was in progress.
“Goodafternoon, everyone,” the mayor said. “Lookslike a record-breaking turnout today.”
Wyattlooked around the room at the local business owners who were taking time off from their busy day to gather at the community center, their faces etched with concern,Wyattknew how they felt.
“It’shigh tourist season andIknow you’re all busy soI’llcut to the chase.Therumors are true.”
Groansundulated throughout the room.Wyattnoticed the door open with a late arrival.Awoman, wearing a ball cap and glasses stood there, seemingly unsure where to go.Maybeshe had the wrong room.Slowly, she made her way to the empty back row and took a seat.
Themayor motioned for everyone to quiet down. “Theeast coast developer has purchased substantial acreage onFourO’clockRoad.”
Wyattclosed his eyes.Itwas a stone’s throw fromPrivatePeaks.Fearsof over-development had been brewing for months when word got out that the land had been sold.Noone could verify it was true.Tillnow. “Whatare they planning to build there?”
Themayor’s lips turned south. “Anupscale shopping center.”
Acacophony of grumbles and profanities erupted.Itwas precisely what the residents had been afraid of.
“Amall?”Wyattcalled out, the disgust in his tone matching the that of his friends and neighbors.
Itwas one thing to build new homes, spread out over the mountainside, quite another to stick a shopping mall at the top of the mountain, eroding the very essence ofBreckenridge’scharacter.
“Whyhere?” the bakery owner piped up.She’dbeen runningSweetToothPastriessinceWyattwas a toddler.Thecompetition that would come with a mall’s food court would quickly put her out of business. “SilverthorneandCopperMountainare near enough.They’rebetter suited for big retail industry.Can’twe convince them to go there?”
Afew others mumbled their agreement, though surely the residents of those areas wouldn’t be thrilled to have a humongous mall in their towns either.
“It’stoo late.Thedeal is done.Thedeveloper kept a tight lid on the project.Ionly just found out about it myself.”
Thecrowd buzzed with anxiety.Wyattstood, speaking above the others. “Listeneveryone,Breckenridgeis our home.It’sin our blood, in our hearts.I’llgo head-to-head with anyone who tries to sully the integrity of our town.”
Theroom fell into a hushed silence as the others turned to him, eager for a remedy.Anunwavering need to safeguardBreckenridge’sessence fueled him.Hewould fight the good fight, make it his mission to preserve his hometown’s charm and authenticity.
Wyatttook a deep breath, careful not to go off on the mayor.Hewas only the messenger.Changewas inevitable,Wyattknew, but it had to be guided by the residents’ collective vision.Notby an anonymous big city investor who had probably never set foot in the town.
Wyattdirected his next words to the mayor. “Weare the full-time residents here,Carter.Manyof us are multi-generationalBreckers.We,” he gestured around the room, “do not want a mall in the middle of our beautiful town.Theremust be a way to appeal this decision.”
Themayor shook his head. “I’mnot sure how,Wyatt.Theyare planning to break ground in the next couple of weeks.I’llcall the county administrator and see if there’s anything more we can do.It’sthe bestIcan offer.”Hefrowned. “I’mreally sorry.”
Wyattfelt a twinge of pity for the man.Hehad wanted to be mayor for years, recently winning the seat by a narrow margin.Now, under his leadership, the town would change for the worse.Ifthe project went through as it seemed it would, the mayor would be out of a job, and likely the most hated man in town.Secondonly to the phantom buyer.
Asthe meeting wound down,Wyattturned back, looking for the mystery woman.Shewas gone.
ChapterEight
Lilyhightailed it to her car.Onceinside, she removed the ball cap, and pulled the rubber band from her hair, letting her curls loose.Shedrummed her fingers along the steering wheel, watching if anyone had followed her out from the community center.
Themeeting had left her in a state.Shesilently prayed no one had noticed her in the back of the room, sensing they would have come after her with pitchforks had they known who she was.Especiallythat guy at the front of the room.Evenwith his back turned to her, she sensed a fierceness, a potential rival.
Fromthe moment her boss told her about the projectLilyunderstood the locals wouldn’t be thrilled about a shopping mall in their midst but the fiery exchange she’d witnessed at the community center was beyond the pale.
Afterleaving the hotel early, she had made her way to the building site, at the far end ofFourO’clockRoad.Asplanned, several surveyors and the project foreman were there to show her around.Theacreage sat atop a mountain with sweeping views of the town and surroundingRockies, abutting a nearby upscale neighborhood with sprawling, log-cabin style homes.Awider road would need to be cut into the mountain to accommodate deliveries and construction vehicles.Thenoise, sure to last at least several months, would not be welcome in the tranquil enclave.
