“I think you better step back from Ms. Keenan,” he warned.
The older man glared at Justin. “This isn’t your business.”
“I’m making it mine.” Justin straightened. “For the last time, move away from Ms. Keenan, or I’ll move you myself. Your choice.”
The man continued to glare at Morgan, but he finally did as Justin suggested. “This isn’t over, Morgan. I will remove you from office if it’s the last thing I do.”
“Please, Lyle,” she said. “This isn’t the time.”
The door opened and a tall man in uniform with a silver badge pinned to his chest came in. He walked right up to the intruder.
“Hutchinson, I don’t remember being told you were invited to this meeting.” It seemed like old Lyle wasn’t popular with anyone.
“If it concerns this town, Sheriff, it concerns me.”
“Not if you’re disrupting things. You should leave,” the sheriff said firmly.
The angry Hutchinson looked as if he was going to argue, but changed his mind. “This isn’t the last you hear from me.” He turned and stormed out, leaving an uneasy silence in his wake. The sheriff followed him outside.
“I’m so sorry for the disruption,” Morgan said.
Justin waved off her apology. “The hell with him. Are you okay?” He studied Morgan’s pale face. Although she tried to hide it under oversize clothes, she was delicately built.
“I’m fine, really,” she told him. “I can’t believe he barged in here like that.”
A pregnant Paige Keenan-Larkin came around the table to her sister’s side and looked at Justin.
“Mr. Hilliard, Lyle Hutchinson doesn’t represent the majority of the citizens who live here. But for many years the Hutchinson family controlled most of what went on in this town.” Paige nodded to her sister. “Morgan had the guts to run against him for mayor. Let’s just say she sees a new direction for the town. One that didn’t profit the Hutchinsons.”
The sheriff came back into the room. “I should have known Lyle would show up today. But I just had a little talk with him. I reminded him that he won’t get away with intimidation and threats.” He looked at Justin. “I’m Reed Larkin, Paige’s husband.” He stuck out his hand.
“Nice to meet you, Reed. Justin Hilliard.” He smiled. “And they say small towns are boring.”
Reed grinned. “You just caught us on a good day.”
Paige nudged her husband. “Stop it. It’s never like this. Mr. Hilliard, Destiny is a quiet town, and most everyone gets along,” she assured him. “They elected Morgan because of her ideas on new growth and bringing in revenue.”
Justin directed his next question to Morgan. “I take it that Hutchinson is opposed to the ski resort.”
She nodded. “He says it will take away from the quaintness of the town, that we’ll be overrun with tourists. It’s not true. The skiing will be limited, and the resort is five miles out of the town. Besides, the ski lifts will only be open in the winter months.”
A hint of a smile appeared on her lovely face. “That’s not to say that we’re not hoping people return in the summer for hiking, and camping. We have to think about the jobs and the money it will bring into the community.” There was passion in her green eyes that had Justin intrigued, not by Morgan as mayor…but as a woman.
Paige Keenan-Larkin spoke up. “As I said, the majority of the citizens like Morgan’s fresh new ideas.” Paige checked her watch and glanced at her sister. “Morgan, I’m sorry, I have a doctor’s appointment but…if you need me to stay.”
“No! You go and take care of that niece of mine. She’ll be here soon.” Morgan hugged her sister. “Reed, you drive her.”
“I planned on it.” He put his arm around his wife’s shoulders and guided her to the door.
Slowly the rest of the people in the room left. Only Justin and Morgan remained. “You have a nice, big family.”
“Not that big, but when Paige’s and Leah’s babies arrive the count will be nine.”
Justin envied their closeness. He’d grown up in a large house with servants, but no family to speak of. His father, Marshal Hilliard, had never been home, and his mother wasn’t maternal. One day she’d just left, but neglected to take her ten-year-old son with her.
“That’s big to those of us who only have two members, just myself and Lauren,” he said.
“What about your parents?”
“Let’s just say my father has never been much of a family man…and my mother is…has been on an extended vacation.”
“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I’d do without my family. It may sound corny but this whole town is like family to me, too. I’ve lived here most of my life, and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
“You never wanted to leave?”
“I did once. I went away to college for a few years, but…” A sad look spread across her face. “I missed everyone so much…I decided to come home.”
“Did you ever get the chance to finish?”
She nodded. “A few years ago I graduated from Fort Lewis College in Durango.”
“That’s commendable.” He wanted to know more about this woman. “Most people who leave college never go back for their degree.”
“My mother wanted me to finish. She didn’t exactly nag, but let’s say she strongly encouraged me.”
Her smile broadened and he found it contagious.
“Always the politician,” he said.
“Dad said I was born for this job.”
“Well, you certainly have me captivated.”
Morgan hated the fact this man could get to her. Justin Hilliard was handsome, powerful and he was flirting with her. But strangely she didn’t feel threatened by him.
“Is there anything else?” she asked in an effort to cool down the situation. “I can show you around town before we head out to the resort site.”
He checked his watch. “Do we have time to stop by the Realtor’s office?”
Morgan’s heart rate picked up. “Does that mean you’re seriously considering the investment?”
He studied her closely. “If I wasn’t serious, I wouldn’t be here.”
Two hours later, they were headed out to the ranch. Morgan couldn’t stop thinking about Justin’s words. Was it really possible that this deal would come together?
She turned her car off the road toward the ranch, then glanced at the man beside her. “The Silver R Ranch has been owned by the Rawlins family for three generations. Holt just recently took over the cattle operation this past year.” She smiled. “He’s done very well for a New York financial adviser.”
“And he’s married to your younger sister, Leah.”
She gave him a sideways glance. “I take it my mother has been filling you in on the latest news.”
He was busy taking in the scenery. “Among other things. She was very kind to offer to watch Lauren today.” He drew a breath. “It’s beautiful out here. Not a bad backyard.”
“I don’t think watching your daughter is a hardship.” Morgan’s gaze went to the vast mountain range she’d taken for granted. The different brown hues of rock blended in with the tall green