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"Sounds good."
She managed to get Harper into her stall. Henry secured the latch. She checked the water troughs in each stall and they headed to the HOG to shower and get ready for the meeting. She was more eager than ever to get the negotiations worked out. And today she'd tell Casper that she was off duty for a while. Her stomach still twisted slightly thinking about it, but she easily set it aside when she thought of Harper's big brown eyes staring back at her. She had a new purpose in life and that was helping these horses and being Henry's girl. Which, made her her own girl. She was learning who Everleigh Hayes was. She liked the thought of that. She couldn't wait to tell her sister.
They hurried through the kitchen of the HOG and she jumped in the shower first while Henry gathered up some food for them. He showered after her and they companionably got ready together. A silent prayer went up that it would always be so cordial.
All the way to the town hall, she gathered her thoughts on today's meeting, the reminder of yesterday's with Craig seemed like light years ago.
They arrived with only a minute to spare. Gerard and Jasiah were the only two there from Hickory Hills and she hoped that was a good sign.
She sat across from them, but when she looked into Gerard's face, she gasped. He'd been beaten terribly. Both eyes were blackened. His lips were cut. His face was purple almost everywhere.
"Gerard, I am so sorry. Are you alright?"
"I'll be fine. The doctor in town here saw me early this morning. I don't have broken bones. I'm just beat up."
Henry's voice had a tinge of anger attached to it when he asked, "Did you find him?"
35
Henry stared at Gerard and remembered when Kenna had come down the mountain looking similar. Craig had to go. He'd never let peace fall on Glen Hollow or Hickory Hills.
Jasiah responded. "No. He's out there somewhere. We still have guys out there searching."
"Are they trustworthy?"
"I think they are."
The mayor entered the conference room and froze when he saw Gerard's face. Mayor Rayleigh Winters leaned forward. "Gerard. What in the hell happened to you?"
Gerard sucked in a deep breath. "Craig and I came to blows."
"I sure as hell hope he looks as bad as you do."
"I got a few punches in, but he got more. He sucker punched me before I knew what was happening."
"I'll be damned." Mayor Winters shook Everleigh's hand, then his.
Finally the president of the town council entered the room. He reached out and shook hands with Mayor Winters, Everleigh, and himself. He then turned to Gerard and Jasiah. "I'm Carson Simek, president of the town council."
Gerard leaned forward the best he could and held out a bruised hand. Zahn gently took his hand and shook it, then Jasiah's. "It looks as though you've had an accident, Mr. Weston."
Gerard only nodded, Jasiah spoke. "Craig Howard flipped out last night and created quite the shit show. He damaged structures, items within reach, and sucker punched my dad then continued to beat on him until he was pulled off. Then he fled into the woods. We have men out looking for him. They've been looking all night."
Heads shook around the table and Everleigh broke the silence. "Mr. Weston, do..."
"Please call me Gerard."
"Thank you. Gerard, do you and Jasiah come with authority to make a deal?"
"Yes. Ma'am. After Craig fled last night, the remaining council agreed enough was enough. I was named president of the BRR until we formally disband."
"When will you disband?"
"When an agreement has been reached and we begin seeing progress on utilities, we'll formally disband and join the town of Glen Hollow."
"And this is unanimous?"
"Yes, ma'am."
