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“I’m on my way to the bank. I’d be happy to drop you off,” Michael said.
“That would be great,” Wolf said. “Much appreciated.”
“They’re bringing my car around now. Walk with me,” Michael said.
A few minutes later, they were heading uptown.
“Was your dinner satisfactory last night?” Michael asked.
“It was perfect. Thank you for everything. Your father must be proud of how you’ve taken over the reins here. How’s he doing?”
Michael grinned. “It’s hard to please Marshall Devon, but he hasn’t complained, and he’s doing great. As longas there’s land to buy and buildings to erect, he’ll be happy.”
Wolf nodded. “Speaking of land to buy, I don’t suppose PCG Inc. has relented on selling anything here?”
Michael shook his head. “Their answer is not only no, butHell No. It is, was, and always will be their final answer. We made peace with that when we agreed to build here.”
“It’s a strange way to do business,” Wolf said. “This place is unique. They could explode their profits exponentially if they’d let people in.”
Michael shrugged. “I’ve lived here nearly ten years now, and I have begun to see the wisdom of perfection in small places. Besides, look at this place. Where else would they go? Surrounded by mountains. The valley caters to tourists and, at the same time, has found a way to exist within what amounts to a very small town. The land is still pure the way it was in the beginning. No logging is allowed on the mountain, and the people who live there own their homes and land, and have for generations. Big industry makes money for some and destroys the rest,” Michael said. “Oh, sure we have crime here. You can’t be a part of the tourism industry without the criminal element wanting in, but our police are wiser than you would assume. We had a serious case of human trafficking trying to take hold here a few years back, and they busted it wide open.”
Wolf eyed the young man with renewed respect. “Don’t lose that perspective. In the long run, you will be the happier man.”
Michael pointed. “We’re coming up on the tourist side. Is there any place in particular you intend to go?”
“Maybe the arts and crafts area?” Wolf said.
“Then I’m going to let you out here. See the carving of the black bear beside the fountain? Take the sidewalk straight past it and it’s all in front of you.”
“Many thanks,” Wolf said.
“If you need a ride back, call the hotel. We have courtesy cars. Someone will pick you up and bring you back.”
“Thanks again,” Wolf said, and got out smiling. He’d been in a lot of places and been lost countless times in the process, but he’d never received directions to “walk past the bear” before. As soon as he passed the bear, his adventure began. He prowled the stands and the shops and had hot chocolate on a bench outside a candy store, while watching a little girl feeding pieces of her cookie to birds begging in the square. Her father was standing nearby, and when the cookie was gone, he swung her up into the air and put her on his shoulders. The child’s laughter went straight to Wolf’s heart. His little girl had gone through hell without him, and all because of the hate in Leigh and Carter Bullocks’ hearts.
Unwilling to let the past ruin the day, he tossed the last of his hot chocolate into a garbage bin and kept moving, still looking for something special for the family who’d taken Amalie to love before he even knew she existed.
It was midafternoon when he wandered into a wood-carver’s shop. Seconds later, he saw a bird on a shelf and wondered if the owner knew it had flown intothe building. It was only after he moved closer that he realized it was a delicate carving. A hand-painted carving of a blue-gray warbler, perched upon a delicate pine branch and nearly hidden among the needles.
At that point, a thirtysomething man with long dark hair pulled back in a ponytail approached the counter.
“Afternoon. Can I help you?” he asked.
Wolf pointed to the carving. “Did you do this?”
“Yes, sir.”
“It’s exquisite. I want to buy it,” Wolf said.
“It’s three hundred and fifty dollars.”
Wolf pulled out his wallet and counted out the cash.
The young man beamed. “I’ll box this right up for you.”
“Very carefully. It’s a gift for someone special,” Wolf said.
A short while later, the man came back carrying a white oblong box.
